With the price of groceries going up, what are some good yet affordable dinner ideas?

Question

We are living on a budget, and grocery prices arent helping. What are some good dinner ideas that are balanced, and affordable?

Answer 1

The best way to save money is good planning.

Plan your meals based on what's on sale.  If, for example, pork ribs are on sale, then that's what you eat.

Plan  your meals ahead and stick to the plan.

Portion control everything.  Americans eat too big of portions.

Cook once, use twice.  If whole chickens are on sale, bake two and cut up the meat and freeze for future use.

Be really careful with leftovers and don't waste anything.  Figure out how to use those leftover veggies in a frittata the next night.

Answer 2

I always do hamburger helper when I'm on a budget they have a lot of varieties and it's really cheap and affordable, also sloppy joes is another tasty yet affordable meal.  

Answer 3

Plan meals that use the same ingredients but yet are different.

If you buy a pork butt and cook it in the crockpot and eat it that way.

The next day take some of it and put bbq sauce on it and have sandwhiches.

The last night make this recipe

Mexican Roll Ups

This is something I made up its a great way to use left over meat.



Use one of your choice

Shredded Chicken, shredded beef or shredded pork

Put in skillet with 1 pkg of taco seasoning

Add enough water so that you may simmer it, not to much



After simmering like 20 min

Place small amount in to soft burrito shell, I like to use the large ones.

Roll them up and secure with toothpicks

In deep fryer or skillet, brown til golden brown

They will be crunchy

Serve with sour cream, salsa or gucamole



Dont forget to remove toothpicks !!!!

3 very different meals, If you used chicken you can also add it to this

Olive Garden Alfredo Fettuccine

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1 stick (1/2 cup) butter  

2 tablespoons cream cheese  

1/2 - 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese  

1 teaspoon garlic powder, add in more to suit your taste if you prefer

Salt and pepper, to taste

8 ounces fettuccine, cooked and drained

In a saucepan combine butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Simmer this until all is melted, and mixed well. Add the Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Simmer this for 15 - 20 minutes over low heat.

Toss pasta lightly with sauce, coating well. Leftovers freeze well

Have bbq chicken sandwhich, roll ups and the fettuccine.

Answer 4

A freezer runs more efficiently if it's full, so you might as well pack it with food. Make some chili, pasta dishes, soup or beans and freeze them in portions for those days when you just can't face cooking. I freeze homemade refried beans and they're far superior to the canned stuff and a lot cheaper too.

Try to eat one vegetarian meal per week - it won't hurt you. A baked potato with canned (or home made) chili poured over it is cheap and filling. You don't have to live on Ramen noodles and hot dogs to save money, but you will need to be creative.

Stock up on canned goods when they are on sale - there's no law against eating pork n beans in January. I have an embarassing amount of canned food on-hand - write the month and year on the can with magic marker because those codes are impossible to decipher.

Bookmark these food-stretching sites and read them at your leisure-

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/frugalrec...

http://www.mealtime.org/content.aspx?id=...

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/70doll...

http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.ht...

Good luck stretching that food buck - we're all doing it.

Answer 5

Since I've moved out from home I have been more careful. and we've done remarkably well, First off look in circulare, you will eventually get used to the prices  and know what is on sale. keep everything you make simple.

Answer 6

Stock up on chicken cutlets when they are $1.99 a lb. You can make a lot of great meals with chicken that are inexpensive. Get some fresh veggies and make a chicken stir fry with a little olive oil. Make fresh tomato sauce and freeze it in containers. Then defrost it and use it with a box of pasta another night- very inexpensive. Ground beef is fairly cheap. Make hamburgers- don't buy the pre-formed patties. If you are tired of plain pasta, make baked ziti. All you need is a package of ziti, some sauce and mozzarella. Buy the store brand of foods, especially meat. It all tastes the same, but it is much cheaper. Of course look for coupons in the newspaper and store fliers. Only buy things on sale, except for the basics. You wouldn't believe how much you can save!

