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With prices going through the roof, what’s your simple struggle meal?
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Potatoes. Maybe with a bit of oil and herbs. Soup, mash, boiled, baked, fried, dep fried… All of it can fill you up on a low budget.
Final score:
57points
Megan Lauhon 3 years ago
If I'm ever at a loss for what to make for dinner I make a baked potato. It cooks while I take care of the animals/do dishes/etc. It always fills my tummy and my heart. ❤️🥔❤️
Zena Shirey 3 years ago
I adore potatoes !Yellow ones red ones purple ones ,white ones. Boil them mash them,fry them roast or broast them any old way they rock
Mahogany Eclipse 3 years ago
Pasta, pasta, pasta! Get a can of tomato sauce or juice and you can flavor it however you want: spagetti, elbow macaroni, penne, etc..
RELATED:
#2
Scrambled eggs with a little cheese, sliced tomatoes, toast if you have bread.
Final score:
48points
Sinead Kenny 3 years ago
I cook my tomatoes in with the eggs. Doesn't look appealing but is real yummy 😋
Kate Mackenzie 3 years ago
Stir fry rice, peas, onion, scrambled egg soy sauce and sesame seeds. YUM
#3
Ramen. You can be as creative as you like, with or without the flavor packet. Egg Noodles. Limitless possibilities. Eggs. Without end for creativity.
Final score:
38points
Pheebs 3 years ago
Omg, yes, ramen. My hubs and I joke we look like broke college students when we stock up on ramen. Our favorite time to have it is when we have some left over meat and veg in the fridge (we make a lot of interchangeable things for meals). Some grilled chicken left? Throw it in. Leftover peas or corn? In it goes. Cream cheese? Oh, hell yeah. Maybe some egg, on occasion. Either way, makes for a quick, hearty soup on days we don’t have time or want to create something from scratch.
Carrie Divine 3 years ago (edited)
I used to joke in college that I was gonna get rich publishing my book, "101 ways to make Ramen." Add spaghetti sauce, it's Italian night! Add hamburger, soy sauce and wonton strips, Chinese night! Add Velveeta and tuna it's Tuna noodle casserole! I could just go on.....lol...
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#4
Vegetable Soup. At the bare minimum all that is necessary is a bag of frozen mixed veg ($2) and a can of tomatoes ($1). The bags of soup mix veg or those small cut mixed veg works best. Simmer the tomatoes with any seasonings that you have till it cooks down and concentrates which essentially makes a broth concentrate. Add water and the veg. Done. Add any pantry fillings or leftovers you have such as canned beans, lentils, grains or noodles will make it heartier. $5 for a giant pot of soup. Variations are endless.
Final score:
37points
Telmo Belo 3 years ago
Try a bit of olive oil and some chopped onions or shallots and let them fry a little before adding everything else. That's the basic of Mediterranean cuisine
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
I like to roast onions, carrots, potato, and whatever else I have in the oven, then add some olive oil and seasonings (ginger, garam masala, etc) and blend into a puréed soup :)
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There once was... 3 years ago
Growing up we were not well off so my mom would make "mish mash soup" from Barney. It would always taste different but it was good every time. Brought it up years back and she said she would find what she could to make a meal for us and soup with random veggies never cost much.
izzy (pan)da 3 years ago
throwing in a veggie or chicken bouillon (you can get really inexpensive singles) in the water adds a lot to flavour to soup on a budget!
#5
Beans on toast. Every time. Want to class it up, for not much money? Cube up some cheddar and drop it in while the beans are being heated up.
Final score:
28points
1.21Gigawatts?! 3 years ago
Isn’t it Worcestershire sauce or is there something called Worcester sauce?
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Earl Grey 3 years ago (edited)
This is just one of many variations on Welsh Rarebit, is it not? That is one of my favorite dishes to make at home. I use cheddar and some hot sauce, and usually chili beans. Very, very quick and satisfying.
Nathaniel (Submission author) 3 years ago
No, Welsh Rarebit is cheese on toast. This is beans on toast. Add cheese to make cheesy beans on toast. Welsh Rarebit it is the cheese that is cooked with the bread for toasty cheesy goodness. Beans on toast is not a variation of Welsh Rarebit. Cheesy beans on toast is a variation of beans on toast.
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#6
Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes
Final score:
27points
Nathaniel 3 years ago
Is that hamburger AND gravy over mash, or is there an actual thing, hamburger gravy?
Judy Windham Saunders 3 years ago
Yes, there is such a thing as hamburger gravy. Perhaps you know it by its more common name, S**t on a shingle. Very popular among us Army brats, anyway.
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hhh cubed 3 years ago (edited)
Loved this growing up and it was one of the first meals we were taught to make. If you have any leftover hamburger gravy you can add a tomato sauce (even ketchup will work) and spices like; chili powder, then you have sloppy joes. I am a vegetarian now but there are times when I crave those simple yet delicious cheap meat dishes from my childhood.
Mahogany Eclipse 3 years ago
Old childhood meal right here, which Ive recently resurrected 😋😋😋
#7
3 day's of family dinners from a full chicken - hear me out... Chicken dinner on Sunday. After, pull the meat you can access easily then boil the carcass up. Now pull the rest of the meat easily once it's broken down and cooled (especially the oysters underneath, yummiest bit) and save the boiling liquid and you now have an abundance of chicken stock. DAY 2 - chicken salad or chicken n chips (or a pie of some sort) and gravy from stock. Day 3 - Any left over veg or if you have noodles or anything really for soup. Another quick alternative is hot chicken and stuffing baguettes with gravy from stock and a few homemade crisps or chips on the side (even make coleslaw if u save a carrot or two and some cabbage etc) Absolutely nothing left from the chicken. Suddenly that chicken dinner just became very cheap! May pay a £1 or two more for a bigger chicken but in the long run it works out way cheaper. Also stir fry with any bits of veg you have is another alternative to day 2 or 3. Potato hash is nice and cheap and can make bucket loads at once. Just learning basic cooking skills will save you a fortune and you can pretty much make any fakeaway but much cheaper, healthier and tastier. I'm no chef but I'm adept and self taught. I feed my hubby, daughter and myself daily on fresh protein and veg for less than £2 each a day and we even have a treat of rump steak once a fortnight. I've never used a pasta sauce from a jar, my veg soup (easily becomes chicken or beef and veg soup) is made from veg cuttings I freeze everyday and when I have enough I make into soup. Once whizzed up nobody knows any different. Loads of these recipes and ideas. Just takes a bit of organisation, trial and error and patience. Also helps that anything new I try and create becomes a family fun time going through the taste and visual tests. Made some real clangers 🤢🤭 but also some amazing meals for practically nothing. Buy veg in bulk but prep your meals so you don't buy anything that will be wasted. Check out butchers and talk to butcher about cheap cuts, butchers are only to happy to educate people but people seem embarrassed to approach a butcher shop. Hope this helps at least one person in anyway...
