got any cheap and easy dinners recipes?

[cigarmonkel]

I've looked up a few and bookmarked a few recipes from the interwebs but i was wondering what are some of your favorites? Just moved into a new place with a new roommate (we both are working and going to school full time which leaves our status as "broke college kids"). The options with things like burgers are endless; the famous burger with different cheeses in the middle, different rubs and herb mixes to mix in with the ground beef. Pasta's things like this, that are on the cheap side. I'll throw my go-to burger recipe up here.

2/3 Ground beef
1/3 pork (the pork has more fat then the beef does to give it some extra flavor. Only downside is you can't make your burgers rare/mid-rare which is how i like my red meat)
A1 Sauce
Salt/ground black pepper
Oregano
Basil
Garlic
Tyme
Rosemary

Throw everything into a giant mixing bowling and mix away! I always do my herbs in a small dish and A1 just pour right into the mix. The A1 sauce will give it that A1 taste but won't overpower it and also keep things juicy.

Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon even do the double patty with cheese in the middle. Or if your feeling squirrelly cook up some bacon chop it up and throw it in the mix!

[68TriShield]

I'll throw a quick and lazy one out there...
Franks and Beans
1 can pork and beans or similar
1 package hot dogs(as many as wanted)

Empty beans into sauce pan
add cut up hot dogs
embellish as desired,heat and enjoy :D

[sevans105]

Something my kids like a lot is pasta carbonara...I usually make my own cream sauce but a jar of alfredo works too. I usually start the sauce by melting 3 tablespoons of butter and adding 3 minced cloves of garlic (because garlic = awesomeness) let the garlic soften but not brown, then add 3 tablespoons of flour to create a roux. Cook the roux for 5 min or so on med heat, stirring constantly then add two cups of milk a bit at a time while still stirring. Once all the milk is in let simmer to thicken and add 1/4 cup grated permesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste and a dash of nutmeg. Cook your pasta and just before straining add 1/2 cup frozen peas. Let water return to boil then strain. Serve pasta and peas with sauce and sprinkle crumbled bacon over the top. Easy cheap and yummy

[cigarmonkel]

I'll throw a quick and lazy one out there...
Franks and Beans
1 can pork and beans or similar
1 package hot dogs(as many as wanted)

Empty beans into sauce pan
add cut up hot dogs
embellish as desired,heat and enjoy :D

I dunno whats easier... that or ramen! I always somehow find a way to burn myself when i make ramen and only ramen i never burn myself when i make anything else :td.

[Big_Ern]

this has helped us when we have certain foods in the fridge or want to try something new
http://www.kraftcanada.com/EN/home.aspx

[cort]

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn91/gwc4sc/images.jpg

[Commander Quan]

Go to the grocery store and pick up one of those rotisserie chickens. Yeah I know it's not cooking but they are cheap and you can get a couple meals out of one of them.

Plus there is nothing else as satisfying on a primordial level as standing over the kitchen sink and pulling pieces of meat off the bone and eating it with your bare hands.

[Kreth]

Go to the grocery store and pick up one of those rotisserie chickens. Yeah I know it's not cooking but they are cheap and you can get a couple meals out of one of them.

Plus there is nothing else as satisfying on a primordial level as standing over the kitchen sink and pulling pieces of meat off the bone and eating it with your bare hands.
The roaster chickens are pretty painless too. I sprinkle them with sea salt, onion and garlic powders, and paprika. Make up a simple gravy from the juices and serve with rice or mashed potatoes. There's usually enough left over for a batch of chicken salad.
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[pektel]

McDonald's Dollar menu! :D

Seriously though, I always buy the staple foods. Whatever meat is on sale, potatoes, rice, carrots, onions, cream of mushroom soup, tomato soup, hamburger, spaghetti sauce, tortilla wraps, etc.

It's fun and challenging to see what you can make from only buying the things that are on sale.

