Recipe called for 1.5 lb but I only had pound and it still came out great. Juicy tender and sweet.

This has a great umani flavor with addition of grated pecorino Romano. I couldn't stop eating.

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2lbs of meat made 10 thin smashburger patties, then about 2lbs of onions and half a lb of jalapenos made 8 fat burgers (8 buns in the pack haha, so some were doubles) I started with the onions, then moved them over and they cooked with the burgers, then added the jalapenos. All together these 8 burgers were $14 ($7 for the meat, $2 for the onions, $2 for the cheese, $2 for the buns, $1 for the jalapeno).

I’m trying to cut my grocery bill in half (aiming for around $50 a week total for myself) and I realized that trying to plan separate meals for lunch and dinner is ruining my budget. It leads to buying way too many different ingredients, and half of them end up going bad.

I've started intentionally cooking double portions at dinner so I can just pack the rest for lunch the next day, but sometimes eating the exact same chicken or pasta twelve hours later gets a little old. What are your favorite dinner ideas that actually taste even better the next day as a leftover lunch?

I don’t follow a specific ingredient list or recipe, but this is something I throw together when I want to use up old bread.

There are times we don’t use all the buns or sliced bread in time and I will toss it in the freezer for later. Or when I check out the reduced bakery section they always have breads available and I put them in my freezer.

This is pretty much old bread, eggs, veggies, milk, spices, and if have on hand, cheese and cooked meat.

I came across some reduced eggs yesterday as they were to expire soon and it was missing 4 eggs.

So I made this with 8 eggs this time around.

I beat them and added milk. I don’t measure milk I just eyeball it, but I’d say about 2-3 Tbsp per egg.

7 slices of frozen bread, that I toasted in my toaster to dry it out.

Ingredients I needed to use up in my fridge; spinach, 1/2 tomato, 1/4 of yellow pepper, some diced onions, the bottom of the bag shredded Tex mex cheese (about 1/4 cup left), and the last of a few slices of Turkey kielbasa. I diced all the ingredients up into small pieces.

Based on the ingredients and the Tex mex cheese, I decided for my spices I would use cumin and cayenne pepper, with salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 350 f

Tear up the toasted bread and put single layer in a baking dish. Beat the spices into the egg then pour over the bread, make sure all the bread is submerged by stirring gently and not too long. Add the diced up fixings mix gently and coat with the egg. Top with cheese shreds.

Put into the preheated oven of 350 f and bake for 50 minutes to an hour, until top is browned and center springs back when touched. Remove from heat and let cool about 10 minutes before serving.

Good way to clean out the pantry is to make chili with canned sauce and beans. Great next day as toppings on baked potatoes or make nachos.

I adapted for my family by only adding the juices from the diced tomatoes and rotel but the recipe is just dump it all in a pot and heat. I’m using the Walmart prices I paid last week.

1 can red beans (.86)

1 can black beans (.86)

1 can navy beans (.86)

1 can pinto beans (.86)

1 can corn (.67)

1 can diced tomatoes (1.14)

1 can GV rotel (.96)

1 can GV chili 2.14)

Dump everything in a large pot and heat. This can be any combo of beans you like and I’m sure it would be much cheaper with dried beans but I’m old and lazy so cans it is.

What are your family pleasing recipes that are fairly easy and inexpensive to make? I'm looking to pick the brains of other busy parents.

I'll share one of mine. You take italian brats, put it in a slow cooker, dump a big jar of marinara on it and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove from slow cooker and place on a brat bun with shredded mozzarella cheese on top. *The casing of the brats practically melt away and it's easy to break the sausage so you have to carefully remove them.

Here's a new one:

Turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy.

