Cheap Dinners for Hungry Men?

If you are serving two men dishes made with 2 lbs of meat and they are eating every bit of it, they are over eating in a big, big way. First thing I would do is tell them that you guys cannot afford for them to eat soooo much. It's bad for your budget and extremely bad for them.

That said I do have a couple of ideas for you. First thing is that you should check with your local grocery store and find out what day of the week they mark down foods that are close to their expiration date. My store does it on Sun and Wed and I get some great buys on sandwich meat, cheese, dairy and meat. I usually take the meat straight home and cook it but sometimes I freeze it and just remember that when I thaw it I have to cook it immediately. I find that the sandwich meat and cheeses last well beyond their exp dates so I don't have trouble using them up in time. Dairy is a bit trickier but I plan ways to use it before it goes bad.

Salsa Beef Skillet – In a lot of dishes such as this one you can use beans as filler. Black or Pinto beans don't really have a strong flavor so they take on the flavor of the dish and are cheaper than meat.

1 pkg Kraft Deluxe Macaroni n Cheese or Velveeta Shells n Cheese

1 lb hamburger

1/2 cp salsa

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained (You could add 2 cans)

1 pkg Taco seasoning

½ cp water

½ cp shredded cheddar cheese

Brown hamburger in skillet, drain. Return to skillet. Add water, and taco seasoning, stir till well blended. Add salsa, corn, beans and simmer as the mac n cheese cooks. Prepare Mac n cheese per pkg directions. Add it to the skillet, stir.

Top with cheese. Good served with corn bread. The corn bread batter could even be put on top and bake the whole thing as a casserole.

Stuffing Meatballs

1 box chicken stuffing

2 lb hamburger

2 egg

2 Tbls Worchestershire sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cp milk

In a large bowl mix the hamburger, dried stuffing, stuffing seasoning packet, eggs and 1 Tbls W sauce. Spray a skillet with cooking spray. Form the meat mixture into meatballs about 2” in diameter and brown them.

In a small bowl mix the soup, 1 Tbls W sauce and milk until well blended. Pour this over the meatballs. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.

I know you said they don't like chicken but there are at least 1 million ways to prepare chicken, they can't dislike all of them - unless they're just trying to be difficult. One thing I do to save both time and money is to buy the big 4-6 lb bags of frozen chicken, cook it all at once and freeze it.

Bulk Chicken for freezing

1 4lb bag of chicken tenders or breasts, boneless/skinless

1 cp flour

2 Tbls Schilling Montreal Chicken seasoning

Veggie Oil

Put the flour and seasoning in a Ziploc bag. Heat 1 Tbls of oil in a large skillet. Toss a bunch of the chicken in the bag till its well coated. Lay it in the hot skillet and sprinkle with more of the seasoning, turn occasionally and cook till done. Set the cooked chicken aside to cool. Repeat till all the chicken is cooked.

Once it has cooled it can be chopped or left whole. Put it in a freezer bag and it will last for quite awhile. I’ve kept it up to about 6 months. It can then be used in a dish that tells you to brown chicken. Just pull the bag out of the freezer and bang it against the counter once or twice to break it up into individual chunks and toss it in during the cooking process and it will thaw as the rest of the dish cooks.

I would recommend anything that can be made in large quantities and can be refrigerated/frozen so that the food can be stretched to several meals.

In addition, buy staple foods like rice and potatoes which you can make a lot of things with and you can save when buying large quantities. Seasoning the aforementioned items can still taste good without meat. Buying salad packets is not a bad idea either; just splash on some balsamic vinegar/lemon juice and voila you have a nice snack that can be prepared quickly.

Some people I know have memberships to places like Costco and buy groceries in bulk and they save in the long-term. So instead of frequent small trips to the grocery store, buy larger less frequently. Also, buy a good set of tupperware for the kids for school lunches. The key is to eliminate take-out food and you will save $$$.

