Need Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas: Tired of Chuck Steaks & Pasta - Looking for Cheap, Nutritious Recipes!

[inuyashapr]

weve been eating a lot of rice and eggs (rice cooker was 20 dollars and makes perfect rice, its not one of the super nice ones that seal though but cooks perfect) since a dozen eggs are like 1.68 at the dollar general. we also got a shaker of brown gravy mix (just add water and simmer) we add meat when we have/want it. you can make knock off kfc bowls (mashed potatoes are a few dollars for a box, or you can get the small packets that are flavored for about a dollar a packet) get a bag of frozen corn which can make multiple dinners, the gravy add your meat. you can also replace the mashed pot with rice.
you can also do moco loco bowls. hamburger patty over rice and gravy add a fried egg on top and anything else you want. rice is cheap for how many meals you can make, you can make gravy mixes with soup mix and flour, the expensive part is hamburger meat, even the eggs are cheaper. if you can get arice cooker you can toss frozen veggies in the pot also and scramble some eggs, add some soy and have fake fried rice.

 

[jequidam]

@inuyashapr sometimes you can find rice cookers at goodwill or other thrift stores too.

 

[rainbowmango]

Homemade chicken & dumplings
Buys 10lb bag of chicken leg/thigh quarters (most stores will sell them in big bags for .47 to .79 cents / pound so super cheap meat!!
Put half the bag In a stock pot and boil for this dish and bake the other half in the oven covered in bbq sauce for bbq chicken sandwiches!
Once chicken is done boiling debone and shred it.
In a large bowl mix
Flour
Eggs
Water
Salt
For every 1 cup of flour add 1 egg & 1 tsp salt and 1 T water.
Stir and make a dough. Add a little water if too dry or a little flour if too sticky.
You can roll it out and cut into noodles, square dumplings, or you can pinch off flattened pieces of dough and throw it in the pot of broth 1 by 1. However you want, there really is no wrong way.
I like mine rolled out about 1/4” thick.
Add back in as much chicken as you want to use for the amount of noodles you make. Any leftover chicken freeze 1C per bag. This we use to make chicken quesadilla’s, broccoli chicken cheddar rice…. Easy quickie meals!
1 10lb bag of leg/thigh quarters will feed our family of 6 5-6 meals of the dumplings, quesadilla’s, casserole or shredded BBQ sandwiches.

 

[10beckc]

You tube videos
Type in what you’d like to make and find a video!

 

[growinginhim09]

Crockpot chicken and rice
Crockpot chicken pot pie
Crock pot chicken and dumplings
Hamburger steaks with brown gravy or mushroom gravy or even cream of mushroom soup.
Serve over rice or mashed potato top with shredded cheese

 

[painti01r]

Ground turkey, can make meatballs, or meatball soup (albondigas), tacos, or tostadas. Spaghetti, chili.
Pulled pork (slowcooker) either shred it with bbq. Or season it to make carnitas.
Chicken, can slow cook it and use it many ways, salsa chicken, tortilla soup, chicken noodle soup, chicken Alfredo,
I look at local grocery ads and buy meat when it’s on sale, buy in bulk, season it and freeze it. So we eat based on sales

 

[dove_]

If canned chicken isn't too expensive you can make chicken and brocolli casserole. I make mine with rice, frozen brocolli, American cheese, and chicken broth.

 

[megan1969]

Costco or.sams has rotisserie chickens for $5 in Ohio. I don't know.where you.are.located. if you.have a membership get some. If.you.don't.ask friends.or.family members because you can go as a guest. There are so many things you.can make with the rotisserie chickens- chicken noodle.soup, chicken gravy, chicken tacos,.chicken.enchilladas, chicken salad, chicken alfredo, chicken fajitas

 

[ration]

Super easy Chicken and Dumplings. It's like the dump and bake cakes, just layering and pouring, no mixing.

 

[sotl777]

Crockpot: Chicken breasts, season as you like, 1 block of cream cheese, 3/4 cup of chicken broth, add about half a bag of parmesan cheese, or an Italian mix. Cook on low for 6hrs. High about 3. Shred chicken and serve over rice! Super simple and good!

 

[beckywarner]

Crock-Pot potato soup
• frozen hash brown potatoes
• ranch dressing packet
• a can of cream of chicken
• chicken broth
• cream cheese and shredded cheese
• bacon bits and diced onion

 

[bittersweet5]

@beckywarner whst is quantity for broth please- I will try this recipe

 

[beckywarner]

@bittersweet5 its a full thing

 

[lowlyservantjon]

Buy some ham pieces. Get a small bag of dried pinto or any beans you like. Wash beans, put in crock pot with enough water to cover beans and ham pieces. Put on low overnight. So good

 

[jowed]

I put a bag of chicken breast in the slow cooker with seasoning packets and shred for tacos. Any leftovers get used for chili.

 

[bethany32]

Chicken is generally cheap. I know it’s frightening when you think what if I don’t get it done enough… you can get a meat thermometer at Walmart for $6. Kroger has leg quarters on sale. Just a few easy cheap ways to enjoy them… boil them until the thermometer says they are done inside. I season the water as they cook. Now remove them from the water but keep that broth. Take 2 of the leg quarters and discard skin. Shred the meat off the bones with a fork and keep it to the side. Now put your remaining leg quarters into a baking dish.. season them or sauce them. Honey bbq sauce is usually good here and let them cook, cover and refrigerate for tomorrow. Now being that broth back to a boil and spoon in biscuit dough. You just mix flour and milk and spoon it in. Once it’s cooked through they will rise to the top. (You can use canned biscuits if you prefer) Add the shredded meat back to the pot. Chicken and dumplings are so yummy but especially when it’s cool out. The next night place your baking dish in a 375 degree oven. Bake until hot all the way through. Add a vegetable or 2 to the side. Green beans and corn go well with BBQ chicken. I hope this helps.

 

[joyousjen]

I get a pork shoulder and season it into street tacos, (easy to do it is taco seasoning, and a cup of orange juice) on Tuesday. Wednesday I take the left over, and do bbq pork sandwiches.I make the bbq sauce. Tomato sauce, brown sugar, hunny, and whatever seasons you like. You can take roasts, of any meat then repurpose the meat into another meal.

 

[joyousjen]

I cook it in my crockpot for 8 hours on low. I always look up what I can do with leftovers.

 

[hoang25mai]

Cheap Chuck Steaks...That's a delicatessen around here, the things i could do with that!!! Smh

 

[bmanuel77]

Canned vegetables are about $.50 a can. Pork is almost always cheaper than chuck steaks. I would think chicken would be too. Eggs are cheap, you can make a breakfast casserole for not much and eat it for dinner. We love soups. Skillets and casseroles don't take much meat. Tuna (cans or pouches) is decently priced. We don't ever buy steak of any sort bc it's so high priced.