Do all cheap/frugal recipes taste as bad as they sound?

I do not know because I do not cook. But I think it depends on what you know your family will eat.

Soups are often good and frugal or casseroles....Meats are expensive for the most part, so that is why there is a lot of hamburger and chicken meals I am sure!

My hubby does not like chicken with a bone either.. You doing that will work as long as you like dark meat too! The legs and things and stuff have dark meat.. Breasts are white meat .. If you dont like dark meat you could buy the split breasts.. which is basically a breast with a bone but its MUCH cheaper than the dboned..

I have a hard time with recipes from the computer too! They have to many things I dont like or even know what it is!

Check out Victoria H's recipes...they sound yummy to me!! And they are pretty frugal ;o)

Birdee ~ I've been watching Victorias recipes, they all sound yummy to mem too. :)

Tiffany ~ I don't really like dark meat but when its cooked into something I probably won't be able to tell the difference. I will have to remember to buy the split breast. My daughter loves dark meat so I could feed the dark meat to her.

I know for a fact you can use chicken for lots ways...Where you can be frugal

I guess it all depends on what your family's tastes are. Hubby will try anything once, which is a real help.

Vegetarian meals can be really cheap.

Do you and your daughter like pork chops, you have to watch the sales, but at times they have some real nice pork tenderlions, you can cut steaks off and tenderize like a chicken fried steak. You can bake the entire loin, just use your imagination.

You can buy and boil the whole chicken . as you said use the meat in many ways, even make your own pot pies with pie crust, some chicken cubes what ever frozen veggies you care to add cream of chicken or celery and bake between the two crust.

I've found so many great recipes at gather! Check out a couple of the "frugal" groups and you'll find tons of yummy recipes. Good luck!

Kathy, when my hubby is gone I eat a lot of salad which really cuts down on my grocery bill but when he's home we have to have meat, there is no if ands or buts about it.

Your chicken stock can be stored in fridge or used to make dumplings, they really arent that hard. If you dont know how to make the dough just get some canned buscuits and roll them out some and cut into strips, drop into hot boiling broth. stir often.

Norma, last time I tried to make chicken and dumpling, no one would eat them and I even made them out of canned bisquits. I guess I'm just not meant to make them. :P

I am not sure

Cheap meats and other ingredients like soups and noodles can make good, frugal meals when cooked in crock pots!

sometimes the family value pack of chicken breast will be a better cost or getting a big pack of chicken breasts from a wholesale club like Sams will last you longer

The cheapest meals are the ones without any meat. Since Hamburger is one of the cheapest meats, any frugal meals with meat will likely include that or hot dogs.

Whole chickens are MUCH cheaper than buying it in parts, or deboned already. That's a great way of doing it. It can sometimes be as low as $.30 a pound that way, as opposed to $3-5 a pound that it is once it's been skinned and deboned.

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I am picky with the food I eat but I do not eat chicken on the bone or anything ground up. I also am a very frugal person and I think if you find the right recipes you will enjoy them.

Watch the sales on boneless skinless chicken breast then buy all you can afford and freeze it all. I bought 40 lbs of chicken last year for $1 a pound and spent the next 2 days making meals.

Eating cheap does not have to taste bad. I do not eat meat, so not sure about recipes with them that are cheap and taste good. What I do know is that pasta can be cheap. One box makes four meals for me (I live alone) and I always buy the pasta when it is $1 or less. Depends on my mood what I do with it. Using tomato paste to make tomato sauce and adding a few spices you like (I bought a bunch of decent quality for 99 cents at my local CVS) is cheap. Also, just some butter and salt can be good, too. Basically there are plenty of cheap ways to make sauce depending on taste preferences and they can be cheap. You can also add some veggies, such as brocolli, and even meat to make the pasta more of a meal in itself.

No Ang.
You can boil 2 chickens just as well as 1.
I had to be very frugal for years I have many recipies.

here is one for chicken taco/burrito filling
Shred the chicken meat, or pull of bone & dice, shredding is easier (use two forks and pull at the meat) I use 1/2 the chicken.
Chop two onions, 2 green peppers, 3 celery stalks, saute in olive oil, add the chicken and two (or three) cans of petite diced tomatoes, you can use a package of taco seasoing, or add your own seasonings. I put portions of this in the freezer, then when I need a quick meal it is ready,

Save the broth from the boiling liquid, you can season rices, pastas, or make soup from it.

