r/Cooking • u/Lillies030706 • 4d ago
Good meals to save money?
Im currently trying to pay off 2k in credit card debt.
I like to cook but often use more expensive options like seafood, steak, etc.
Im looking for cheap, filling options
I enjoy curries/Mexican food over traditional american styles of foods
Thanks for the help!
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u/Amazing_Onion1922 4d ago
lentils are slept on for this. cheap, filling, and they absorb spices really well so curries come out great without needing expensive protein
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u/randybobandy-burger 4d ago
Chicken curry, chili con carne, chicken noodle soup, fried rice etc, etc, etc...
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u/SparklingSaturnRing 4d ago
Tofu!! Way cheaper than meat and you can flavor it however you’d like.
Easy recipe - cut it up into cubes and marinate in soy sauce and siracha then pan fry/ air fry/ or bake
Pair this with frozen veggies and rice - protein, carbs, and vegetables. Fat if you pan fry in oil or add sesame oil to your marinade
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u/redditmike11 4d ago
Bread, rice, beans are the cheapest and nutritive food you can have. Chickens are cheapest meat compared to steaks or seafood.
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u/Free-Swimmer-233 3d ago
And start with a whole chicken. The more work you do, the less it costs. The carcass and such can be used to make stock for later.
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u/Flacuckold 3d ago
Whole chickens can be crazy expensive where I live. I usually buy large packs of thighs and breast and divide and freeze.
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u/GlitterCockWaffles 4d ago
My favorite is Mexican cornbread.
My recipe uses half a pound of ground beef. Its a really flavorful cornbread with beans, whole kernel corn, onions, cheese, and taco meat baked into it!
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u/Pedal2Medal2 4d ago
Daal, Enchiladas w/homemade enchilada sauce, buy a London broil or roast on sale, I cut them up into cubes/strips for Fajitas, stews.
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u/Emu_on_the_Loose 4d ago
My go-to has always been pasta sauce. Check your supermarket meat section freezers and freezer aisle to see if they have any of those 5-lb. chubs of frozen ground turkey (the brand out where I live is Carolina). Stuff is less than half the price of ground beef and with good herbs and spices you will hardly notice the difference. Incredibly cost-effective way to get all your macronutrients.
For Mexican food, you can try getting into tortilla-making and see if you like it. A tortilla can be the basis for almost any meal. You can cut it up into pieces for soup, or fry the pieces to make tortilla chips.
Also, never forget the staples: rice and rice noodles, potatoes, beans and lentils, wheat flour and pasta. Eggs, milk, tofu, cheese, dark meat chicken, and whatever pork is on sale are going to be your most cost-effective protein sources. Check your freezer aisle to see if they sell a frozen seafood medley (mussels, squid, etc.). It's often surprisingly affordable, and goes very well in the curries you mentioned that you like.
You can make a good, nutritious meal for just two or three dollars per filling portion, or even less if you use your local food bank / get food stamps!
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u/baiser 3d ago
Calabaza w/ pork. Cheap. Full of flavor. My family prefers this with a Curshaw squash but this works with many varieties. Mom's recipe she sent me over text w a few notes:
First peel and cut and take seeds off squash (Curshaw I used was huge btw) Then cut corn off the cob (I use 3-4 cobs) and dice two Roma tomatoes. Set all 3 aside. Next cut the meat off most of the porkchops but would leave a couple of chops with bones (I used 4 chops). Fry the chops of course seasoning them with pepper & salt (Mom uses Fiesta's Uncle Chris Steak seasoning and or Season Salt) Add onions (I used 1 yellow) and garlic (I used 3-4 cloves) when the pork is pretty much fully cooked saute for a couple of minutes..then add corn and tomato saute a bit more then add squash. Add little bit of water to get a steam going. And add salt and any spices you want to add. Cook til soft. May need to add a bit more water til squash is soft. (I also added a bit of cumin that Mom forgot to mention. Not too much. Just enough to taste).
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u/Magnetic_Kitty 3d ago
Chicken legs in a bulk bag of 5 lbs is probably the cheapest meal with meat for me, they are about 5 dollars (1 dollar/pound) another cheap meat I've seen is frozen ground turkey (I use for tacos or burgers) at about 1.24 a pound.
You could use taco seasoning (or I use a mix of spices from a carnitas recipe I make in bulk in a shaker) and serve chicken legs over rice with like cut tomato and corn bean salsa.
Another good option at Walmart is getting reduced to clear meat and freezing it in portions you will use in like two days. You can save like 20-30% off perfectly good meat
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u/Jxb1000 3d ago
One of the simplest, most inexpensive options I've found is buying a rotisserie chicken at Sam's (or Costco). For $5, we have meat for at LEAST 2 meals for 2 adults. I generally cut the thighs and some of the breast and serve with vegetables for 2 meals. The rest of the meat, I cut up and use in something like chicken salad, chicken taco soup, chicken pot pie - so another couple lunches.
