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Have you ever looked around your kitchen and realized you have the best ceramic cookware and you can't decide on what to cook for dinner? You are just having the toughest time finishing your meal plan.
You have to understand that preparing a meal does not only include the costs of the ingredients but that of your time as well. Since making can be tedious, here is a list of 15 meals you can choose from, and you can assign them to each day of the week.
The meals are divided into three categories for the convenience of a family on a budget: comfort food and time-savers.
Comfort food
One way you can let your family know you love them is by cooking their favorite dishes. Comfort foods are often those that you remember from home and gave you happy memories as a child. Preparing them for your own family is a continuity of your own joy.
1) Tomato soup with grilled cheese
It’s creamy, easy to prepare, and one of the most nutritious meals you can cook for your family paired with your usual grilled cheese. It can also serve four to six people for just ten dollars.
What meal is more satisfying than good old-fashioned pasta? A quality marinara sauce can be stored in the fridge and can last up to a week! When you are on a tight budget and an even tighter schedule, you can serve this for your loved ones.
3) Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes
You will surely enjoy this meal with your family. Just marinate it for an hour and grill it. With this classic meal, your family on a budget can never go wrong.
4) Fried Chicken You can seldom meet a person who doesn’t like fried chicken. It is a very flexible meal that can soothe your soul. It’s an ideal meal for a night in with your family.
5) Kickin’ Orange Glazed Chicken
If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to add a little zest to your usual chicken dish, you can try this one. It won't take you long to cook, and you can whip up this fun meal for everyone.
A juicy, beefy burger can always make a family meal casual and fun. It’s a perfect weekend meal to seal the week. All you need is salt and pepper, and a couple of fatty beef to make a mouth-watering patty.
7) Lasagna
You can easily get tempted with all the frozen lasagnas available in the supermarket but can make it as easily at home. You can do it at the weekends when the hustle and bustle of the weekdays have passed. You can even cook it with the whole family.
Your family will surely look forward to your Thursday nights if you serve these savory chops. It comes with a side of fruits, and you can change the fruit selection according to your preference.
Time Savers
When you had a really long day, and you just want to relax but still have to prepare a meal for the family, timesaving meals can do the trick.
These are quick, easy, and delicious. The choices are perfectly suitable for a family on a budget that has limited time cook but can still whip up something special for everyone to enjoy.
Here are some of the meals you can do in thirty minutes or less.
1) 10-Minute Beef Teriyaki Skillet
If you want to create a rich and succulent dish for a busy weekday, you must try the beef teriyaki skillet. You can pair it with rice or when the family is on a diet, with lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
Another kids' favorite is mac and cheese. It's simple, quick, and will cost you just a little. This creamy choice can easily be your little ones' favorite dish.
Chili con carne was once dubbed the “soup of the devil” due to its potent brew. Like its savory taste, its history is rich. In America, it can be different in every state, but chili has become a national past time.
Just grab a bag of shrimp and a sausage or two, and you're good to go. You can even reheat the leftover for the rest of the week.
5) Avocado Toast with Fried Egg
This is a must-try for the whole family. You can serve it for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. Have a light and yummy meal ready in less than twenty minutes.
Vegetarian
To keep the balance, you can choose to keep it vegetarian. You can take a break from the richness of meaty meals and enjoy these light and guilt-free alternatives.
The eggplant "meatballs" is an excellent option for you if you are vegetarian. You can enjoy the luscious taste of the eggplant with these meatless "meatballs." And maybe you can even convince the rest of the family to have a vegetable diet for good?
2) Sugar Snap Pea and Mushroom Sauté
This is simply an irresistible vegetarian dish for the whole family. It is not only economical and easy to cook, but it is also delectable. It is light and healthy, and everyone can get used to it. You can take a break from all that hearty meal by serving this for a change.
The meals above are the choices you can go over that are practical but can let you enjoy every meal with your family. Each meal on the list can cost ten dollars or less. Most of the ingredients are, most likely, in your pantry already.
When you have a family to feed, staying on a budget is the most sensible step you can take. It maximizes your resources without sacrificing the quality of your meals.
When you want to be prudent, there are a lot of ways you can save on your daily meals; but, it can be very challenging to stick to quality and scrumptious menu at the same time.
Hopefully, these fifteen meals will inspire you to enjoy being on a budget and decide on a meal plan that will fit you and your family's lifestyle the most. Keep cooking, and it's about time you put that best ceramic cookware to use.
Through this list, may you feel encouraged to face the daily challenges of providing excellent meals for your loved ones. Happy cooking!
