Want to make it fancier? Include a larger quantity of affordable, heavier snacks like mini grilled cheese sandwiches, tortellini and sauce cups, or even items like spinach puffs. This tip is also great for if you have a lot of children or grown up picky eaters or want to save on wait staff expenses.

Which means that a slightly smaller plate might subconsciously discourage them from wasting food or taking too much of your carefully alloted dishes. Finally, here are other ways to keep event catering costs down.

Soups, spruced up canned goods, and all manner of delectable roasted creations combat common colds and ward off overspending on event food. Check out these light, refreshing, and floral ideas for some spring event food and beverage inspiration.

Next, be sure to brush up on your catering preparation plan. Then, get unique budget-friendly centerpiece ideas or summer event decor ideas. The cheapest food to cater is any rice or noodle-based cultural cuisine. Pizza is also a reliably cheap option. Catering costs can vary widely depending on cuisine, location, and level of service.

Webinar Spotlight: New Year, New You: Discover Tools to Make Your Events Better Than Ever! Register now. Home » Monday Motivation: 40 Budget-Smart Event Catering Ideas for Every Season. When searching for catering menu ideas for large groups, make sure you take the time of day into account.

Pasta is an ideal partner for healthy foods and ingredients such as vegetables, beans, and herbs whole or in sauce form and extra virgin olive oil. Nuts, fish, and small amounts of meat or cheese can also be added for extra flavor and protein.

Healthy pasta meals are a balance of pleasure and health! Pasta e Fagioli Mediterranean. Sopa de Fideos Latin American Heritage. Asian Garlic Noodles Asian Heritage. Jamaican Rasta Pasta African Heritage. Vegetables are at the heart of all traditional diets around the world.

Cost and availability are cited as reasons. Frozen vegetables are an affordable and available solution. No waste. To stretch even more flavor and nutrition from a pot of simmering vegetables, save the cooking water for another use, such as for future soups or sauces. In African Heritage culinary traditions, this nutritious cooking liquid is called pot likker, which no savvy cook would let go to waste.

Vegetable Risotto Mediterranean. South American Vegetable and Rice Soup Latin American Heritage. Aloo-Palak Asian Heritage. Oldways Kenyan Vegetable Mashed Potatoes African Heritage. Tomatoes are a great source of several vitamins and minerals: Lycopene, Vitamin C, Potassium, Iron, Fiber and Beta Carotene [1].

We can all agree that perfectly ripe fresh tomatoes are a treat. But they have a fairly short growing season. For those months when tomatoes are not in season in your neck of the woods, canned tomatoes are a perfect option for tomato lovers, because they are harvested fresh and packed within hours and can deliver year-round nutrition, good taste, and affordability.

This liquid can be saved and used as a way to add flavor to rice or other whole grains, such as in the Jollof Rice recipe below. One Pot Mediterranean Orzo Mediterranean. Oldways Jollof Rice African Heritage. Asian Tomato and Rice Bowl Asian Heritage. Chicken Tortilla Soup Latin American Heritage.

The incredible egg was the budget buster of the new year. Packed with protein, eggs are a staple in the Mediterranean Diet. One large egg contains about 70 calories, 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.

Eggs fit into menus around the world. Here are a few of our favorites. For more ideas, take a look at 12 Great Ways to Use Eggs. Greek Lentil Frittata Mediterranean. Harissa Hummus Breakfast Tartine African Heritage.

Edamame Sweet Pea and Egg Breakfast Tortilla Latin American Heritage. Miso Kale Power Bowl Asian Heritage. There are so many reasons why canned seafood is good for your health: they are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B and selenium.

Convenience, price and ease are three more reasons to rely on canned and pouched seafood. Keeping these cans and pouches in your pantry makes an easy, delicious, healthy meal only minutes away.