Answer 7

one thing I do is use a lot of dry milk reconstituted as a substitute in recipes (like pancakes, mashed taters, waffles, mac n cheese, ETC, anything that calls for milk)

Answer 8

if you're ok with lightly frying or sauteeing things, we have been living on sliced thin steak and shredded zuccini, onions, potatoes and/or mushrooms, sauteed all together with salt and a salad, or light pasta... any combination of the above... we have also made pizzas - with just flour, yeast, water and some oil, you can make a ton of dough and make delicious and very healthy pizzas.. make the crust extra thin, and spread the sauce thinly but evenly and its so yummy... also, get some chicken, and kind, whatever you can afford.. i like boneless skinless, but it tends to be more expensive, so even the dark meat works - marinate in italian dressing, and cook, however you want (i prefer the grill, but you could sautee if you want ) and cut up, put atop greens with balsamic and olive oil dressing... oddly enough, black beans, canned, cooked with a little garlic in a pot on the stove, served with scrambled eggs is really good... get some corn tortillas and WA LA - mexican! lol...  (my ex husband is mexican, so thats the truth) pasta (whole wheat if you can - barilla plus is delish) with olive oil and garlic - tomatoes with mozzarella and basil and garlic and olive oil... oh, make panzanella - day old crust bread, soaked in water.... cut up anchovies, tomatoes, and garlic , top the bread with these and drizzle olive oil over top.. sounds gross, i thought it would be too - but its really yummy...

potatoe croquettes - mashed potatoes rolled in italian bread crumbs and fried - you can do the same with rice and its called suplee (sp?) cooked rice, mised with tomatoe sauce, rolled in italian bread crumbs and stuff a piece of mozzarella in the middle, then fry...

my man is an awesome cook, cause he's an italian citizen.. lol... anyway, i think those are some good ideas... email me if you want more specific recipies... :)

Answer 9

Tuna casserole- make mac and cheese add a can of peas, a can of tuna, and place in a casserole dish- top with cheese , heat til cheese is melted- yum

Spaghetti- is always cheap and makes a lot

Meatloaf- 2 lbs burger, 2 eggs,1 onion diced, 1 c bread crumbs, 1'2 c ketchup- salt and pepper- mix all together, bake at 375 for 45 min or til cooked through- top with ketchup with 2 tsp worcestershire mixed in bake for 10 more minutes- serve with potatoes and a veggie

breakfast for dinner-  Slice potatoes, and green peppers and onion, cook in skillet, when potatoes are soft add 1 pk heat and serve sausage sliced (usually 1.50), and 6 eggs mixed with 1/2 c milk to make scrambled eggs. Then cook til eggs are done top with cheese put lid on and turn heat off- serve when cheese is melted.

Cheap stroganoff- Make egg noodles, brown 1 lb burger with a  diced onion, when cooked mix together and add a can of cream of chicken soup and a container of sour cream and can of mushrooms, heat up and serve.  

Pancakes are cheap

Also shop at save a lot or aldi first then go to the regular store. Get only things on sale there. I go to whichever store has 10 items for $10 that week- there usually is at least 1 chain a week that does this or stock up when the store by you has 10 for 10

Answer 10

Pasta is a good meal.. find a store that has boxed pasta on sale because it stays good in pantrys so you can buy in bulk :D

Also you can make chili as it can be reheated for lunch dinner or snack. Don't just look for good deals for 1 meal. Find the best value for how much your getting;...

YUMMY

.........if you grow tired of pasta then thats okay..but there are so many different  combinations to explore.. see which one you like. Soup is also great and fills your tummy especially on rainy or cold nights..

Here is where you can get some great recipies.. some cheap some not so much but you can definatly enjoy the food....

Happy Eating!!

Answer 11

just go to Aldi's if you have one in your state or you can make stuff like spam sandwiches,big pots of chili,green beans and neck bones, stew stuff that stretch

Answer 12

There are millions of ways of preparing potatoes! And they are still cheap... ish.

I'm bookmarking this question, I have the same problem.

There's only so much dry food and pasta I can take!

Answer 13

Try casseroles, stews and soups to stretch your food dollars.  Most dishes can be made in quantity, to last for 2-3 meals.  Dig out your slow cooker so you don't have to stand over the stove all day.

Chili with cornbread and a tossed salad

Vegetable lasagna (use whole wheat pasta, stuff with spinach)

Homemade chicken noodle soup

Fritatas

Answer 14

lots of pasta dishes. when pasta goes on sale for like 1.00 i stock up on all kinds and i just add some items to the pasta

i make broccoli and macaroni, macaroni and tomato or alfredo sauce mac and beans, mac and peas, spaghetti and clam sauce

a box can feed the whole family and the add ins only cost about 5.00 so you can feed them for about 7.00 a night