Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas for 2 Adults & 1 Toddler: Quick, Easy Recipes with Leftovers

[georgewaini]

My family always liked Hamburger helper whole meal in one skillet toddlers liked it too spiced up Mac and cheese with hamburger on sale 2 for 3 or 2 for 5

 

[kwaq]

Following

 

[franklaine]

Spaghetti
Taco/burrito bowls (rice and ground taco meat with whatever fixings you like)
Stir fry (chicken breast meat and tons of veggies over rice)
These are 3 things my toddler likes that we always have enough for leftovers

 

[awesome777]

We also have 2 adults and 1 toddler, and I find meat is what makes my grocery bill skyrocket. I try to buy meat in bulk when it’s on sale! Also buying the produce that’s on sale for the week and planning meals around that helps. But it’s hard! I’m right there with you!

 

[georgie905]

@awesome777 same situation. Two adults and a toddler. We also buy meat in bulk if we can especially when on sale ! And I plan meals around that.

 

[wordgrill]

Homemade pizza

 

[wordgrill]

Tacos

 

[jacksonnerrickson]

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Kielbasa cut up in bite size pieces
Swiss cheese
Provolone cheese
American Cheese
Cooper Sharp Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Grated Cheese
Milk
Butter
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Elbow Macaroni
Italian Bread Crumbs
Place layer of macaroni on bottom of pan
Then place a layer of each of the above cheeses & top with grated cheese, sprinkle some pepper & garlic powder on top of cheese, repeat process until pan is full
Pour in milk
Add 4 tablespoons of butter cut up into pieces and spread around top of macaroni
Place in preheated oven at 425 for about an hour.
Remove pan from oven and stir well to mix those cheeses up
Then Sprinkle Italian style bread crumbs on top of macaroni and return to oven for 5-10 minutes uncovered to let top brown a little.
(Sometimes I mix in Italian Style Stewed tomatoes to change it up, you would just add them in along the layering process of the cheese).

 

[jacksonnerrickson]

Shepherds pie

 

[heidibear1974]

Unstuffed peppers, pasta and sauce, egg bake dishes, salads with chicken and proteins, tuna, I buy meats on sale and stock in freezer, o also for burger meats or even ground pork and veal I’ll get roasts or chips and have them ground if cheaper than preground to make meatballs or burgers and usually it’s less fatty

 

[sarah999]

I like enchiladas: 2 lbs boneless skinless breasts cooked w/taco seasoning. Put in flour tortilla with shredded cheese. Mix 1 can tomato soup, cream of mushroom soup and small can of enchilada sauce then pour over top of enchiladas. Cook at 350 until bubbly. Top however you want. This consistently makes 10 enchiladas for us (2 adults)

 

[henry11]

So many things to make with ground beef, stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls or an unstuffed cabbage roll casserole, Chili, Taco Salad, regular tacos, Shepard's Pie, Cook the ground beef, add some cooked Ramen Noodles and add a bag of frozen veggies.

 

[roseblood]

Slice smoked sausage and potatoes and onions and fry in a skillet.
Simmer frozen meatballs in brown gravy and serve over mashed potatoes.
Frozen pizza

 

[iloveegypt]

Tater tot casserole, tacos, spaghetti, chicken alfredo

 

[timothysir]

CRACK GREEN BEANS
5 regular cans of green beans, drained (note: you can substitute a similar amount of frozen green beans, about 4 (12-ounce) bags, thawed, or you can use fresh green beans, too)
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
7 teaspoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
Put the drained beans in a 9x13 pan. Add the cooked bacon pieces. Mix the remaining ingredients ( the crack sauce). Pour over the beans and bake 40 minutes at 350. Toss and serve

 

[timothysir]

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐎𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬
Ingredients
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 ½ cups low-fat milk
½ cup creamy natural peanut butter, divided
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Step 2
Combine oats, milk, 1/4 cup peanut butter, applesauce, eggs, brown sugar, baking powder, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Fill each muffin cup with a heaping 2 tablespoons of batter, then divide the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter and chocolate chips among the muffin cups, about 1 teaspoon each. Cover with the remaining batter, about 2 tablespoons each. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
To make ahead:
Freeze oatmeal cakes in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To reheat, microwave 1 oatmeal cake in 30-second intervals until heated through. Alternatively, refrigerate oatmeal cakes in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Equipment:
Muffin tin with 12 (1/2-cup) cups
𝙉𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨
Serving Size: 1 oatmeal cake
Per Serving: 204 calories; protein 7g; carbohydrates 24g; dietary fiber 3g; sugars 8g; added sugar 4g; fat 9g; saturated fat 2g; mono fat 4g; poly fat 2g; cholesterol 33mg; vitamin a iu 106IU; vitamin d iu 22IU; folate 6mg; sodium 199mg; calcium 80mg; iron 1mg; magnesium 29mg; phosphorus 134mg; potassium 154mg; niacin equivalents 1mg; selenium 4mcg.

 

[mdkalns]

Meatloaf and sandwich the next day

 

[timothysir]

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
INGREDIENTS
· 2 pounds lean ground beef
· 1 small finely diced onion
· 1/2 cup finely diced bell pepper (optional)
· 1 1/2 sleeves of crushed Ritz crackers (48 crackers total)
· 4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar or Colby cheese
· 3 eggs
· 1/2 cup milk
· 1 tsp. salt
· 1/4 tsp. black pepper
· For the topping:
· 1/2 to 3/4 cup ketchup
· 2 tbsp. brown sugar
· 1 tsp. mustard
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Place to the side. This will be used later as the topping.
3. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, crushed Ritz crackers, cheese, milk, onion, bell pepper, salt and black pepper. Mix well.
4. Add in the ground beef. Mix well just to combine. Do not over mix.
5. Form into a loaf and place inside a baking pan or baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes....

 

[timothysir]

STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS
INGREDIENTS
4 medium zucchini
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound mild Italian sausage casings removed
1/2 cup onion finely diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cups marinara sauce
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
cooking spray
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large rectangular baking with with cooking spray.
Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then trim off the stem ends. Use a spoon to carefully scoop the flesh out of the zucchinis.
Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper over the zucchini shells. Arrange the zucchini in the baking dish.
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula.
Add the onion and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until onion is softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Season the sausage and vegetable mixture with salt and pepper.
Pour the marinara sauce into the pan and bring to a simmer; cook for 5 minutes.
Spoon the meat mixture evenly into the zucchini shells, then top with the shredded cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until zucchini is tender and cheese is melted and golden brown.
Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.

 

[timothysir]

Mexican Style Cabbage Skillet
1/2 head of cabbage chopped
1 lb of Ground Turkey or hamburger meat
1 can of rotel or diced tomatoes if you like it less spicy
1 packet taco seasoning or 2 T of your homemade taco seasoning
Brown hamburger, drain. Sauté chopped cabbage in 2Tbs of butter until tender. Add the beef to the cabbage, taco seasoning, can of rotel and half can of water. Simmer until liquid is absorbed.