I have many recipies, I had to save & be frugal for 10 years my husband was in night school, so being frugal was a way of life, and is to this day.

another recipie,

two cans diced tomatoes, I use petite diced no salt added tomatoes.
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons basil
1 tsp oregano
mix canned tomatoes, spices, oilve oil in large bowl or pot, add 1 lb cooked pasta (your choice I use penne), 1/2 cup finely shredded mozzerella (I use the store brand), you can also use more cheese, or a combo cheese like Italian blended shredded cheese. add a green salad, and some bread, or garlic bread.

last recipie for now:
This is my variation on
Chicken Divan

2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped broccoli
2 cooked boneless chicken breast halves, chopped (I shred them)
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

*I use two cans mushroom soup, I also add 2 slices crumbled bacon, 1 diced onion, 1 lb sliced mushrooms, add 1 cup of the chicken cooking liquid, to thin it out a bit (if you want to), and I sprinkle the top with 1/2 cup of bread crumbs, which I mix with the cheese, when I put the cheese on.



Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place broccoli in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the chicken.
In a small bowl, blend the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Top with Cheddar cheese.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly browned.


This makes quote a bit, well at least for the two of us, you can mix the ingredents up and add anything you want in place of 1 package of broccoli, I used 1 package of green beans, and mozzerella cheese, as I did not enough broccoli.

Also I made it last time and added a diced tomato, added cumin, 1 can of broccoli cheese soup, 1 can of mushroom soup, and speinkled it with chedded and jack cheese and crushed tortilla's, that was so good.

2 cans whole yellow corn, drained
2 cans black beans, drained
1 can Rotel tomatoes, UNdrained
Sour cream to taste (I use about 1/2 C. for this number of cans)

Mix all together in tupperware container and store in refrigerator. This is a VERY quick side dish...I also mix it with cooked, cubed chicken breast and shredded cheese for a wrap or taco filling or to top a salad with. It's better after it's been refrigerated overnight, but can also be served immediately. Any extra juice in the bottom of the container can be mixed with Ranch dressing to give it an extra kick and make it go further...or poured over popcorn (if you like offbeat popcorn toppings; I really do).

i am a soup fanatic, cause you can't get much less expensive and healthy (and tasty) than that. using your own water and a boullion cube to make the stock saves a ton over the canned broth. small handfulls or 1/3 cup of various frozen veggies, a potato chopped up small and a bit of rice or broken up spaghetti noodle (ramen works here too) and you've got a tasty meal that will last a few days for cheap.

you can change the flavor by adding a bit of tomato paste or different spices. i've been having a good time seeing what i can come up with myself.

thanks for commenting "don't forget to rate! "

Here is a nice one fo you.
cube chicken, coat with mayo,coat with Italian bread crumbs, saute in butter, put in to a shallow baking dish and almost cover with chicken broth, top with mozzerella cheese, bake in 350 degree oven 30 mins. covered with foil, 30 min un covered.

BTW No one can ever be too picky. I call it knowing exactly what I like.

I am way to picky to answer this.

Elaine ~ Thanks for the recipes. I will have to try them. I might have to omit some things but I might even try them with those things to see if I can stomach it. :)

Linda ~ Thanks for the side dish recipe. I will have to try it. My daughter doesn't like corn and my hubby isn't a big fan of sour cream but I like it all. I could make this for a lunch for me and cut the recipe in half. :) Sounds wonderful.

Carmel ~ That sounds good to. I have chicken on hand but I will need to the other ingredients. I went shopping this afternoon but I didn't pick up much as I'm waiting on my hubby's check to come in. I can't wait to try some of these recipes.

Cindy, thanks for the wesbite. I'm going ot check it out now to see what I can find. :)

Cindy, I just went and tried that website that you posted and its awesome! Thanks sooooooo much!! I put it under my favorites so I can find it again.

just made black bean soup. super inexpensive.

1 can black beans
1 can water
1 stalk celery chopped small
1/8 onion chopped small
cajun seasoning to taste
1 cup rice


prepare rice per directions.

using olive oil, sautee the onion and celery. when soft, add beans and water and bring to boil. add seasoning to taste. i like mine a bit spicy, so i add more than most people would.

put some rice in bottom of bowl, ladle soup on top. you can garnish with shredded cheddar cheese if you want.

I switch the hamburger meat in most recipes for ground turkey or chicken. If you watch the sales, it can be the same price, taste better and be healthier:)

thanks for commenting my article

thanks for commenting my article

try the recipes on the weight watchers website, most of them are pretty good

We make a lot of Jamaican stews, and my husband and sons love them. It is amazing how interesting a bunch of spices and a few vegetables can make the food.

I know what you mean Ang. I am can be very picky at times too.

Thanks for the idea Melissa. I never even thought to look there.