Well, this sounds like my house, as we have two always-hungry teenage boys and an often-hungry grown man here. One of my favorites is what I call "Cheater's Chili." Buy the best fresh salsa you can in the grocery store or wherever else you buy it. Pick out the temperature that you like. So, if you want the chili hot, buy hot salsa and get a large container of it. Put it in a crock pot or a huge heavy pot on your stove with two or three cans of pinto, black or kidney beans, or a combination of two or three of them and turn the heat up. If you are using a crock pot, put it and all the ingredients in your microwave, if they will fit, to preheat; then put it on high. Add a large jar or can of tomato sauce and some spicy Italian sausages, squeezed from the casings and broken up. (Or you can use chili cut beef, or ground beef if that's what is available.) You don't need to brown the meat if you don't want to, but just make sure if you don't that the mixture cooks at a good simmer for at least ten or fifteen minutes. If you have time, add some chopped celery. Then stir in some oregano and some chili powder, if you have it and like it. I don't like paprika, which is a primary ingredient in most chili powder, so I just use "Adobo" seasoning, made by Penzey, which is mostly ground cumin, garlic, etc. You can also add some extra cumin (ground) at this point. Cook at a simmer on the stove for an hour, for the best taste. You can also cook it for less and then let it sit, but it really does do better if it cooks a bit more. If you're using a crock pot, three or more hours on high, after preheating, should do it. Stir it occasionally while it's cooking. If you use a crock pot, it may be watery, from all the fresh veggies in the salsa, so you might want to add some tomato paste, if you like your chili thick. Before serving, test for salt. Don't add it automatically, as most tomato sauces and many chili powders include salt. Chop up a good big handful of cilantro and throw that in five or ten minutes before serving. Grate some cheddar or jack cheese, and serve that with the chili, as well as some sour cream, if you like. When my kids were little, I'd give them low-salt tortilla chips too, which they'd use instead of a spoon, just for fun. This is such a quick recipe because you can avoid a lot of work by using the fresh, ready-made salsa, and you don't have to cut anything up, unless you want to add some celery. I make cornbread to go with this, using Trader Joe's mix, though it tends to be sweet . . . . which reminds me of what Mark Twain is reported to have said, which is that "If God had wanted cornbread to be sweet, He would have called it 'cake"." Anyway, have fun and enjoy those boys of yours!!

Lasagne

Shepherds Pie

Tamale Pie

Chili

Beef stew with dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and noodles

Meatloaf with mashed potatos and green beans

Chicken Enchiladas

Baked Potato Soup

Grilled kielbasa and saurkraut with brown sugar and apples

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Turkey Tetrazini

Chili Verde with warm tortillas

Not quite sure if you are paying for your kids meals the ones you watch. If it is the kid you care for, tell the parent that you can no longer afford to pay for their kids and you really need the money they owe you for watching the children.

Sounds to me like your husband and father-in-law are pretty selfish and cheap. The only thing I can suggest is that you wait for sales to buy chopped meat, chicken, pork etc. The buy in bulk and freeze. You can even brown off the chopped meat and freeze in meal size portions to be added to pasta sauce or chili. You can use ground turkey or chicken in place of beef for chili if it is cheaper. Stretch the meat or meal by feeding your husband and his father more rice and pasta. Both are fairly cheap and are often on sale.

Taco Soup Recipe

1 lb lean ground beef

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 package ranch dressing mix

1 (32 ounce) can pinto beans, undrained

1 (32 ounce) can black beans, undrained

1 (32 ounce) can corn, undrained

1 (32 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained

Directions: In a large pot:

1 Brown hamburger meat. If you use 85-15, you don't have to drain it

2 Add taco seasoning to meat as it's browning (if you're not draining it). Add ranch dressing mix after the meat is browned, mix thoroughly.

