Hey Pandas, What’s Your Best Go-To Cheap Meal? (Closed)

With prices going through the roof, what’s your simple struggle meal?

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.

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57points

Bjarne McDonald

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🦋vall🦋シ︎ 2 years ago

Potatos are amazing 🥔🥔🥔

17points

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Scrambled eggs with a little cheese, sliced tomatoes, toast if you have bread.

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Final score:

48points

ThisIsMe

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Sinead Kenny 2 years ago

I cook my tomatoes in with the eggs. Doesn't look appealing but is real yummy 😋

23points

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Ramen. You can be as creative as you like, with or without the flavor packet.
Egg Noodles. Limitless possibilities.
Eggs. Without end for creativity.

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Final score:

38points

Lucky2BAlive

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Pheebs 2 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.

19points

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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.

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Final score:

37points

Green Tree

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Telmo Belo 2 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

21points

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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.

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Final score:

28points

Nathaniel

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Sinead Kenny 2 years ago (edited)

Also add some Worcestershire sauce yummy!

9points

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Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes

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Final score:

27points

Praegard

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Nathaniel 2 years ago

Is that hamburger AND gravy over mash, or is there an actual thing, hamburger gravy?

11points

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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...

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Final score:

27points

Sinead Kenny

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Stephanie Goadsby 2 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.

10points

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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.

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Final score:

26points

Aisling Raye

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Elizabeth Blakeney 2 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!

10points

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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.

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Final score:

26points

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Carrie Divine 2 years ago

Holy moly! That's not a cheap meal at all!!!

11points

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#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...

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Final score:

24points

Mariana DaVe

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OneHappyPuppy 2 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

10points

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#11

Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Cheap and it is my go-to comfort food

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Final score:

21points

AsexualShrimp

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AsexualShrimp (Submission author) 2 years ago

To add on, the soup part might be around 5$ to make and cheese is pretty cheap

7points

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#12

Peanut butter toast. Super delicious and crunchy with a nutty flavor.

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Final score:

20points

Olivia Cucinella

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Whitefox 2 years ago

sometimes, I will add a little honey. I keep packets from Popeyes and KFC.. lol..

7points

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#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.

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Final score:

20points

Stephanie Goadsby

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Stephanie Goadsby (Submission author) 2 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.

9points

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#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.

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Final score:

19points

Karla Melgoza

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dorkus 2 years ago

Rice and beans for the win!

11points

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#15

Ramen noodles.

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Final score:

18points

LeeAnne B

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wellwisher 2 years ago

1000 upvotes

3points

#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.

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Final score:

18points

Moosy Girl

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Shannon Juarez 2 years ago

I love oatmeal so much. I keep it on hand to make oatmeal cookies all year long.

4points

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#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.

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Final score:

17points

Lemon

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Featherytoad 2 years ago

Yes, mayo is better.

9points

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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*)

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Final score:

16points

Lucky2BAlive

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Stephanie Goadsby 2 years ago

No one has noticed that the bottle never changes? You must take care if all of the garbage and recycling duties too.

5points

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#19

Lentils, onion, garlic, bacon.

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Final score:

15points

humdrum

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3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago

All fried up together 😀

0points

#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.

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Final score:

15points

AzKhaleesi

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Elizabeth Johnson 2 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.

6points

AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 2 years ago

yes very close, and sounds divine!!! The only difference is we bake these (or fry them)

0points

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Elliot 2 years ago

my dad makes the same thing but calls it "jaychiladas", named after himself

2points

AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 2 years ago

Hahahaha I love ... tell Dad I'm stealing that lol

0points

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JKT 2 years ago

Eat this often and we call them the same as you.

2points

Hagen Radcliffe 2 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

1point

AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 2 years ago

Oooh I never thought of that. That sounds so good.

0points

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Tiffi 2 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.

0points

AzKhaleesi (Submission author) 2 years ago

Mmmm yess. Great idea.

0points

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#21

eggs on toast with some topping : sesame seeds, green onions, sriracha, grated cheese, ...

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Final score:

14points

momjeans

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Proverb Woman 2 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!!

4points

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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.

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Final score:

13points

Sarah Loan

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AnnaPanda 2 years ago

The best

1point

#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.

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Final score:

12points

Bjarne McDonald

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#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

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Final score:

12points

OneHappyPuppy

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Elizabeth Blakeney 2 years ago

Latkes eh?

8points

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#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.

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Final score:

12points

royal_antelope

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Green Tree 2 years ago

I love lentils and the cook so fast!

3points

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#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

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Final score:

12points

Kushlove0420

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georgia layne 2 years ago

My husband toasts bread then adds sauce and cheese and whatever. Pizza toast...

