Seven Grocery Budget Stretching Meals

Times are tough and grocery budget stretching meals are needed by many families now. Even families not caught in the most recent layoffs are searching for budget stretching meals to help save a bit in case of future layoffs. These recipes allow you to do dinner for less than $5 in most areas. If you live in a high cost area your meal cost may be higher but these seven grocery budget stretching meals should be lower cost than other meal items.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #1: Cheesy Baked Rice

2 c. chicken broth

1 c. uncooked rice

1 can of chicken or tuna

1 c. shredded cheese

In a greased baking dish, mix the broth, rice, chicken, and 3/4 cup of the cheese together. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted.

For the hungry family member, you can roll this up in a tortilla like a burrito or serve on toast.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #2: Make your Own Beef-a-roni

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. macaroni

2 cans Tomato Soup, do not add water

Brown the meat, drain grease. Add soup, mix with meat and heat. Boil macaroni, drain water. Add soup and meat mixture to drained macaroni. Serve immediately.

This may be a little more than $5 depending on the cost of beef but with a pound of noodles, you should have enough leftovers for a second meal. Serve with bread or sandwiches.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #3: Taco Cornbread Pizza

1 corn muffin mix

1 lb. ground beef

1 taco seasoning mix

1 8 oz.shredded cheese

Prepare corn muffin mix as directed. Spread batter in greased 12-inch pizza pan. Bake at 400F for 8 to 10 min until lightly browned. Brown the meat. Drain, add seasoning and prepare as directed on package. Sprinkle 1 C cheese over crust. Top with meat and remaining cheese. Bake 4 to 5 min until cheese is melted. Top with any of your typical taco toppings like lettuce, tomatoes or green chilies. If you have a large family you may need to make two but you can split the meat between them to help with the grocery budget stretching.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #4: Hot Dog Casserole

Cut one pack of hot dogs into small bite size pieces. Add a can or a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, or the vegetable of your choice. You can use leftovers to make this even more of a grocery budget stretching meal. Add chopped onion, a bag of tater tots or some French fries and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Mix together. Pour into a casserole dish and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the tater tots are done.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #5: Hot Taco Rice

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 1/2 c. med. salsa

1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce

1 chicken bouillon cube

1 1/2 c. Minute Rice

Chopped tomatoes

Sour cream

Shredded Cheddar cheese

Tortilla chips

olives

Brown beef and onion in skillet. Add salsa, tomato sauce and bouillon. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Prepare rice as directed on package. Serve beef mixture over rice and add toppings. This is a flexible grocery budget stretching meal. If you don't have a pound of meat, add some beans, or add more rice and toppings. Use what you have the most of as the main focus.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #6: Baked French Toast

8 slices bread

5 or 6 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Lightly grease a 13-x-9 baking dish. Cut each slice of bread into 2 strips. Arrange bread in dish. In large bowl, mix eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Pour egg mixture over bread strips; cover. Chill a minimum of 4 hours but all day is better. Preheat oven to 425. Bake until eggs are set and toast is lightly browned, about 30 to 40 minutes. Top with cinnamon sugar.

Grocery Budget Stretching Meals #7: Sausage in Sweet and Sour Sauce

1 Cup Ketchup

4 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

4 Tbsp. Vinegar

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 tsp. salt and pepper

Chopped Small onion

1 or 2 lbs. of sausage

Mix all wet ingredients and put into crock pot over sausage. You can use any type of smoked sausage or kielbasa. Serve over rice or in a bun. If you have green peppers you can add them also. Cook on high 3 to 4 hours.

These grocery budget stretching meals should help when funds or low or when you are looking to save a little extra cash.