How to Cook for Less Money - Yet Still Keep Food Flavorful!

After a full day of work the last thing I want to do is spend a long time in the kitchen preparing an elaborate dinner. It’s not like I wouldn’t love to eat marinated steak cooked to perfection with sides of roasted garlic potatoes and steamed vegetables - It’s just that I know we can’t afford to eat like every night and I don’t want to be the one to cook it.

Can we really cook for less money while keeping things flavorful?

So, I end up reaching for things in my kitchen that solve both of these problems: sandwiches, canned soups, pasta, frozen pizza and boxed dinners are cheap and quick meals. Because this is what I often have planned for us on the weekdays, the flavors can become boring after awhile. There are a few tips I’ve learned to keep these meals flavorful while spending less money.

How You Can Cook for Less Money - and Enjoy Your Meals!

Pasta

Spaghetti with garlic bread is a simple, filling dinner. Although I think tomato sauce and alfredo are delicious flavors, I found myself wanting something different every once in awhile; something lighter. This recipe for Lemon Chicken with Pasta from Taste of Home is a light and delicious choice. Your kitchen probably holds all the ingredients you’ll need like flour, lemons, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. It’s easy to make as well as healthy and diabetic friendly.

Another tip for you if you eat a lot of pasta is to use fresh parmesan instead of the shaker kind. The real stuff is a bit more expensive, but you’ll find it worthwhile when it melts in your mouth with every bite.

Soup

Soup isn’t just for when you’re sick. It’s good, good for you, and good for your budget. Stop using it as a side dish and make it the main course by adding your own meat (perhaps from a leftover meal - now you’re cooking for less money!) or a fresh loaf of french bread to the canned variety. If you’d rather make it yourself try this Lentil Soup recipe. It takes fifteen minutes and the ingredients are simple!

Grilled Cheese

Paired with tomato soup, this sandwich was one of my favorites growing up. My mom always used Tillamook cheddar cheese and real butter for grilling. Though I still love it, I was willing to experiment with replacements and different flavors. My husband taught me about seasoning salt. For a simple variation you simply sprinkle some on each side of the buttered bread before grilling. For a more gourmet-style sandwich, use fresh french bread (perhaps left over from your pasta night?) and switch up the cheese by mixing cream cheese, provolone and that classic cheddar.

Frozen Pizza

Throwing a frozen pizza in a preheated oven feels pretty good, but I end up feeling like I cheated because it’s so easy. I discovered that making your own pizza is equal to or cheaper than the cost of a frozen one. Refrigerated pizza crust is ready to go and cheap on sale. Canned pizza sauce, cheese and fresh veggies can be added to the bag for under ten dollars. It’s more fun to make it yourself and you can customize it to your tastes. Another flavor tip: try dipping pizza in ranch.

Boxed Macaroni and Cheese

We all know it’s not the healthiest, but it’s comfort food and it’s oh-so-good. Adding ham and broccoli makes it more savory and makes you feel a little better about having a veggie. Another cheap, easy way to have mac ‘n’ cheese? Pasta, milk, salt and Velveeta.

Although we think our college diet will stay in college, the real world demands cheap and easy dinners as well. But that doesn’t mean that our taste buds have to get bored or our tummies can’t be happy. You can cook for less money - yet still keep things flavorful! Enjoy!

What are some inexpensive dishes you’ve prepared? Leave a comment below!

Pizza image by bucklava