cheap meal ideas

Classic macaroni and tomatoes is the budget friendly dish that has been around for generations. Keep it simple as a side dish or jazz it up and make it a meal.

Macaroni and Tomatoes Recipe

oz Box of Elbow Macaroni (about 2 c, uncooked)

tbs Bacon Grease

oz Can of Petite Diced Tomatoes,

Salt,

Black Pepper,

Sugar (optional)

tbs Cold Water

tsp Cornstarch

Cook the macaroni pasta according to box directions;...

Cook the macaroni pasta according to box directions; drain well.

While the pasta drains, return the pot to...

While the pasta drains, return the pot to the stove (over medium heat); add bacon grease and melt then and canned diced tomatoes. Stir to combine.

Add the cooked macaroni to the tomato mixture....

Add the cooked macaroni to the tomato mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and pinch of sugar. Stir until heated through.

Next, if using the thickening slurry; combine the...

Next, if using the thickening slurry; combine the cornstarch with cold water and add the pot. Stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the juices are thickened (about 10 minutes).

https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/q7pcpthwjtkbg20jv93j.mp4

A simple side dish of macaroni and tomatoes is a long time favorite recipe and considered a comfort food by many. This budget friendly meal is made with just a few simple ingredients.

Southern Macaroni and Tomatoes Recipe

These sushi rolls taste great with teriyaki chicken, avocado, and fresh asparagus. You can certainly sub other fillings, such as cooked or fried shrimp, fried crab, imitation crab meat, tofu, or sushi grade raw fish. Other fresh filling ideas include carrots, cucumbers, kaiware sprouts, cream cheese, or mango.

How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Sushi Rolls At Home

Pickled ginger

Wasabi

Sriracha mayonnaise

onions (I got mine at an Indian grocery store)

seaweed

Chicken

avocado

asparagus spears

boneless, skinless chicken breast

Bottled teriyaki sauce

Sesame oil

Brown sugar

sushi rice

water

Rice vinegar

Prepare sushi rice. Rinse rice with cold water....

Prepare sushi rice. Rinse rice with cold water. Place in a heavy-duty saucepan with water. Turn heat on to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until rice is cooked. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once rice is cool, sprinkle with rice vinegar - 1 to 2 tablespoons should do it. Set aside until ready to assemble rolls.

Make teriyaki chicken. Slice chicken breast into thin...

Make teriyaki chicken. Slice chicken breast into thin strips. Place in a plastic bag and sprinkle with a few drops of teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, and a pinch of brown sugar. Mix in bag and place in fridge to marinade for an hour or so. Fry chicken in a bit of olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and slightly crisp on the outside. Remove from frying pan and set aside to cool.

To assemble sushi rolls: Using a sushi mat,...

To assemble sushi rolls: Using a sushi mat, lay seaweed shiny side down. Top with sushi rice (enough so that the seaweed is covered, leaving the top inch or so bare) Top with additional ingredients (chicken, avocado slices, and asparagus). See photo above in post for a visual. Start rolling the sushi from top to bottom, making sure that you are keeping the roll tight - you don't want it to fall apart when you slice it. Repeat with remaining rolls. This should be enough to make 5 rolls.

Wrap and cut: Wrap rolls in saran wrap...

Wrap and cut: Wrap rolls in saran wrap and store in fridge until ready to cut. Use a serrated knife to cut each roll into 8 thin slices. Serve with ginger and wasabi on the side.

Sausage Tortellini Soup - Slow Cooker

lb Italian sausage

tomatoes

chicken broth

carrots,

celery sticks, chopped

white onion, chopped

salt and pepper

spinach

packet cheese tortellini, refrigerated

heavy cream

On the stove, cook the sausage with onion for about 7 - 9 minutes or until the sausage is fully cooked. Remove any excess grease. Add to the slow cooker. Add in all the remaining ingredients EXCEPT heavy cream, tortellini and spinach (keep cold for later).

Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours.

20 minutes before serving add in the heavy cream, tortellini and spinach and set crockpot to high heat, cook for 20 minutes. Stir lightly.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry

chicken,

white onion, diced

tbs minced ginger

tbs minced garlic

tomato paste

1.5 tbs garam masala

tbs curry powder

tsp salt

tsp pepper

coconut milk

tomato sauce

In a slow cooker add the ginger, garlic, tomato paste, gram masala, curry powder, salt, pepper, coconut milk, and tomato sauce whisk to combine the ingredients. Now add the cubed chicken and onion, stir well.

Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours (or until chicken is cooked)

Once cooked stir well and serve. I like to serve mine over a bed of white rice and naan bread on the side.

Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

oz Jar of Salsa Verde Salsa

oz Block of Cream Cheese, Softened

Shredded Mexican Cheese

oz Bag Frozen Riced Cauliflower, steamed

tsp Ground Cumin

tsp Garlic Powder

tsp Onion Powder

Salt

Pepper

Toppings,

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To a large bowl, add the cream cheese and beat for 1-2 minutes with a hand mixer until smooth. Add in salsa verde, 1/2 cup of the cheese, cauliflower rice, and seasonings, and beat to combine. Stir in the shredded chicken.

Spray an 8x8 casserole dish with non-stick spray. Add the mixture to the dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 35 minutes. Enjoy!

Five-Ingredient Mexican Casserole

yellow onion, diced

refried beans

flour tortillas

salsa

Mexican style cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

To a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp of oil. Once hot, add in the onion and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes or until it starts to get soft. Stir in the refried beans. To a new large skillet add 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add each tortilla, one at a time, and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side to crisp the tortillas up. This will help the tortillas to not get soggy in the oven.

Spray a 9-inch pie dish with nonstick spray.

Place one tortilla down on the pie dish and spread about 1/3 of the refried bean mixture. Then spread some salsa and cheese over the top. Repeat until the ingredients are gone.

Bake for 20 minutes and top with your favorite taco toppings.

Chicken Alfredo Casserole with Broccoli

oz box penne pasta, cooked

jars Alfredo sauce

mozzarella cheese

oz broccoli

chicken

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray.

To a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, chicken, broccoli, Alfredo sauce, and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. Stir until combined. Add to greased baking dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup more cheese over the top. Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for 12 minutes. Enjoy!

Chicken Orzo Soup

olive oil

tbs butter

tbsp minced garlic

thyme

oregano

tbsp all-purpose flour

dry orzo pasta

heavy cream (optional, but delicious!)

To a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the butter and olive oil. Once oil is hot and butter is melted, add in the onion and carrot. Sauté for 8 minutes to soften the veggies.

Stir in the minced garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the flour and let it cook for about 2 minutes, or until it becomes golden in color. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, being careful to continually whisk so that the flour doesn't clump up.

Stir in the orzo and chicken, then bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 11-12 minutes or until orzo is cooked, stirring often so the orzo doesn’t stick. Stir in the heavy cream and enjoy!

Chicken Noodle Casserole

egg noodles

chicken soup

mushroom soup

sour cream (use light sour cream

milk

cheddar cheese

mixed vegetables

garlic powder

salt

onion powder

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Grease a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray.

To a large pot of boiling water add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions. Strain and set aside.

To a large bowl, add in both cans of soup, sour cream, milk, 1/3 cup of the cheese, onion, mixed vegetables, and seasonings and stir well. Stir in the cooked egg noodles.

Pour into the baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

8 Can Taco Soup - Slow Cooker and Stovetop

-14 ounces can diced tomatoes, drained

sweet corn, drained

cream of chicken soup

- 1 ounces packet taco seasoning

green enchilada sauce

Grease the slow cooker with nonstick spray, add all of the ingredients into the slow cooker stir well. Cook on LOW for 3-5 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.

Once cooked stir well. Top with your favorite toppings, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, and more!

Slow Cooker

Add all of the ingredients into a Dutch oven over medium heat. Heat until all of the ingredients are warmed through, stirring occasionally, about 20-30 minutes. Top with your favorite toppings, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, and more!

Stovetop

Easy Chicken Fried Rice

tbsp minced ginger

jasmine rice, cooked

eggs

soy sauce

Sesame seeds and green onions,

To a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tbsp of the olive oil. Once hot, add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute.

Stir in the chicken, rice, and mixed vegetables and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. To a small bowl crack the eggs and whisk until well beaten.

Push everything to one side of the pan and add the additional tablespoon of oil on the empty side of the pan. Once the oil is hot, add in the eggs and cook until scrambled. Once the eggs are scrambled, mix everything together and stir in soy sauce. Let everything cook together for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Enjoy with sesame seeds and sliced green onions on top!