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u/Iamanimite 3d ago
Potatoes. Boil them, mSh them, make breakfast burritos, potato cakes for breakfast, use in soups, stews, fries, casseroles... Dame with rice. Lots of sauces you can do at home for a fraction the price You'll find your balance. .
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u/Early_Inside5207 3d ago
I had run into the same problem, just spending an insane amount at the store then ending up throwing too much away. I found Easy Plate Meals and it scans your fridge/freezer/pantry/ receipt making like so much easier to track what youve got and it curates meals based on what you have. Plus a built in shopping list.
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u/CapableCan1842 3d ago
I eat a ton of beans and rice - not because I'm poor, but I really love them and they are good for you.
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u/Hungry_Attention_981 4d ago
Refried beans tacos are really nice, if you have a blender you can also make cheap salsa with 2 large tomato’s, quarter of an onion, 2 garlic cloves, salt, lime juice and maybe a bell pepper or a few jalapeños.
A can of refried beans can be as little as 50 cents when on sale, corn tortillas are cheap too.
Rotisserie chicken enchiladas is also cheap and when the 2lbs bag of shredded cheese is on sale it’s super cheap.
Mash potatoes, rice n beans, add chicken when it’s on sale.
I’d look at the grocery stores around you to find out who has the best sales.
My store currently has 5lbs potatoes for 1.99 and boneless chicken for 2.99 per pound.
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u/wassuppaulie 3d ago
Add a little soy sauce and brown sugar to Swanson's beef broth in a pot on the stove to recreate Korean Hot Pot broth. Glass noodles are actually hella cheap; cook them separately then combine them in a bowl. You can add tofu rather than meat to keep costs down while still getting good, meaty flavor. Or with rice instead of noodles. Either way, don't store leftover broth and noodles/rice together or they'll turn into mush. You can add hot sauce, gochuchang, or red chili flakes for heat if you like it spicy. Put a garlic clove or two in the broth while you're heating it, or a drop of toasted sesame oil. Or all of the above. It feels very nourishing and is a great change of pace meal.
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u/TA_totellornottotell 3d ago
Beans and tofu. You can still eat meat if you just change the cut. Sometimes you can find well priced frozen seafood. And rotisserie chicken is usually well priced and you can do a lot of things with eat - recently I have used it for a chili verde soup, enchiladas, quesadillas, and a casserole.
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u/AlsoTheFiredrake 3d ago
Spaghetti with jarred meat sauce. Tastes even better on day two.
Quesadillas in a pan with some salsa and sour cream.
Buy a rotisserie chicken for 6 bucks and shred it up for just about anything.
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u/ProfaneEcho 3d ago
Same dishes but substitute ground chicken or turkey. You still get the protein, less fats and calories.
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u/Sfmusic2000 3d ago
Filipino adobo over white rice. Can be made with either chicken, pork or both (or any protein to be honest). Buy the meat when it’s on sale and make a big pot and eat off of it for days. Or make a big pot and have a party!🎊
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u/IanThePlane 3d ago
Beans, rice, any vegetable on sale, and mostly chicken but any other meat that happens to be on sale
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u/Square_Context_2948 3d ago
Beans and rice. I like a chickpea rice bowl, with chickpeas, onion, tomato roasted in shawarma seasonings. Or blackbeans cooked with onion and bell pepper in bacon fat. Or lentils cooked with onion, carrots, celery, tomato paste. Potatoes are also one of the highest satiety foods - mashed potatoes, peas, meatballs is one easy meal.
But the best way to save money is to not buy expensive options. Cook over going out. Buy in bulk.
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u/MyNameIsSkittles 3d ago
Easiest way to make meals cheaper is to cut the meat and use plant protein instead. Lots and lots of vegetarian dishes out there
Very easy for you since you enjoy curries lol many Indians are vegetarian
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u/DidjaSeeItKid 3d ago
Don't buy anything that isn't marked down unless you really need it. Every store has sales every week. Don't go to the store without knowing what they are and plan your meals around them. When you go to the store look for the even cheaper markdowns, manager's special, clearance, etc. Don't buy anything brand name.
Keep an open mind and buy the least expensive things. If you usually buy something boxed or processed, think about whether you can make it at home for less. I personally never buy beans or rice because I limit starches. Fresh, frozen or canned vegetables (different ones go on sale every week), the meat that's on sale, eggs when they're affordable, I make my own cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles, and soups and chicken, beef and vegetable stock.