For example, my last trip to the grocery store, I used coupons, and only bought the sale items. I saved a whopping 45% on the haul. That night, I made AWESOME chicken quesadilla. I shredded the chicken myself, and I have a collection of basic spices (fajita seasoning is one of them). Pico de gallo, cheese, and sour cream. Here's the quick recipe:

Tortillas
1 package (about a pound) boneless skinless Chicken breast
Pico de Gallo
shredded cheese (I prefer mild cheddar)

optional:
Sour Cream
salsa
additional toppings

To make the shredded chicken:

Start with boneless skinless chicken breast. Put on a cutting board, and cover with saran wrap. Using a meat pounder, pound the chicken to about 1/4" thick. This will make it easier to shred.

Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet on low/med heat. Season the chicken generously with fajita seasoning (you can buy it in a plastic jar like any other spice), and add to the skillet. Cook covered over med. heat, turning often to prevent browning.

When chicken is no longer pink in the center, remove from skillet, and pull apart with 2 forks (one in each hand). I prefer to pull with the grain, as it shreds better.

once this step is done, the rest is super easy.

Put a tablespoon of olive oil (i suppose vegetable oil would work fine too) in a pan, and heat. This oil will help the tortilla shell brown instead of burn.

Add tortilla to pan.

Sprinkle the entire tortilla with cheese.

add chicken and pico de gallo to HALF of the tortilla.

When tortilla is browned, fold in half, and remove from heat.

Cut, and serve with the sour cream, salsa, or whatever else you prefer.



The nice thing about this, is the chicken will keep for up to 5 days in the frig, although I normally burn through it faster. It becomes a fast easy meal that, once the chicken step is taken care of, only takes about 5 minutes to make. Just don't assemble/cook and then refrigerate. The tortillas get soggy. Just put the leftover shredded chicken in a tupperware container and refrigerate.

[Smokin Gator]

This is the one that got me through college...

One box of Kraft Mac and Cheese
One can of green peas
One can of tuna fish.

Prepare the mac and cheese according to the directions
Heat the peas
When the mac and cheese is done drain the peas and combine all of it

My kids love this meal to this day!!!

[T.G]

MREs

[cigarmonkel]

MREs

lol nice.

Thanks for all the suggestions some really good ones. I completely forgot about the whole chickens you can buy that are precooked. My parents do this and throw it in pesto all the time and they're like 6-7bucks. Definitely gonna have to start hitting those up. Just went grocery shopping and dropped 140 for two of us (broke down and bought a couple movies too cause we're movie junkies).

Fri/Sat nights we both work late and by the end of our shift we just want something quick and easy. We try to stay away from fast food but that's pretty much what it comes down too on those nights. But we got a lot of just your basic stuff you can use for almost anything. Ground beef veggies for pasta sauce or taco's ect ect.

[longknocker]

This is the one that got me through college...

One box of Kraft Mac and Cheese
One can of green peas
One can of tuna fish.

Prepare the mac and cheese according to the directions
Heat the peas
When the mac and cheese is done drain the peas and combine all of it

My kids love this meal to this day!!!

Sounds Like Tunafish Casserole The Easy Way!:tu

[captain53]

6750

[hotreds]

Yup, I go with heat and eat for cheap and easy! (Stouffers, Michelinas)

[madwilliamflint]

2 pounds ground chuck, browned.
1/2 packet ortega "chili" seasoning.
sour cream
grated cheese (cheddar)
taco sauce
flour tortillas.

Assemble and eat. Delicious. That's been dinner for the last few days. *twitch*

You omnivores can put all that weird plant crap on there if you want. I'll stick with meat and meat by products, wrapped in highly processed flour.

---

Almost forgot: I buy 5-6 pounds of ground chuck at a time, cook it, then portion it into ziplock bags in the freezer. Keeps for friggin ever.

[mahtofire]

Check out recipezaar.com. All home made recipes from people who post them online. Thousands of recipes all free, rated, and commented on. You can even save them in an online "cookbook". Pretty sweet site.

