Easy (And Low Budget) Dinner Ideas & Recipes

When I look at our bank account or credit card statements, one thing that always stands out as a large, mostly unneessary expense is eating out (or ordering in). The way I save the most money is by creating a list of one week's meals and sticking to it!

But the hardest part of this plan is coming up with meals to put on that list! As a stay-at-home mother of two, I've spent that last few years compiling easy-to-prepare (yet tasty) meals that are also easy on the budget. Here are some of my family's favorites - which have only a few ingredients, making them super easy and rather inexpensive.

To kick up the health factor on these: I always buy the pasta sauce with veggies in it. I get whole wheat pasta and brown rice. My kids love edamame - so I buy a big, bag of frozen and serve it on the side of many meals. They are yummy and contain fiber, protein and vitamin & minerals. I also try to buy the leanest beef possible.

Italian Chicken (2 ingredients!)

Ingredients: 1 lb chicken tenders, 1 bottle Italian dressing *Budget tip: Serve this meal the day you go shopping and buy chicken with a "sold by" date that is that day or the next day, you can save a lot!

1. Pierce pieces of chicken with a fork.

2. Place in a zip lock bag and pour dressing over chicken. Shake to coat. Place in fridge for a few hours or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 x 13 inch pan in spray. Place chicken in pan and throwout remaining marinade.

4. Bake for 1 hour or until juices run clear (turn chicken while baking).

Serve with rice or buttered noodles and a veggie

Pizza Casserole (4 ingredients)

Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 jar pasta sauce, 1 can pizza crust dough, 12 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese. *Budget tip: Buy a package of 5 frozen 1 lb tubes of meat at Costo, put in one in the fridge the day before you plan to use to defrost

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees

2. Brown meat, drain fat

3. Add pasta sauce to meat

4. Coat 13 x 9 pan in spray. Press pizza dough in the bottom and sides. Line bottom with 1/2 the cheese slices

5. Top with meat mixture

6. Bake, uncovered for 12 min, top with remaining cheese and bake 5 more min

Serve with canned green beans or a side salad.

Slow Cooker No Peak Beef (5 ingredients)

Ingredients: 1 lb sirloin beef, cubed (get the kind that says for "stew"), 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 pkg. dried onion soup, 4 oz can sliced mushrooms, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Mix all in slow cooker and cook on low for 8 - 12 hours. Serve over egg noodles

S & P Chicken (5 ingredients - two of them are salt & pepper!)

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 4 chicken breast halves, salt, pepper, milk

1. Put tons of salt and pepper on the chicken (as much as you want)

2. Heat oil on medium-high and add chicken. Cook until browned on each side. Add milk to cover most of the chicken.

3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered for 2 hours

Baked Penne (4 ingredients)

Ingredients: 16 oz cooked penne (or so), 1 lb ground beef, 1 jar pasta sauce, 2 cups shredded mozzarella

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cook penne, drain, set asaide

3. Brown beef (you can add some garlic if you'd like), drain, add pasta sauce, penne & 1 cup mozzarella (add enough penne to your liking, I use almost all of it)

4. Poor in a glass pan and bake for 30 minutes covered in aluminum foil.

5. Remove cover, top with remaining cheese and bake for 8 - 10 minutes.

Corn Dog Casserole (3 ingredients)

Ingredients: 1 can baked beans, 2 (16 oz) packages hot dogs, sliced, 1 (7.5 oz) package corn bread mix

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Pour the can of beans into a 9 x 13 in baking dish so they cover the bottom. Arrange the hot dog slices so they cover the beans as much as possible.

3. Prepare the cornbread mix according to package directions. Spread the batter over the hot dog layer.

4. Bake for 35 - 40 minutes, or until the cornbread is cooked through (a toothpick should come out clean).

Zesty Chicken 'N Rice (7 ingredients)

This is a great complete meal!

Ingredients: 1 lb chicken tenders (or 4 breast halves), 1/3 cup light Italian dressing, 2/3 cup uncooked rice, 1 bag frozen veggie mix (try to get one with red peppers), 1 (2.8 oz) can french fried onions, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Place chicken in a glass pan. Pour salad dressing over chicken and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes

3. Place rice, vegetables and 1/2 can onions around and under chicken. Combine broth and italian seasoning and pour over chicken and veggies. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes.

4. Top with remaining onions and bake 2 - 3 minutes longer.