Five Quick Easy Meals For Under $10
Posted: Monday, October 22, 2007
by Laura Trahan
Our family runs from the moment we wake up and planning dinner ahead of time is essential for us to survive on a budget. When I began to be a stay at home mom, I never thought that I would be too busy to cook for my family. After taking on several part-time jobs, running kids to school, laundry, cleaning, doctor appointments, as well as other commitments-it is a miracle my family gets dinner at all.
There is nothing wrong with doing some of the box dinners, already made dinners or other shortcuts at the store. Most are convenient and cheap. So here are five quick and easy meals for the normal, simple southern family.
1. Jambalaya- Seriously, you want something you can fix fast and be able to do other things while it cooks. Buy Zatarains or Tony Chachere's rice for around $1.50 for the box. Buy some Emeril’s or other brand Cajun sausage sold at our stores for around $5. You could also save and buy chicken when it is on sale for $2 a pound for boneless/skinless. Add some frozen garlic bread for a $1 and some canned corn for 50 cents. You can also add a bagged salad for $2. Both options stay under $10.
2. Quesadillas-This is perhaps the cheapest and most loved meal in my family. It is also the quickest. Buy a large can of refried beans-$1.50, tortillas for $1 and grated cheese for $2. You can also add some precooked fajita chicken for $5 or cook your own for about $3 for a pound of chicken and seasoning. Add a salad and boxed Mexican rice and still stay under $10.
3. Spaghetti-Easy and cheap as well. Noodles are always under a $1 although you can opt for whole wheat pasta for a little more. Jar sauces range from $1 to $4 and taste just as good. Also, can add a pound of ground meet for $3. Add some canned green beans and peaches for under $1.50-there is another $10 meal.
4. Chili-My mom made this on cold nights. It was super fast since she worked and very cheap. Cook ground beef ($2.50) and mix with Williams Chili Seasoning (.50). Mix into a pan with four cans of Bushs Chili Hot Beans ($2) and four cans of tomato sauce($2). Let simmer for 20 minutes. Add some cheese and crackers to make up the $10 or my husband likes his with rice. All garnishments will still keep it under $10.
5. Easy Sloppy Joes-Buy some ground meat (turkey or beef). Combine sloppy joe mix and one can of tomato paste (.33). Add buns for $1. Include some grapes, peaches in a cup or other fruit for under $2. Add some fries or tator tots heated in the oven for $2.
The great things about these meals are that they make a lot of food. So you can plan leftover nights into your meal planning. You can also have a breakfast night. We just cook sausage and egg and mix together, top with cheese and let the kids make their own breakfast tacos. With fruit, it is another cheap, very fast meal.
The trick is planning ahead so that you are not running to the store every night and tempted to change the menu and realizing that every meal does not have to be a gourmet meal. Real people eat real simple food such as tacos, spaghetti, sandwiches, etc. Don’t make it a complex thing. Use the resources in the store-even Hamburger Helpers are great deals. The important thing is just connecting with your family at the dinner table and being nourished. So get creative and see how many quick meals you can make under $10. Feel free to include them in the comments!
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More commentsS & B's Golden Curry Mix runs for about 2.39 at walmart. Add some chicken and some veggies, and serve over rice. It makes like 4-5 servings and it's great when reheated. Under $10Great suggestion! I will definitely have to try that out!
I think in the times we are in right now...we are just trying to keep our families fed. I think your meals sound great! You can always substitute with low fat ingredients. The Cobb salads are famous for having alot of calories because of the nitrate filled deli meats and cholesterol laden eggs. The secret is in the serving portion. Don't eat alot & you won't consume that many calories. :) Keep up the good work Laura!