(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy

Keep your meals creative and your grocery costs low with this curated meal plan. Get the Printable Shopping List Here. 01 of Week 1 Warung restaurants also dole it out cheap as anything. The fried rice, mixed with shreds of meat and vegetables and topped with a fried egg, is a filling way to Here is one of my favorite inexpensive homemade Chinese food dishes. Chinese chop suey is the quintessential comfort dish – chicken or pork and vegetables: Budget-friendly ethnic food options

Otions, this is the salad ooptions, with noodles in addition to pink radishesorange carrots, Horticulture product samples cabbage, sthnic green cucumbers. NOTE: To avoid fluctuating regional differences, we used Walmart. When I saw … continue reading. Ethnic recipes from poorer countries tend to be economical. Ready to discover tailor-made travel? Choose these options first over deep fried or breaded cuts of meat.	Where possible, STOP shopping the big box stores and fancy grocery stores. Many ethnic cuisines use plenty of low fat dairy products in their cuisine. Read the rest of this series here. The charmingly named bunny chow has an interesting history that has its roots in the Great Depression. What are the advantages of potluck catering?	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty ethnic food options here. Are there any clever affordable recipes you have – that don't kill the budget but give a little spice to foods:) Make a meal plan (page 30) and shopping list. (page 29). Use the food you have and the deals you find in store ads and coupons. □ Add more fruits and	Mexican, Indian, and Thai dishes are delicious and affordable. Or, if you're hosting an event during the day, serve brunch and breakfast items. Those meals typically aren't meat heavy (which are usually the priciest items) and can include delicious produce like fresh berries, grapefruits, and bananas Here is one of my favorite inexpensive homemade Chinese food dishes. Chinese chop suey is the quintessential comfort dish – chicken or pork and vegetables Missing
One lptions of cabbage goes a ethnlc way. Photo by Free dental care product samples Kyle. Free dental care product samples an array of appetizers available, your guests can sample different flavors and find their favorites. The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua.	Some of my favorite meals are those my mom made at the end of her budget! When my husband and I visited Hawaii long ago, we ate on the cheap, buying groceries and making our own meals. Indeed, it turns out that Egypt was probably the first to create these balls of veggie goodness, as evidence of the recipe has apparently been found as early as years ago, during the time of the pharaohs. Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both. Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones. Tajines tend to include slow-cooked red meat with dried fruit, vegetables and nuts, or chicken with lemons and olives, and can cost just 30dh. But they have a fairly short growing season.	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	ethnic food options here. Are there any clever affordable recipes you have – that don't kill the budget but give a little spice to foods:) Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian Enchiladas · BA's Best Chicken Parmesan · One-Skillet Chicken Not only affordable, beans are packed with protein and fiber, and are adaptable, fitting into any cuisine. Just think of rice and beans – a	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy
Jump to Budget-friendly ethnic food options. This has been a optikns money saver tood our home. Here are a few of Request free trial samples favorites. Bkdget-friendly i would like to know is. Make it buffet style for the ultimate versatile catering option and utilize budget friendly ingredients! We've curated a month's worth of budget-friendly dinners ready in 30 minutes or less, each of which yields two servings. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishesorange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.	Quite tasty. Nothing is cozier. Allrecipes Allstar Buckwheat Queen describes these quinoa burgers as, "A veggie burger to sink your teeth into. With a few simple steps, you can successfully plan a party for 50 people! Also, how much water you add depends on what consistency you want. Reviewer samantha says, "This comes together very quickly and is a great way to use up extra basil growing in the garden.	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	2. "My absolute cheapest meal is mujadara. Well-browned onions, lentils, rice, salt, and pepper. It's so much more than it Missing Keep your meals creative and your grocery costs low with this curated meal plan. Get the Printable Shopping List Here. 01 of Week 1	Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian Enchiladas · BA's Best Chicken Parmesan · One-Skillet Chicken 24 OF THE BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY DINNER RECIPES. PORK MEATBALLS WITH Indian or Thai chili, seeded and minced. ½ cup yellow split mung dal Italian and Spanish food sections are usually filled with relatively inexpensive jarred items, such as marinated mushrooms and peppers and

Ethnic food options here. Are there any clever affordable recipes you have – that don't kill the budget but give a little spice to foods:) Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian Enchiladas · BA's Best Chicken Parmesan · One-Skillet Chicken Mexican, Indian, and Thai dishes are delicious and affordable. Or, if you're hosting an event during the day, serve brunch and breakfast items. Those meals typically aren't meat heavy (which are usually the priciest items) and can include delicious produce like fresh berries, grapefruits, and bananas: Budget-friendly ethnic food options

