https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 17:28:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1378015 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:27:21 +0000 delight 1378015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My go-to quick and inexpensive meal is a Mexican rice and chicken casserole. I buy a whole, cooked rotisserie chicken and have leftover chicken for sandwiches. It makes a lot and therefore only a couple dollars a meal.</p> <p>Mexican Rice and Chicken Casserole</p> <p>-one package of yellow rice (cook it up!)<br /> -one can of corn<br /> -1 cup shredded cheese<br /> - 2 cups cooked chicken<br /> - 1 can cream of chicken soup<br /> - 1/2 can water, 1/2 can milk</p> <p>Mix the soup with the water and milk in large bowl. Throw in chicken, rice and corn, mix and transfer to casserole dish. Cook uncovered for 30 mins at 350 degrees. Stir in cheese, sprinkle some on top and cook for additional 5-10 mins. It makes enough for two dinners and leftovers! So yummy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377996 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:19:43 +0000 Alivoo01 1377996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Soups or stews? Cook a big ole batch and freeze leftovers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377964 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:02:16 +0000 Pepper 1377964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rice and beans topped with cheese, either by itself or wrapped up in a tortilla shell. Breakfast for dinner (bacon eggs and hashbrowns) stuffed peppers are pretty inexpensive too. Just green bell peppers, hamburger, tomato sauce and rice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377959 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 08:57:47 +0000 looch 1377959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A good place to grocery shop is the ethnic grocery stores, if you have those in your area. They're usually much less expensive for the same ingredients. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377890 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 07:57:50 +0000 skipper2010 1377890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great ideas! Thanks everyone! This was helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377448 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 20:10:42 +0000 jhd 1377448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a lot of the meals already mentioned. One other idea is breakfast for dinner! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377390 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:33:24 +0000 mfa_lady 1377390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Brown rice with whatever veggies are on sale! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377375 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:21:36 +0000 Ra 1377375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: Yum! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377370 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:19:31 +0000 Periwinkle 1377370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Veggie burgers, rice and beans, veggie chili, some<br /> of my favorites! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377356 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:13:33 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1377356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>homemade black bean burgers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377342 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:09:05 +0000 yoursilverlining 1377342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have anything in your freezer or pantry you need to use up?</p> <p>Buying a whole chicken is very cheap - make stock with it and with that you've got the base for soups and risotto. Add in whatever veggies you've got on hand, or whatever is on sale.</p> <p>Beans and lentils (especially dried ones) are cheap and a good protein source. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377338 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:07:31 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1377338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: that's one of my favorite foodie blogs! Her teriyaki meatball recipe is super yummy. I tweaked it a tiny bit to use ingredients I had on hand but it was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377337 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:07:18 +0000 matador84 1377337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mac and cheese, sandwiches, eggplant parm </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377333 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:05:59 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1377333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We consistently attempt to keep our grocery bills down without sacrificing healthy-eating but it sure is hard! Our go-to's for especially tight weeks are:</p> <p>tacos<br /> chili<br /> pasta with frozen broccoli (frozen veggies are my cheap alternative while still eating healthy)<br /> Lettuce wraps</p> <p>Only buying meat on sale - but using that meat in regular meals, but less than normal. i.e. 1/2 lb of hamburger..</p> <p>Rice served with black beans and shredded chicken. We add sriracha for some pizzazz.</p> <p>Another favorite is this "healthy hamburger helper" - my family loves it:<br /> <a href="http://thenourishingcook.com/the-new-hamburger-helper/" rel="nofollow">http://thenourishingcook.com/the-new-hamburger-helper/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377332 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:04:10 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1377332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sausages are a great meat when we are looking for aomething cheap. Sliced up and saluted with veggies over rice or pasta. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377328 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:03:09 +0000 chopsuey 1377328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipper2010: chili!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377325 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:02:50 +0000 chopsuey 1377325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: I get this from Hmart (other asian stores should carry it too). I usually just throw ingredients in without measuring, but I'll try my best with the recipe I use.</p> <p><a href="http://www.hmart.com/shopnow/shopnow_newsub.asp?p=077377113152" rel="nofollow">http://www.hmart.com/shopnow/shopnow_newsub.asp?p=077377113152</a></p> <p>Ingredients:<br /> chicken/beef<br /> potatoes<br /> onions<br /> carrots<br /> frozen corn<br /> frozen peas</p> <p>I use a 2.5 qt pot, usually 2 large potatoes cubed, 1 medium onion chopped, a handful of baby carrots chopped, 1lb of chicken cubed. </p> <p>Throw the above in the pot, add water to the top of ingredients. Cook for 15-20 mins. Add 1/2 of the curry sauce, add more if you want a thicker consistency (I like my curry thick and not watery). Cook another 10-15 mins. Add corn and peas. Cook another 5. Serve over rice!<br /> :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377290 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:41:35 +0000 MrsADS 1377290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tacos made with 1/2 ground meat (either beef or turkey) and 1/2 black beans. </p> <p>I also like taco soup/chili - use canned stuff (diced tomatoes, corn, beans, etc) and just a little meat or no meat. </p> <p>Pasta with chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, onion, other veggies you have... add some parmesan on top. Nom nom.</p> <p>Pasta carbonara - pasta, eggs, salt and pepper, garlic, etc.... not healthy but so good. </p> <p>Breakfast for dinner! Eggs are cheap. Or make a quiche! I usually toss in all the random leftover stuff in the fridge - lunch meat, cheese, onion, veggies, whatever. It's a great way to use up leftover veggies and stuff closer to the end of the week. I usually make mine crustless, just spray a pie pan with nonstick spray first. </p> <p>Red beans and rice - with or without sausage. I add celery, green pepper, onion, and lots of spices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377288 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:40:46 +0000 Ra 1377288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: Can you share your curry recipe? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377285 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:39:00 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1377285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rice made with chicken bouillon and chicken chunks, pasta sauce, Korean seaweed soup, homemade chicken noodle soup, lasagna, chicken and broccoli rice... I could go on and on lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377279 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:35:33 +0000 mrs. bird 1377279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i love this site for inexpensive meal ideas! we've made a few of the recipes and they've been great<br /> <a href="http://www.budgetbytes.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.budgetbytes.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377278 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:34:55 +0000 Bao 1377278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pasta and sauce, Mac n cheese, grilled cheese and tomato soup, homemade waffles... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377274 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:31:58 +0000 skipper2010 1377274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: Ooo lasagna is a great idea! Makes for tons of leftovers for lunches. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377271 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:29:29 +0000 chopsuey 1377271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>lasagna and chicken curry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/inexpensive-meals#post-1377266 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:27:06 +0000 skipper2010 1377266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh! We got hit with a pretty hefty oil bill (damn winter) so I could really use ideas for cheap meals for the week. What are your go-to budget friendly meals? </p>