Jamaican stew? Never heard of it, now I'm gonna have to see if I can find a recipe for it. We love stew.

Some of the frugal recipes do sound terrible...lol
It seems to me your just being honest.

I am pretty picky myself. I try to look through a bunch of recipes & try to pick out a few frugal ones that sound like I MAY like them...lol
I found a few here:

http://www.cheapcooking.com/easy-recipes.htm

I found the best thing that helps with frugality...was purchasing a freezer...
right now I try to keep all meats under 1.00 a pound with the exception of an occassional cut of beef or pork...
I love summer when the garden is producing....cause then if I grow my veggis and bake my bread I only by meat
and breakfast for dinner....can make for frugal meals( I love pancakes..and they are easy to make from scratch)

We are always cooking to be frugal. I have found that some recipes are best if you have spices to perk them up. Spices can change a dull meal into a robust flavorful treat.

I know you are not going to believe me but Beans are very frugal and you can do so much with them. You can make mock Pecan Pie, Fudge and it is so good. I promise!

I buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale.
I think buying meat on sale is the key.
And oh, dark meat chicken is not good for you.

With ground hamburger I make soft tacos a lot.
Try using fresh herbs (grown on your window sill) the results in better tasting food will amaze you!

I want to say one more thing, but I want you to know I am not trying to be rude.
The recipes I read above may sound tasty, but if you feed your family a diet with all that salt and fat, one or all of you is going to end up needing bypass surgery.
I love the taste of canned soup but do NOT eat it any more due to the salt content.
Better to make things from scratch and use small amounts of virgin olive oil for the fats and butter in the recipe. (except for baked goods)
Cream, butter, margerine and foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils are killing us. And those cute little cubes of chicken or beef broth? Over 1000 grams of fat!
I know this for a fact.

2 nights ago I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts ($2.30 a lb but NO waste) to make chicken quesadillias. I had an extra 1/2 of a breast. So I put up some homemade chicken soup at the same time.

Homemade Chicken Broth/Soup

1 or 2 chicken breasts (or even just a half of one)
brown in a large deep pot using olive oil to coat bottom
When the chicken is lightly browned, add

1 medium onion, chopped
the few center stalks of celery, with leaves--chopped
4 or 5 cloves of fresh garlic---minced finely
1 hand full of baby carrots or 3 regular size--sliced

add 8 to 12 cups of water, depending on the pot.
And then start adding the spices. I prefer fresh, but dry will do.
Just add

3 bay leaves
a good pinch of fresh thyme
A good pinch of fresh sage
a few leaves of fresh rosemary cut very tiny, this is a strong spice
several shakes of dried parsley

Bring to a boil and then cook it medium heat until you cook the soup down by 1/3 volume. Stiring every 15 minutes or so. 3 or 4 hours of cooking will bring you a good soup base, and your house will smell wonderful.

When the soup is done, let it cool for a while then
Strain it into 1 and 2 cup left over dishes to be put into the freezer for use in sauces, pasta dishes ect.

What remained was the original veggies and the 1/2 large chicken breast in about 3 cups of broth. I put that into the fridge for dinner the next night.

The next day I heated the soup mixture to a boil, and while it was heating I made homemade dumplings, using
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons olive oil (for the fat it called for)
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg beaten (I use 2 egg whites instead)

Mix it with a fork and drop by small spoonfuls into the boiling soup.
Cook for 45 minutes.

It was good, natural food.

If you need to use boullion, use the unsalted for added flavor.

4 half bonelss skinless chicken breasts made a lot of food for us that night.

And we didnt poison ourselves with chemicals or fat or salt.

One last suggestion:
Sometimes I don't add any spices but the bay leaves to the basic broth recipe.
I add the herbs the next night when it was being used as a soup or chicken and dumplings instead. That way you can use the chicken broth and add the spices that fit the paticular meal you are using it for.

Message from this Jewish Mother
I prefer Marzoh Balls with the soup and veggies.
My son claims he doesn't like them so I made the dumplings.
The matzoh balls taste better to me.
You can also add noodles too.

Hi Ang, I don't cook, my Husband does it all, and we make it as simple as possible. I saw Victoria's post also and took note of a lot of good, easy recipes I am going to pass along to my Hubby. Have A. Great Weekend : )

Not too sure on that one. Most of the reciepes I see have at least one or two ingredients in them that either I or my husband or our daughters will not eat. We have been able to find a couple of good ones lately (not sure if they are frugal or not though, haven't priced them out) but they were surprisingly enjoyed buy all. Good luck finding some yummy reciepes.