When finances are tight one of the places the homemaker often looks to save money is the grocery budget. But when grocery prices keep rising faster than income, keeping the family fed becomes even more challenging. I’ve collected some of my budget recipes here to help us in these tough times.
10 Budget Recipes for Tough Times
Rising food costs are putting a lot of pressure on household budgets. Here are ten recipes that will help keep grocery costs in check while still being delicious.
Classic Tacos ~ a Family Favorite
David and I both grew up eating tacos as kids and ever since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve been making them in one form or another almost every Tuesday. We all look forward to them!
I’ve never bought boxed taco shells but like I grew up with, have always fried corn tortillas myself. Not only do they taste much better, they are a lot cheaper. At my local store a package of 30 corn tortillas is $2.29 which works out to less than 8 cents each (plus a little oil to fry them). Whereas a box of taco shells sells for $2.99 for 12 shells. That is almost 25 cents each!
If you haven’t ever fried a corn tortilla, I included a video of myself doing it which is linked in this post. It’s not difficult and with just a little practice you can turn out perfect, delicious tacos!
If ground beef is too expensive, or you want a vegetarian version, lentil tacos are a delicious option. I make a big batch of taco seasoned lentils in my Instant Pot and freeze them in meal-size portions.
Another lentil based recipe our family has enjoyed for many years is this lentil rice casserole. It’s quick to put together and is quite versatile. You can eat it as is, serve over a bed of spinach or use it to make burritos or tacos. Healthy and delicious.
Beef and Beans ~ A Depression Era Recipe
One way to cut costs is to use smaller amounts of expensive ingredients like beef, and extend it with something more budget friendly. This recipe from the Great Depression era does just that.
Haluski ~ A Depression Era Recipe
Here is another recipe from the Great Depression that makes use of inexpensive ingredients – cabbage, potatoes and noodles.
Split Pea Soup ~ An Instant Pot Recipe
Split pea soup is one of those recipes that tends not to be as common as it was in the past. And that’s a shame! With just a tiny bit of leftover ham for flavor, a steaming bowl of split pea soup is as delicious as it is budget friendly.
My local store sells a one-pound bag of split peas for $1.29, the amount I used in this recipe. And it makes a lot! This is a great use of leftover ham. Whenever I cook a ham for a holiday, I diced up some of the leftovers to freeze. Even a quarter cup of diced ham will add tons of flavor.
Scalloped Potatoes ~ A Vintage Recipe
While scalloped potatoes alone is more of a side dish, you can certainly turn it into the main dish with the addition of a little leftover ham and maybe a sprinkling of cheese on top.
Busy Day Swiss Steak ~ A Vintage Recipe
Round steak is still a relatively inexpensive cut of beef. By cooking it slowly with tomatoes, it becomes fork tender. A little goes a long way when served over mashed potatoes, rice or noodles. A one pound steak can easily serve a whole family that way.
Brazilian Black Beans ~ An Instant Pot Recipe
The addition of a few slices of bacon makes black beans a delicious budget meal. Serve over rice for a complete protein source.
Quarantine Soup ~ Using Up Leftovers
One of the best ways to save money in the kitchen is to avoid food waste. And one of the best ways to use up leftovers is in soup. In this post I share lots of ideas for making delicious soup from whatever you happen to have on hand. Learn how to make good soup and you’ll save a fortune!
I hope you find these budget recipes helpful. I plan to share more ideas in the future so check back often. Let me know if there are specific types of budget recipes you’d like to see – gluten free, vegetarian, low carb, etc. I’ll do my best to provide helpful ideas. And as always, feel free to share your own budget recipes in the comments. We are all in this together!
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