Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to expand my recipes and try new ones. (See Part I and Part II in this series for more ideas!) Previously, I set a goal of spending less than $20, but have set the goal to $30 this time because, with rising prices, things just aren’t within the same budget these days. Today, I will be sharing 4 recipes under $30 (based on Walmart prices) that even my picky eater child loves.
Loaded Tater Tot Nachos
Large bag of tater tots ($3.92)
Shredded cheese ($6.68, Idaho brand cheese)
Sour cream ($1.74)
Tomatoes ($2.88 for a package of grape tomatoes)
2 bunches of green onions ($0.57 each)
1 can of beans of choice ($.72)
2 pounds of hamburger ($4.02 each, 73% lean)
1 jar of pickled jalapeños ($1.38)
Seasonings of choice
Begin by cooking the tater tots according to the directions on the bag (we use either our air fryer or the oven). While the tots cook, brown the hamburger with seasonings of choice and chop up the tomatoes and onions. Open and rinse the beans; set them aside while everything finishes up. Once the tater tots and hamburger are cooked, begin plating. Top tots with hamburger, cheese, beans, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and jalapenos. Enjoy! This meal costs roughly $28 using the ingredients my family personally loves. This recipe is made for a bigger family, so costs can be cut as needed.
Taco Pasta
1 package of noodles ($.92)
Mayonnaise, to taste ($2.48)
Sour cream, to taste ($1.74)
1 package of taco seasoning ($.44)
Shredded cheese ($2.22)
1 can of corn ($.54)
1 can of black beans ($.72)
1 package of cherry tomatoes ($2.88)
1 bunch of green onions ($.54)
Begin by boiling the noodles. While those are boiling, drain the corn, cut up the tomatoes and green onions, and drain/rinse the black beans. Once the noodles are done, drain and add to a big bowl. To the noodles, add mayonnaise and sour cream to your liking, packet of taco seasoning mix, and remaining ingredients including cheese to your liking. Serve and enjoy. You could also add hamburger if you would like meat with it. This meal costs roughly $13-$25 depending on how many boxes of noodles you use and if you add meat. To add a little crunch, top with crushed tortilla chips!
Chef Salad
1 bag of salad ($1-$4 depending on what you like)
Eggs ($1.18 for a dozen)
Shredded Cheese ($2.22)
1 bag of croutons ($.98)
1 pound lunchmeat of choice ($3.12 Great Value sliced ham)
1 bottle salad dressing of choice ($1.48, Hidden Valley Ranch)
1 can of olives ($1.47)
1 package of cherry tomatoes ($2.88)
Begin by hard boiling eggs. In the meantime, chop all vegetables and lunch meat. Once the eggs are done, place them in an ice bath, peel, and dice. I personally put everything above on my salad and use Hidden Valley Ranch for my dressing of choice. You could use any kind of dressing you’d like, and whatever kind of meat you’d like. Sometimes we add pepperoni to ours as well. This is a quick and easy healthier option if you don’t want to really cook anything for dinner. It costs roughly about $17-$25 depending on what ingredients you get/add and what brands you choose.
Korean Beef Rice Bowls
1 pound of hamburger ($4.02 73% lean)
1 box of long grain rice ($2.58)
1 bunch of green Onions ($.54)
Brown Sugar ($1.62)
Sesame Oil ($3.14)
Minced Garlic ($2.56)
Minced Ginger ($2.98)
Soy Sauce ($1.58)
Sriracha ($1.98)
Sesame Seeds ($2.99)
1 bag of steamed broccoli ($1.97)
Cook rice according to instructions on the package. While that is cooking, add 1 tablespoon each of sesame oil, garlic, and ginger to a pan and heat for 1 to 2 minutes before adding the hamburger. Once hamburger is browned, add about 1/2 cup of brown sugar, ¼ cup of soy sauce, and sriracha to taste. Once everything is cooked, add rice to a bowl, top with meat mixture, and add sesame seeds and diced green onions to the top. I prefer to have a veggie with my dinners most nights, so I decided steamed broccoli would be a perfect addition. This meal is fairly simple to make and can feed a family of 4 for around $25. With these recipes, you will have extra ingredients you can use for other meals. I like to just give you an idea as a whole if you don’t have any of these ingredients at home. This particular recipe I found on TikTok, so that’s an awesome place to find recipes as well.
Stay tuned for Family Breakfasts on a Budget!