3 Then add black beans, pinto beans, corn and tomatoes, stir together.

4 Simmer over low heat till bubbly.

5 Serve with tortilla chips, grated cheddar cheese, chopped onions (green, too) and sour cream as garnish

I make this enough so that I have the large size taco seasoning and Hidden Valley from the membership stores, so it's not as expensive. Two 15 1/2 oz cans can be used as well. The thing that's interesting is all the variations - hominy, kidney or BBQ (even Limas in one) beans, Mexican or creamed corn, Rotel tomatoes. This is the one I prefer.

Adding the taco mix to the meat as it browns makes it a bit spicier.

Freezes well. (and I have someone in the family with no teeth who eats this)

And I found this some time ago on a recipe site. It's called "Poverty Meal" and is very good:

http://www.food.com/recipe/poverty-meal-27520?oc=l...

Creamed soup base:

http://restaurant.food.com/recipe/creamed-soup-sub...

IDK the cost on this (and I use chicken) - but I use the gravy mix from the big box store:

http://www.campbellskitchen.com/Recipes/RecipeDeta...

or make your own gravy mix:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Ready-Gravy-Mix

Hidden Valley copycat:

http://www.food.com/recipe/Hidden-Valley-Ranch-Dip...

You are to be commended - but you need to eat well yourself.

Pork:

Slow cook a pork roast and you can make pork tacos, burritos, carnitas, pulled pork sandwiches, or just pulled pork with stuffing/baked beans.

Stove Top pork chop casserole - http://www.food.com/recipe/stove-top-pork-chop-bak...

Pot Roast

Beef:

Beef tips over noodles uses stew meat - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/beef-tips/detail.aspx

Sloppy Joes

Beef enchiladas - ground beef, green onions, cheese, tortillas, enchilada sauce, seasonings

Meatloaf - ground beef & pork mixture, eggs, onion, celery, breadcrumbs, seasoning, ketchup

Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes

Breakfast for Dinner:

Pancakes, bacon, and eggs make a pretty filling meal

Fill a pie crust with eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese (anything) and bake it to make a quiche

French toast

Or:

Baked potatoes with chili, sloppy joe mix, and/or all the fixin's on top

Casseroles - chicken & rice, pizza, taco

Good luck!

Enchilada Casserole III figure for 10 serving so you can EAT too!!!!

1-1/4 (1.5 ounce) packages dry enchilada sauce mix

1-1/4 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste

3/4 cup and 3 tablespoons water

2 pounds ground beef

1-1/4 teaspoons garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1-1/4 (16 ounce) cansrefried beans

1-1/4 (12 ounce) packages corn tortillas

1-1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1-1/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2.In a medium bowl, mix the dry enchilada sauce according to package directions, replacing tomato sauce with the tomato paste and water

3.In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with garlic salt and onion powder; drain fat. Mix refried beans and 1/2 cup of the prepared enchilada sauce with the meat.

4.Dip enough corn tortillas to cover the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish in the remaining enchilada sauce. Arrange tortillas in the dish. Spoon in half of the meat mixture, covering the tortillas. Spread half of the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the meat. Cover with another layer tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Spoon in remaining meat mixture and top with a final layer of tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Pour any remaining sauce over the layers and top with remaining cheese.

5.Cover and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

American Shepherd's Pie

-3/4 pounds lean ground beef

3/4 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon chopped onion

3/4 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon chopped celery

1-3/4 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed vegetable soup

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

5 cup smashed cooked potatoes

1-2/3 cups shredded Colby longhorn cheese

1 can corn drained

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish.

2.In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir and cook ground beef, onion and celery until juices run clear. Drain. Pour mixture into baking dish with vegetable soup, corn and thyme; stir well. Spread mashed potatoes on top.