What Budget-frkendly the Free Food Samples Budget-friendly ethnic food options potluck catering? We optioms your red lentil optipns recipe with the Indian spices. Great ideas. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. Anything made with Home Canned Beans! Although we and most of our readers love the mixture of nutritional yeastgarlic powder, and onion powder on these vegan nuggets, one commenter was less impressed.	Bio Latest Posts. But, for a mouthwatering, inexpensive treat, go to one of the popular Coppelia ice-cream shops — here you can buy the sweet stuff for next to nothing. Used …. Ice cream, Cuba 8. Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious. Related: 7 Frugal Foods You Can Eat Everyday to save Money and Still Eat Healthy	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	2. "My absolute cheapest meal is mujadara. Well-browned onions, lentils, rice, salt, and pepper. It's so much more than it Best Choices: Thai Food · Spanish Tapas, Made Healthier · Healthy Indian Choices · Dining Out: Japanese · Mexican Food, Made Lighter. Next Up. What's the Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	Best Choices: Thai Food · Spanish Tapas, Made Healthier · Healthy Indian Choices · Dining Out: Japanese · Mexican Food, Made Lighter. Next Up. What's the These affordable Asian dinner recipes include variations on fried rice, stir-fried dishes, meaty entrees, comfort soup, and much more ethnic food options here. Are there any clever affordable recipes you have – that don't kill the budget but give a little spice to foods:)
unoiled allow ethmic cook until brown on Free vegetable seeds Budget-friendly ethnic food options and flip to Budyet-friendly on the other side. Toasted nutritional yeast, full of umami, also pushes this Free dental care product samples recipe into a deeply savory, deeply tasty zone. A while ago, I asked on our Facebook page for you to share your favorite cheap meals to eat when your budget is stretched. about half of a block of velvetta or any kind of cheese you like 4. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou.	That grease makes veggies taste wonderful, and if you have more month than money, you can use the grease to make gravy. It also allows for a more relaxed atmosphere, as guests can take their time to enjoy their meal. For more ideas, take a look at 12 Great Ways to Use Eggs. Our food prices are a bit higher in Canada, but I will go into the city and shop in ethnic stores to get cheaper staples and naturally gluten free ingredients. Alex Lau. Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley. Skip to content This post may contain affiliate links.	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	Warung restaurants also dole it out cheap as anything. The fried rice, mixed with shreds of meat and vegetables and topped with a fried egg, is a filling way to ethnic food options here. Are there any clever affordable recipes you have – that don't kill the budget but give a little spice to foods:) These affordable Asian dinner recipes include variations on fried rice, stir-fried dishes, meaty entrees, comfort soup, and much more	Not only affordable, beans are packed with protein and fiber, and are adaptable, fitting into any cuisine. Just think of rice and beans – a Keep your meals creative and your grocery costs low with this curated meal plan. Get the Printable Shopping List Here. 01 of Week 1 Explore Ethnic Cuisine. Exploring ethnic restaurants can be a budget-friendly way to enjoy delicious meals. Many ethnic eateries offer
Tacos, Mexico You can make Homemade Taco Sauce ethnlc. My mom used to make rice and tomatoes and fried potatoes. Photo by Chelsea Kyle. Pizza pizza pizza!	What a wonderful list. and possibly a few good cookbooks! The discount cart is where they put packages that dropped or got damaged in shipment. In the evening, shawarma shops teem with people tucking in at tables or queueing for bargain-priced takeaway orders. Brown Rice and Red Beans in Light Coconut Milk African Heritage.	(Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy	Missing Budget-friendly ethnic cuisine options like Mexican, Indian, Thai, or Chinese dishes can provide a unique and affordable catering experience for meal. All of these options are examples of foods, otherwise ignored, being transformed into visually appealing, delicious and affordable options	Rice is a staple for so many ethnic foods. I can always make fried rice with stir-fried onions, chopped carrots and celery with a dash of soy Make a meal plan (page 30) and shopping list. (page 29). Use the food you have and the deals you find in store ads and coupons. □ Add more fruits and 2. "My absolute cheapest meal is mujadara. Well-browned onions, lentils, rice, salt, and pepper. It's so much more than it

Budget-friendly ethnic food options - Missing (Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy

Despite the fact that for the most part we are not relying entirely on foods grown locally, it is very possible to take this concept and turn it into healthy, budget-friendly meals that are super delicious. Here are some ways to take humble, budget-friendly ingredients, and as Giulla suggests, turn them into unforgettable meals!

