~$5 Meal Ideas~

[Ginamcf]

Crispy Tacos!
We use "smart ground taco filling" fake meat
Taco Shells
Lettuce
Cheese

[peverroad]

Chili baked patato
large baking patato 75 cents each
can of chili 1.00
cheader cheese to top 50cents

Or we make a large pot of chili and freeze
1/2 red beans 50 cents cook as directed
1 lb browned hamburger 1.00
2 cans tomato soup 1.00
2 cans chopped tomatos2.00
chili seasoning 50 cents
box of mac 1.00
cook hambuger and beans and add everything to crock pot and cook all day add mac in last hour of cooking.

campfire night
large cheap roast 3.00
put in foil pan put patatos 1.00 and onion 50 cents and water pennys in pan with roast let cook all day over fire (or can be done in crock pot)
corn on the cob over fire soak for an hour in sugar water and then set on rack turning often for about an hour. Corn can be gotten for 3 for a dollar.

tuna mac
cook mac as directed. For this we get the good stuff with the cheese sause. add a can of tuna. Great Lunch we all love this one.

[peverroad]

A good way to get great meals cheap is to use them leftovers.
Buy cheap large meats and cook all day for great taste and tons of leftovers.
A roast can be roast one day.
bbq beef one day
a great mexican meal another day and can be easly frozen so you don't have to have the same meat for several days and chicken can be done the same way

[FitMommyOf2]

Oh my, why did I never check this thread b4!? *doh*
Great yummy sounding recipes, mamas, thanks for posting!

I'll have to look up some of my cheap meals and will be back!

[MammaGehl]

Originally Posted by cgs189 5 or 6 Can soup 1 can diced tomatoes (.50) 1 can corn (.50) 1 can minestrone soup (ready to serve), I use Progresso brand (1.69) 1 can mixed vegetables (.75) 1 can black beans, rinsed (.50) 1 can of vegetable or chicken broth or 1.5 cups of homemade broth(.50) Dump everything into pot, except black beans need to be drained. Heat thru. Ill sometimes add some garlic too. I usually serve this with PB& J's. This is actually on the menu for this wk.

I made this one for dinner tonight since I had most of the ingredients on hand. It was so easy and tasted great! I shredded some cheese on a tortilla and had cheese melts with it. Thanks!!!

[FitMommyOf2]

Here's one I've actually learned from watching the Duggar family on tv

Tatar tots casserole
1 pack of tatar tots
1-2 cans of cream of mushroom
1 pack of ground beef
Seasoning to taste
Cheese

Brown the ground beef, put frozen tatars into a large baking pan, pour 1-2 cans of cream of mushroom over, top w/ground beef.
Bake in oven @ 400F for about 35-40 mins, add sprinkles of cheese for the last 5 mins.

[trinmama]

we call this one "saturday night supper" (so it came from a cookbook...hehe)

pound of noodles (we do the curly rotini ones)
pound of gr. meat (turkey for us)
bag of california veggies frozen (broc, caulif, carrots)
spaghetti sauce (we love the canned dole sauce!! it's cheap, too)

cook the noodles and meat, mix it all together in a 9x13 and cook at um, i think 350 for 45 min...basically until the frozen veggies are tender and all is hot. oh yeah, cover it so it doesnt' dry out. you can also top with cheese.

one of dh's FAVE meals....he can eat almost half the pan. LOL

[Shaineinok]

Loaded baked potatoes.
Bake some potatoes (I microwave them)
top with butter, sourcream, bacon bits, broccoli, cheese, chili, or leftover meat, beans, tomatoes, onions, ect. Really anything goes and its cheap.

Dad's cassarole
1lb ground meat
6 sliced potatoes
1 can green beans
1 can cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of milk or water to thin.
brown your meat, add the potatoes and cook till tender, add green beans, and soup. Mix and simmer for about 15min.

Fried Rice
I buy a packet of seasoning
white rice
6 scrambled eggs
Frozen pea's and carrots
1 Shredded chicken breast
Start your rice first as it takes 20min to cook and I usually make about 4-6 servings. Next cook the chicken and then the eggs. Rice should be done by now so I toss it all in a big skillet and stir fry it a bit with the pea's and carrots. Yummy

Mac N cheese with Hot dogs
Mac n cheese with Broccoli and onions
Mac N cheese with spagetti sauce and hot dogs
Chicken breast cooked with mushroom soup and served over white/brown rice

[4boys4me]

How about grilled cheese and tomato soup. My kids and dh love this! LOL

4pieces of chicken breast
1 cup rice
1 cup thawed frozen broccoli
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup water

Bake 350 until chicken is done. Mix rice, soup, water and broccoli together.. place in baking pan and place chicken on top. Season with favorite seasonings.

[Melissa]

I will add some soon but waned to watch as there are some grat ideas here!