Final score:
27points
Stephanie Goadsby 3 years ago (edited)
I do something similar with a turkey. Full dinner first night (cats get the giblets), strip the carcass and boil it down for stock, save some meat for sandwiches or leftovers, and make soup that lasts for days (also freeze the soup if there's too much to eat within a few days). Btw, I love that term, "fakeaway". It will forever be entered into my lexicon.
Shoshana Sherrington 3 years ago
My mother in law used to throw out the turkey carcasse. Since I married in we take it home for soup and yummy tender meat off the bones
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sweetrottenpeaches 3 years ago (edited)
I can not uprate this more. She is so right! I could suggest Hannah Glasse's cookbook from 1805 ( I have it and it is so wonderful). Those recipies I found in that cookbook could teach me how to cook on a budget. I would really suggest to buy some old cookbooks if one can not figure out on itself how to cook tasty and cheap, but healthy food. It helped me a lot.
Darcy Marie 3 years ago
Sometimes we can't afford to buy a chicken to roast but the pre cooked ones that are "hot and ready" at the front of the store are usually about $7 and we can get a good 2-3 meals out of them, sometimes 4 if we really stretch
Sinead Kenny (Submission author) 3 years ago
Hey if it's cheaper it's the way to go. Save on the energy bill xx
Load More Replies... Shannon Juarez 3 years ago
We never have leftovers of a whole chicken. 😞 My family of 7 can strip that bird down the first meal.
CG 3 years ago (edited)
A small cut of the meat below the chicken's thigh, near the back bone. I first heard about it from Hell's Kitchen, and it is actually a very delicious piece of meat. It is shaped like a small orb, hence the term Oyster.
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Pascal Arevalo 3 years ago
I cant be the only pne that skiped this pne bc it was to long Or maybe i am wayyyyyy to impatient
#8
Cabbage soup is probably the least expensive thing anyone can make in bulk and I love it. Don’t ask for a recipe - I literally don’t have one. I eyeball everything. My Mom’s friends wanted the recipe for Christmas one year and I tried to write it out but it just doesn’t work that way. Anyway, what I’m saying is that it’s a great way to make a bunch of soup out of not a lot of expensive ingredients. I make it in bulk and freeze in single serving sizes. Perfect easy, yummy, budget friendly goodness.
Final score:
26points
Elizabeth Blakeney 3 years ago
I LOVE CABBAGE.... Soup, yep! Fried, yep! Plain cold, yep! As a roll up, yep! Stuffed and baked, yep! Chopped & stir fried, yep! Boiled, yep! As a filler with greens, yep! CABBAGE RULES!
Bitmoji Tennis 3 years ago
Add some apple cider vinegar to fried. It’s genuinely one of my favorite things. It’s sweet and tangy but good for you, and it’s cheap so it’s good for your wallet too
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Johsy B 3 years ago
If you don't like cabbage soup, you can stuff rolled cabbage leaves or a halved cabbage with stuff like rice, onion, if you have any ground meat (or beef substitute)... Simmer in tomato soup and/or canned tomato... Cabbage is pretty versatile and I dunno, always loved it.
sweetrottenpeaches 3 years ago
Stuffed cabbage is one of the best things in the world. It is kind of a national dish in eastern europe. And it is not a fancy and expensive plate of food. You can make it with a small amount of ground meat mixed up with rice or ground corn. And if you have some smoked pork to add on top of the pot of stuffed cabbage, you gonna have a real feast. It is so tasty :)
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Sara Sanders 3 years ago
Yes! I do that, too. Boil lots of water, beef bullion, salt, and chopped cabbage. Simmer until cabbage is done. Add in browned hamburger with onions and garlic, sometimes fresh sautéed mushrooms, and some diced canned tomatoes. YUM!
#9
Soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Sometimes I substitute the soup with ramen. Prices in Canada have been affected by inflation, but two whole loaves of bread where I go are $7, cheese slices are less than $5, butter is $6, and store brand ramen is usually sold as 6 packs for $3, or something low like that.
Final score:
26points
SMom 3 years ago
One of those loaves will make 8-10 sandwiches, so one could eat 2 meals a day for several days on all of that. Add some fruits and veggies and eat well and healthy for $30 for almost a week! Eating out is easily double or triple and not as healthy.
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Jess Baldo 3 years ago
6 packs of ramen for 3 bucks??!! Member when it was 10 cents a few years ago? :(
Debi Swing 3 years ago
My mom was in the hospital for 6 weeks in 2013. She had a grilled cheese and tomato soup every single day for lunch! Sometimes it would be on the supper menu and she would order it.
#10
Any cheap pasta and any cheap tomato sauce... you can make the taste better with your favourite spices and it you have instant comfort food...
Final score:
24points
OneHappyPuppy 3 years ago
Was looking for this one. This is my version: Fry some onion/shallot on oil, pour the tomato sauce in, add salt/pepper/whatever seasoning you want (I add sweet paprika and powdered garlic too) and then stir in the precooked pasta. Tastes better after it sits for a while
sweetrottenpeaches 3 years ago
Sounds great! I may add some garlic and some fresh herbs I grew anywhere I can. But this is a great meal. Am I too fancy to add extra olive oil? :/ I always have that in my kitchen (maybe not the extra extra virgin olive oil, but I guess any type could do in this case).
