Welcome to the second installment of our Frugal Living series, showcasing 10 budget-friendly meal ideas. Embracing a frugal lifestyle doesn't mean sacrificing flavor or quality. In fact, it allows you to enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals that are far superior to fast food. Here are ten fantastic, low-cost dishes to try.
10. Classic Mac and Cheese

This simple and affordable dish requires minimal ingredients. Start with a 1-pound box of Elbows or Twisted Macaronis, typically priced at around $1USD. Next, grab a block of Velveeta-style cheese—store brands work just as well and cost between $1 and $2USD per pound. You'll also need about 1/4 cup of milk. Cook the pasta until al dente, then drain without rinsing (or use hot water if necessary). Return the noodles to the pot, add pre-cut cheese cubes, and stir until the cheese is nearly melted, creating a rich and creamy texture.
Return the pot to low heat and gradually pour in the milk, stirring continuously to form a thick, creamy sauce. This recipe serves 5-6 people generously. For single servings, store leftovers in sandwich bags (remove as much air as possible) or use a food sealer and freeze. To reheat, thaw a bag in the morning, ensure it's fully defrosted, place it in a bowl, sprinkle a little water on top, and microwave for about 1 minute (adjust based on your microwave). Pair it with canned tuna for added flavor, but avoid freezing if tuna is mixed in.
Explore a treasure trove of culinary inspiration with The Everyday Cookbook: A Healthy Cookbook with 130 Amazing Whole-Food Recipes That are Easy on the Budget, available at Amazon.com!

To make this, gather tortillas, a small jar of pizza sauce, shredded cheese, and your preferred toppings (plain cheese is the most economical option). Preheat the oven to 300°F. Arrange 1-3 tortillas on a cookie sheet, depending on the pan size. Spread sauce evenly, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Sprinkle cheese over the sauce, then add your toppings. Bake for approximately 5 minutes.
8. Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
For this dish, gather 1-2 packs of Ramen noodles, 1/2 to 1 bag of generic mixed vegetables, and meat corresponding to the noodle flavor (e.g., chicken for chicken-flavored noodles). Dice the meat into small pieces. Heat a bit of oil in a large pan or wok, then brown the meat. Cook the noodles for roughly 2 minutes. Set the meat aside on a paper towel to drain excess grease. Add vegetables, the Ramen seasoning packet, and any additional seasonings to the pan, along with a splash of liquid (water, orange juice, etc.). Stir continuously, then combine the noodles and meat with the vegetable mixture.
7. Beef and Rice Casserole
To prepare this dish, gather 1 pound of ground beef, 2 cups of rice, 1 packet of onion soup mix, 4 cups of water, and a 15-ounce can of cream of mushroom soup. Brown the ground beef and drain any excess fat. Combine all ingredients, mix well, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked.
6. Homemade “Hamburger Helper” Casserole
Skip the boxed version and make your own. You’ll need 1 pound of ground beef (or your preferred meat), 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 chopped onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 can of cream soup (mushroom, chicken, etc.), 1/2 cup of water, a bag of egg noodles or rice, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat the oil, sauté the onion and garlic, then brown the meat. Drain any excess grease. Add the soup, water, salt, and pepper, and heat thoroughly. Serve over cooked rice or noodles.
Keep your coupons organized and within reach with a Clip It Coupon Organizer, available at Amazon.com!

For this dish, gather 1 pound of ground beef, 1 packet of taco seasoning, 1/2 head of lettuce, 1 large tomato, 1 cup of chopped scallions, 1-2 cups of shredded cheese, sour cream, and a bag of store-brand tortilla chips. Brown the beef, drain excess grease, and mix in the taco seasoning until evenly coated. Let it cool slightly, then transfer to a large bowl. Shred or chop the lettuce, dice the tomato, and add both to the bowl along with the scallions and shredded cheese. Toss everything together. Serve over tortilla chips and top with a spoonful of sour cream.
4. Egg Noodle Lasagna
This slow cooker recipe requires 7-8 cups of egg noodles, 3 tablespoons of butter, 1.5 pounds of ground beef, 2.5 cups of spaghetti sauce, 7 ounces of diced cheese (such as Velveeta, preferably store brand), and 3 cups of shredded mozzarella. Cook the noodles as per the package instructions, drain, and toss with butter. Brown the beef in a skillet, then drain. In the slow cooker, spread a quarter of the sauce, followed by a third of the noodles, beef, remaining sauce, and cheeses. Repeat the layers twice. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
3. Pizza Bake
Gather 1 pound of ground beef, 16 ounces of pizza sauce, 4 ounces of mushrooms (optional), pepperoni (optional), 1 tablespoon of oregano, 1 teaspoon of garlic salt, 2 cups of rotini noodles, 2/3 cup of milk, and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brown the beef in a skillet, drain, and mix in pizza sauce, mushrooms, oregano, and garlic salt. Bring to a boil. Combine rotini and milk in a separate bowl. In a casserole dish, layer half the meat sauce, rotini mixture, and cheese. Repeat with the remaining halves. Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 25-30 minutes.
2. Chicken Noodle Soup
For this recipe, gather 3-6 chicken breasts (adjust based on servings), egg noodles, 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, 1 can of peas, your preferred seasonings, and 1 can of chicken broth or 7 cubes of chicken broth concentrate. Boil the chicken in a large pot, ensuring it’s fully submerged. Once cooked, remove the chicken, shred it, and set aside. Keep the water. Add the onion, carrots, peas, chicken broth or cubes, noodles, shredded chicken, and seasonings to the pot. Boil until the noodles are tender.
1. Shepherd’s Pie
Prepare this dish with ground beef, potatoes, and either corn or green beans. Brown the ground beef and mash the potatoes. In a casserole dish, layer the corn or green beans at the bottom, followed by the ground beef, and top with mashed potatoes. Bake at 300°F for approximately 20 minutes.
Bonus: Monkey Bread

This isn’t a meal but a delightful dessert. Gather a can of refrigerated biscuits, 1.5 cups of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, and 3/4 cup of butter. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the biscuits into quarters and coat them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Melt the butter, cinnamon, and sugar in a small saucepan. Layer half the biscuits in a bundt pan, pour half the butter mixture over them, then repeat with the remaining biscuits and butter mix. Bake for 30-40 minutes. Warm the leftover butter mix on the stovetop, remove the bread from the pan, and drizzle with the remaining mixture.
Contributor: Ravyn
Technorati Tags: food, frugal