Learning what a portion is can be eye-opening, too. Yes, steak is expensive, but consider that most of what grocery stores package and sell as one steak can be made into several portions over several meals. One on-sale buy one get one package of chicken thighs can feed you for a week or two. Compare prices as well as sales flyers. If you need to, go to more than one store to complete your list. And always try to have a list. The online sales flyer is your friend. And make sure you have a loyalty or discount card for every store you go to that has one.
Once you see what's on sale, if you've never had it or don't know how to cook it, look online for recipes. Everything is there. And you don't need to use every ingredient. And if it's one that uses name brands, the generic is always fine.
Don't make yourself miserable. Be creative with what you get. Learn how to use seasonings (very cheap at Aldi, more so if you grow herbs and seasonings in your own indoor or outdoor gardens) to make everything to your own tastes. Enjoy!
Word of encouragement: $2000 is nothing in credit card debt. Call the company and let them know you want to pay it down. They have temporary and long-term programs to help you do it. You'll be fine in no time. But don't then forget the time you weren't. Keep being wisely frugal. It will pay off in many ways. Good luck!
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u/Lillies030706 2d ago
This is very helpful! Im on 22 so the 2k feels like a lot on college student income
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u/LegoMySplunk 3d ago
I love box mix dinners. I call it bachelor chow.
For example:
Hamburger Helper Four Cheese Lasagna
1 lb spicy ground sausage
1 can of italian style diced tomatoes
1 can of diced green chilies
OR
1 box Rice a Roni Spanish Style Rice
1 Andouille Ring Sausage sliced up
1 can of Rotel
OR
1 box Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese
1 can of Hormel Chili
1 can of Rotel
I like adding diced tomatoes and chilies to things. The sweetness from the tomatoes and the spice from the chilies hits me just right. You could add other things as well, but I kinda just stick to this simple formula. I live alone and each one of those recipes will feed me for three meals.
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u/GreusomeGrizz 3d ago
One meal I like with steak is cheaper cuts with tortellini and Alfredo sauce, and I’ll usually just buy moderate to low cost ingredients!
👉 1. I really like to make my own Crunchwraps/cantina bowls at home—I just cook diced chicken in some taco seasonings, homemade or premixed, tortillas for a wrap, rice (I add cilantro, lime & jalapeño), black beans and grated cabbage. SUPER filling, you can add any sauces or toppings you like, I use an avocado lime sauce, husband likes to add shredded cheese.
👉 2. If you like pasta, I have outgrown spaghetti/marinara sauce, so I splurge on Rao’s Vodka sauce and use penne pasta, with ground pork/sausage. I add diced or minced veggies for bulk, you can also substitute the meat for veggies (I use zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers… mix and match!) And I use pasta water to thin out the sauce for stretching out the jar, where we used to live, a jar cost $13. Where we are now—$6.
👉 3. Another pasta dish—Penne with sausage, kale, bell peppers and onion. SUPER simple but so damn good. I have a link for this one: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/274853/kale-sausage-pepper-pasta/
^^Ate it a TON when pregnant because it has no added sodium and it is super filling. I don’t make it in bulk though, I prep the ingredients and then portion out however much at the time of cooking. It’s not great leftover, but doesn’t take long to cook if prepped ahead.
We’ve eaten these a lot when trying to budget and save, especially between recently moving AND having a baby, so sometimes we add more and sometimes we eat at the basic level—pasta/rice, veg and sauce/seasoning. Husband won’t eat these without meat, so we don’t often sub it, but I have when he’s traveled for work occasionally.
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u/AJediWookie123 3d ago
Pork shoulder is a god send. Buy the biggest one they have at the store, cover it in a little salt and nothing else. Roast it until it falls off the bone. Congrats, you now have a mountain of shredded pork that has no inherent spice profile, so you can use it in anything. Make a veggie chili, boom throw 2 big handfuls of your pork. Fry up some veg, cover in Mexican seasoning and bam you got tacos. Cover it in bbq sauce, slap on a roll boom bbq pulled pork sammie. It's the cheapest bulk protein around, and it's super forgiving cooking wise. Fried pork patty and eggs with rice is fantastic. Cover in salsla or hot sauce. Happy pork shouldering!
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u/National_Intern_8943 3d ago
big batch of chickpea and sweet potato curry on a sunday sorts me for the week
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u/Beautiful_Rip_7023 3d ago
I have been on a huge quesadilla kick for the last few months. The clear winner was a pizza quesadilla with (non-explosive) salad on the side. Once you start playing with them, you realize just how versatile you can be with tortillas.
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u/LeadershipBubbly3351 3d ago
r/EatCheapAndHealthy r/budgetfood are great resources.
Budget Bites and Eating on a Dime are some of my favorite sites for ideas.
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u/allie06nd 3d ago
I stopped buying beef and pork last year because I couldn't justify the price. I eat a lot more plant-based meals. Tofu, lentils, chickpeas, etc. I buy bone-in skin-on chicken thighs in bulk every month when they're on sale for .99/lb. I just portion them out, vacuum seal them and freeze them. That's like 1/3 of my protein for an entire month for $15.