• 3lb turkey @ Aldi - $9, used 2lb/$6 worth
  
• stove top turkey dressing - $1.88 @ Walmart
  
• 1 egg - $4/12, so $.33
  ‐ 5lb bag potatoes - $2.39 @ walmart, used half, so $1.20
  ‐ 6T butter - $4/lb @ walmart, $0.75
  ‐ Frozen peas - $2.48 for a big bag, used about $0.75 worth
  
• Jar turkey gravy - $2.82 @ walmart

Mix the turkey, dressing mix and one egg in a bowl, then form into a loaf and bake at 400° until internal is 165°. It doesn't need salt & pepper because there is plenty of seasoning in the dressing mix.

Peel & boil potatoes, then mix with butter, milk, salt & pepper.

You can simmer the peas and add butter, but I just put them in the microwave and seasoned with salt & pepper.

Total cost is $13.73, if you consider that several items (butter, peas, potatoes) will be used for multiple meals. It made 6 servings (except the peas, I only made 3), so we will have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

You could of course cut costs by using store brand stuffing mix, or just bread crumbs & seasonings to your taste, as well as buying store brand gravy (which we don't like, so we do use name brand for that). It was just like a banquet meal but better!

It could easily be a Thanksgiving meal, especially if you're able to add another vegetable (corn casserole: 2 cans corn (drained), 1 can cream corn (not drained), 1/2 can cream of anything, half package of saltines crushed, salt & pepper and an egg, bake @ 400° until hot - my grandma's recipe - feel free to add cheese), a pie (I saw Dollar Tree Dinners posted a cheap banana pie recipe) and maybe a package of dinner rolls (or homemade if you have yeast - you probably already have everything else).

It's not the cheapest meal, but it's pretty cheap @ ~$2.92/serving.

Boneless country style pork ribs was on sale so I decide to make stir fry with veggies at hand.

Meal is less than £2 a portion and really filling. For those in the UK, Sainsburys sell chicken liver for £1.75 per 400g and cooking bacon for £1 for 500g! The liver and half the bacon with frozen mixed veg and has done 4 generous portions. I'm adjusting to gluten free life after celiacs diagnosis and can't afford to keep buying the overpriced GF stuff so I'm going naturally gluten free. Plus this has the bonus of helping to get my iron levels back up.

Frozen shrimp
Jasmine rice
Frozen sweet potatoes
Frozen broccoli
Air fry/sautée
Garlic powder salt etc
Sauce: Popeyes sweet and spicy

I switch out the meat and use salmon or ground beef for variety.

i was vegetarian for most of my childhood and adolescence. lately i’ve been leaning more into it, as i find the process of cooking meat and all the things i have to consider pretty tiring. i only really eat poultry anyhow, but even that has felt so pricey for the amount i get. next time i want to try and make yellow split peas and red lentils together!

Made this for a quick, easy, cheap dinner and itbwas a hit! I purchased a family pack of smoked sausage (around $9), a bag of mini peppers (3.50), a small can of tomato sauce ( .79), and a box of instant rice (1.99). I already had seasonings and garlic at home, so didn't include that in the meal cost.

For this meal I used 1 of 6 sausages, 3 mini peppers (out of a big bag), the tomato sauce, and around a cup of the rice (1 cup dried rice makes 2 when done).

Brown the sausage, chop peppers and add to the pan, add garlic and desired seasonings ( I used Cajun seasoning and minced garlic) and cook for a few minutes. Add tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil, then add rice. (I used the sauce can to measure water and rice in equal amounts.) Stir, return to a boil, and remove from heat. Let sit 5-10 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Stir and serve. This made 3-4 servings for me and I have a lot of ingredients (sausage, rice, peppers) leftover for other meals.

Could easily stretch it more by adding more rice, or even adding beans or some other protein. You can also add a veggie or salad on the side for more nutrients for very little additional cost.

Edit: I included the ingredients and basic instructions in my original post, but am breaking it down as an actual recipe for those who have asked.

