The "~$5 Meal Ideas~" thread...

[neatokimmo]

We make pizzas using flour tortillas. I use tomato paste and a few shakes of Italian seasoning for the base. Then top with whatever you want and cook at 400 degrees until the tortilla starts to puff up. I like to make this because I can use the rest of the tortillas later in the week for bean burritos and tacos.

[mamachrista]

Super easy Chicken Pot Pie with TONS OF LEFTOVERS

3 Chicken breasts, cubed ($2)
frozen Bag of Mixed Veggies (~$1)
Can of Cream of Chicken soup ($.50)
2 cans buttermilk buscuits ($2)

Saute the chicken breasts..I like to use garlic and Mrs. Dash but whatever I have will work. Mix veggies and chicken with the cream of chicken soup and pour into large baking dish (I use pyrex). Cover it with the biscuits. Bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes.

This is about $5.50, but makes multiple meals..you could definitely use less chicken. This could quite literally feed 3 people for a week! It's SO yummy! My 14 month old, my hubby and mom all LOVE this.

You could even cut this in half and it would be a few dollars

[neatokimmo]

Has this been posted yet? I make this a lot, and it is right at $5.

I stock up on stove top and cream of chicken soup every year at Thanksgiving when it is so cheap. So here goes:
2 boxes of stove top ($1.50)
1 can, cream of chicken soup (.60)
1 onion (.33?)
1 pound of chicken (1.69 is the regular sale price here)
You cook the chicken, cook the stuffing (minus the butter, I mean I'm not wasting a stick of butter in a $5 dish, KWIM? I add a little extra water.). Mix it with the soup and bake until it's all merged and melted.

I like to add cauliflower and carrots to ours. It bumps it over $5, but really adds a lot of flavor and makes a pretty big casserole.

[mamachrista]

Creamy goodness

This is a recipe that I found that I cut alot of the ingrediants in half and still made just as much. OMG it's So good and makes a huge dish! Plus, it's very versatile which is nice...you can use many different ingrediants!

1 lbs turkey (or hamburger) $1.99
1 can cream of chicken $.49
1 can cream of mushroom $.49
1 Cup frozen corn...from a huge bag so pennies...maybe $.25?
1/2 onion (I like red) chopped $.50
1/2 C sour cream ..maybe $.25
1/2 box pasta $.50
Shredded cheese
Crackers or bread crumbs (opt) we had them so I used them

It can be cheaper if your meat is cheaper...mind you, this is at regular grocery store prices pre-thrifty me.

Cook the meat with the onions. Cook pasta as directed. Mix all together, put in 3 qt. baking dish and top with cheese and crackers. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 (or until cooked through)

[monamayi]

How great!!!

Our grocery store does buy one get one free discounts on family size frozen chicken breasts and I pounce on the offer every time they offer this!!

[dragensong]

First I want to thank you ladies, you all are absolute geniuses. I sat down with DH and DS (who is the pickiest person in the house), and 2 DDs and went down the list of your delicious sounding recipes. We picked out the 7 that sounded most appealing to the kids (sorry to those we didn't pick) to add to the 7 I already know. I managed to go shopping for my family of 5 for 2 weeks with $97. Thats including breakfast, and lunch (which will most likely be left overs). Now I'd like to add one of my own for you wonderful people.

Pot Pie

3 -4 thawed out chicken tenderloins cut into pieces. (i get the frozen bulk 5lb bag for about $7 and i can stretch it into 3 meals.)
1 small bag frozen mixed vegies.
1 can cream of mushroom and chicken soup.
1 tsp rubbed sage
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp garlic (keeps it from being too sweet)
salt and pepper
dash nutmeg
(optional) diced onion
(optional) chopped celery
olive oil
2 pie crusts (for a top and bottom crusts of pie)

preheat oven to 350/375

place vegies a microwavable bowl and defrost, drain any excess water.

coat pan with oil over med heat.
add seasons (all but garlic) to oil (if using onion and celery add those as well)
warm the seasons (or saute till onion and celery are soft)
when it starts to smell good add chicken
cook till done, remove from heat.

In vegie bowl stir in garlic and cream of mushroom/chicken soup.

Add chicken and mix well.

pour into pie crust, put top crust on and poke a few holes in center.
Bake 20 -30 min or until crust is light to golden brown.

i tend to multi task so it takes me about 10 - 20 min to put this together.
10 min if I use left over chicken and no celery or onion, 20 if i cut the fresh chicken into pieces larger than 1/2 inch and add celery and onion.

In all (using generic brands), i think the total comes to about $3 (I almost always have the seasons) with out the fresh produce, and up to $6 with it.

I've never made this for more than $6.

Also you can use what ever seasons you have on hand. My friend altered it with Cumin and fajita seasoning, and used plain cream o'chicken soup and canned diced vegies (drained) instead of frozen mixed vegies.

[3mcs]

I haven't read all the pages yet, so I hope this isn't a repeat...

Pulled Pork Sammies & baked beans

pork roast (shoulder) $3
a can of baked beans $1
a bottle of kraft bbq sauce $1

Throw your roast (thawed) into a slow cooker with 1/2 bottle of bbq sauce and let cook 8-10 hours. Remove roast and dump the "juices." Place roast back into slow cooker and shred (or shred on plate then move to slow cooker). Add bbq sauce to taste & consistency desired. Season with Salt & pepper or any other seasonings you like. Pile your pulled pork onto your bread, making a sammie!
Heat your beans thoroughly & enjoy with your sammich! =)

This is assuming you already have bread, salt & pepper. If not, it'll cost more around $7.

[sweetcheeky]

I have a picky family. My DH is not as adventurous with food as i am, My oldest DS is picky wont eat veggies My middle DS eats almost anything "so thankful for that" And i have an 8 month old DS. I try to make meals we can all eat saves me time and money.

"Secret pancakes"
Your favorite pancake recipe or Bis quick,
When you have left over veggies from a meal such as ( squash, carrots, etc) Throw them in your food processor puree them well..
when making pancake batter do not add all the liquid
Add in your puree'ed veggies mix well
( If your recipe calls for one cup of liqied add 1/2 cup liquid and 1/2 veggie)
then add reserved portion of liquid till you get the right consistency cook as normal.
We do comb's such as
Butternut squash and finely grated Cheddar cheese
Carrot and Apple
The combinations are limitless the Kids dont even know they are getting veggies and they're normally gone before i even get to eat them.
The kids also love sandwiches made from pancakes or waffles!

[Skittle]

Thanks so much. These will help.

[happymarriedwkids]

quick homemade tomato soup w noodles

in the spainish section or market- the little packages of noodles that look like half match sticks really small around 4 oz package i think runs around a .25 a pack without sales can find this at walmart

brown in pan with little butter
then add tomato sause or i like to add v-8( wic) for the vegs cook until noodles ready salt peper to taste
normally serve with grill chess or quesdilia (sp)


kids love this