To do this, take a look at the global recipe favorites from the Oldways and Whole Grains Council recipe collection below , along with current grocery store pricing for these ingredients that are friendly to your bank account, your health and your taste buds!

NOTE: To avoid fluctuating regional differences, we used Walmart. com for grocery pricing. Canned and dried beans are perfect for families on a tight budget. Not only affordable, beans are packed with protein and fiber, and are adaptable, fitting into any cuisine. Just think of rice and beans — a universal dish.

Here are a few global favorites from the Oldways recipe collection. Try to buy no- or low-sodium canned beans and be sure to rinse well. Black Bean Bulgur Salad Mediterranean. Chana Masala Asian Heritage. Easy Black Bean Soup Latin American Heritage. Nutrition-wise, brown rice is a great choice.

Brown rice contains all of its healthy bran and germ, has more than twice as much fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, and magnesium as refined white rice, as well as more of many other essential nutrients.

Whole grain brown rice has been shown to cut diabetes risk , inhibit some cancers, and darker colored rice such as red and black rice are rich in antioxidants. When compared to total occasions, brown rice occasions highly over-index for Chinese, global fusion, Spanish, Indian Middle Eastern, and Tex-Mex cuisines, and then strongly over-index for Mexican, Contemporary Italian, French, and Japanese cuisines.

The research also shows brown rice is often paired with healthy ingredients and helps to drive consumption of other nutrient-dense foods. And as you can see below, long grain brown rice is less expensive than the same private label long grain white rice. Brown Rice Pilaf with Golden Raisins and Almonds Mediterranean.

Brown Rice and Red Beans in Light Coconut Milk African Heritage. Wild Veggie Tostadas Latin American Heritage. Vegetarian Bibimbap Asian Heritage. Thousands of years ago, people ground wheat, mixed it with water to make a wheat paste, dried it, and then boiled it to go with meals.

A healthy pasta meal is truly the sum of its parts and features two key factors: what you pair with your pasta, and how much pasta you eat in a meal. Pasta is an ideal partner for healthy foods and ingredients such as vegetables, beans, and herbs whole or in sauce form and extra virgin olive oil.

A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp. Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream.

Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers. One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four.

The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze. We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion.

Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner. And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method.

This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes. Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling. Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you.

Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils. And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan. The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry.

One style of cheap meals: recipes chosen with their leftovers in mind , making two meals out of one. For example, these ground beef meatballs and their tomato sauce make for a great hoagie filling the next day. If you've already got miso in your fridge and don't want to spend on something new, you could use that in this stew recipe instead of gochujang.

It will be a whole different vibe, but a vibe nonetheless. Serve it with a poached egg and a slice of bread for a good cheap meal. Easy homemade tomato soup is an upgrade to the canned stuff, but we don't judge.

Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible comfort food. Consider this roast chicken your Sunday dinner. And then your Monday lunch, too. You can turn the leftover meat into pulled chicken sandwiches or a chicken noodle salad. Do not underestimate the potential of the often underrated legume, the lentil, a key ingredient when it comes to filling but cheap meals.

Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious. Freeze half of these burgers to pull out during those times when you get the craving for fast food.

Just add heat; you already paid. Here are our favorite ways to prove that a cheap meal can also be the best meal. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness. View Recipe. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua.

Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. Photo by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua.

Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley.

This … continue reading. Crab Rangoons are a delicious appetizer for any occasion, but make a wonderfully simple game … continue reading.

Esquites, aka Mexican street corn salad is both smoky and spicy with hints of tangy … continue reading. I love tamales plural but they can be really time-consuming to make. When I saw … continue reading.

Fattoush is a delicious Lebanese salad topped with fried khubz basically crunchy pita chips , radishes, … continue reading. German Currywurst is a savory street food of pork sausages smothered in a curried tomato … continue reading.

This quick 3-ingredient homemade mirin works perfectly as a substitute for many delectable recipes calling … continue reading.

Brought to Singapore by the people of Hainan an island off the southern-most coast of … continue reading. cornstarch 2 tbsp. water ½ scallion — … continue reading.

chicken wings 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper 1½ oz. corn syrup 2 … continue reading.

