Frugal meals don’t have to be boring!

Have you ever experienced that moment when you open your fridge and find that there is nothing to eat? That moment when you realize that you don’t get paid for a few days and have been living off of cereal? We’ve all been there, right?

Frugal meals that don’t suck!

It can feel like a challenge to feed your family good meals when you are living paycheck to paycheck. Although Ramen is always an option, it’s not exactly a healthy go to. Have you looked at how much sodium is in those things?! But fear no more! I have put together a list of hearty and frugal dinners to feed your whole family when you are pinching pennies.

1. VEGETABLE SOUP

From Cooking Classy. Soup is a classic go-to for a healthy and hearty family meal. And vegetable is an especially frugal type of soup to make because, in comparison to meat, they are much more affordable. A vegetable soup is also a great way to get the kids to eat more veggies as you can make a lot in there but still make it flavorful and fun.

2. SUPER SIMPLE BEANS AND RICE

From Graceful Little Honey Bee.  When I need a frugal meal in a pinch, I generally turn to Mexican cuisine. It is a great way to pack in a bunch of veggies on the cheap! Plus when you go for dried beans, although there is a little more prep involved, it’s so easy to make a substantial meal for a whole family on a budget.

3. BEAN AND CHEESE FREEZER BURRITOS 

From Graceful Little Honey Bee. At roughly $0.55 per serving, you can’t go wrong! These are so simple to make and are great for those days where you don’t have time to cook a full meal. Just pop them into the microwave for a couple minutes and you are good to go! I like to make 2 sizes, a larger burrito size for the hubby and older kids, and a smaller taco size for the younger kids. There is less wasted food for us that way. You could also pair this with a quick side of frozen veggies (Southwest mix is a go-to for us) for a more complete meal.

4. CHICKEN FRIED RICE

From The Recipe Critic. Rice is always a good frugal staple to keep around the house. So versatile and easy to make. This simple chicken fried rice recipe is a great option for the whole family.

5. BUDGET SHEPARD’S PIE

From Divas on a Dime. Shepherd’s pie is a great option for a frugal yet hearty meal. Packed full of veggies and frugal ingredients like onions and potatoes.

6. KIELBASA AND POTATO SKILLET

From Mom Needs Chocolate. A delicious blend of juicy kielbasa, soft and chewy potatoes and spicy peppers.

7. ONE POT CHICKEN AND POTATOES

From Let The Baking Begin Recipes with chicken thighs are great because you can get them pretty cheap. Add in some potatoes, onions, and carrots and you got yourself a filling meal.

8. COPYCAT PANERA TUNA SALAD SANDWICH

From Cincy Shopper. You can’t go wrong with a hearty and filling sandwich. The great thing about sandwiches, or any kind, is you can personalize them with whatever you like!

9. SLOW COOKER POOR MAN’S STEW

From The Magical Slow Cooker. To finish off the list is a super cheap meal to feed the whole family. I absolutely love a meal that I can toss in a crockpot and forget about!

10. BAKED POTATO BAR

From Moneywise Moms. I absolutely LOVE recipes that can be personalized. With 6 kids, it can be very difficult to find something that everyone likes. This baked potato bar is a great alternative to making tacos. Plus everyone can add whatever they like while also being cheap!

What is your favorite super frugal recipe? Comment below!