[shaggy]

This is the one that got me through college...

One box of Kraft Mac and Cheese
One can of green peas
One can of tuna fish.

Prepare the mac and cheese according to the directions
Heat the peas
When the mac and cheese is done drain the peas and combine all of it

My kids love this meal to this day!!!

add a can of mushroom soup and only use one of the cheese packages and this was a staple when i was growing up. for extra special days top with potatoe chips

[DocLogic77]

Ahh the college days. Ramen noodles mixed with velvetta cheese is actually really good. If it wasn't for Ramen I would have starved.

On your burgers try cream cheese and jalepeno...or some american cheese, over easy egg and bacon. :)

[cigarmonkel]

Ahh the college days. Ramen noodles mixed with velvetta cheese is actually really good. If it wasn't for Ramen I would have starved.

On your burgers try cream cheese and jalepeno...or some american cheese, over easy egg and bacon. :)

mmmm i love an egg and bacon on my burgers. I have so much ramen and the wonderful thing about ramen is you can add almost anything to it. For awhile i was adding kettle chips and it was delicious as weird as it might sound.

[68TriShield]

one whole chicken,cut up
one can cream of mushroom soup

in a large casserole lay chicken out and cover with soup/water mix.
add fresh cut up vegetables if desired
season to taste
bake at 375 for 45 minutes to one hour(or until a safe temperature)

serve over rice or desired starch


Enjoy!

[cigarmonkel]

another one i just remembered.

Rice
Ground beef
Cream of brocolli (sp?)

Make the rice and put in a casserole dish.
Brown the ground beef and season to taste.
Layer of cheese. ( i recommend cheddar and some parm mixed in)
Layer Cream of brocolli over rice top it with beef and throw in oven until warm.

[sevans105]

Did a super easy, semi healthy dinner this evening....

Took a keilbasa sausage, sliced it into bite sized piece, then cooked it with an apple cut into similar sized pieces. Sprinkled a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon over it. DELISH

[cricky101]

One of my favorite cheap staple recipes:

Whole wheat pasta (Whatever shape you like)
Olive oil
Garlic powder
Red chili flakes
Shredded Parmesan cheese (please not the powder in the green can.)
Optional add-ins (frozen or fresh veggies, cooked chicken, whatever else you have around or can think of)
----------

Cook pasta. If using veggies, add to the pasta the last few minutes of boiling.

Drain. Toss pasta with a little olive oil, chili flakes, garlic and Parmesan to taste.

I have this once a week or so, and I usually make a big batch of it and bring it to work for lunch. It's good hot or cold too. It's cheap, filling and has great flavor.

[kugie]

My Chicken and Rice
1 pckage Chicken Drum Sticks about 10
1 can Low Salt Chicken Stock 1/2 can of water
1 package of rice in the bag i peronally like the Pilaf but pick what ever kind you like
1 can of cream of soup (chicken, brocalli, Mushroom what ever you like)


In a Large High Side Skillet a little oil heat Oil brown Chicken, just slightly. remove Chicken.
Add Soup and rice to pan mix don't let it burn.
Add Stock and water let come to a simmer. Add Chicken.
Cover and place in a 350 Degree oven 20 min take cover off for ten more Min.

one of the best things about this is it is all one pan dish easy cleanup

Yummy

[ade06]

Here are a couple:

1. Frozen pizza!

2. Frozen Bertolli pasta dinners.

3. Ramen noodles, plus sandwich meat.

4. Costco frozen salmon bergers.

5. Rice and can of refried beans with salsa.

[cigarmonkel]

Heres another one

boneless chicken breasts
italian seasoning
olive oil
Greek Goddess salad dressing

mix it all together and grill it up!

eating it right now and its delicious! :tu

[RevSmoke]

Take a package of chicken leg quarters (usually 4 of them).
1 package onion soup mix.
1 can mushroom soup.
1.5 cups white rice.
8x11" cake pan.

