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

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.

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.

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

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.

Cereal and fruit with toast

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!

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.

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)

pot noodle

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.

Yums...donuts

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

Noodles and hot sauce 🤤😋 cheese bread

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

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