Imagine this: you’re at home, the day feels long, money is a little tight, and all you want is something warm, familiar, and comforting. For many of us, that’s where “struggle meals” come in; those simple dishes your family made, your mom threw together, or you learned to whip up when there wasn’t much else in the kitchen. They’re not fancy, not picture-perfect, but somehow they always hit the spot in a way restaurant food never quite can. There’s something deeply nostalgic about them, almost like edible comfort blankets from simpler times.
And that’s exactly what people opened up about in a Reddit thread we came across — sharing their most unexpected, creative, and sometimes surprisingly delicious “struggle meals.” From day-old rice mixed with milk and raisins, to tater tot casseroles, to mac and cheese with hot dogs thrown in for good measure… It’s a mix of chaos, comfort, and culinary survival. Some of it might sound questionable, but honestly? A lot of it just works. Keep scrolling, but don’t blame us if you suddenly get hungry halfway through.
#41
A box of the cheap macaroni and cheese, a can of pinto beans, a small can of tomato sauce and a tablespoon of chili powder. Cook the macaroni and cheese and then mix in the other ingredients. It will make a couple of meals for less than $2.00.
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6points
#42
Bread cereal. Man, I love it.
Toast with cinnamon and sugar and hot milk poured over top. The ultimate comfort food.
Toast with cinnamon and sugar and hot milk poured over top. The ultimate comfort food.
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6points
#43
When I was in high school I would get so excited if I had soy sauce to go with my rice.
But now I like to make lentils and rice, spaghetti, black bean and potato burritos, chickpea salad.
But now I like to make lentils and rice, spaghetti, black bean and potato burritos, chickpea salad.
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6points
#44
Broccoli rice casserole! My family certainly wasn’t destitute, but my grandparents were. Some of their recipes stuck with my mom, who recreated them for us. Broccoli rice casserole is just minute rice, a can of cream of mushroom soup, chopped broccoli, and cheese. Still is one of my favorite comfort meals.
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6points
#45
Saltines with butter on them. I've been diagnosed celiac as an adult, and there is no GF replacement for saltines. (I mean, there is, but it's not the same)
Premade breaded chicken patties. Pan fry in oil, add to cheap white bread with mayo and cheese.
Premade breaded chicken patties. Pan fry in oil, add to cheap white bread with mayo and cheese.
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6points
#46
Potato boats
Slice of bologna with a dollop of instant mashed potatoes on top, finished with shredded cheese. Bake that until the balonga starts to cup up like a pepperoni or a boat. You should make 6/7 boats out of one package of instant potatoes.
Slice of bologna with a dollop of instant mashed potatoes on top, finished with shredded cheese. Bake that until the balonga starts to cup up like a pepperoni or a boat. You should make 6/7 boats out of one package of instant potatoes.
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6points
#47
Cheese bread - Slice some cheddar, put it on wonder bread and microwave until melty.
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6points
#48
Canned tuna fish sandwich. Cheap mexican-style chorizo and eggs. Spaghetti marinara. Rice with a little bit of cheese and salsa. Roasted broccoli over rice with soy sauce. Chicken bullion "soup" with some veggies. Bean & cheese burrito.
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6points
#49
Using hot dog buns to make garlic bread and tuna w macaroni, peas, and mayo.
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6points
#50
Twice baked potatoes with tuna was my favourite struggle meal as a kid. You makes baked potatoes and then halve them and scoop out the potato, leaving a little bit around the edge of then. Then you mash the potato with a can of drained tuna, chopped green onion or chives, chopped hard boiled eggs, and some shredded cheese. Stuff it back into the potato skins and top with more grated cheese, pop it back in the oven and bake until hot and bubbly (20-30 mins at 350f).
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6points
#51
Store brand bread (used to be white but I've moved to wheat), American cheese, and an egg. I could eat for a few days with
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5points
#52
On of my grandmas struggle meals that can fill you up is her tomato soup macaroni. All you need is one can of tomato soup, butter, macaroni shells and salt and pepper. Boil the macaroni, drain, add tomoto soup but not too much where it’s soupy add butter salt and pepper. And that’s it!
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5points
#53
I'm in the poor category. My 'groceries' are 5 dozen eggs, 2 cases of ramen, 2 boxes of oatmeal + whatever I decide to spice it up with this trip, cheap frozen burgers (more meat/$ that just ground beef oddly enough), and a pizza or something jazzy for that night to convince me to not stop for fast food on the way home.
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5points
#54
Good old fashion grilled cheese. Wonder bread, sliced American cheese, and butter. Perfection.
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5points
#55
White rice (calrose rice is $5 for 5lbs!), one can of crushed tomato, one whole onion diced, one whole bell pepper diced (other veggies as desired), 4-6 cloves of garlic minced, all cooked together with tumeric and S&P, adding in cayenne or your chili powder of choice to taste. Optionally toss with your ground meat of choice if meat is on the menu. Makes a hearty rice dish; and if made with 3-5 cups of rice and a pound of meat, will last you a while.
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5points
#56
Fish + mayonnaise used as filling for sandwich. I used canned tuna, canned salmon and add mayonnaise. Then I add it on sandwich. You can also fry the fish to add texture. Delicious.
I use extracts or flavored creamer on oatmeal. Oatmeal taste better with boiled water from the stove, not microwaved. Just pour on uncooked oats, mix until cooked.
The bottom ones are not struggle meals, but it’s helpful for people who can afford since they’re cheap.
Buy the rotisserie chicken from stores. Its $5-$7 for one and it can last up to 4 months in the freezer. It’s so versatile. You can buy the cold version to save money. You can use the chicken to make burritos. Tortillas, canned beans, rice, eggs, and chicken. Then use the bones for stock and rest of chicken for soup. Elbow macaroni, carrot, potato, celery, onion, garlic, salt and pepper with canned evaporated milk. Depending on how much you make and how many people eat, that makes so many meals.
I use extracts or flavored creamer on oatmeal. Oatmeal taste better with boiled water from the stove, not microwaved. Just pour on uncooked oats, mix until cooked.
The bottom ones are not struggle meals, but it’s helpful for people who can afford since they’re cheap.
Buy the rotisserie chicken from stores. Its $5-$7 for one and it can last up to 4 months in the freezer. It’s so versatile. You can buy the cold version to save money. You can use the chicken to make burritos. Tortillas, canned beans, rice, eggs, and chicken. Then use the bones for stock and rest of chicken for soup. Elbow macaroni, carrot, potato, celery, onion, garlic, salt and pepper with canned evaporated milk. Depending on how much you make and how many people eat, that makes so many meals.
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5points
#57
My dad is no cook (as is common in this thread) and one of his favorites that is now mine is the peanut butter pickle sandwich. It sounds weird but the sweetness of the pb pairs quite well with the vinegar of the pickle. Would recommend in a tortilla as well.
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5points
#58
My mom used to make salmon patties with box Mac-n-cheese when she was broke and feeling fancy!
Canned salmon, egg and saltines: mix together, patty out and lightly fry in butter.
My go to is veggies soup and cornbread.
Canned salmon, egg and saltines: mix together, patty out and lightly fry in butter.
My go to is veggies soup and cornbread.
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4points
#59
Texas hash!
Ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, cheese. Sounds nasty but I always loved it.
Ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, cheese. Sounds nasty but I always loved it.
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4points
