15 Delicious Meals on a Shoestring Budget

Breakfast

1. Budget Breakfast Burrito

   • Ingredients: Eggs, potatoes, onion, bell pepper, cheese, tortillas
   • Instructions: Scramble eggs with diced potatoes, onion, and bell pepper. Fill tortillas with the mixture, sprinkle with cheese, and roll into burritos.

2. Cheap & Cheerful Oatmeal

   • Ingredients: Oats, milk (or water), banana, honey
   • Instructions: Cook oats according to package instructions. Slice banana over the top and drizzle with honey for sweetness.

3. DIY Breakfast Sandwich

   • Ingredients: English muffin, egg, cheese, ham (optional)
   • Instructions: Fry or scramble an egg, melt cheese on top, and sandwich between split English muffins. Add ham if desired.

Lunch

4. Ramen Upgrade

   • Ingredients: Instant ramen noodles, egg, frozen veggies
   • Instructions: Boil noodles with veggies, add beaten egg for protein, and season with the provided seasoning packet.

5. Tuna Salad Stuffed Tomatoes

   • Ingredients: Canned tuna, mayo, celery, tomatoes
   • Instructions: Mix tuna, mayo, and diced celery. Hollow out tomatoes and fill with the tuna salad mixture.

6. Simple Veggie Quesadillas

   • Ingredients: Tortillas, cheese, black beans, salsa
   • Instructions: Spread salsa on tortillas, top with cheese and black beans, fold in half, and cook in a skillet until crispy.

Dinner

7. One-Pot Pasta

   • Ingredients: Pasta, canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning
   • Instructions: Simmer pasta with canned tomatoes, diced onion, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning until cooked through.

8. Classic Rice and Beans

   • Ingredients: Rice, canned beans (black, kidney, or pinto), onion, garlic, cumin
   • Instructions: Cook rice, then sauté onion and garlic. Add beans and cumin, heat through, and serve over rice.

9. Potato Soup

   • Ingredients: Potatoes, onion, chicken broth (or vegetable broth), milk, cheese (optional)
   • Instructions: Boil potatoes and onion in broth until soft. Blend, add milk, and simmer. Top with cheese if desired.

Snacks & Sides

10. Homemade Hummus

    • Ingredients: Canned chickpeas, tahini (or peanut butter), lemon juice, garlic, olive oil
    • Instructions: Blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil until smooth. Serve with veggies or pita chips.

11. Crispy Baked Potato Wedges

    • Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika
    • Instructions: Cut potatoes into wedges, toss with olive oil and seasonings, and bake until crispy.

12. Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

    • Ingredients: Popcorn kernels, butter, garlic powder, grated Parmesan cheese
    • Instructions: Pop popcorn, drizzle with melted butter, sprinkle with garlic powder and Parmesan cheese, and toss to coat.

Desserts

13. Easy Banana Ice Cream

    • Ingredients: Bananas
    • Instructions: Freeze bananas, then blend until creamy. Serve immediately for a soft-serve consistency.

14. Chocolate Mug Cake

    • Ingredients: Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, milk, oil
    • Instructions: Mix dry ingredients in a mug, add milk and oil, and microwave for 1-2 minutes until cooked through.

15. Apple Crisp

    • Ingredients: Apples, oats, flour, brown sugar, butter
    • Instructions: Mix sliced apples with a sprinkle of sugar, top with a mixture of oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter, and bake until golden brown.

Enjoy these budget-friendly recipes and let your culinary creativity shine! Remember, delicious meals don't have to cost a fortune. Happy cooking!

Nourishing Souls while Cooking Through Tough Times with Grit and Grace!...Wendy

(PS: The Catholic Spiritual Guidance Series is greatly reduced & available HERE

My book "Cook Your Way To Weight Loss is greatly reduced! HERE )

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