4points

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#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

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Final score:

9points

talliloo

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Arnavet 2 years ago

I like the cut of your son's jib! Kids are great like that! 😂

3points

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#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

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Final score:

9points

Kobe (she)

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Arnavet 2 years ago

I'm going to try this soon, that sounds fantastic!

2points

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#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...

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Final score:

8points

Phil Green

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Hagen Radcliffe 2 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!

1point

#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.

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Final score:

7points

Mama Penguin

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Gwyn Adams 2 years ago

That sounds delicious! I'm going to try that soon.

0points

#31

Two ramen noodle packs, cooked with the seasoning packets, drained. Add a pat of butter and Parmesan cheese. Ramen Alfredo.

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Final score:

7points

Nancy Whiting

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Pharmtechgurl 2 years ago

I have been doing this for over 40 years!

1point

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#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.

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Final score:

7points

Richard Graham

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#33

Beans, cheese and rice burrito

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Final score:

7points

SNM Brooq

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Kevin Felton 2 years ago

Seriously pintos are like $0.75/ pound when you buy them in a 20 pound sack.

0points

#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.

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Final score:

7points

Tuesday Next

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Wesley Burditt 2 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.

4points

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#35

Spaghetti. I can feed my family of 4 for under $10. Then I make homemade garlic bread too.

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Final score:

7points

Saracynthiasylviasnout

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3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago

Spaghetti noodles cooked up with a dash of oil and salt and pepper and other seasonings!

0points

#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.

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Final score:

6points

alex cosgrove

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FlamingoPanda 2 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.

4points

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#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!

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Final score:

5points

Jaclyn Steinmacher

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Anna r 2 years ago

Isn't this just bread pudding?

0points

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#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.

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Final score:

5points

Maybe, Who Knows

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Shadell Turner 2 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

4points

#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.

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Final score:

5points

Lola G

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#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!

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Final score:

5points

Starbug

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#41

frozen sweetcorn(lol) believe it or not! the sweetcorn is really nice on a hot day, and tastes fantastic

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Final score:

5points

that panda with the fur

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Green Tree 2 years ago

For a quick lazy dinner we are partial to Succatash - frozen corn and lima beans simmered in butter. Its even better with some diced bell pepper and fresh herbs but just the beans, corn and butter works perfectly fine.

1point

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#42

I love soup so much, cheap, healthy, and keeps you full for the day :)

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Final score:

5points

@coffeeberry

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Arnavet 2 years ago

And you can have it cold too, you just call it gazpacho!

2points

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#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. :)

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Final score:

4points

Pheebs

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Carrie Divine 2 years ago

What is naan bread?

0points

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#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.

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Final score:

4points

Buggycas

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#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. ,

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Final score:

4points

Richard Graham

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im currently procrastinating 2 years ago

i have a hunch that this *might* be a joke 🤓

12points

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#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....

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Final score:

4points

Shadell Turner

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#47

Rice, poached egg, cheese, and salsa.

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Final score:

4points

Jessica Allred

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#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! 🤗😋👍

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Final score:

4points

Elizabeth Blakeney

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#49

Peanut butter on granola bar. Can buy both bulk, cheap.

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Final score:

3points

Leo Domitrix

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Stephanie Goadsby 2 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.

4points

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#50

honestly instant noodles and vegemite and cheese sandwiches. Nothing high class

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Final score:

3points

Cowws

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K- THULU 2 years ago

Vegemite? Must be a fellow aussie! Good on ya....

2points

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#51

chow mein spicy noodles

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3points

Kitty that cat

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#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.

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Final score:

3points

Remi (He/Him)

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Zelda Fitzgerald 2 years ago

Split pea soup is definitely one of my cheap go tos! With diced ham carrots onions garlic and thyme 😋

5points

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#53

Tomato soup with diced onions, diced jalepeños or bell peppers, and rice.

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Final score:

3points

Elizabeth Blakeney

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Anna r 2 years ago

Minus the jalapenos, this is something my mom used to make that I loved and totally forgot about until now. Will have to make soon

1point

#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

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Final score:

3points

Shoshana Sherrington

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Arnavet 2 years ago

... that sounds TERRIFIC and I'm going to try it!

2points

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#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.

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Final score:

3points

Erin Montoya

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Arnavet 2 years ago

You can do similar with bell peppers and eggs! I'm going to have to try that tomato sandwich recipe!

2points

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#56

Fried tomatoes with bread and butter.

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Final score:

3points

S Wu

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#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

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3points

Ale

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#58

Cook egg noodles then mix in cream of chicken soup. Serve over biscuits. My kids love this!

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Final score:

3points

Sherlyn Wilson

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Gwyn Adams 2 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.

1point

#59

Tuna noodle casserole. Great comfort food. Cheap and easy to make. Makes enough for later too.

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3points

Jeri Cron

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#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!