Load More Replies... #11
Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Cheap and it is my go-to comfort food
Final score:
21points
AsexualShrimp (Submission author) 3 years ago
To add on, the soup part might be around 5$ to make and cheese is pretty cheap
Shae Laur 3 years ago
It's one of my comfort foods and depending on how many you're feeding it'd probably cost $20-$25 for a couple nights to a week
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BusLady 3 years ago
That is my favorite meal when I'm sick in bed. My son fixes it for me and brings it to me.
AsexualShrimp (Submission author) 3 years ago
Can he bring me some??? I’m already craving it
Load More Replies... #12
Peanut butter toast. Super delicious and crunchy with a nutty flavor.
Final score:
20points
Whitefox 3 years ago
sometimes, I will add a little honey. I keep packets from Popeyes and KFC.. lol..
Norma Nelson 3 years ago
Prefer creamy peanut butter makes the best snack some times I put a sliced banana on
Proverb Woman 3 years ago
Yes! Or spread honey on it first and then pb! Slice some bananas on top for a hearty breakfast and even sprinkle with cinnamon!
#13
Really cheap and easy to make is rice with eggs and peas. Rice made in the rice cooker with boullion flavour of choice (3 cups uncooked rice with 4 packets of boullion). 4 hardboiled eggs chopped. Heat a bowl of frozen peas. Mix together and you're set. Delicious, filling, simple, and serves 3-4 people. I buy an 8kg (roughly 40+ cups) bag of rice for $12, 16 packet box of boullion for $3, a dozen eggs for $3.50, 1kg bag of frozen peas for $2.
Final score:
20points
Stephanie Goadsby (Submission author) 3 years ago (edited)
I just did the math on it, and based on the amount that I cook at a time, it works out to be about $3.25 per meal or approximately $0.80 (4 people) -$1.10 (3 people) per person. Edit: I forgot to factor in the dollop of margarine that I mix into the rice once it's cooked.
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
That sounds yummy!! I do a similar thing with one can of cheap chili ($1.75 CAD), one can of red beans ($1.50 CAD), 2-3 cups of rice and any extra frozen veg or seasonings I have. Makes 5-6 meals for less than $5 :)
Load More Replies... #14
White rice topped with refried beans, any sauce/stew lying around, finally chopped cabbage and a dollop of sour cream. Simpler than you think but holy cow is it good.
Final score:
19points
Shnookumpie 3 years ago
My favorite is refried beans and toasted brown rice cooked w chicken bullion and garlic....a little shredded cheese if we have it (cheese has gotten so expensive, hubby and I have started rationing) Throw some salsa or just tomatoes on top if they available. If we have chicken, its even more wonderful! We scoop this up with soft, grilled corn tortillas 😋 ..... so good!☺️
#15
Ramen noodles.
Final score:
18points
#16
Oatmeal, oatmeal everything. In the most dire of situations all you need is water to turn it into porridge and just a little keeps you going a long time.
Final score:
18points
Shannon Juarez 3 years ago
I love oatmeal so much. I keep it on hand to make oatmeal cookies all year long.
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
I keep some at work for when I get hangry :)
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Marika 3 years ago
From oatmeal you can also make a delicious soup. You just need to brown a few oatmeal with butter and deglaze with broth. Then just simmer a bit and add more oatmeal if needed. My mother sometimes also stirred in an egg.
Proverb Woman 3 years ago
That sounds SO gross but I'll have to try it before I slam it!
Load More Replies... #17
I love cooking. Personally, I cook creamy lemon pasta (recipe on NYT cooking) but for an easy one, spinach fried in olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, or grilled cheese with canned tomato soup (I make homemade tomato soup lol) a tip for the grilled cheese is mayonnaise on the outside… makes it crispier and tangier.
Final score:
17points
Bitmoji Tennis 3 years ago
Agreed. I used butter for years. Tried mayo once and only use it now. Makes the sandwich not soggy like butter does
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#18
The best thing to come out of a major recession is it causes people to show their individuality and creativity. Dollar General was my dirty little secret, and when HLN did a story on them, it kinda ruined it. And enjoy seasonable veggies from local business. Don’t look at it like suffering and doing without. Look at it like accepting a challenge, and making more with less. (Confession: I’ve been replacing ketchup and mustard with the cheaper brand in the more expensive containers - for YEARS - no one noticed yet. And I’m not sorry *S*)
Final score:
16points
Stephanie Goadsby 3 years ago
No one has noticed that the bottle never changes? You must take care if all of the garbage and recycling duties too.
Lucky2BAlive (Submission author) 3 years ago
You could say that and not be wrong.
Load More Replies... Featherytoad 3 years ago
I can definitely tell the difference between Heinz ketchup and the other brands. I can't tell the difference in yellow mustard though, so I always buy the store brand.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Oh yes, first time I tried Rosella tomato sauce I refused to eat it and everyone was telling me it was the same as Heinz, but it was so much sweeter and also more vinegary at the same time!
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Danniee Gyrl 3 years ago
My mom did the same with replacing expensive brands with cheaper/store name/generic brands. Buy the name brand once and keep that container. It is the same ingredients, just different packaging.
Lucky2BAlive (Submission author) 3 years ago
Absolutely. And the human mind is a funny thing. I’ve cooked with haggis, spam, all kinds of stuff.
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Lucky2BAlive (Submission author) 3 years ago
The trick is to refill when you get down to roughly a quarter of a bottle of the expensive stuff, do the cheap refill and give it a good shake. The other trick is either a wee bit of sugar, and a dollop of tomato paste. And voilà ketchup. And the money you save on that trick can be used elsewhere. Either on the no skimp items, or save up for something bigger. (Like , dare I say, gas for the car? *L*)
#19
Lentils, onion, garlic, bacon.
Final score:
15points
#20
One of my kids faves is something we called "ghetto enchiladas" (please don't get offended, I was a single mom on a very tight income no child support all that) A bag of frozen burritos (whatever's your fave) smothered in red or green sauce, cheese and black olives (or whatever toppings you like) bake it at 350 for about 30 minutes serve with sour cream and there were never any left. Takes 1/8th of the time to make, and it cost maybe 15 bucks to make. Kids are grown now and still love it.
