10 Quick and Easy Frugal Meals
November 11, 2009 by The Frugal Home
Filed under Frugal Home, Frugal Living, Recipes
We all live such busy lives that you often need something you can quickly get on the table with a minimum of effort and for little cost. Most of these meals are also healthy so you don’t have to feel bad about serving them to your family. It is great when you have meals that are easy on your waistline and easy on your wallet. Try one of these meals the next time you are too busy to fix a huge meal.
1. Pasta and Pasta Sauce – Spaghetti and other meals like lasagna are so easy to make. Boil some noodles and throw in some pasta sauce. This meal is great because it is more versatile than you might think. You can add all kinds of extras into the pasta sauce. We love to add sausage, ground beef or turkey, and all kinds of veggies. It is easier than you think to add carrots, onions, broccoli, or mushrooms to the sauce. Just chop them small enough that no one notices that they are there! My favorite veggie to add to pasta is zucchini and is probably one of the easiest veggies to add that your family will love!
2. Hard and Soft Tacos – Just brown up some ground beef or turkey and cut up some veggies for an easy dinner. Cut up the taco fixings and make the meat (with the taco seasoning already mixed in) the day before if you know your going to have little time to make dinner. Make sure that there is more lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and olives for your tacos than sour cream and cheese.
3. Macaroni and cheese – Macaroni and cheese is loved by many, is easy to make, and it is usually a family favorite. I can’t have dairy so I will often make dairy free butter noodles instead (not healthy!). Add tomatoes, tuna, or chopped hot dogs to the macaroni and cheese to mix it up!
4. Pizza – Homemade pizza is easy and tasty but it doesn’t necessarily have to be made completely from scratch. Keep prepared crusts on hand or make and freeze your own to thaw for later. Add some pizza sauce and let everyone top their own pizza and throw them in the oven. You can have dinner on the table in less than thirty minutes.
5. Kebobs – Kebobs are so easy. Make kebobs with your favorite meat or fish and add veggies like onions, peppers and mushrooms to the skewer. You can prepare these the day before, along with a salad to go with the kebobs. Place on the gas grill for easy clean up!
6. Hot dogs – Hot dogs, regular, tofu, or turkey, are so easy. Just boil or grill them and add some toppings like onions or opening a can of chili, not to mention ketchup and mustard. Keep chopped veggies on hand to go with the hot dogs instead of a bag of potato chips.
7. Salads – Salads are easy and are very healthy if you don’t drown them in cheese and salad dressings. Salads are also a great way to use up leftovers. Make a salad and add leftover grilled chicken, deli meat, or shrimp. Make sure that you have large amounts of veggies available.
8. Sandwiches – Dinner doesn’t have to be fancy. Make everyone a sandwich, such as deli meat, grilled cheese, or tuna salad, and add a salad or cut up vegetables with it.
9. Tortilla wraps – If you have leftover chicken or beef in the fridge, use them for wraps. Add some lettuce, veggies, and a little dressing for a quick and easy meal.
10. Soups – Many soups are often easy to make. You can throw the ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning or make some OAMC soups and freeze them to thaw on nights when you need a quick meal.
What quick and easy frugal meals do you make on busy nights?
Here’s another thought: Have a frugal super breakfast that will energize you until dinnertime. I work at home and usually eat 2 meals+snacks every day. One of my fav AM meals are whole wheat pancakes with extra eggs for added protein. Chop some banana and other fruit go in between two and top with strawberries or blueberries (I stock up on them frozen). I like to use slightly thinned and sweetened yogurt instead of syrup. After meal, you’re good to go.