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Final score:

3points

Laura Travis

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#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

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2points

Thecoolbonnie

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Arnavet 2 years ago

..I read that as "turned other people INTO my stuff" at first and was like "oh s**t Sweeney Todd & Mrs. Lovett found the site!"

4points

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#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!

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2points

Sleestak

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Arnavet 2 years ago

Ooh that sounds lovely! I love red beans & rice!

2points

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#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 :)

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2points

Kobe (she)

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#64

Beans on toast

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2points

oldandexhausted79

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#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.

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2points

Jonny Bosck

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#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 😋

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Final score:

2points

Justaboredpotato

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Sam Burton 2 years ago

Bacon is cheap since when

2points

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#67

Pasta with tuna, the best thing you can eat

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2points

Melissa

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AnnaPanda 2 years ago

Yes it is

1point

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#68

Tacos! Breakfast tacos, hard shelled tacos, soft tacos. Any way they are great!

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2points

Brenda Greene

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#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.

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Final score:

2points

Joel Hopkins

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Green Tree 2 years ago

In the same vein you can do brown lentils and rice together in a rice cooker (season with salt and cumin). Top with fried onions for middle eastern Mujadara. It is supposedly the dish that Aesop sold his birthright for in the bible.

2points

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#70

Hot dogs and beans. Add brown sugar, pancake syrup, and slice up the hot dogs. Great mix of sweet and savory.

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Final score:

2points

Detroit Diesel

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Red Panda 2 years ago

I love this one - but I put mustard in mine, too.

0points

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#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.

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Final score:

2points

Tilly

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#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.

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Final score:

2points

Rachel Smith

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Green Tree 2 years ago

I agree. A mix of basic or frozen veg, grains and beans can be made up in endless ways and are not only filling but also healthy and full of fiber.

0points

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#73

Bagels with Cream Cheese, very cheap and doesn't require much effort.

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2points

Gay Gremlin

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#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.

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Final score:

2points

Pandi Lee

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3 Owls In A Coat 2 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!

0points

#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).

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Final score:

2points

Zack Podany

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#76

Beanie weenies

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1point

Kushlove0420

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#77

Instant noodles wit homemade toppings

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Final score:

1point

Elena Valentini

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#78

Spam fried rice- Filipino style or Japanese green curry with chicken, potatoes and veggies. Both are super yummy 😋

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Final score:

1point

Zelda Fitzgerald

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#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.

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Final score:

1point

Lena

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Anna r 2 years ago

I used to make the chili cream cheese dip for every party I went to and it always disappeared

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#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.

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Final score:

1point

AngelWingsYT

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#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.

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Final score:

1point

Tove Veamyhr

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#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.

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Final score:

1point

April Gibbs

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#83

Egg rice: freshly cooked rice, an egg, soy sauce, mirin, and a bit of togarashi all mixed together. Frothy, warm, creamy deliciousness!

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Final score:

1point

Jenn H

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#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.

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Final score:

1point

Bedlamite

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#85

Cereal and fruit with toast

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Final score:

1point

Karen Scheltema

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#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!

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1point

Audrey BS

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#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.

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Final score:

1point

Joanne L

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#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)

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Final score:

0points

Danniee Gyrl

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Norma Nelson 2 years ago

Sauerkraut with creamy peanut butter both are cheap add some buttered toast

-2points

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#89

pot noodle

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0points

SilverSkyCloud

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Barbara Spencer 2 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

0points

#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.

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0points

Sleestak

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#91

Yums...donuts

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Just a panda

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Norma Nelson 2 years ago

Don't u mean mmmm-nuts

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#92

Chef Boyardee mini raviolis. Usually 2 cans. Add, salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, minced garlic, minced onion, and Parmesan cheese. Quick, easy, and filling.

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Ozymandias73

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Brigitta Lomez 2 years ago

You're adding SALT to that?

4points

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#93

Noodles and hot sauce 🤤😋 cheese bread

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0points

Lucus Marsh

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#94

Beans and corn bread. My mouth is watering. Excuse me while I head towards the kitchen...

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0points

BusLady

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#95

If I am picking it up probably Chick-fil-A at home I will make a big salad 🥗

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0points

Manbum02

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Barbara Spencer 2 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

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What do you think ?

Miss Ann Thrope 2 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 2 years ago

Taco pasta: hamburger, cooked pasta, salsa, Taco seasoning and shredded cheese. Awesome, even days later.

Jen F 2 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!

Stuki 2 years ago

A knorrs paste side with broccoli. Maybe chicken tenders if I can find any.

Samantha Price 2 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 2 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

Katya Myers 2 years ago

Too much deep frying. Why is that so popular here?

-1point

Kaitlynnnnnn 2 years ago

When most of them say "fry" they don't mean "deep fry"

Hey Pandas, What’s Your Best Go-To Cheap Meal? (Closed)

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Green Tree

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Gabrielė Malukaitė

Gabrielė Malukaitė