Final score:
15points
Elizabeth Johnson 3 years ago
Around where I live a burrito topped with enchilada sauce (and usually cheese as well) is called a wet burrito. Add whatever else on top, tomatoes, salsa, lettuce, onion, black olives, sour cream, avocado or guacamole, or whatever else you wish to add it, becomes a smothered wet burrito.
AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 3 years ago
yes very close, and sounds divine!!! The only difference is we bake these (or fry them)
Load More Replies... Elliot 3 years ago
my dad makes the same thing but calls it "jaychiladas", named after himself
AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 3 years ago
Hahahaha I love ... tell Dad I'm stealing that lol
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Hagen Radcliffe 3 years ago
We call this “Burrito Bake” and it’s been my go-to meal for when I’m just too tired of cooking/and food in general. If I have left over rice or potatoes, I put them around the edge- so delicious when it soaks up some sauce
AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 3 years ago
Oooh I never thought of that. That sounds so good.
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Tiffi 3 years ago
Definitely not offened by ghetto enchiladas. Whatever takes to fill bellies. I make enchiladas from scratch quite often. They're not that difficult and not that pricy and the two of us can get three meals from them. If I have any enchilada meat left over, then we get quesadilla.
#21
eggs on toast with some topping : sesame seeds, green onions, sriracha, grated cheese, ...
Final score:
14points
Proverb Woman 3 years ago (edited)
It's very European to have eggs for dinner. Omelettes, quiches, or scrambled with whatever cheese you have on hand, and chunks of crusty bread! I LOVE sauteing spinach or tomatoes and then dumping my whisked eggs on top to cook. Add cream cheese/plain yogurt/sour cream instead of milk for a tangy twist!!
Hagen Radcliffe 3 years ago
Just plain yum. 😘 I can’t wait to go to sleep so I can wake up and eat
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#22
Pasta and sauce. There are so many price ranges for sauce and it's easy to doctor it up. Add sausage, beef, chicken, mushrooms, fresh herbs. It's inexpensive, filling and easy to put together.
Final score:
13points
#23
Potatoes. Maybe with a bit of oil and herbs. Soup, mash, boiled, baked, fried, dep fried… All of it can fill you up on a low budget.
Final score:
12points
#24
I've just made it for lunch as a side dish, my MIL taught me this one. Grate an onion and 2 potatoes into a bowl, add an egg, tbsp oil, some flour, seasoning, anything else you'd like in (I prefer it plain), some cheese if you have left around (again, I do it plain). Leave in fridge for a while and deep-fry by grabbing spoonfuls to make a bite. Voila, enriched hash browns
Final score:
12points
OneHappyPuppy (Submission author) 3 years ago
No idea tbh. They're called Latkes in what language?
Load More Replies... #25
lentils. with some olive oil, salt and whatever frozen herbs i had. it was my go to meal when i was young and in University.
Final score:
12points
#26
Ghetto pizza. You can use regular bread, hamburger buns, or my personal fave garlic bread. Just add some traditional traditional spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce, whatever you prefer or have on hand & some shredded cheese. You can have whatever toppings you have available I am prefer
Final score:
12points
georgia layne 3 years ago
My husband toasts bread then adds sauce and cheese and whatever. Pizza toast...
branden nelles 3 years ago
Use a naan or a pita for better results. Makes a good individual size 'za
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Chris Osborn 3 years ago
Use a little brown ground burger, add it to pizza sauce, put mozzarella cheese on top, put on some type of bread , bake or broil and you have pizza burgers
Elizabeth Blakeney 3 years ago
I used to do this, only with saltine crackers, tomato soup seasoned with whatever herbs & seasonings I had around, and either real cheese or grated parmesan, then topped with thinly sliced hot dog pieces fried crisp. Stick all in a toaster oven for a few to get warmed up & viola! Pizza a la ghétto! 😉😋
Remi (He/Him) 3 years ago
Yeah nom! I like to do this too especially if there's bread that's starting to get a bit stale. Still works for this one. The name ghetto pizza is a new one for me though as it's simply known as warm breads here
#27
kind of depends if it is just for me or if i am making something for the family. if just for myself i would have to say either a fried egg sandwich or ramen. the latter is actually a meal as i usually toss in any veg i have available to round it out. if making something for my family then it would be what i refer to as my 'garbage soup. usually it would be a chicken veg as i save all my carcasses from roasted chicken and veg scraps in the freezer. the name came from my son when he was little and found my bags of bird and veg and asked why i was saving garbage in the freezer. can't get any simpler or cheaper than basically
Final score:
9points
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
Fried egg sandwiches keep me alive! I’m usually fairly broke so I’m about to go to the store and get eggs, 2 loaves of bread, tomato, onion, lettuce, and cheese (already have mayo/mustard/hot sauce) 2 weeks of lunches for less than $20! I only spend about $100-$120 a month on food when I’m being frugal :)
#28
Cooking with leftovers - Always cheaper to do something with them instead of throwing it away. Potato soup with leftover veggies : - Stirfry or cook (leftover) leak or broccoli or cauliflower or zucchini - Add like 4 / 5 potatoes and water and boil for 20 / 30 min - Spice up with stock cube or salt/pepper - Put through a blender - add some cream cheese into the mix or other leftover cheese - And leftover bacon or chicken are also optional
Final score:
9points
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
So good! Here’s mine for ginger curry carrot soup - roast carrot, onion, potato and tomato until lightly caramelized, then blend in blender with garlic, throw back on the stove and simmer with ginger, garam masala, and lemon pepper, then serve with either cheese or a dash of cream/sour cream and bread/rice. (Makes a good pasta sauce too!)
Load More Replies... #29
Baked potato, before it's finished sautee some bacon and onions, maybe some frozen mushrooms, herbs and garlic. Cut the potatoes in half, mash the mix with some butter and put back in the skins and back in the oven. Five minutes, bring 'em out and pour everything in the frying pan, the bacon stuff over them...