Put rice evenly in bottom of pan. Place chix leg 1/4ers over the top of the rice. Mix the mushroom soup & onion soup mix together w/1 can of H2O. Pour about 2/3 can of H2O over the rice where showing. Take your mix of soups and pour over chicken and rice evenly (you can sprinkle generously with garlic powder as well for an added touch). Put in oven pre-heated to 325. Cook 1 hour in oven.

Serve.

You have crisped chicken w/ great seasoning and the rice is wonderfully flavored.

[madwilliamflint]

Adding to ramen... That's... genius.

How did I never consider that?

*eyes cabinets suspiciously*

[Tredegar]

Parmesan Chicken wraps

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup Grated parmesan cheese
Green leaf lettuce
Tortillas
Ranch dressing
2 Tbsp cooking oil
Season to taste

Mix the parmesan cheese and seasonings together. Dredge the cut up chicken in the parmesan cheese. Fry in pan with oil. When chicken is golden brown it's done.

Make wraps out of tortillas, chicken, lettuce and dressing.

This is a house favorite. Quick, easy and surprisingly cheap. I usually do not add any salt to this recipe because the parmesan is salty enough.

[papichulo]

mmmm i love an egg and bacon on my burgers. I have so much ramen and the wonderful thing about ramen is you can add almost anything to it. For awhile i was adding kettle chips and it was delicious as weird as it might sound.

Sounds like you have been to Guan or Hawaii--eggs on burgers. :tu

[Kreth]

Chicken rolls. Take some boneless skinless breasts and pound them flat. If they're real thick you might want to butterfly them. Cut some cheddar into sticks, and roll the breasts around them. Roll the rolls in seasoned bread crumbs, and bake for 20-25 mins. @ 350. Also nice with crumbled feta.
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[Sailchaser]

Take a package of good hot dogs cut them up
bag of hash browns
throw them both in a pan spread with Pam non stick
add a can of cream of mushroom soup stir with 1/2 cup of milk
cover with at least two tons of various cheeses
stick it in the oven at 375 until the cheese melts and starts to crisp around the edge (brown to a crisp for me
serve with your favorite beverage
ice cream for dessert:D

[Powers]

This is what i made tonight:

One packet of Vigo: Saffron Yellow Rice
Throw a chicken breast on a Forman w/season salt
Can of peas
Can of carrots

Cut the chicken into little pieces and mix it all together! :tu

It was pretty tasty (Also in the pic is some Martha White cornbread):

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/thegeneral320/69f6964a.jpg

[Smokin Gator]

That looks pretty tasty Mike. I'm thinkin' you need to find you a cute little SC girl to cook for ya though brother!!

[Powers]

That looks pretty tasty Mike. I'm thinkin' you need to find you a cute little SC girl to cook for ya though brother!!

Can't argue with ya there bro! :banger

But i've been doing pretty well cookin' for myself. Makin' some good suppers, saving money and eating better all at the same time :tu

[Smokin Gator]

^^^ Proud of ya brother... but I'm just sayin'!!!

[Starscream]

this is gonna sound nasty but it's oh so good: macaroni and cheese with vienna sausages.

Mix up a bowl of Easy Mac and cut up a can of Vienna Sausages and mix together.

[slickster81]

Jam sandwich....take two pieces of bread, and jam em together!

OK, if you like tuna try this.

Creamed tuna on toast

Uber easy way:
1 can tuna
1 package country gravy mix
prepare gravy mix as directed, but cut back on water by 1/4 cup
add tuna, juice and all, salt and pepper (or Old Bay!) to taste.

Serve over toast.

Little harder way:
1 can tuna
2Tb butter, margarine, or olive oil
2 Tb flour
1/2 cup milk

melt the butter over medium low heat, add the flour, cook 3-5 minutes, whisk in milk, keep whisking until smooth, add tuna, heat and cook until thick.