BBQ Chicken Rolls Ups

3.8 oz can refrigerated pizza crust (or similar size)

bbq sauce, any brand works

oz canned chicken, drained (or any type of cooked shredded chicken)

green onions

Preheat oven to 425 F. Unroll the pizza crust on a large surface. Spread the bbq sauce over the crust and sprinkle with the chicken, onions, and cheese.

Roll the dough up like a cinnamon roll, starting from the long side of the rectangle, then slice into 3-inch slices.

Place onto a greased sheet pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

yellow onion, chopped

broccoli, chopped

butter

lb chicken breast, cubed

paprika

lb medium shell pasta

Parmesan cheese

cheddar cheese, shredded

To a large pot over medium heat, add the oil. Once hot, add the onions, carrots and broccoli and  cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add in the butter and the cubed chicken and season with all of the seasonings. Cook for 3 minutes. The chicken does not need to be completely cooked through at this point.

Stir in the broth and milk. Bring up to a simmer. Now stir in the pasta and let simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender. Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the Parmesan and cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt and serve.

Sun Dried Tomato Tortellini

Italian seasoning

basil

cornstarch

Italian-style petite diced tomatoes

sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

frozen cheese tortellini

fresh spinach, chopped

To a large pot, add the oil and heat over medium heat. Once hot, add in the chicken and the seasonings. Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes. The chicken does not need to be completely cooked throughout at this point.

While the chicken is cooking, make the cornstarch slurry. Add the water and cornstarch to a small bowl. Whisk well together to create a slurry.

To the pot, add in the minced garlic, diced tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, broth, heavy cream, and cornstarch slurry. Stir well and bring up to a simmer.

Once simmering, add in the tortellini stir and let simmer for 5-8 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the tortellini is tender. Stir in the spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Let cook for 2 minutes to wilt the spinach and melt the cheese. Enjoy!

Cowboy BBQ Chicken and Rice

chicken breast

barbecue sauce, divided

jasmine white rice

corn,

black beans, drained and rinsed

cilantro

Season the chicken breast on each side with a dash of salt and pepper, then brush 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce on both sides of the chicken breast.

To a large deep skillet, add the olive oil over medium high heat, once hot add the chicken breast into the pan and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side. It does not need to be cooked through.

Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

To the same pan, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to soften the onion. Add in the rice, corn, and black beans. Stir well. Add in the remaining fourth a cup of barbecue sauce and the broth. Stir well and bring up to a simmer. Add the chicken breast back into the pan and cover with a lid. Let that simmer for about 30 minutes or until the rice is tender, and the chicken is cooked through.

Top 22 cheap meal ideas recipes from across the web

The most viewed cheap meal ideas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Macaroni and Tomatoes Recipe

How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Sushi ...

Sausage Tortellini Soup - Slow Cook...

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry

Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

Five-Ingredient Mexican Casserole

Chicken Alfredo Casserole with Broc...

Chicken Orzo Soup

Chicken Noodle Casserole

8 Can Taco Soup - Slow Cooker and S...

Easy Chicken Fried Rice

BBQ Chicken Rolls Ups

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Sun Dried Tomato Tortellini

Cowboy BBQ Chicken and Rice

Cajun Chicken Orzo

Chicken Chow Mein with Vegetables

Easy 30 Minute Spicy Korean Chicken

Skillet Tortellini with Spinach and...

Ground Turkey and Rice Skillet

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

Spanish Rice Soup

Top 22 cheap meal ideas recipes from across the web

The most viewed cheap meal ideas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Macaroni and Tomatoes Recipe

How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Sushi ...

Sausage Tortellini Soup - Slow Cook...

Slow Cooker Coconut Curry

Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

Five-Ingredient Mexican Casserole

Chicken Alfredo Casserole with Broc...

Chicken Orzo Soup

Chicken Noodle Casserole

8 Can Taco Soup - Slow Cooker and S...

Easy Chicken Fried Rice

BBQ Chicken Rolls Ups

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Sun Dried Tomato Tortellini

Cowboy BBQ Chicken and Rice

Cajun Chicken Orzo

Chicken Chow Mein with Vegetables

Easy 30 Minute Spicy Korean Chicken

Skillet Tortellini with Spinach and...

Ground Turkey and Rice Skillet

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

Spanish Rice Soup

The most viewed cheap meal ideas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine