Casseroles are an easy way to feed your family and are a cheap meal compared to a meat and potatoes type dinner. Cheap cooking has become a need with the economy failing and many needing to reduce budgets where the can. Finding easy cheap cooking methods can make life less stressful. Casseroles are one of the easy cooking methods used frequently. If you are a new cook, consider trying one new casserole recipe a week. If your family is small you may want to cut the recipe in half until you know you like it. Here are some Cheap Easy Casseroles to try.
Cheap Easy Casserole #1:Macaroni Dinner
Elbow noodles are a good cheap food source to keep stocked in the pantry for short cash times. This macaroni dinner is a big hit with the kids. This is a stove top type casserole but you can also double the ingredients and pour in a casserole dish and bake at 350 for 25 min until noodles are cooked. Not having to precook the noodles makes this one a top choice of cheap easy casseroles.
2/3 c. chopped. onion
1 clove garlic or a sprinkling of garlic powder
2 T. veg. oil
1 can spam or 1 cup leftover ham or chicken
1 can tomato soup
1 1/4 c. water
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 c. macaroni
Cook onion and garlic in hot oil until tender, but not brown. Add meat, brown lightly. Add remaining ingredients except macaroni. Simmer, uncovered, 20 min. Add macaroni and continue cooking 15 min. or until macaroni is done. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Cheap Easy Casserole #2:Baked Bean Casserole
Beans are a high protein source and are another cheap food item you can stock in the pantry. These ingredients can be maintained on the shelf for the tight pay period. This cheap easy casserole can be made heartier by adding browned ground beef if you have extra funds to buy it.
Stir together 2 cans baked beans and 1 can stewed or diced tomatoes and put in casserole dish. Mix 1 box Jiffy cornbread mix and pour over the casserole. Bake at 350 until cornbread is done. If you do not have baked beans you can use pork n beans. You can also add some ketchup, mustard, molasses, or seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder etc. for more flavor.
Cheap Easy Casserole #3: Chili Cheese Casserole
This is another casserole you can make heartier by adding any amount of ground beef you have. You can also use left over taco meat in it to make it a more filling casserole.
2 cans chili w/beans
Cheese (shredded or sliced)
1 box cornbread mix mixed according to pack
Spread chili in a greased 8×11 dish. Top with cheese. Mix cornbread and pour over chili mixture. Bake at 375 degrees or until golden brown and cornbread is done.
Cheap Easy Casserole #4:Easy Country Casserole
1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
1-1/2 tsps. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. oregano
Dash garlic powder
2 cups sliced potatoes
2 medium sliced onions
1 (20 oz.) can kidney beans (drained)
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/3 cup water
This may not seem like a cheap easy casserole based on the amount of ground beef it uses. If you don’t have the ground beef, use two cans of beans in its place. You can also buy chili beans instead of kidney beans and eliminate the need for the chili sauce. In a large skillet, brown ground beef and season with salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder; drain off fat. In a large casserole dish, place half of ground beef on bottom of dish. Top with potatoes, onion, beans and chili sauce. Pour water over top, then cover with remaining ground beef. Cover dish and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Cheap Easy Casserole#5: Mexican Fiesta Biscuit Casserole
2 large cans Grands Biscuits
2 t. margarine or butter
1 1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
1 medium jar Picante Sauce
1 lb. sausage, cooked and drained
1/2 c. green pepper, chopped
1/2 c. green onion, sliced
1/4 c. black olives, sliced
Melt margarine or butter in glass 9×13 inch baking pan.
Cut biscuits into eighths and toss with picante sauce in mixing bowl. Pour biscuit mixture into pan and layer sausage, green pepper, green onion, cheese, and top with black olives.
Bake at 350º for 25-35 minutes. Cool slightly before cutting and serve with additional salsa and sour cream. This casserole works best with Grands Biscuits because they are a larger biscuit. This is similar to Bubble Pizza.
Cheap easy casseroles are a good way to have dinner on a low cost budget. Other cheap easy cooking ideas can be found in these articles.
A is for Almost Homemade
B is for Baked Potatoes, Boil in Bag Rice, and Breakfast