You guessed it.....serve over toast.

[Mugen910]

2-3 eggs scrambled
1 cup of cooked rice
A little ketchup or hot sauce
1 bag mixed veggies.


Quick and easy fried rice.




My other easy one is:

1 box of macaroni elbow
Ground beef drained
mix with 1 jar of spaghetti sauce

[Bill86]

What I did when I lived in an apartment was

1. Chicken Quesadilla
Chop up chicken and cook it till it's 95% done
add any lawrys marinade (it's a liquid marinade in a bottle) finish cooking the chicken
Melt your favorite cheese on the chicken in a taco folded in half
Brown the shell a bit and cut into thirds
I personally used Caribbean jerk with pepper jack cheese. Clears the sinuses real good.
Takes 10 minutes or so tops, cook it in a pan on the stove top.

2. Steak sandwiches
Cook chopped up steak with salt, pepper and hot sauce (texas pete is good and cheap)
melt your favorite cheese on it
Put it on toasted white bread
Done deal, simple and tasty.
Takes about 10 minutes, stove top in a pan.

I'd also get red baron pizzas, they aren't the best but you can get them on the super cheap at krogers, hard to argue with a pizza that costs $3.50

[GolfNut]

There's tastier ways to do this, but this works great in a pinch!

1 Pack Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage Sliced into medallions
1 bag Frozen Bell Pepper Strips
1 yellow onion sliced
1tbs Fennel seed (can do without if you've not got it)
2tbs Mongolian Fire Oil (sprinkle a little cayenne in your regular oil if you don't have this)
Halved mushrooms to suit

Cook all together in a skillet (first sausage, then onion & shrooms, then add pepper strips. they cook quick) and serve up over rice! Still our kids favorite meal. :tu

[Lumpold]

Lamb or Beef stew...

3lb bone-in stewing beef/lamb (or both) [bone-in neck and shoulder cuts work best, and are generally dirt cheap]
3 large carrots
3 large parsnips
2 large leeks
1 pint beef/lamb stock (beef broth?)
2 large onions
2 cloves garlic
1 can chopped tomatoes
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 320*F

In a casserole dish, over the hob, heat some oil (olive, vegetable, canola, whatever!). Chop the onions. This is a stew, I like them chunky. Add to the dish, and then mince the garlic and chuck that in too. Fry until the onions start to soften. Add the meat, and fry until browned. While meat is browning, chop the rest of the vegetables. Again, chunky works well. When the meat has browned, sprinkle the flour over and coat everything with it. Add the tomatoes and stock and bring to the boil. Add the rest of the vegetables, and stir in well. Remove from the hob, cover, and put into the pre-heated oven. Leave for 4 hours, checking periodically.

Serve in a big bowl, with fresh, crusty bread and butter on the side.

[gkend]

Creamy Chicken (or Beef) Stew

Onion (diced or chopped)
Garlic (chopped, sliced, crushed, minced, etc.)
1 lb. chicken breasts (or beef)
Flour
Sour Cream
Carrots (optional)
Mushrooms (optional)
Chopped cilantro (optional)

Cut chicken into cubes and season with salt and pepper. Add cubes, onion, and garlic to stock pot. Add enough water or stock to cover plus an inch or so more. Bring to boil, then lower to simmer and cover. (For me, it usually takes about 20 min. around med. heat for it to get done.) When half-done (about 10 min. for me), add carrots, mushrooms, and a few pinches of cilantro. Cover until done. A minute or two before you think it's done, make a simple "roux" of cold water and flour. Combine water and flour until pasty and no lumps. Slowly pour roux into hot stock while stirring to thicken stew to a mild gravy consistency. Stew is done. Portion into bowls. Add a dollop (teaspoon) of sour cream to each portion along with a pinch or two of freshly chopped cilantro. Toasted cracked wheat bread makes a great addition to sop up the stew.

Serves 4-6.