Sounds like our families eat similar things. Spaghetti served with garlic bread and a salad is our favorite. I can proudly say we have a hot meal almost every night and my 8, 11 & 16 year old is not over weight like most children these days. I always keep apples, oranges and strawberries in the fridge. Hopefully bananas too if I can find some good ones. It is “CHEAPER” and healthier than those pizza rolls or what ever else kids are eating after school now days. I usually have to remind them that it is a snack and not a meal. Most of the time one of these with some milk will satisfy them until dinner is served.Try this “Taco Bake” on a cold day. Fully Cook one pack of ground beef with a packet of Taco seasoning on stove top. Mix one box of jiffy corn bread mix according to instructions on box. Spread your mixture in a baking dish or non stick pan. Spread it evenly and thin. (It will not look like it is enough but it is.) Evenly sprinkle all of your cooked ground beef on top of the jiffy mix. Third layer is one can of canned corn. 4th layer is Salsa. (I like to use about two 16oz jars.) Sprinkle with your choice of a shredded cheese. Bake until corn bread is done. (If you use a clear glass 12in X 15in casserole dish like I do – then you can see through the bottom.) Serve with favorite toppings like sour crème, lettuce, black olives, etc… I have to feed a family of 5 and we always have leftovers with this one.Ok, this sounds awesome! I am totally going to have to try this recipe! thanks so much for sharing! Ever thought about writing your own articles? Searchwarp would love to have you!
Its me again. I forgot to mention…. The Garlic bread. Purchase plain bread from your local bakery. They sell it at Walmart for about $1.25. Slice it length wise. Spread butter on both pieces and sprinkle both pieces with parmesan cheese. (The same parmesan cheese that you sprinkle on your spaghetti is the best choice.) Add garlic to your taste. Place the bread back together & slice it the other direction and wrap in Reynolds wrap. Bake until butter is melted.You get a lot “more” garlic bread and at a cheaper price than that store bought - already made junk. The store bought already made brand is too “expensive” and not enough for a family of five or more. I usually have an extra child hanging out and I don’t have to fret on spaghetti nights because there is always plenty of food for everyone.Eva-We do that as well! Again, thanks so much for sharing!
here is a cheap and easy meal to add to your collection: shrimp alfredo..sounds fancy i know, but it's really just white spagetti with shrimp.you'll need:noodles-$1.00bag of already cooked/peeled shrimp-$5-6 at walmartand two cans (depends on family size) of alfredo sauce-$4boil water, cook noodles drain......heat sauce and shrimp until good and warm and there you go.thanks for the great suggestion! Does Wal-Mart carry the sauce or do you just buy like Ragu-Do they have an alfredo sauce? Thanks so much for sharing such a great suggestion!
A quick easy meal... healthy to, Shrimp Scampi. You can always get a cheap fish like Talapia, massage some olive oil into the flesh, not alot. Sprinkle on your favorite seasoning, fry it up, serve it with a baked potato and mixed veggies or a green salad.Sounds Yummy! thanks for sharing!
This article was really helpful. I'm a college student who takes night classes and works a full-time job during the day. I don't really have the money right now to go out to eat every night so my boyfriend and I have had to cut back. These meals sound like something we could really enjoy. Thanks for the help.
i am in love with this web site!!!i will definitely be using some of these recipes and adding my own. with five growing kids and a streched to the limit budget, i'll take anything that works. thanx!
If you want to make your money stretch try cooking a meat you can use for many meals. I usually buy a ham around $17- 20 Then I cook it, once done I separate it for different meals. Like ham and potato soup, ham and mac n cheese, ham and bean soup, ham and cheese omelettes, ham sandwiches, ham casserole, split pea soup, ham and scalloped potatoes, jumbalaya, monte cristos, etc. I can usually get about five to six meals from one ham and that is for a family of seven.
I lived in a bachalor house and being the only lady I had to prepare large meals. Boy was that a hassle since i didnt want to make the same thing twice. But one day being desperate I threw some things together and got a great balenced meal.
1 box of rice roni cooked as said on box
2 cans of corn
chicken or beef
You cook the rice roni and meat seperate then when all is cooked you combine all ingrediants. Be sure to stand back and watch the boys storm the kitchen.
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