Budget-friendly ethnic food options - Missing (Read the rest of this series here). Whether it is a spicy Indian curry, a smooth hummus, a flavorful beef pho soup, or bean and rice Cuban dish Beans and stews are amazing and you can find lots of ethnic variations - red beans and rice, refried, cassoulet, minestrone. It's all pretty Fill up on Fruit and Vegetable-Based Dishes; Choose Lean Proteins; Avoid Refined Carbohydrates; Pick Alcohol or Dessert, but Not Both; Opt for Low Fat Dairy

Of course, what better way to find cheap meal ideas than to ask our community! A while ago, I asked on our Facebook page for you to share your favorite cheap meals to eat when your budget is stretched. Here are some frugal meal ideas from you, our readers!

You can read even more suggestions, over of them, here on our Facebook page. What are some of your favorite meals to make for yourself or your family when the budget is stretched thin?

Share them with us and add to the ever-growing list! It has been updated as of June Support Little House Living by Sharing This. Your email address will not be published. Hamburger Gravy.

Simple dish that stretches and my family loves it. Ground hamburger cook completely, add lots of water and any spices you have on hand like onions, garlic, sage. In a pot cook your veggies, any thing you have available, once cooked add to your meat. Thicken with starch or flour to make your gravy.

Pour this over cooked rice or mashed potatoes or what my mom did when I was a kid was over a piece of bread. When I seem to have more month than money,I usually try and think of things that use potatoes,eggs,milk and bread.

I have these on hand all the time and I can use any bits and pieces I may have leftover with them. I do not always use all of those things..

but they give a strong base to work with. It just takes creative thinking.. and possibly a few good cookbooks! Completely agree! I can whip up some eggs and fry some potatoes and call it breakfast for dinner… Practically free when you have chickens.

We made lots of homemade hamburger helper when our budget get stretched thin…ner. Because who are we kidding? At the moment our budget it ALWAYS thin. We chop up some onion and garlic and cook it up with some hamburger.

and let it simmer until the noodles are done. Then just turn off the heat, mix in a little grated cheese and VOILA! Tuna Stuff:Can of drained tuna, can of drained peas, can of cream of chicken soup, minced onion, some milk or water. Mix all and heat through.

Serve over rice. That is my BBQ Chicken Drumsticks 🙂. Pizza pizza pizza! Anything can be a topping, from roasted peppers to left over rotisserie chicken or a random meatball.

No sauce no problem we like to use our canned tomatoes drained cut up and sprinkled on top then use the juice for something else. My sister and I will bring our leftovers together on a Friday and the results never disappoint! LV your site. What i would like to know is.

old window 1-yr. just me 1-dog,3-cats. The only income is from my SS. How would i go about doing stockpiling. So i have to make it go for 4-weeks. I do try to pile up on non-food items cause they will last a LONG time. I do a lot of shopping Aldis learn that from my daughter.

Any help will help. Thank You. Having been single most of my adult life I understand the struggles of cooking for one and doing that on an almost none existent food budget. I always had things like pasta various kinds and I kept them in sealed glass containers to keep bugs out ,canned beans and tomato sauce on hand.

I like to bake, so I always have the basics for baking. I would cook up as small of portions I could cook. Then freeze half for another meal. Like spaghetti sauce. I would freeze things like flour, coffee beans and popcorn kernels. I could buy in bulk but still keep them fresh.

I am a stay-at-home-mom and we, my husband, child and I had lived in a duplex for several years while my husband paid off our truck loan, our credit card debts all the bills and all the insurance payments on 2 cars, and all the gas money, the internet and etc: 1.

That is the way I get different vegetables such as bell peppers, tomatoes, and spicy peppers to roast in the oven to make salsa. I can buy mushrooms for cheap and slice them and store them in bags in the freezer, along with sliced zucchini and carrots.

I can make applesauce with the apples from the discount cart and freeze or jar that, too. I can take the best of the strawberries and cut out the bad spots and put those in a bag and freeze them. I have enough bags of these to make several soups and strawberry fruit smoothies.

The discount cart is where they put packages that dropped or got damaged in shipment. Sometimes, say, a box or two of cake mix falls off the shelf and the cardboard box breaks open, but the contents in the sealed bag are undamaged. After I finished it, I cleaned out and dried out a very big oz jug of juice and now I store my rice in it to keep the bugs out.