Final score:
8points
Hagen Radcliffe 3 years ago
Baked potatoes saved my life when I had no appetite and couldn’t keep anything down. The smell actually made me hungry enough to eat. I love you, Baked Pototoes!
#30
Homemade "hamburger helper". A box of elbow macaroni or rotini, bechamel sauce, grated cheddar mix from Aldi's, ground turkey, and one yellow onion. I sautee the thinly sliced onion until it's soft, then I throw in the ground turkey and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set it aside. Then, I make the bechamel sauce with butter, all purpose flour, and 2% milk (that's what I usually buy). Add in the grated cheddar mix and nutmeg until the sauce is smooth and cheesy. Add the cooked macaroni/rotini and cooked ground turkey + onion. A big pot of comfort food that will last more than one day.
Final score:
7points
#31
Two ramen noodle packs, cooked with the seasoning packets, drained. Add a pat of butter and Parmesan cheese. Ramen Alfredo.
Final score:
7points
Kaitlynnnnnn 3 years ago
I would think the creamy chicken flavor would be best but I haven't seen that one in stores for a long time
Load More Replies... #32
Two packages of Ramen Noodle Soup. Slice veggies into the water before boiling, also add an appropriate bouillon cube (chicken bullion cube with chicken ramen, etc.) This makes a huge, very filling, and healthy meal - for about 75 cents.
Final score:
7points
#33
Beans, cheese and rice burrito
Final score:
7points
Kevin Felton 3 years ago
Seriously pintos are like $0.75/ pound when you buy them in a 20 pound sack.
#34
Egg rice. Fry two eggs very lightly (you want as much of the yolk as possible to still be liquid) and mix it into a bowl of rice. I like to add soy sauce and ketchup to mine, but I imagine you could go one way or the other or shake it up in another way. The egg yolk does amazing things for the texture.
Final score:
7points
Wesley Burditt 3 years ago (edited)
I make rice and while it's on lower simmer add 2-3 raw eggs, when rice is done top with cheddar and favorite salsa. Stir well and munch away.
#35
Spaghetti. I can feed my family of 4 for under $10. Then I make homemade garlic bread too.
Final score:
7points
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
Spaghetti noodles cooked up with a dash of oil and salt and pepper and other seasonings!
#36
A can of black beans and tortilla chips. You can add more expensive ingredients to it, but in a pinch a can of black beans eaten with a few tortilla chips does the trick. bonus points that you can throw the canned beans in the microwave for under a minute and have a fulfilling meal.
Final score:
6points
FlamingoPanda 3 years ago
I do something similar but with more ingredients: a can of mixed beans + a can of tomatoes (I try get one with other veggies too). Bread, tortilla chips or wraps depending on how much I want to spend. Cheese for added luxury if you really want to splash out. Frozen peas can also be added. Heat it all up in a pan and dump it on the starch.
#37
French toast casserole. Serves 10 for less than $10. 1 Loaf of bread. 1 dozen eggs. 1 1/2 cups milk. 1/2 cup brown sugar. 1 stick of butter. 1 tbsp vanilla. Cinnamon to taste. Melt butter, mix with sugar and pour into lasagna pan. Cube the bread and put in pan. Mix eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour mix over cubes in a lasagna pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon, and sugar if you like. Bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove cover for last ten minutes for a crisp top. Breakfast for dinner!
Final score:
5points
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
Kind of yeah! But not everyone knows that :)
Load More Replies... #38
Any kind of pasta, I usually use spaghetti or penne. Italian dressing. Hot or cold. I started making this in the 80’s with Fat Free Italian dressing. We didn’t really understand the carb thing then.
Final score:
5points
Shadell Turner 3 years ago
I love buttered noodles elbow or spaghetti with lots of salt and pepper... sometimes I put ketchup on them... delicious and filling but definitely not diet food lol
#39
Sautéed vegetables (typically, white cabbage) with soy sauce and a kick of hot sauce. I still collect every single sachet or pod of soy sauce to add flavor my meals! First fry a bit of garlic in oil. Then add chopped onion, then after 2 minutes the cabbage sliced into ribbons. Add 2 sachets of soy sauce and a dash of hot sauce and let cook for 10'. Serve with a side of rice.
Final score:
5points
#40
Spaghetti or gnocchi, olive oil, salt, pepper (and any other spices you like/have around) and fresh herbs - I'm lucky I have a garden but even a tiny pot on a windowsill will do to grow your own. Dried herbs will work but not as tasty!
Final score:
5points
#41
frozen sweetcorn(lol) believe it or not! the sweetcorn is really nice on a hot day, and tastes fantastic
Final score:
5points
#42
I love soup so much, cheap, healthy, and keeps you full for the day :)
Final score:
5points
#43
Hmm. Soup and sandwich is my go-to, generally. But I really love naan bread, a couple of fried eggs (I break and cook through the yolk for less mess when eating), some butter or condiment of choice, and a couple of slices of lunch meat (ham or salami, usually). All told, it costs like $10 for all of the components, but I have enough for at least 4 sandwiches. So, $2 a sandwich and it’s enough for a whole meal. For $3 (more naan) more I’d have enough for 8 sandwiches. :)
Final score:
4points
#44
I make something I call the Bachelor Bake. You basically combine a meat of choice (I like chicken) with a firm noodle of choice (I like tricolor rotini, but any macaroni products work) and a vegetable of choice (broccoli for me, sometimes squash) you don't want anything too wet or it's going to go bad before you finish. Keep the sauce separate, pick a cheap shredded cheese in the fridge, and mix the sauce in and top with cheese before nuking in a microwave safe bowl or dish. Used to feed my brother and I for a week.
Final score:
4points
#45
Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burger: The Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burger is topped with caramelized sweet onions, prosciutto, French Triple Cream Brie and a drizzle of 100-year aged balsamic vinegar. I like it with a bottle of Dom Perignon Rose Champagne. ,
Final score:
4points
Zena Shirey 3 years ago
Yup what the rich are eating while we're living on ramen and working full time .Capitalism at its finest.
Jessica Allred 3 years ago
Maybe they work in the import industry and since no one can afford their food, they have to eat their inventory.
