Any quick and healthy dinner ideas for under a budget?

Question

I get off of work at 7pm and I hate having to rush home to make dinner for the family.

I would like some ideas on healthy and quick dinners that don't cost much to put together.

Answer 1

Stock the basics

cheap carbs - rice, pasta

veggies

beans

turkey and beef

lots and lots of spice and condiments.  Then just mix and mash everything.  Like chicken with pasta one night then beef with beans and rice the next with bbq spice, etc.

Answer 2

i too get off at 7 pm 2 nights a week, and go to work at 7pm 2 nights a week. i know the pain of having to figure out dinner so late and make it quickly so you aren't eating at 10 pm.

i keep fish fillets in the freezer, chicken breast and legs on hand.

the first two thaw quickly, legs- take them out before you leave and put them in the fridge to thaw.

try making casseroles and freezing them in single, or however many people are in your family, portions.

take them out in the morning before you leave to have them thawed when you get home.

pasta is always quick and super easy.

my slow cooker is my best friend too.

soups, stews, roasts.

i mainly use it in the winter but it's good all year round

oh i have a butt load of easy cheap meals i can email you.

just email me your address and i'll forward them to you.

Answer 3

Cheeseburger Macaroni --

1 lb. ground beef

1/4 onion, minced

1 cloves garlic, minced

14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes

2 cups raw macaroni, (cook according to package directions and drain)

1 can Campbells Cheddar cheese soup

salt & pepper to taste

Saute the onion and garlic in a little olive oil. Add the ground beef and brown. Add the diced tomatoes, including the liquid in the can. Simmer until the liquid is mostly reduced...5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the macaroni and Cheddar cheese soup. Heat through.

You can always add more cooked macaroni if you need to stretch the dish a bit.

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Spaghetti Pizza:

A Kid Favorite:

1 pound box spaghetti noodles

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1 Jar Marinara Sauce

1 pound lean ground beef

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

13 x 9 glass baking dish

In a large stock pot boil water to cook spaghetti, follow package directions. Drain. Measure milk in large bowl, add egg, mix well, add spaghetti and mix well.

While spaghetti is cooking brown lean ground beef in large saute pan. Drain excess fat, return to pan and add the marinara sauce. Simmer on low.

Lightly grease a 13 x 9 glass baking dish. Pour spaghetti into dish, top with meat mixture and spread cheese on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes uncovered or until cheese has melted.

You could use a mild sausage or turkey sausage for a different twist.

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Italian Appetizer Bites

2 packages (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

½ pound sliced deli salami

½ pound sliced deli ham

½ pound slide deli provolone cheese

7 eggs

1 cup parmesan cheese

2 jars (12 ounces each) roasted red peppers, drained

MAKES: 32 pieces. PREP: 15 minutes.

BAKE: at 350° for 60 minutes.

Heat oven to 350°. Coat 13x9x2” glass pan with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll 1 package of the crescent rolls and line the bottom of the pan. Pinch seams together.

Cover rolls with half of the salami, provolone and ham. Lightly beat together 6 eggs and the parmesan cheese; pour half evenly over top. Top with half of the roasted red peppers. Repeat layering with remaining salami, cheese, ham, egg mixture & peppers. Top with remaining package of crescent rolls.

Lightly beat remaining egg and brush over top. Cover dish with foil; bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 more minutes. Cool for 1 hour; cut into 32 squares & serve.

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Bread Dip

1/2 cup mayo

2 cups sour cream

1 lbs corned beef, chopped fine

2 tsp beau monde spice

2 tsp dill weed

2 tbls chopped onion

2 tbls dried parsley

Mix all together and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

I loaf of round, pumpernickel bread. Hollow out the bread into a bowl, cutting the pieces into dipping size. Put the dip into the hollowed out bowl.

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*Grilled Camembert Cheese with Peach hors devours

2 lbs. fresh diced peaches

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper

1/4 cup raisins

1 jalapeno pepper (diced and seeded)

2 slices fresh or candied ginger

2 Tbsp. seeded, diced lemon including the rind

3 Tbsp. cider vinegar (to taste)

3 Tbsp. Brown sugar (or more to taste)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp allspice

1/8 tsp cloves

Simmer until peaches are soft 10-15 minutes. Refrigerate.

Cut off top rind of the cheese.

Spread the cheese with 1/4 cup chopped nuts.

Grill the cheese over a cedar plank 12 -20 minutes.

Top with the peach chutney.Serve with your favorite crackers or bread chunks.

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White cheese chicken lasagna - It has a white cheese sauce that's wonderful!

INGREDIENTS

9 lasagna noodles

1/2 cup butter

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups milk

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups ricotta cheese

2 cups cubed, cooked chicken meat

2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and rinse with cold water.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic in the butter until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in the flour and salt, and simmer until bubbly.

Mix in the broth and milk, and boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Season with the basil, oregano, and ground black pepper. Remove from heat, and set aside.

Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer with 1/3 of the noodles, the ricotta, and the chicken. Arrange 1/3 of the noodles over the chicken, and layer with 1/3 of the sauce mixture, spinach, and the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Arrange remaining noodles over cheese, and spread remaining sauce evenly over noodles. Sprinkle with parsley and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven.

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Chocolate stuffed french toast

Ingredients:

French bread

chocolate chips or chunks/morsels/etc

5 eggs

1 C milk

1 ts each cinnamon & vanilla

The night before you want to serve this:

Cut a loaf of French Bread into very thick slices. In each slice make a 3/4" cut to make a pocket. Spoon 2 heaping ts chocolate into the pocket. Close pocket with a pinch of the bread.

