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Sometimes, our lives are so busy it is hard to find the time to make a delicious meal at home. This doesn’t have to be the case. With simple ingredients and a little prep time, you can make a tasty meal without spending much money. If you’re looking for a frugal way to feed your family, check out some of my favorite dishes that always leave my family full and happy. Here are 15 Top Tier Cheap Meals That Won’t Break the Bank
1. Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Need a meal that provides a great source of protein with minimal prep time? These teriyaki thighs do the job. Set your slow cooker to low, add the thighs, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and maybe some cayenne peppers for heat, and six to eight hours later, you have a meal. Pair it with an easy salad or rice, and you have a fantastic dinner.
2. Slow-Cooker Stew
Another great slow-cooker recipe combines root vegetables, beef bone broth, and tender cuts of beef. This is the perfect comfort meal for cold winter nights. After you combine all the ingredients, set the cooker to low, and you’ll be warming up your body in no time.
3. Enchilada Casserole
This meal will impress your friends and family, plus it’s easy to make. Mix taco-seasoned beef with beans, sour cream, and cheese, then roll the mixture in tortillas. Add the tortillas to a casserole pan, seam side down, and bake. Top with more cheese and enchilada sauce, and dinner time becomes fiesta time.
4. Fruit-Glazed Pork Chops
Chefs have created a simple marinade for pork chops that will leave your taste buds in awe. Mix a basic grocery store barbeque sauce with your choice of fruit preserves. The best options are peaches or apricots. Use this sauce as a baste for grilled or baked pork chops. The jam’s sweetness and the sauce’s tanginess provide a perfect flavor profile for your next cookout.
5. Garlic Lemon Shrimp
This elegant dish is flavorful but uses only basic ingredients. Saute some lemon juice, garlic, and shrimp in olive oil, then combine with pasta and shaved parmesan cheese. The dish’s simplicity doesn’t match the flavor that explodes in your mouth. It’s one of those meals that will impress your friends with hardly any effort.
6. Garlic Bread Pizza Sandwiches
This is one of the best cheap meals to keep your family happy. All you need is a pre-made loaf of garlic bread, cheese, pizza sauce, and your choice of toppings. Cut the loaf in half, add cheese and toppings, and bake. Add the top of the bread to the bottom of the bread and dip it into the pizza sauce. This is a recipe I wish I had in college.
7. White Chicken Chili
It doesn’t matter what time of year it is; this meal is one of my favorites. Set your slow cooker to low. Add chicken, corn, jalapenos, broth, tomatoes, cream cheese, onions, garlic, and seasoning to taste. Eight hours later, you will have some of the heartiest and tastiest soups you could ever imagine.
8. Orange Spiced Chicken
You only need five ingredients to make this delicious marinade. Orange juice concentrate, soy sauce, and a five-spice blend create the perfect mix of flavors to marinate grilled chicken. What are the other two ingredients? Your two choices of sides make it a complete meal. I recommend couscous and asparagus for a great family meal.
9. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
If you have an air fryer, you will want to try these healthier chicken tenders. You only need to coat some sliced chicken in a cornflake and parmesan cheese coating and put it in the air fryer. The result is a crispy, healthy version of the chicken strips you love from your local fast-food shops.
10. Pulled Pork Sandwiches
You only need a few ingredients and time to make this famous barbeque sandwich. Get a piece of pork tenderloin or pork butt from the grocery and let it slow cook for six to eight hours. Shred the meat, combine it with your favorite barbecue sauce, and serve. I like to make small sliders with a tangy pickle. Serve this with coleslaw or macaroni salad; you will have great comfort food.
11. Crispy Buffalo Chicken Roll-Ups
Are you feeling like something spicy tonight? Toss cornflakes in buffalo sauce and set aside. Pound your chicken cutlets with a meat mallet to make them as thin as possible. Next, spread blue cheese on cutlets and roll them into a pinwheel. Toss in the buffalo /cornflake mixture and bake or air fry. You will have a delicious, spicy take on the traditional buffalo wing.
12. Potato Sausage Foil Packs
These can be made with your choice of meat. I use sausage because it was what we did growing up. Simply cut open a potato and add salt, pepper, and butter. Next, add the protein and vegetables you prefer. I like bell peppers, onions, and potatoes. Then, bake or grill until they are done. The combination is super tasty and easy to assemble.
13. Turkey Tacos
I cook this meal every week because it’s delicious, provides leftovers, and is easy to make. Cook some ground turkey and store-bought taco seasoning mix together. That’s literally all you need to do. Pick your favorite toppings, like cheese, tomatoes, onions, or avocado, and you have a mini taco bar. It is one of the more fun and delicious meals my family enjoys.
14. Sloppy Joes
Like turkey tacos, these messy sandwiches are a crowd-pleaser in my home. You can use turkey or beef with your sloppy joe mixture. Top off those tasty sandwiches with coleslaw, pickled jalapenos, or crispy fried onions. Make sure you have extra napkins on hand because while they are yummy, they live up to their name.
15. Baked Spaghetti
This could be an answer if you want a twist on the classic Italian dish. Get a baking pan, layer the spaghetti with meat sauce, ricotta, and parmesan cheese, and throw it in the oven. The best part about the meal is you can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge to warm up or freeze it for a later date.
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