#46
Buttered noodles elbow or spaghetti with lots of salt and pepper and sometimes I put ketchup on them delicious and filling but definitely not diet food lol....
Final score:
4points
#48
Cabbage, chopped & fried in olive oil or butter, with either chopped bacon or chopped ham or sliced potatoes, add chopped onions, season to taste (simple salt and pepper will do) and eat hot! 🤗😋👍
Final score:
4points
#49
Peanut butter on granola bar. Can buy both bulk, cheap.
Final score:
3points
Stephanie Goadsby 3 years ago (edited)
You must have a small appetite to call that a meal. I'd be starving. Unless of course, I ate many more than is probably wise. Which I could easily see; it sounds tasty.
Leo Domitrix (Submission author) 3 years ago
I *may* add tiny bits of chocolate to the peanut butter.... :-) And it travels easily.
Load More Replies...
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
Can confirm. But if I'm putting peanut butter on a bar, I usually do Nutrigrain bars so it's like a PBJ.
#50
honestly instant noodles and vegemite and cheese sandwiches. Nothing high class
Final score:
3points
#52
Pea soup. If there's money for some bacon then using that, if not then with carrot. Another one is pasta with tomato sauce and hopefully some cheese or eggplant added. Back when I was a student tuna was still really cheap, but that's not an option these days for cheap meals. I also often buy a larger amount of minced meat when it's on sale, cook it and freeze it in batches of about 200 grams so I can get meat easily for example for 5 dinners if I bought 1 kg.
Final score:
3points
Zelda Fitzgerald 3 years ago
Split pea soup is definitely one of my cheap go tos! With diced ham carrots onions garlic and thyme 😋
#53
Tomato soup with diced onions, diced jalepeños or bell peppers, and rice.
Final score:
3points
#54
I do a lot of the stuff in this list but one of my favourite go tos is a pita stuffed with sauce and cheese and toppings. Bake in the oven for a massive crispy pizza pocket and I often eat with from frozen fries. Bag salad would work too
Final score:
3points
Mary Lou Peters 3 years ago
Home cooked soup beans and cornbread with chopped onions.also soon fried taters.
#55
Stuffed tomatoes. Cut the middle of a tomato out, add tuna or chicken salad. Easy! Also, tomato sandwich: bread, spread mayo on both sides and lay one side down on a cookie sheet. Top with sliced tomatoes, herbs (dried basil works well), salt, pepper, shredded cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese has melted.
Final score:
3points
#57
Depending on what I have on hand, it's one of two rice bowls with hot rice as the base: one is topped with a canned beans and corn, chopped up veggies and Chiles and all mixed with spices I have like cayenne, paprika, garlic powder since it makes it extra filling with the flavor punch. If no beans or sick of them, can of tuna, diced of chiles, tablespoon of cream cheese, and some soy sauce and lime. Tastes like deconstructed sushi almost! Basically, canned protein with rice paired with Chiles, veggies, and spices lol
Final score:
3points
#58
Cook egg noodles then mix in cream of chicken soup. Serve over biscuits. My kids love this!
Final score:
3points
Gwyn Adams 3 years ago
I use a can of biscuits to push into the bottom of a muffin tin, each gets a little frozen peas and carrots, shred chicken, and a bit of cream of chicken. Top with more biscuit dough and cook according to the biscuit instructions. Mini chicken pot pies.
#59
Tuna noodle casserole. Great comfort food. Cheap and easy to make. Makes enough for later too.
Final score:
3points
#60
Go to ALDI! Bag of spinach, fresh whole mushrooms ( sliced), fine chopped onion and garlic. Sautee shrooms, onion, garlic in evoo. Wilt in spinach. Mix with rice, noodles, Ramen, put in omelets, calzones. Pizza...the list is endless and is healthy and delicious and very inexpensive!
Final score:
3points
#61
I either whip up a soup or a salad, and add all the random stuff I can find in the fridge/cabinet to jazz it up... I've even turned other people onto my stuff
Final score:
2points
Arnavet 3 years ago
The ultimate chef's salad: whatever the chef sticks in the salad!
Load More Replies... #62
A box of Zatarain’s low sodium and a box of Tony Cachere’s red beans and rice (cooked per directions) five spicy Italian sausages, sage, fennel seed, and as much hot pepper sauce, powder etc. as you prefer. Five or six servings for around $12-$15, assuming you already have the herbs and spices. I prefer the flavor and texture of the spicy Italian over andouille sausage. It may not be bona fide Cajun, but it’s delicious!
Final score:
2points
#63
Endive stew / andijvie stamppot Cost like 7,50 euro's for 4 - 6 people. - big head of endive ( 1 euro) or fresh from garden - 2 / 3 kilo potato ( 3,50 ) - some ( like 250 / 300 kilogram) diced bacon ( 3 euro) Cook potatoes in salted water. When done throw water out. In de blender - but not too smooth Add little butter or oil, add raw (washed & small chopped up) endive and bacon Add some salt and pepper if you like Done :)
Final score:
2points
#65
I'm low carb and like living off of the Dollar Tree. You'd be surprised how good Slim Jims can be if you cut them up and brown them before putting them in an egg/egg scramble. They often have mushrooms and sautéed red peppers if you want to get extra fancy for a couple meals.
Final score:
2points
#66
I love to have eggs and beef bacon! It's very convenient as it's easy to cook and I almost always have eggs at home. However, I do sometimes need to quickly visit tye supermarket to get some beef bacon but it's always worth it. Delicious 😋
Final score:
2points
Anna r 3 years ago
Some groceries have bacon in the fresh case that can be $5/lb which is cheaper than the packages and much better
Load More Replies...
Kaitlynnnnnn 3 years ago
😂😂 I didn't even notice. They probably just mean "not turkey". But......is there beef bacon?
Load More Replies... #67
Pasta with tuna, the best thing you can eat
Final score:
2points
#68
Tacos! Breakfast tacos, hard shelled tacos, soft tacos. Any way they are great!