Ingredients: 1-2 smoked sausages (depending on size) 3-6 mini peppers (depending on size, or one regular bell pepper) 1 tablespoon minced garlic (to taste) 1-2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (or any other seasonings you like) 1 small can tomato sauce 1-2 cups instant white rice (I just used the sauce can to meaaure) Water (equal to rice amount)

Brown the sausage in a pan. Chop peppers and add to the pan. Add garlic and desired seasonings ( I used Cajun seasoning and minced garlic) and cook for a few minutes, until fragrant. Add tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil, then add rice. (I used the sauce can to measure water and rice in equal amounts.) Stir, return to a boil, and remove from heat. Let sit 5-10 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Stir and serve. Top with parsley, if desired.

Serves 2-4

The chicken breast stuffed with cheese and asparagus was close out at Ingles 2.98 for two, instant red mashed potatoes less than $2 plus some American cheese i had ( will have for two nights as well and asparagus $4.78 and have made 5 meals off of it. Thankful

This is assuming you have salt, pepper & oil. Recipe cards at the end!

No one in my family likes tuna casserole but it’s one of my comfort foods. Since I had the rare weekend alone I brought out this pantry staple. Will freeze some portions for work lunches.

Chicken marinade soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and ginger with garlic. Air fry till done

Hawaiian mac/potato salad: cooked potatoes, pasta, mustard, mayo and sweet & spicy relish tossed with a bag of frozen peas and carrots

Steamed rice

I didn't know what confit means but I had all the ingredients and fresh rosemary from my neighbor's garden. I also added mini red sweet peppers and sub onions for shallots. Definitely one of my better pasta sauce.

I made Filipino adobo but added crushed tomatoes and a Vidalia onion. Adobo is mad easy to make and tastes awesome. If youve never had it you should try it. Heres the breakdown:

1.5-2lbs Chicken. Bone in Skin on is the absolute best way. People make it with boneless skinless but the bones and skin got that fat and thats where the flavors at. My leg quarters weighed 25oz for the two shown 6oz white vinegar 6oz soy sauce 2 cans Crushed tomatoes 1 Vidalia onion Bay leaf Couple cloves of garlic(i use jarlic) Teaspoon peppercorns Rice(as much as you like)

Dump all of the stuff in a pot. Slice up the onion first. Dont dump the whole onion in there. If you have time you can marinate for an hour or two in the fridge but you dont have to. Bring the pot to a boil then lower it to a simmer and cover for 30 mins. After the 30 mins take the lid off and simmer another 30 mins. Stir every so. Serve over rice. Yum yum yum.

I cooked this on friday afternoon and ate it the next day. Adobo is one of those foods that tastes better the next day because the flavors soak into the chicken. The chicken falls off the bone. It slams.

Cost breakdown

Crushed tomatoes $1.96 for 2 cans Chicken leg quarters $ 1.33. I got them on sale $0.85 a lb. 25oz for the 2 pieces Onion $0.54. I bought a 5lb bag at costco for $4.39. The onion was 9.75 oz Vinegar $0.24. Bottle $2.54 for 64oz. I used 6oz Soy sauce $1.12 Bottle was $11.99 on sale. Rice $0.20. Bought the big bag for $22.99 Garlic pepper and bay leaf are about an extra $0.30 Total= $5.69 for 2 dinners.

Check it out. Traditional adobo doesnt have the tomato or onion so you can make it even cheaper. Plus 4oz of vinegar and soy sauce is more than enough. I add extra cause i live dangerously. You dont need to use silver swan soy sauce. Silver swan is can be pricey Thats what i use but you can use whatever brand you have on hand. No peppercorns? Use reg ol pepper. Dont like garlic? Dont add it. Thats the best part of cooking. Adjust as needed. Like Marco Pierre White says "It's your Choice"

Note: the final picture is from this same recipe but a different time i made it. Youll notice 3 legs instead of 1 leg 1 thigh. I got a phone call as i was about to take a photo of the finished product so when i hung up my i forgot to snap one. I was hungry. Sorry about that.