7 Frugal Meal Ideas for When You’re Broke
Do you find it hard to prepare tasty and filling meals when you’re in between pay days? Cooking hearty meals on a tight budget can be a challenge, but the truth is, it’s totally possible! You can enjoy a tasty, healthy, and filling meal for less when you give these frugal meal ideas a try. Bonus: You can whip them up in no time!
1. Loaded Tomato Soup and Cheese Sandwiches
Prepare a pot of tomato soup and toss in some filling extras such as rice, cheese, or pasta. Prepare with a side of grilled cheese sandwiches and some cucumber slices.
2. Baked Italian Chicken Legs and Rice
Chicken legs are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken. Bake chicken that has been marinated with Italian dressing in the oven. Prepare with a side of rice and a small side salad if budget allows.
3. Baked Potato Bar
Prepare baked potatoes along with a buffet of toppings. Enjoy them with sour cream, chives, cheese, bacon, ham, or other tasty toppings that turn them into a meal. Side with soup if the budget allows.
4. Ham and Cheese Croissant Pockets.
Take canned croissants and stuff them with ham and cheese before rolling. Prepare as usual. The end result is a hot and tasty treat that is best when served with inexpensive soup, steamed vegetables or salad.
5. Brinner!
Brinner is when you enjoy breakfast for dinner! Eggs, pancakes, and fruit can all make for an inexpensive but hearty dinner. If budget allows, prepare some sausage links or bacon.
6. Hamburger Casserole.
Cook a pound of hamburger and drain. Add in a packet of brown gravy mix. Add in a cup of frozen corn as well as a cup of frozen peas. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with shredded cheese, and finish off with frozen tater tots. Bake until golden and enjoy. It’s cheap and easy.
7. Meatless Taco Bar.
Create a meatless taco bar with shells, refried beans, cheese, sour cream, beans, avocado, lettuce and tomatoes. With so many fresh toppings, you won’t even miss the meat.
If you need to prepare a hearty meal on a budget, give these ideas a try! You’re sure to create something tasty in no time flat.
What are your go-to frugal meal ideas for when the grocery budget is running dry?
I make home made roasted tomato soup. I roast fresh or frozen tomato quarters with onions and garlic w/ a bit of oil. I cook the veggies with home made chicken stock ( can use water or veggy stock). Blend it up and serve with raisin scones or biscuits with cheese.
You can use plain canned tomatoes and skip the roasting.
Home made Hummus. I use whatever white bean I have on hand. Adding parsley, garlic, tahini, spinach, lemon or lime juice and spices. The recipe changes with what I have available. I cook beans and freeze them in 1-3 cup containers. I serve with veggy sticks, crackers and fruit.
Cook up 1/2 to 1lb of hamburger depending on what the budget allows and drain. Add a can of cream of mushroom soup, a can of water and a can of rice. Simmer until the rice is cooked then add canned or frozen vegetables. Season to taste. Can be extended further by doubling the soup and rice.
A variation is to use tomato soup, add a shot of ketchup and whatever cheese you have lying around including the hard bits (they melt) and skip the vegetables. I usually serve this with carrot sticks.
Cook up hamburger and drain. Add 3 cups of water and a package of mac and cheese (both pasta and sauce mix). Add whatever cheese you have, season to taste and serve when the pasta is done. Who needs Hamburger Helper.
Thanks so much for sharing! They all sound really quick and delicious!