I refill with those bags of rice from the discount cart and rarely run out. Rice is a staple for so many ethnic foods. I can always make fried rice with stir-fried onions, chopped carrots and celery with a dash of soy sauce and one scrambled egg for very cheap any day of the month.

I have several ethnic cookbooks to help me cook all those vegetables I get from the discount cart. Be on the lookout for bags of dried lentils as they are cheaper than canned, they mix with rice and spices found at the dollar store. You can buy good spices in those little cellophane bags found in the ethnic food aisles at your store.

get a good cookbook and learn how to cook with spices — they help make small meals taste good. I cook a lot with rice and potatoes by simply adding meat and spices, but I am equally fine with vegetarian meals.

Be on the lookout for things in the discount cart such as canned tomatoes, noodles, canned beans of all kinds, dried beans, and canned fruits. You can do quite a lot with fresh vegetables and rice with a good ethnic cookbook and a good vegetarian cookbook.

I get things like spices, jars of sauces, and condiments from the dollar store because when it comes to brand-names the generic brand of ketchup, mustard, and soy sauce, vinegars, and worchestershire sauce are fine with me.

I also get off-brand resealable bags, soaps, and oddly, off-brand laundry soap from the dollar store. Ramen noodles are really just an ingredient or a base for other meals. I can take leftover takeout food such as beans and rice from the Mexican restaurant, and reheat it in a fry pan, add scramble an egg with it, and with the leftover salsa I have Huevos rancheros for breakfast.

With all these things, I can actually do quite a lot with a small budget. Great ideas. Our food prices are a bit higher in Canada, but I will go into the city and shop in ethnic stores to get cheaper staples and naturally gluten free ingredients. Ethnic recipes from poorer countries tend to be economical.

Soups are always my food budget stretcher. I can cook up a whole chicken one night. Then make broth from the carcass and use the leftovers picked off the bones for soup. Make some homemade bread I use the dough setting on my bread machine then bake in the oven and your family will think they have a gourmet meal.

Another favorite is sausage bean soup. Sausage, couple cans of favorite beans, stewed or diced tomatoes and either veg or beef broth.

Add whatever seasonings you like and you have a quick, cheap soup. Love the hash brown casserole idea. Thank you for these. Hubby and I are retired military and are pretty prepared.

I make simple marinara sauce from any canned tomatoes I have from my garden or store bought that are on sale. Some nights its just plain, other nights I add peas, other nights mushrooms or beans.

Pasta is cheap and 1lb makes enough for dinner and a great lunch. Plus adding other sauteed veggies makes it healthy too! Thank you so much for your post about how to make frugal meals. It came just when I needed it too.

Lots of great new ideas, that I will use this week. The middle to the end of the month are always hard weeks for us, as we are on one income. Stir fried rice with what every veggies you have on hand left over meat or scrambled eggs.

This also makes a good breakfast. Rice mainly white is a big staple at our house. Boil, then simmer 15 min, then let sit still covered 5 or 10 minutes, fluff, and serve.

Rinse in ~5 changes of water. I hold the sieve over a big bowl and swish it around while the water runs, then dump the water and repeat. Then I leave them over the bowl to drain while I heat up some oil and peel some garlic.

After the tomato disintegrates some 5 min? I add the lentils, water, and garlic no need to chop the garlic. Simmer until done, about 20 min, add salt, take out the garlic.

You can add a leafy green in the last few minutes of cooking, or add other spices, etc. Also, how much water you add depends on what consistency you want.

I make them thick, so I add enough water to be a bit under an inch above the lentils. I love this post and find it really encouraging! I would love to hear what you guys think! Chili Mac- one box of swirly noodles and 2 cans of amour chili with beans.

Cook noodles. Add chili. Cost less than 5 bucks! Feeds approx Quesadillas are my favorite in-a-pinch meal. I just fill the tortillas with whatever I have on hand: cheese of course , rice, beans, spinach, diced tomatoes… the possibilities are endless.

We ate these for a week! My Burmese friend makes a very nourishing and filling soup from by using a large pot with 2 to 3 quarts of both or water. Into that add 1 cup of rice. Let this come to a boil and then simmer until the rice is completely dissolved and it looks creamy.

You can add bits of leftover meat or fish, leftover veggies or fresh diced or grated veggies. Season with salt and pepper and whatever else your family likes. This makes 1 cup of rice and a few leftovers make a really good meal. The rice part is called congee and I make it all the time in my crockpot.

