The thought of leaving a long work shift to get home and cook is tiring, especially if you have kids and must make a bigger meal.
Most of us know cooking at home is much more cost-effective than eating out, but that’s better said than done. The truth is cutting back on eating out can save you hundreds of dollars a month and thousands each year, and for someone on a tight budget, the decision to eat out or cook can make or break their bank account.
That’s why we’ve collected some easy, quick, and cheap meals for you to make for your family of four.
Savory Chicken Stir Fry
Who doesn’t love some Chinese cuisine? You don’t have to takeout to enjoy the cuisine because you can make it right at home!
First on our list is one of Chinese food’s most popular dishes—chicken stir-fry.
You’ll need the ingredients below:
- 1 pound chicken breast, diced
- 2 cups mixed frozen vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, carrots)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the chicken until it’s cooked through. Then, add the vegetables and soy sauce and stir-fry until the vegetables are tender.
Make the soy sauce mixture thicker by combining the cornstarch with a little water and adding it to the pan. Serve your stir-fry over cooked rice.
This meal will cost you around $15-$18.
Flavor-Packed Egg Fried Rice
Another Chinese dish to satisfy your cravings? Yes! You can even add it to your chicken stir-fry if you’d like.
Grab the following ingredients to start:
- 2 cups cooked rice (preferably day-old)
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 green onions, chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Gather your ingredients. Start by heating the olive oil in a pan and scrambling the eggs. Remove the eggs from the pan, add the peas and carrots, and cook them until tender. Then, add the rice and soy sauce and stir until heated through. Finally, return the scrambled eggs to the pan and top the rice with green onions.
This meal costs about $10-$12 to make.
Ultimate Taco Feast
You don’t have to wait for Tuesday or eat at a restaurant to enjoy delicious tacos. You can easily make them in the comfort of your own home!
It only takes six ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 8 taco shells
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
Now that you have everything you need, let’s cook! Start by combining the ground meat and taco seasoning according to package instructions. Then, cook your meat in a large skillet over medium heat. Fill the taco shells with the cooked meat and your choice of toppings!
This whole meal costs approximately $15-$17 to make.
Hearty Stuffed Bell Peppers
We’ve tasted Mexican and Chinese cuisine, now let’s try something from Spain—stuffed bell peppers.
Gather the following ingredients:
- 4 bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup shredded cheese (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375°F. While your oven is heating up, season your ground meat with Italian seasoning, then cook it with onions in olive oil until browned. Add the cooked rice and diced tomatoes to the pan and mix.
Once the mixture is cooked, stuff the bell peppers and place them in a baking dish. Bake the peppers for 30 minutes. Remove them from the oven, top with cheese, and bake for 5 minutes.
The ingredients for stuffed bell peppers cost about $15-$18.
Comforting Baked Ziti
It wouldn’t be a complete recipe list without everyone’s favorite—cheesy pasta! Making a delicious, baked ziti is super easy.
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Start by preheating the oven to 375°F. While the oven heats up, cook the ziti according to package instructions. Then, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, basil, and oregano in a bowl. Layer the pasta, marinara sauce, and ricotta mixture on a baking sheet. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
This meal costs around $15-$18 to make.
Cooking at home doesn’t have to be time-consuming or break your budget!
Do you have any cheap and easy recipes? Let us know in the comments!
My name is Leiana Pineda Gonzalez-Rubio, and I am the Content and Digital Strategist at Pelican State Credit Union. I have over 6 years of experience in the marketing and communications field. I love reading, dancing and making art in my free time as well as spending time with my boyfriend, family and my dogs.