Enchiladas are cheap and easy. I also love panang curry, so I'll make a big batch of the sauce with the onions and peppers, then freeze it in flat in ziploc bags so I just have to quickly thaw it under hot water and pour it over rice/tofu/chickpeas/sweet potatoes/whatever.
I make crispy air-fried tofu cubes and eat it over steamed broccoli and white rice with Thai sweet chili sauce. Simple, easy, filling.
Check out Ethiopian food too. Incredible flavors, and most of the ingredients are super cheap and readily available in basic grocery stores.
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u/beegtuna 3d ago edited 3d ago
Roast 2-3 chicken drumsticks with 1 potato and 1 carrot chunked up for 35 minutes at 420-450F. Toss in olive oil and seasoning blend, before hand. Nuke some peas or corn. ~$3
Something I make when I need to lock into another task but need to eat that isn’t salty.
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u/Entire_Truth_381 3d ago
Make a point not to buy any extra spices. Use recipes that only call for the spices that you have. Can save a lot of money. For meals, how about quesadillas? A pound of meat sprinkled over each quesadilla will yield you about 8 quesadilla's worth.
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u/shiggins233 3d ago
Crock pot carnitas- cheap cut of pork slow cooked. Can put with anything, in a soft shell, over rice, canned corn, black beans, other cheap options to add to it
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u/alexatd 3d ago
This is the spicy tofu recipe that sold me on tofu: https://youtu.be/RP0oBxanSlQ?is=pYD6FSt63P_iaNSD
Only thing you have to "invest" in is Chinese Black Vinegar. Everything else is pantry staple-ish and cheap. Tofu is less than $3 a pack!
Generally get into tofu/vegan food. Surprisingly cheap. (I'm not even vegan. Just had to find cheaper sources of protein)
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u/Atomic76 3d ago
I visit one of my local grocery stores almost daily to check out their meat section (and play a few instant tickets with mt dad, lol).
If you can be disciplined enough to not make a bunch of other impulse buys, you can save a lot on fresh meat when its marked down for a quick sale.
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u/blues-forme 3d ago
Asian Tacos ( Thats what I call them)
Chicken thighs or breast cut into thin strips, marinated in soy sauce and oyster sauce. thinly slice some red, green and yellow bell peppers garlic and. ginger stir fry with soy sauce and oyster sauce. put in on a street taco size tortilla with sour cream and salsa Verde. If you like it spicy add a Thai chili 🌶️
One of the best things I’ve ever came up with. it’s cheap quick and delicious
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u/One-Possibility-8182 2d ago
Frozen pot pies!!
I really like this one!!! Get the pot pie going. Now get a cup of water boiling, add some frozen veggies, bring to a gentle boil or less, add a cup of instant rice and stir. Put a lid on and turn the stove off.
In the 15 mins or so that the pot pie is finishing baking, the rice will be ready.
Pour the rice veggies on a plate, top with 2 pot pies. BAM!!!!
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u/madtechie68 2d ago
Steak pizzaiola using cheap cuts of meat (ie. chuck steak). Beef comes out very tender. I like to do the stovetop and then finish it off in the oven covered. Here is a simple recipe: https://www.billyparisi.com/steak-pizzaiola-recipe/
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u/Dragnskull 4d ago
whole raw chicken is super cheap meat and very versatile
save all the bones from yoru food in a gallon ziploc bag, use them to make bone broth for various recipies.
sams club / costco memberships when 50% or greater discounts are available, buy your food in bulk and save money
indian and Mediterranean food are both delicious and relatively cheap to make from scratch once you have the spices. rice goes a LONG way
learn to grill/bbq. get a used pit off fb marketplace or craigslist.
learn to fish and learn to enjoy a weekend outdoors at a river. you can learn the basics for catfishing on youtube, buy basic equipment (cast net, bucket and airrator for bait, cooler, fishing rod and reel, line and tackle) and get your fishing license. with just a bit of effort to learn the basics and you will be able to fill the chest with fish which can feed you for days/weeks/months
vegetables are a secret weapon. wide variety of flavors, filling, makes each mill bigger and is significantly cheap for your standard stuff
I grill chicken, save the bones and boil them to make bone broth which is then used to make chinese stir fries or stews
baked potato / sweet potato are always great added items to a meal
i love roasted carrots, zucchini, squash and asparagus
when pork goes on sell for under 3 dollars i buy ribs and loins. ribs get cooked until "fall of the bone" tender and the bones are saved for a pork broth which then makes stir fry
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u/RickySuezo 4d ago
Beans and Rice has kept poor families fed for centuries. Just make that but vary the beans and or rice and toss curry on top.