Final score:
2points
#69
To all my American friends.... buy a pressure cooker. 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of masoor dal in the pressure cooker feeds 3 - 4 and costs less than one dollar.
Final score:
2points
#70
Hot dogs and beans. Add brown sugar, pancake syrup, and slice up the hot dogs. Great mix of sweet and savory.
Final score:
2points
#71
Hotdogs hash. Or also known as the poor man's meal. Slice potatoes and fry. When they are almost done slice hotdogs and finish flying till the hotdogs look a little fried. You can also Sautee onion and garlic to throw in. And salt and pepper. But usually for my family we don't have them cuz they didn't fit in the tight budget.
Final score:
2points
#72
Easy one: Salad, lettuce, croutons or nuts, boiled eggs and whatever veggies are on sale. Making a big bowl of salad and serve it family style is best. Some people see salad as a side but it can be really filling. A little more advance: Pineapple fried rice. Rice, egg, pineapple, bell pepper, frozen peas and corn, onion, garlic, soy sauce. May sound like it's expensive but it's not. I always have a big bag of rice at home as well as a large jug of soy sauce. Buying fresh veggies is always cheaper than making some kind of meat. The eggs give you protein and veggies have all sorts of vitamins and minerals. I think buying food for nutritional value is cheaper. You don't get anything fancy, fruits and veggies are inexpensive, filling and nutritionally rich.
Final score:
2points
#73
Bagels with Cream Cheese, very cheap and doesn't require much effort.
Final score:
2points
#74
Breakfast bake. Layer the bottom of a pan with hash brown patties and bake them at 425degrees for ten minutes . Remove and let cool . Add a layer of sliced cheese over the hash browns. Then a layer of cooked ground sausage that has been cooled. Then whip 8 eggs and add what ever else you might like. I add bacon and peppers and mushrooms but you can add whatever you like. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage and add shredded cheese on top. Bake in the oven on 450 degrees for 20 min or until the cheese on top is golden brown. Let cool for few min . Cut and serve. Feeds family of 5.
Final score:
2points
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
My MIL lines a pan with as many cheese & ham sandwiches as she can fit, then pours a milk & egg mixture overtop, lets it sit overnight, then bakes the next day. When I make it I get about 8 sandwiches out of it :) this reminded me of it - cheap but tasty!
#75
Box of tri-color rotini, jar of tomato sauce, add some Sriracha, Worcestershire, red paprika to the sauce. If I'm feeling fancy, might add some chopped, fried spam, but only if it's a sweet sauce (stuff's half salt).
Final score:
2points
#78
Spam fried rice- Filipino style or Japanese green curry with chicken, potatoes and veggies. Both are super yummy 😋
Final score:
1point
#79
Can of chili with a box of Mac and cheese or 2 cans of chili with a brick of cream cheese melt and serve with chips.
Final score:
1point
Lori Mayes 3 years ago
We do the chili. cream cheese then we mix in a can of rotel tomatoes put in baking dish cover with motserella cheese and black olives bake or microwave till cheese is melted.
#80
I have 2 1. Tuna cassrole: can tuna cream of mushroom soup and pasta butter milk. -cook pasta -meanwhile melt 2 tbs butter (season with onion/garlic powder) in a casserole dish -add the soup n 2/3 cup of milk mix cook for 2 mins mix again cook 2 more mins -add tuna and pasta (should be cooked by this point) mix cook 2 mins mix cook 2 mins. The second one Minute rice cream of mushroom soup milk n beef bouillon -Cook rice according to box (make servers 2) -meanwhile in another small pot add soup half can of milk the bouillon n garlic/onion powder. Mix n cook until hot n creamy. -stir rice once its done cooking -add to the rice when it cooked mix in well Both a cheap n quick meal good comfort meal n make good leftovers.
Final score:
1point
#81
Mashed potatoes with fried onions, mushroom, bacon and/or a little bit minced beef - or any type of meat you have, sausages is good too. Mix it all together and you have a tasty meal that lasts a long time.
Final score:
1point
#82
Velveeta Mac n Cheese (usually Family Size), large can tuna (drained), chopped broccoli head, and French fries onions if you have them, some other crunchy chip if you want. Cooked the noodles and steamed the broccoli over the noodles. Once pasta is cooked and drained and tuna and gooey cheese packet and cooked broccoli. Stir in fried onions/chips to taste. Makes a ton of food pretty cheap, especially if you watch for when the Velveeta Mac n Cheese is BOGO.
Final score:
1point
#83
Egg rice: freshly cooked rice, an egg, soy sauce, mirin, and a bit of togarashi all mixed together. Frothy, warm, creamy deliciousness!
Final score:
1point
#84
Hamburger and potatoes. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and fry until almost tender, add ground beef, onion powder, garlic salt, fresh ground pepper. Had this many times when I was at the bottom of the freezer. 1 pound of hamburger and 4 or 5 potatoes can feed the entire family.
Final score:
1point
#86
Tuna casserole!!! 2 5 oz cans of tuna, cup of rice, 1 can of cream of celery soup, and 1 cup of cheese! Can easily feed a family of 4+ for under $6. Cook 1 cup of rice on stove. Open and drain 2 5 oz cans of tuna. Grate 1 cup of cheese (we prefer sharp cheddar). Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl combine rice, tuna, 3/4 cup of cheese, and cream of celery soup. Put mixture in baking dish and top with rest of cheese. Lightly salt and pepper top. Bake for about 20 minutes and ta da! Super cheap and easy! Another family favorite that goes a long way is Poormans. All you need is: 1 pack of hotdogs 1 lb of elbow macaroni 1 can of rotel 1 can petite diced tomatoes And ketchup Can easily feed 4-6 with some leftovers for lunch! Boil and drain pasta In a seperate large heat rotel and diced tomatoes. Place hot dogs on cookie sheet in oven at 350 for 10 minutes. Slice hot dogs in small pieces and to tomatoes, stir in pasta with a big squirt of ketchup. We have lots of these recipes in my family. Growing up with a lot of mouths to feed and a very small budget helps you get creative in the kitchen!