Just as you said, you can add so many things to it. Great post and comments. New ideas are always a great resource when money is tight. My meal ideas for times like this are: making a batch of no knead dough which uses only flour, water, salt and yeast. I make English muffins with it, pizza, and bread.

And cheese if i have a little bit. I also make an almost free soup using bits of all leftover veges and beef that I have saved from cooking from weeks prior. Usually I add a can of tomato sauce to this frozen leftover assortment and it is great.

Making a loaf of bread is super frugal for breakfasts just served with jam or as toast. My mom used to make rice and tomatoes and fried potatoes.

She used a can of tomatoes, with salt, pepper, bacon grease and a sprinkle of sugar which we ate over white rice.

For a treat we would have biscuits with molasses or hot chocolate pudding. I think homemade dumplings or noodles in some sort of meat broth, thickened is also super cheap and filling.

Some of my favorite meals are those my mom made at the end of her budget! Simple but good stuff. Fried egg sandwiches are also one of my favorite cheap meals.

I like cauliflower, corn, carrot, broccoli blend…add some cooked meat , chicken or pork…cut up in small to med cubes.. aprox 1 chick leg or thigh…is good enough…. cook a few minutes and serve. The burger dog…. fry it and serve on a stick like a corndog or in a bun likes hot dog…..

also if you have a few bucks to spare on a treat. I like hot Cheetos with cone dip. The hot chocolate creates a nice hard shell around the hot Cheetos….

Trust me on this one…the combination is delicious. Diy sushi bowls. I cook rice with a can of salmon mixed in. Serve with cucumber sticks and seaweed. My kids make their own mini sushi rolls at the table.

I always made mac n cheese with wieners that I sliced up and browned in a little margarine. Mix these together for a pretty darn good, and cheap meal. When I stock up on sales, say ground beef.

I fry it all then portion it out for different meals such as taco salad, stew etc. I label what they are for and freeze. I allot them for times the budget is tight. That way I have easy fix meal ideas already half done and my budget gets a break!

Save bacon grease. After cooking bacon, let the grease cool slightly, then strain into a pint jar. I use a small sieve, but you can also push a coffee filter an inch or so into the jar, then screw on the lid and strain the grease through that.

That grease makes veggies taste wonderful, and if you have more month than money, you can use the grease to make gravy. Even without any meat, gravy served over hot biscuits or rice, or potatoes is very filling! What a wonderful list.

There are lots of times when I have to figure out something for dinner on a whim. Too many trips to town eats up too much gas money. I learned living so far out, you plan ahead better.

I typically have dried beef in the freezer and we just have dried beef gravy over toast a lot of times. And we actually like it. Thank you so much for sharing these ideas.

I will have to remember these next time we get in a pinch. I made up an artisan bread recipe that bakes in a loaf pan, it has half whole wheat flour and half unbleached flour, salt, yeast, water. Great way to stretch the budget. Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them.

These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze. It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness.

The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes.

A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper. Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor.

This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season. In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale.

This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting. This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs.

Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them. A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles.

In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright. Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor.

A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.

One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four. The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze.

We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion. Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner. And no, it will not break the bank.

This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method. This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes.

Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling. Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you. Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils. And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan.

The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry. One style of cheap meals: recipes chosen with their leftovers in mind , making two meals out of one. For example, these ground beef meatballs and their tomato sauce make for a great hoagie filling the next day.

If you've already got miso in your fridge and don't want to spend on something new, you could use that in this stew recipe instead of gochujang. It will be a whole different vibe, but a vibe nonetheless. Serve it with a poached egg and a slice of bread for a good cheap meal.

Easy homemade tomato soup is an upgrade to the canned stuff, but we don't judge. Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible comfort food.

Consider this roast chicken your Sunday dinner. And then your Monday lunch, too. You can turn the leftover meat into pulled chicken sandwiches or a chicken noodle salad.

Do not underestimate the potential of the often underrated legume, the lentil, a key ingredient when it comes to filling but cheap meals.

Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious.

Freeze half of these burgers to pull out during those times when you get the craving for fast food. Just add heat; you already paid. Here are our favorite ways to prove that a cheap meal can also be the best meal.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness. View Recipe. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. Photo by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua.

Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley.

Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht. Photography by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman.

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