Place into greased 9x13" baking dish. Mix up the eggs, milk & cinnamon/vanilla. Cover & refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 400F. Bake 20-25 minutes uncovered.

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Answer 4

This one suits your criteria to a T....

Quick, easy, filling, and cheap all in one.

Bread Fritters;

Go to the bakery section of the store where you normally buy bread.

Ask the baker for an "unbaked" loaf of bread.

He must put exactly the same amount of dough he would have used to bake a bread with in to a plastic bag for you, and it would cost no more than a loaf of bread.

Take that home and in a pot warm some cooking oil to about half the depth of the pot. (Smaller pots take less oil than bigger ones do)...

The oil temperature should be medium hot. (About half the heat that the stove plate will go)

Now cut from the unbaked dough a slice about the size of your palm, and with a little water on your fingers (to prevent the dough from sticking to your hand), stretch out the dough in all directions until it is about the size of your whole hand including the fingers. That brings the cutting of dough to about twice the size it was when you cut it....

Now with care, drop the stretched out dough in to the hot oil.

It would rise almost instantly.

Fry it in the oil until it is golden brown all over, taking care to turn it over occasionally.

It would be puffy and crisp when done.

With a large ladle or sieve, scoop out the bread fritter and place on an absorbent kitchen towel to rid it of most of the oil still on it.

Repeat this process until all the dough is done.

These bread fritters are extremely filling, and can be cut open and filled with almost anything from grated cheese to minced meat to cold processed meat, syrup or jam.

Try it, you will probably have some left over for two or three days, which you can take to work if you like....

Bread fritters can be frozen and warmed up again if you have made too much, but the dough cannot, so rather make the whole lot and freeze what is left over for another day. If you decide to freeze them, do so without a filling. Fillings should always be made fresh.

Finger snack variety;

By making the bread dough cutting about half the size when cutting off the raw dough from the batch, you can make smaller sized bread fritters and fill them with fancy foods like tuna mince or savory beef mince for buffet snack parties

Answer 5

The Taste of home website has lots of ideas and budget friendly recipes. http://www.tasteofhome.com/

like this one:

Almost Stuffed Peppers

Quick Cooking - try a FREE ISSUE today!

For a quick way to enjoy an old favorite, stir up Jan Roat's stuffed green pepper makings in a skillet. "This easy one-pan meal is requested so often I even make it when I'm not in a hurry," notes the active Red Lodge, Montana cook.

SERVINGS: 6

CATEGORY: Main Dish

METHOD: Stovetop - One-Dish

TIME: Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

2 cups water

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 large green pepper, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1-1/2 cups uncooked instant rice

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Remove; set aside and keep warm.

    In the same skillet, combine the water, tomatoes, green pepper, onion and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender. Stir in rice; cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in beef; return to the heat and cook until heated through. Yield: 4-6 servings

Answer 6

Creamy Alfredo Sauce

1- 8 ounces Cream Cheese

3/4 Cup Fresh Grated Parmesean

1/2 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Milk

Heat in a saucepan until smooth. Serve over your favorite pasta or use as a dipping sauce for toasted french bread. I've successfully substituted half-and-half or skim milk for the milk. And sometimes I add a little olive oil in place of some of the butter. This is so thick and creamy.

Credit for this recipe goes to my good friend Karen who's husband was in our wedding over 19 years ago. He was nice enough to stand in when one of the groomsmen couldn't attend and now he and my husband work together. Thanks Karen for this amazing recipe.

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.summerhouseliving.com/

Answer 7

Quick Chicken Parmesan

4 Boneless Chicken b*****s, pounded flat

1 jar Spaghetti Sauce (I use Prego mushroom and garlic)

3 oz. Mozzarella Cheese, grated

2 cups Italian Bread Crumbs

2 oz. Parmesan Cheese

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1 egg, plus 1 tbs water, slightly beaten

Mix Italian breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt together in bowl. Beat 1 egg in another bowl, 1 tbs water and a dash of garlic salt. Dip chicken in egg, then in crumbs and fry in oil until brown on each side (10 – 15 min each side). Pour spaghetti sauce over chicken and sprinkle with cheese, cover so cheese melts and serve. Makes 4 servings.

Serving Suggestions:

I serve this with Fettuccini Alfredo and garlic bread.

Creamy Fettuccini Alfredo

1 – 8 oz. Package Philly Cream Cheese (I use the light version – 1/3 less fat), cubed

¾ cup (3 oz.) fresh grated Parmesan cheese (I like De Giorno, don’t use Kraft)

½ cup margarine (I use I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Light)

½ cup milk or half and half (I use 1% or 2% low fat)

8 oz. fettuccini, cooked, drained (I use the fresh Contadina low fat one)



In large saucepan, combine cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, margarine and milk.

Stir over low heat until smooth. Add to drained fettuccini and toss lightly. Sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese if desired. Makes 4 servings.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

During the baking a cake layer forms on top and a rich chocolate sauce appears on bottom. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whip cream.

1 cup Bisquick or biscuit/pancake mix

1 cup sugar

3 tablspoons plus 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup milk

1 tp vanilla

1 2/3 cup hot water

Powdered sugar (optional)

Mix bisquick, 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tbs cocoa in a greased 8 inch square baking dish. Stir in milk and vanilla until well blended. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/3 cup cocoa and 1/2 cup sugar. Pour on water. Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 40 minutes or until top is firm. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve at once in bowl with sauce spooned over cake. Make 6 servings.