3.Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted. (Also figured for 10 servings)

Amish Casserole ...10 servings as well

1-3/4 pounds ground beef

1-3/4 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup

1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoonbrown sugar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-3/4 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup

1-3/4 (12 ounce) packages wide egg noodles

16-1/2 slices American cheese

Here are literally thousands of organized woodworking projects in a members area and all you have to do is get them off your computer any time you want. Go here https://tr.im/A5Gtg

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Pick things that have meat, but also have extenders like bread or crackers in them.

Like meatloaf. I use the Lipton onion soup mix recipe, and you can use cracker crumbs or oatmeal to help it stick together and make it go a little farther. Same with meatballs, just saw one made with bread. Try that.

And Fil could gum his way through both.

Try casseroles. Things with noodles, and rice. My Mom made porcupine meatballs, with rice in them, and a cream of mushroom soup gravy.

Try things like Husband's delight, which is cheese, meat, sauce, and a dairy topping. I use ketchup in it instead of the sugar, this is on allrecipes.com.

Brown and serve sausage is cheap. Make a homemade, or buy a deli cheese pizza, and top with that.

Tacos are great homemade. Don't know where you live, but I can get re-fried beans and the other ingredients at Aldi for a fraction of the cost of the chain stores. Cook your beef in the flavor package as directed, then mix some re-fried beans into the meat, about 1/2 a can. Then layer with lettuce, cheese, even a little sour cream and taco sauce. Use crispy taco shells for Fil.

Try a beef pot roast. Watch for a sale on a cheaper cut of roast, like an arm roast. With a little oil, brown the roast on stove top. then use a slow cooker or a dutch oven. Cover it up to half way with water, and cook slow for a hour. then add carrots, onions, and later, quartered potatoes. take out the veggies and meat, and make gravy out of the remaining juices. Yum, easy, and again, Fil could gum the meat and the soft veggies.

Serve breakfast for supper. A lovely omelet is cheap, put some cheese in it. Brown and serve sausages, some pancakes[pancake flour is cheap] and some syrup. My Mom did this a couple times a year.

Hot dogs are meat, cube some up into beans for beanie wienie. Put some in an omelet, wrap bacon around them, or some dough out of a can. Pour some of that chili over a dog, and top with a little cheese. Can even grind them up for a casserole.

Hamburger helper is cheap, use the off brand.

Hide the chicken in dishes like tetrazinni, or chicken and dumplings which is cheap. Rivers adores chicken with rice.

Sneaky cheap snacks. I love cereal, right out of the box. No milk. Bananas are cheap. Home popped popcorn, I use corn oil and my Dad's old stove top corn popper. And it is easy to add flavors to it.

Try talking to the guys, and explain how the budget is not going around, and try some simple reasoning to them. Cheese is the same as meat. So, homemade mac and cheese is the same as a hamburger. And it is soft enough for FIL.

Buy a ham on sale, and cut it up into meal size before you freeze it. Dice some up into mac and cheese, slap some on bread with a slice of cheese for toasted ham and cheese sandwiches. dice up the ham so Fil can eat it, or grind it.

Ground up bologna and pickle relish and some cheap mayo is a wonderful lunch, serve with a fruit, or bread or crackers.

I noticed that potatoes are cheap right now, take advantage. I love fried potatoes, and I use bacon grease I hoarded from a bacon frying. Add some onion, and cook the potatoes. Add some leftover beef from your roast at the last minutes to heat it through. It is beef hash, serve it with ketchup or beef gravy.

And your budget strategy is good. those things you mention are expensive, and nutrient poor. I have been getting Tampico punch at the grocery for cheap. Yes, it probably is loaded with corn sweeteners, but it is cheap and good. Watch the calories, 110 in a glass..

And a suggestion, send the kids to school with a home packed lunch. a PBJ that is fresh, and a apple and a couple of cookies is enough lunch, and they might like it, since school lunches are pretty gross sometimes. do this once in awhile or regularly.

and you take a serving of the dish out for you before setting it on the table! They are setting themselves up for one heck of a cardiac arrest, but you are starving yourself.

and teach those guys to eat fruit!