Almost every time I'm out food shopping, I connect with someone who is as shocked at how much the food has gone up as I am! Every so often, I talk to someone really struggling to stick to the small budget they have to feed their family. These are the times we live in, where more and more people are having a more difficult time financially. $20 doesn't go as far as it used to, but with some creative thinking, you can still make several meals that you can get 4-6 servings. If you pair them with inexpensive sides like pasta, broccoli or bread, you can find a way to get by until things start to get better.
If you are really struggling and especially if you are older or have children, PLEASE find the help you need. There are many food pantry's around the country and many organizations that help get food into the hands of families that need assistance. Look into local churches and in your community so that you are not going without food.
Creating home cooked meals is actually much cheaper than most fast food these days. Value meals are starting to disappear. When you take a family of 4 to a place like Wendy's, buying a 4 for $4 meal for each family member, you are spending $16 on one meal. With some creativity, you can create several homemade meals with multiple servings for several days for just $20.
The internet and YouTube are full of blogs and videos of creative cooks, sharing how you can create budget meals.
Budget meals are not meant to be a long term sustainable meal plan. They are a way to get by during a difficult week or month, or they can help you save some money on a few meals a week.
You'll find my latest video with the recipes typed up below on my YouTube channel. If I am able to help even one family with my videos than all of the work that goes into these videos is WELL worth it.
Stay safe and be well!
Budget Chicken Parmesan with Pasta and Broccoli
Serves 4 Total time about 40 minutes
1.5 to 2 lbs of boneless chicken (breast, thighs or tenderloin)
7.25oz box of Great Value Shells and Mac and Cheese
12 oz bag of Great Value Frozen Steam able Broccoli Florets
15 oz can of Great Value Tomato Sauce
1.3 oz single serve container of Cheerios
2 oz package of Honey Mustard (found at the Walmart Deli Counter)
Two .42 oz packets of Mayo (found at the Walmart Deli Counter)
1 cup of Great Value Shredded Cheese of your choice
(Parmesan or Mozzarella works Great) Sliced cheese also works well!
Additional pantry items:
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
½ cup Milk
Directions:
Create breadcrumbs with the 1.3 oz of cheerios by using a food processor, kitchen Aid mixer with attachment or double bagging 2 ziplock bags and crushing with a hammer or mallet. Add 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp thyme and 1 tsp garlic powder to the cheerios and mix well. This will be your breading.
Remove any fat from the chicken and set aside.
Take 2 oz of honey mustard and two .42 oz packets of mayo and mix together in shallow plate or bowl. Then brush onto all sides of the chicken. Coat the chicken with the cheerio mixture by either sprinkling onto the chicken or dipping the chicken into the cheerios. If you dip the chicken in, be sure to toss any unused crumbs. If you sprinkle it on, you can save extras for another meal since it has not touched the raw chicken.
Add chicken to an air fryer and spritz with oil to help get a nice crisp. Cook at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. You can also bake in the oven on a wire rack on a flat pan for about 20 -25 minutes. The rack will help the heat to circulate on all sides of the chicken.
Add 6 cups of water to a saucepan and once boiling, add the pasta from the mac & cheese box and cook per instructions. We are only using the pasta from the box. Not the cheese sauce.
Add a 15 oz can of tomato sauce to a sauce pan on medium heat and add 1 tsp oregano and 1 tsp Italian Seasoning. Warm on the stove for up to 5 minutes.
Put a 12 oz bag of broccoli florets into the microwave and cook based on your microwave wattage. The broccoli could also be boiled in water on the stove until softened.
Promptly remove chicken from air fryer when finished cooking
and top with shredded cheese. Cover so cheese can melt. (about 5 minutes) Sliced cheese also works well if you don't have shredded
Drain pasta when finished cooking. Add to plate along with broccoli and over chicken and pasta with warm tomato sauce.
Budget Chicken Quesadillas
Makes 8 Total time 25-30 minutes
8 small tortillas
1.5-2 lbs boneless chicken(breast, tenderloin, thighs)
1.5 cups shredded Cheese
Butter (for the griddle pan)
Optional (any vegetables or seasonings of your choice)
Directions:
Remove any fat from the chicken and cut into bite size pieces
Add a few teaspoons of oil to a pan and warm to medium heat. Add the chicken when the pan is hot. Add any seasonings at this point to cook with the chicken.
Prepare a second pan if you are planning to add any vegetables such as onion, peppers, etc and add when pan is hot.
Cook the chicken for 15-20 minutes until thoroughly cooked. Drain any grease or liquid from the pan.
Prepare a griddle pan and when hot add butter to the areas where you will be putting your tortillas.
Place tortillas on the butter and then add about ¼ cup of cheese to one half each Tortilla.
Spoon cooked chicken (and any veggies) on top of the cheese.
Check the underside of the tortillas and fold them over onto the chicken and cheese when underside has browned.
Cut tortilla’s in half for easy eating and top with sour cream or other condiments.
Budget Tuna and Pea Mac N Cheese
Serves 4. Total time: 15 minutes.
7.25 oz Box Great Value Mac N Cheese (any variety)
8 oz can Great Value peas
5 oz can Great Value tuna (Chunk light or albacore is fine)
½ cup of milk
2 Dabs of butter
Directions:
Prepare Macaroni and Cheese per the package instructions.
When the pasta is finished, drain and add milk and butter. Then add cheese packet and mix together well.
Stir in entire can of tuna.
Stir in peas
Optional: You can add shredded cheese if you prefer a more cheesy version.
Goes great with a side of bread
Budget Garlic Bread Pizza
Serves 4-5 Total time- 20 minutes
1 loaf of Italian Bread
8oz can of Great Value tomato sauce
2 cups of Great Value Shredded cheese
Italian Seasoning
Onion powder
Butter or margarine
Directions:
Cut loaf of bread in half length wise .
Spread butter or margarine on each cut side of bread.
Sprinkle garlic powder over butter. (just enough to lightly coat the butter)
Sprinkle Italian Seasoning over butter and garlic powder
Brush or spoon on tomato sauce until desired amount covers the bread.
Top with cheese, about 1 cup for each side of bread. Add any toppings you may have on hand.
Broil in oven for about 5-8 minutes until bread edges and cheese are golden brown.
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