Final score:
1point
#87
Chicken broth with rice. Just throw 1 or 2 wings pp in a pot with half an onion and water, let it boil and change its color. Then cut the meat into small bites and eat with rice, a few drops of fish sauce and lemon. I also keep freezed cut herbs such as coriander or Thai basil to flavor it up.
Final score:
1point
#88
Cubed Steak with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Or Salisbury Steak (not that pre made cr@p) with a side salad and corn Or Spaghetti with Meatballs and garlic bread (homemade)
Final score:
0points
Norma Nelson 3 years ago
Sauerkraut with creamy peanut butter both are cheap add some buttered toast
#89
pot noodle
Final score:
0points
Barbara Spencer 3 years ago
In my family...stretching is how we get by...for instance, we add shredded cheese to tuna fish. You can easily get more sandwiches by adding cheese...ANY kind
#90
If you have a Jason’s Deli close to you, get a WHOLE roasted turkey muffuletta sandwich, and break it into four meals. It’s currently $15.29 where I live, so under $4.50 per sandwich after tax. And you can season each quarter differently.
Final score:
0points
#91
Yums...donuts
Final score:
0points
#92
Chef Boyardee mini raviolis. Usually 2 cans. Add, salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, minced garlic, minced onion, and Parmesan cheese. Quick, easy, and filling.
Final score:
0points
Kaitlynnnnnn 3 years ago
I understand it. They don't taste salty, it pretty much tastes like canned tomato soup with flavorless meat.
Load More Replies...
#94
Beans and corn bread. My mouth is watering. Excuse me while I head towards the kitchen...
Final score:
0points
#95
If I am picking it up probably Chick-fil-A at home I will make a big salad 🥗
Final score:
0points
Barbara Spencer 3 years ago
I like to make a SATURDAY SOUP!! You get all leftover veggies from the week, Any meats, add some kind of broth and a can or 2 of some kind of cream soup...(CHECK YOUR STORE BRAND OF SOUPS.)..they may be cheaper...then add any leftover pasta, or rice. There you go.... Saturday Soup
Hagen Radcliffe 3 years ago
I would starve before giving $1 to Chic-filled with hateful bigots. Good chicken doesn’t trump a company run by religious zealots that hate women. Rant ended.
What do you think ?
Miss Ann Thrope 3 years ago
I call it Tuna Surprise* I bag of frozen brown rice I big can of tuna Half a bag of frozen spinach can of cream of mushroom soup. Dump first three ingredients in a bowl, dump soup on top. I don't even stir it Nuke for 10 minutes, stir, enjoy. * The surprise is if doesn't kill you.
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
Taco pasta: hamburger, cooked pasta, salsa, Taco seasoning and shredded cheese. Awesome, even days later.
Jen F 3 years ago
Homemade ravioli here. Eggs, flour, water, olive oil and salt for pasta. Filling for ravs is just a simple (cheap) italian cheese mix and, mozzarella and ricotta cheese. Sauce onions, garlic, italian seasoning and canned plum tomatoes. My husband and I spend a few hours making them together and we have delicious homemade ravioli for about 4 or 5 days from one batch. They keep in the fridge fresh for 4 days and in the freezer for 3 months. Always tasty and always impressive if you're willing to put the effort in!
Samantha Price 3 years ago
Breakfast Burritos, but for dinner. I'll make black beans (from dry,) scrambled eggs, sausage (or any left over meat,) and I'll make home fries with some Jamaican curry powder. Flavor it all with whatever you have that works. I'll use garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, ginger, ap seasoning, etc etc. Its about using what you have. If we have it, I'll saute mushrooms and onions. Then we always buy tortillas when they're b1g1, and for toppings we have sour cream, salsa, cheese, cream cheese, and I have avocados too if we can afford it. It'll make several days worth of filling dinner and each time you can change up what you fill the burrito with so it doesn't really feel like leftovers.
Alyssia Taylor 3 years ago
Steamed white rice with some seasoning and sliced sausages or hotdogs. I pan-fry or air fry the sausages. You can add any veggies or herbs to it. Honestly seasoned rice with anything. Tuna is good too
Kaitlynnnnnn 3 years ago
When most of them say "fry" they don't mean "deep fry"
Load More Replies... Miss Ann Thrope 3 years ago
I call it Tuna Surprise* I bag of frozen brown rice I big can of tuna Half a bag of frozen spinach can of cream of mushroom soup. Dump first three ingredients in a bowl, dump soup on top. I don't even stir it Nuke for 10 minutes, stir, enjoy. * The surprise is if doesn't kill you.
Cathy Hurd 3 years ago
Taco pasta: hamburger, cooked pasta, salsa, Taco seasoning and shredded cheese. Awesome, even days later.
Jen F 3 years ago
Homemade ravioli here. Eggs, flour, water, olive oil and salt for pasta. Filling for ravs is just a simple (cheap) italian cheese mix and, mozzarella and ricotta cheese. Sauce onions, garlic, italian seasoning and canned plum tomatoes. My husband and I spend a few hours making them together and we have delicious homemade ravioli for about 4 or 5 days from one batch. They keep in the fridge fresh for 4 days and in the freezer for 3 months. Always tasty and always impressive if you're willing to put the effort in!
Samantha Price 3 years ago
Breakfast Burritos, but for dinner. I'll make black beans (from dry,) scrambled eggs, sausage (or any left over meat,) and I'll make home fries with some Jamaican curry powder. Flavor it all with whatever you have that works. I'll use garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, ginger, ap seasoning, etc etc. Its about using what you have. If we have it, I'll saute mushrooms and onions. Then we always buy tortillas when they're b1g1, and for toppings we have sour cream, salsa, cheese, cream cheese, and I have avocados too if we can afford it. It'll make several days worth of filling dinner and each time you can change up what you fill the burrito with so it doesn't really feel like leftovers.
Alyssia Taylor 3 years ago
Steamed white rice with some seasoning and sliced sausages or hotdogs. I pan-fry or air fry the sausages. You can add any veggies or herbs to it. Honestly seasoned rice with anything. Tuna is good too
Kaitlynnnnnn 3 years ago
When most of them say "fry" they don't mean "deep fry"
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