Share your cheapie cheap meal

[threeovens]

Wow! You guys are sure living large. Years ago, when I needed a cheapie cheap meal (I was in the Army and had 4 kids, we were very poor then, I hope it is better for our military now) I made fried rice. Yes, rice, a little oil, eggs, salt. That's it. Sometimes had to borrow the rice or the eggs. Ate this a lot. Also spaghetti. Spaghetti and Prego. That's it.

[Kippy2]

One of my very favorite cheapie meals is Lu's Tuna Noodle Casserole .
My mom used to make this a lot. I always have a few boxes of Mac and cheese on hand, and a few cans of tuna, and "cream of" soups in the pantry. I buy those items on sale or with coupons, so that saves even more. Very cheap and filling meal.

[Jora]

Rice and beans.

I do splurge and buy Kroger's chili hot beans (Aldi carries chili beans too, I think. No Aldi here. )

A can of Chili Hot Beans is $0.69 on sale.

You can top the rice and beans with salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped lettuce, tomato, ....

[Kerfuffle-Upon-Wincle]

This thread is so old, I'm surprised I haven't replied before!

When I fed a family of five, I always saved bits of leftover vegetables in a quart jar in the freezer ~ when the jar was full, I'd add a can of tomatoes, a couple of chopped potatoes, sometimes chicken or hamburger, and make SOUP! Served with hot cornbread and nobody complained!

Too, the cheapest meat to serve five was chicken livers ~ served with milk gravy, hot biscuits, fluffy rice, and a green vegetable! I still like them and make them just for me, once or twice a year!



Yes, I know some of you are gagging!

[Jora]

Although my family would be gagging, I think they look delicious!



Strangely, a friend introduced me to a variation, which also sounds horrible, but it sure tasted satisfying: fried chicken livers with honey drizzled over it.

[sailaway83]

i8ntproverbs31 wrote:

My cheapie cheap meal was last week (I was desperate)
I had bought a can of Hormel chili with beans at aldis ...just because hey you never know...
So i made a double batch of biscuits, rolled the dough and cut out big circles, put 2 tbs of chili on each circle some cheddar cheese, folded the circles and pressed the seams to make pockets. Made some frozen corn from my mother in laws garden, and I had a half of bag of salad in the fridge. I was pretty darn impressed on how that can of hormel chili fed a family of 5 eaters.
Eryn

I used to do this all the time and use just about anything that is left over!

Kids so seem to like anything that resembles a hotpocket!

[sherry1246]

I made this,http://www.food.com/recipe/ham-green-beans-and-potatoes-crock-pot-34102
using a small canned ham from the dollar store and it was very inexpensive especially for me living alone.

[Chef shapeweaver ©]

Now here's a cheapie meal:
Two leftover hamburger patties from
Cajun Beef Burgers
crumbled them up and added a can of
kidney beans 45cents,a can of chili seasoned
tomatoes 39cents,and maybe 35 cents worth of pasta.
Chili powder and oregano, and came up with this,
Cajun Style Chili Mac

[Hayley_11]

In terms of cheapie meals, I definitely can't go past soup. Fry off a little bit of onion, add a good heaping of the good ol' Keen's curry powder, then add whatever funky looking vegies that are sitting at the bottom of the fridge (like those half grated carrots, broccoli stalks, that half-cut pumpkin that's still sitting there, the spinach that's started to a wee bit limpy looking...!), maybe chuck in some frozen peas...top up with a little water (can add some stock powder if i'm feeling extravagent!), simmer until everything is mushy, give it a little blitz with the hand blender and voila!! (this was pretty much my staple meal during exam week!!)

[mobygrape]

One of my favorite things to eat is chili noodles
Chop one very large onion. Saute it. While it's sauteeing, cook 1 lb. of pasta. (can get free with coupon, but if not, it's still only a dollar)
Add a large can of chopped tomatoes and a can of rotel tomatoes.
Add chili powder to taste to the tomato/onion mix. Pull the noodles off the stove while slightly underdone. Add them to the tomato sauce and heat for a few minutes.
Costs maybe 2.50 to make. We have enough for 4 people for two meals.
Also, I make a chicken dish with black beans, super on sale chicken breasts, bell peppers, onions, tomato sauce and a few spices.
It costs maybe 3.50. Enough for two meals

[Dienia B.]

this is my cheapo food cookSo now you're broke, cooking on the cheap!

[farmchick #2]

Frizzeled cabbage. I had some leftover ham...about 1/2 cup ($1.00), 1/2 an onion (.25), 3 T. Butter (.50), a pinch of salt, and pepper, and a head of cabbage (.69). Fry it all up. Add homemade whole wheat bread. The kids (ages 2, 4, and 5) all ate seconds. Fed all 5 of us well. Then had popcorn for desert.

[farmchick #2]

Frizzeled cabbage. I had some leftover ham...about 1/2 cup ($1.00), 1/2 an onion (.25), 3 T. Butter (.50), a pinch of salt, and pepper, and a head of cabbage (.69). Fry it all up. Add homemade whole wheat bread. The kids (ages 2, 4, and 5) all ate seconds. Fed all 5 of us well. Then had popcorn for desert.

[fussit]

My cheap go to is cook a pot of beans and some kind of grain!! Bread is the families favorite. tonight its red lentil soup and navajo fry bread! very comforting and warm plus filling. I love everybodies ideas.

[DEEP]

Gosh, tonight has really been a cheap and "cheating" meal. I usually eat only "fresh" food. Today was a busy day for me, so dinner was on the fly!

3 thick slices eggplant.............about 40 cents
1/4 can CBAD spaghetti........... 25 cents
1/3 c. bagged shredded moz.
cheese..about 30 cents
Total.......95 cents

Almost a "trash" meal! I quick fried the eggplant on each side then soaked the oil up w/paper towels. I topped the eggplant slices with the canned spaghetti, topped liberally with cheese and tossed into the MW......LOL! I would not even normally look at canned spaghetti, but I picked up 5 cans for $5 for winter emergency stash. I usually eat fresher and healthier than this, but given my level of hunger, it worked out fine! I'll probably open a can of sliced peaches for a snack later.......OK! Add another 50 cents to the meal