Inexpensive recipes

DH and I owe a ton in self employment taxes this year, so we need to do some serious cutting down in the next few weeks. I love to cook, so I still want to put effort into making dinners! Can you share your favorite inexpensive recipes?

We like pretty much anything. We aren't health nuts, but I don't want to be eating burgers and fries every single night either.

Re: Inexpensive recipes

Anything using ground beef is generally less expensive than other cuts of beef. Meatloaf, taco night, burgers, chili, etc

Also check your grocer section for family packs of chicken or pork chops. It's usually a much better deal than small individual packs and you could freeze for the following week as well.

I find the best way to save is to eat home and not order out

Re: Inexpensive recipes

A whole chicken can last almost a week for DH and I. I'll roast it and we'll have the breasts the first night. Then I'll pull all the rest of the meat up and shred it for chili, pizza, chicken pot pie. For about $4 we have enough meat for days.

Meatloaf or hamburger helper type meals are inexpensive if you get the meat on sale. You could do homemade sloppy joes or enchiladas as well.

I'll also get sausages on sale for around $2. I like to brown them and then slice and add to a pot of sauce and serve with pasta and cubed mozzarella cheese. This is another meal that lasts for a few dinners and lunches.

Re: Inexpensive recipes

Chicken legs are ALWAYS on sale. I like to toss them with butter, lemon, Lawry's and roast them until the skin is crispy and meat is cooked. 2-3 legs per person is a nice sized meal and the family packs usually have something like 16 legs in them. Add some veggies (you can usually find a bag of store brand veg for a buck each) and some rice or pasta and you got a meal.

Chicken thighs are also cheap and tasty.. you can make a cacciatore with a can of tomatoes, some onion, garlic and a bell pepper. Or Arroz con Pollo has basically the same ingredients.

I go to Latin markets and get picnic pork roasts and slow cook them so the skin is crisp and the meat is fall of the bone tender.

Pasta and sauce is a go to for a cheap meal. You can dress it up with meatballs or make a bracciole by pounding out a flank steak and layering some bread crumbs, cheese, garlic and parsley before rolling up, securing with twine and searing (and then cooking in the sauce).

We love Sloppy Joes - ground meat, tomato sauce, worcestershire, ketchup, peppers, onion, garlic and seasonings on a roll or toasted bun.. yum. I can usually pick up a 5lb bag of Eastern Potatoes for 99 cents which will get me a nice batch of hand cut fries for the four of us plus another night of mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes easily.. usually with some to spare.

I buy pizza dough from the local pizzeria and make calzones or pizzas at home.

Breakfast for dinner is fairly economical too. This week I got a dozen eggs for 99 cents, and picked up a lb of bacon for 2.50. Add some pancakes to the mix and there will be a nice dinner that the kids LOVE sometime next week!

Message edited 2/28/2012 6:42:49 PM.

Re: Inexpensive recipes

I add black beans to my meat sauce or taco. It adds protien and ounce for ounce, is cheaper than meat.

Also, if you buy dried beans, its cheaper than cans.

Rice and beans

I think the best thing is to shop sales - including Meat Farms, Compare Foods and Target - they have some good deals.

Soups are a good way to stretch a buck. There is a commercial for chunky soup where they put the beef stew soup over rice/mashed potatoes.

GL

ETA: Buy in bulk - rice, chicken, quinoa

Try polenta (instant) or gnocchi.

Message edited 2/28/2012 8:14:15 PM.

Re: Inexpensive recipes

rojerono has some good options. Another option is to have meatless meals. We try to incorporate at least 2 dinners to meals that don't use meat. Veggies, pasta, bean are much cheaper then meat. Buying in bulk will help as well, rice, bean, fruit and veggies you can get for a good price. Also use frozen veggies and fruit instead of fresh. They are usually cheaper and just as good. If you buy boxes of prepared food or mixes, look up to see how you can make it yourself. You can generally make it cheaper and you know exactly what goes into it.

Re: Inexpensive recipes

I agree with everyone else. I try to make things that go together. If I buy rice one week, I make 2 meals with rice. I also bought salad, and I had leftover carrots from last week, so those were our sides this week. I buy 3lbs of ground beef and that's 2 meals, or 3 lbs of chicken, again 2 meals.

I don't freeze meat, but it's a good way to stock up on things when they go on sale. You can even freeze bread, bagels, cream cheese, etc...

Re: Inexpensive recipes

lots of pasta with sauce

breakfast for dinner (eggs and toast)

big pots of chicken soup and other soups. soups always last a long time and you really only need a chicken and water!

Re: Inexpensive recipes

Everyone mentioned great options. I'm just going to chime in with a couple more points:

- I usually buy all (or most) of our produce at the local Indian grocer. It's DIRT CHEAP! Seriously. I spend about half of what I would've spent had I purchased my produce at Stop & Shop. They also have great deals on things like lentils, beans and HUGE BAGS of frozen spinach and green beans. Check out your local ethnic grocer or produce stand.

- Drink water. It's free and good for ya.

- Go on to allrecipes.com when you're 'stuck' for a recipe - they have a part of their site where you can plug in what you have in stock (and also, what you DON'T want to include in the recipe, in case there are things you don't like)...it'll generate a list of things you can make with what's onhand.

Re: Inexpensive recipes

Thanks so much!!