I was recently asked to teach a community class on frugal meals at our Christian Service Center.
I put together a simple dinner of chicken and rice casserole, with green bean casserole, and carrot and celery sticks. Since my husband loves to, he did the grocery shopping, and I totaled all the costs which came to a total of $7.20 for:
- 9×13 chicken and rice casserole
- green bean casserole
- plate of carrot and celery sticks
Depending on the age of the eaters, this will serve 6-10 people. This serves our family of 10 well since we have some itty-bitties who don’t eat much.
Here is the how I made the chicken and rice casserole:
Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
- 1 – 2 chicken breasts
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 3 cups instant rice (uncooked)
- 1 tsp. salt
- dash of pepper
1. Boil chicken breasts in pot with chopped onions, celery, and carrots until juices run clear.
2. Dice breast meat and set aside.
3. In 9×13 dish, add soup and 3 cups of water. Stir until well mixed.
4. Add 3 cups uncooked rice, chicken, salt and pepper.
5. Stir well and cover tightly with foil.
6. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
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I don’t have a blog to link to, but my family’s favorite go-to “cheap” meal is Baked Ziti. A box of pasta (cooked), jar of favorite spaghetti sauce sauce, 2 cups of shredded cheese all mixed together in a 9×13 pan and topped with butter. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. The little kids love it – and they love picking out what noodles we buy at the store too.
Thanks for the suggestions – I’m always looking for new meal ideas
We make a similar dish but we also add a jar of Alfredo sauce,which you can snag from Aldi pretty cheap, mix with the spaghetti sauce then add to the cooked noodles. Top with moz cheese and bake. I simply love the versatility and simplicity of Baked Ziti!
OK, I don’t have a blog (we’re techno Amish), but if I buy a beef roast with bone in, I can cook it with loads of potatoes, carrots (25 pounds juicing carrots at Safeway for 7.99) and onions (50 pounds at Sam’s) that makes 2 meals for 6. Then, I can chop up the leftovers, boil the bones and residue in the pot, and add 2 pound barley (not pearl, just hulled barley bought in 50 pound bag for 20.00) and make beef barley soup for 2-3 more meals. Add homemade bread (use captured turkey fat (schmalz) from cheap turkeys at thanksgiving time instead of butter) at 65 cents a huge loaf to spread the joy of saving and eating further.
I just wanted to let you know that I left a comment on your post from October 20, 2011 thanking you for answering my question. Finally. Sorry it took me so long.
PS: Your little pizza helper is absolutely adorable.
For my family, pasta or rice with less than half the meat a recipe usually calls for. Fill in the rest with more veggies and you have a inexpensive meal. Very rarely do we have meat with side dishes, usually some type of one-pot meal or soup – that way you don’t miss the most expensive ingredient (meat).