Does anyone have any budget friendly lunch ideas don't aren't labor intensive.

Question

The fewer ingredients the better. Thanks!

Answer 1

Buy the flavored rice that comes in little packets, and the prepacked cooked chicken (rinse it first). Stir the chicken into the rice just before you cover it. You're set for lunch for at least 2 days. It also works pretty well with five-minute couscous. I think that's less than $6 total.

Take some salsa in a little tupperware-style cup, and bring some tortilla chips. Get the tubs of barbeque pork or chicken and pack a good sandwich. Buy awesome bread and make subway-style sandwiches.

Other than that, I always take leftovers from dinner the night before.

Answer 2

Idk the name of it, but its a pasta

All you need is: 1) bread crumbs, they come in a blue can on dry ingredients isle 2)Shake on parmesan cheese 3) Garlic Salt or  Powder

4) Cooked spagetti

Directions: Boil the spagetti.

                   Mix all the dry ingredients together to your own liking and coat the noddles.

ENJOY. its soooo good!

Answer 3

PB&J.... very budget friendly, vary the J flavor to give some variety.  Now "Healthy," that's a different question... :D

Or, get some tortillas, wrap up a little sliced lettuce, lunch meat, and a little butter, mustard, or Miracle Whip and roll it up.  

Alternatively, get some apples, oranges, grapes, maybe strawberries, slice 'em up and make yourself a fruit salad.

Another, in one word:  Yogurt.  You'll probably want something else to go with it, which is fine, but 3 yogurt cups costs under $2.00.  Add a piece of fruit or some celery and carrots.

Finally, if you've got a microwave, Soup.  The mix-with-one-can-water soups are still fairly economical.  Bring your own bowl.  Mix according to directions and heat for 90 sec.

My daily lunch usually consists of:  2 sandwiches (lunch meat, wrap, or PB&J,) one fruit (apples are very labor friendly,) a yogurt, and a single-serve pudding.  Not labor intensive, and probably between $2.00 and $2.50 per day.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Pitas are something that are cheap and simple!

You can do cold cut pitas, steak pitas, pizza pitas, or my favorite chicken pitas!

For the cold cut pita you put your favorite cheese, lunch meats, and veggies right in side the pita and enjoy!

Steak pitas are a little more expensive but sometimes you can get a discounted cut at the grocery store if its sell by date is approaching. If I do a steak pita I typically do a Philly cheese steak style... simply grilled onions, provolone cheese, and perhaps Green peppers and of course your steak put into a pita and baked for 7-8 min in a 350 degree oven.

The pizza pita consists of pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, store bought sauce, and any other favorite pizza toppings. just pop them in the oven at 350 for 7-8 min.

And Finally my favorite! The Chicken BLT Pita.... simply put grilled chicken, provolone cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes into a pita and it is truly delicious! To make it super easy instead of frying your bacon use pre cooked strips or real bacon bits (not immitation).

These are just a few possibilities~ I hope you enjoy these ideas as much as me!

**all of this can be precooked and reheated in the microwave in under a min.

Answer 5

subways or sandwiches healthy and tasty

Answer 6

salads just lettuce and toppings you like. soups and sandwiches, mac and cheese, chili, tuna and more

Answer 7

Italian 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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*Crostini di fegatini = Canapés with chicken liver pathé

Toasted slices of bread

Chicken liver (6/8)

Capers in salt (one full spoon)

One anchovy in salt or a tea spoon of anchovies paste (optional)

Olive oil (2/3) spoons

Half glass of red wine

Place in a little pot the oil, the onion cut in cubes, when they are frying add the chicken livers and the cappers you had washed before, the wine simmer till the livers are cooked. Add the anchovies. Mince all with a mixer. Cover the bread with the pathé.

*Grilled Camembert Cheese with Peach

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.

*Nutty Toffee Popcorn

10 cups popped corn

1 cup pecan halves (toasted)

1 cup whole almonds (unblanched, toasted)

1 ⅓ cup brown sugar

1 cup butter - no substitutes

½ cup light corn syrup

½ tsp. each of cream of tartar, baking soda and rum extract

In a large bowl, combine the popcorn and nuts.

In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and cream of tartar

Stir until sugar is dissolved. Cook without stirring over medium heat until candy thermometer reads 300-310°.

Remove from heat Stir in baking soda and extract.

Immediately pour over popcorn mixture. Toss gently.

Spread into 2 greased 15 x 10 baking pans. Press gently to flatten.

Cool completely. Break into pieces and store in airtight containers.Makes 2 quarts.

*Schiacciata con l’uva = Flat savoury cake with grapes

Black grape (canaiolo) 1 kg.

Dough (500 grams)

Sugar (150 grams)

Olive oil

Knead the dough with your hands adding 4 spoons of olive oil and 50 grams of sugar. On a dredged with flour table, spread half of the dough and place it into a baking tin, place over it half grapes and 4 spoons of sugar. Cover all with the dough, place the remaining grapes and sugar, a little olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes

*Merry Munchies

1/2 cup butter or margarine, soft

1 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Combine butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt; mix well. Stir in raisins and walnuts.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in upper third of oven at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets; cool on wire racks. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

*Bacon and Cheddar Munchies

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 pinch cayenne

1/4 cup butter

6 slices crisp-cooked bacon -- crumbled

1/2 cup Rice Krispies cereal

Mix flour, cheddar cheese, mustard and paprika and cayenne. Blend in butter. Crumble bacon and add to above mixture with rice krispies. Blend in well and make small balls. Bake on cookie sheet at 450 F for 10 to 12 minutes till firm...absolutely delicious warm or cold.

*Smoked Salmon Spread

3/4 lb smoked salmon, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 Tbsp. dijon mustard

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. white pepper

1 cup plain nonfat yogurt

2 hard cooked egg whites, diced

3 Tbsp. minced fresh chives

Place first 5 ingredients in food processor and pulse a few times until just minced.

Place mixture on a sheet of heavy duty plastic wrap and shape into a 2 inch thick patty. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

Spoon yogurt onto several layers of paper towls and spread to 1/2 inch thickness.

Cover with additional paper towels and let stand 5 minutes.

Scrape into a bowl, using a rubber spatula; cover and chill thoroughly.

Place salmon patty on a serving platter.

Spread the thick yogurt over top and sides of patty.

Sprinkle with diced egg white and chives. Serve with cucumber slices or melba rounds.

*Ham and Cheese Crescent

1 can (8 ounce size) refrigerated crescent roll dough

2 tablespoons butter or margarine -- softened

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

1 cup ham cubes

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 375 F.

Unroll dough onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press or roll dough to form 13x9-inch rectangle, pressing perforations to seal. Form 1/4-inch rim around edges.

In a small bowl, combine butter and mustard; mix well. Spread mixture over dough. Sprinkle with ham, onion, bell pepper and cheese.

Bake at 375 F for 18 to 25 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cut into squares. Serve warm.

Answer 8

not a lot of fuss.. mac n cheese the boxed stuff... add some canned tuna at the end while putting the butter and milk in, also hot dogs add to the water before the pasta and the cook up while the pasta is cooking. bologna sandwiches... fried bologna sandwiches, not really hard to do and  you could have the kids see the bologna  turn into a sambraro while frying it. add some cheese yummy. pbj of course... tuna melts honestly dont take longer than 10-15 minutes between mixing the tuna with mayo and adding to the bread cutting the cheese and grilling it or pan frying it. im out of ideas after this.. nutella and pb. Good luck i hope this helped some.

Answer 9

buy canned and fresh fruits.

vegetable salad.

peanut butter sandwich.

egg omelette.