Need CHEAP recipe to feed 4 people

Check out FoodNetwork Melissa D'Arabian she does a show and has recipes posted for $10 dinners.

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Cheap, filling but not the best for you . This was our favorite "day before pay day" meal.

1 lb ground beef (lower the fat the better, but the more expensive) personally I would rather have 1/2 lb 7% fat .......
2 boxes of Kraft mac and cheese
1 can tomato soup

Cook mac and cheese as normal
crumble and sautee the beef
drain beef and add to the mac n cheese add the can of tomato soup (can add a bit of milk if you want it creamier0
if you have some grated cheddar it is nice on the top

shrimp/spaghetti/ alfredo

I get the shrimp when it is super cheap-or chicken can be replaced
make the spaghetti and when almost done, last 5 minutes throw in the shrimp
drain once cooked
put hot stuff back in the pan and add a jar of alfredo (they have plain, garlic or even a yellow cheese one that is good)
fluff it all together. Yummo

chilli dogs
can of tomatoes
chili powder
can red kidney beans
1/2 lb ground beef/turky/chicken
1/2 lb grated cheddar
hot dogs (can get really cheap, and buy one get one is on right now!)

these are all favorite cheapies for us!

Something we really like that is healthy and is pretty cheap to make... grilled tilapia fish tacos. Tilapia is cheap, and all you need besides that is corn tortillas, lettuce, tomato, salsa... or you can make a slaw in place of the lettuce. Lots of various recipes online for fish tacos. Hope this helps!

Hi this may not be your style but a great couple of sites to try .

www.hillbillyhousewife.com - low budget meals and home making

www.supercook.com - just enter what you have in your pantry and it will give you recipes for just those items

I made a good one last night.....
Turkey Bolognese with Whole Wheat Angel Hair - makes 8 Adult portions

- 1lb 99% fat free ground turkey - $6 (sometimes on sale 2 for 1 so I buy 4 and freeze)
- 2 med onions - $2
- 6 med carrots - $2
- 2 large cans diced tomatoes - $5
- 1/2 tblspn dried oregano (optional)
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup red or white wine (optional)
- 1 1/2 boxes whole wheat angel hair - $3

For $16-19 I'm making 8 adult sized servings AND it's delicious !

Heat oil in large pot
Dice the onions & carrots and cook in pot over medium heat until softened
Add the ground turkey and cook through
over med/high heat add milk and reduce until no liquid visible
over med/high heat add wine and reduce until no liquid visible
reduce to low/med temp and add both cans of tomatoes, simmer uncovered for approx 45 mins, until sauce is thick and not watery

ENJOY!!!!

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I totally needed the same thing!!

THIS IS SOOO GOOD! ~~~~~ One package chicken breast, one onion, one green pepper, one jar prego spqagetti sauce...one box rogatoni noodles. Cook chunked cut chicken 5 min, add chopped onion n green peppers. Cook till done. Add spagetti sauce. Simmer till noodles are done...put it together and yummy dinner.

Have a family of 4 also very picky eaters,so I've had to get creative husband does not like pasta or Turkey , its taken awhille but he doesn't complain about chicken anymore as long as I avoid breast. Kids don't like Hot Dogs or Fish. Some things we like I don't have per serving/meal calculations, when I cook I like to go quick and easy...Husband is quite a bit more creative (and messy)...These are pre diet but not all too terrible if you eat in moderation. I have been managing to keep my grocery bill between $80-$125 week I rarely use coupons unless I run across one in the store

Breakfast for Dinner

Any of the Zatterans rice mix's Red Beans and Rice, Black Beans and Rice with Keibasa (or Turkey Sausage)I can usually find them 2 for $5. Dirty Rice with ground beef..Yellow Rice with Chicken

Couple sandwich meals- I LOVE French Dips
We came up with this little creation we call Buffalo Chicken Dunk Sandwich Deli Chicken Breast, Romaine Lettuce, a little Maries Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing...use a deli roll and we press the roll in the George Forman Grill...Heat up some Buffello wing sauce and use it for dipping (like the french dip)

The cheap family pack of borritos (serously I think its $4 for 12 at Walmart),,,I jazz them up with echalada sauce, a little shreded cheese, and a dalop of sour cream

Taco night

If you have a local butcher shop check out their prices I have one here I can get 5lbs of ground beef for $10, its chuck but doesn't seem all that fatty cheaper than the grocery and better than the cheap stuff in a tube you can buy at the grocery. I sometimes drain the beef and rise it off after I cook it..

For about $6 you can get a 5lb bag of Chicken Quarters (No big breast fans in my house) We've baked them in a Chicken and Yellow Rice Mix but usually Grill them with some BBQ sauce..

I did try a recipe someone got at a WW meeting for Chicken Breast and it was good, everyone liked it but requested next time I make I use a thiner chicken breast...place the breast in a casserole dish and cover in Ranch Dressing (low fat version) sprinkle with Itallian Bread Crumbs...It was surprisingly really good.

Ribs in the crockpot-throw them in with a can of beer or coke and a bottle of bbq sauce.

Soups my husband makes a big batch of 15 bean soup and we also make a creamy vegitable soup you can find the recipe online by looking for Dolly Partons Creamy Veg soup its Veg all (better with fresh vegi'sbut the canned is easier on the budget) half and half chicken broth some spicesand butter

I only use a pound of ground beef in any of the add beef meals
I keep my eyes open for sales especially on meats which kill the grocery budget.
I buy store brands unless I know their is a quality issue (I was once told the store brands were made by the name brand companies just packaged differently)

WOW didn't intend to go on an on but hope this helps

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