How to Make Cheap Food Recipes

If you are learning how to make cheap food recipes, just because they are economical in price they do not need to lack in flavor. The best tasting recipes are made with a few basic ingredients. Great menus can be prepared with cheaper cuts of meat like ground beef, round steak or even the legs and thighs of chicken. Most of the time these cheaper meats offer a much better flavor to dishes when other ingredients are added.


The following homemade salami recipe has been one of my favorite recipes for years. I made it quite often when my children were at home. I purchased sub rolls from the local “day old” bread bakery to make sub sandwiches. I would put these in the freezer and they came in very handy when the kids came in hungry or when there was not time to prepare a meal. They are delicious! Try more great recipes like these and discover how to eat better on less money.

HOW TO MAKE CHEAP FOOD RECIPES like
HOMEMADE SALAMI

Homemade Salami RecipeHomemade Salami Recipe
  • 5 Pounds ground beef (better to use cheaper quality)
  • 3 Teaspoons garlic salt
  • 3 Teaspoons mustard seed
  • 5 Teaspoons Morton Tender Quick Meat Cure
  • 3 Teaspoons cracked pepper
  • 2 ½ Teaspoons hickory Smoked salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix all ingredients thoroughly together. Refrigerate for 3 days, mixing and kneading one time each day. After day 3, form meat into a roll and bake in oven for 8 hours on a rack so fat can drip off meat roll.

This salami, thinly sliced, makes great sub sandwiches. Good sub rolls can be purchased at the day old bakery stores for very good prices. Spread both sides of sub roll with pizza sauce. Then put about 4 ounces thin sliced salami on the bottom half. Top salami with sliced onion and sliced banana peppers. Top with grated mozzarella cheese.

These can be made ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in 2 gallon freezer bags in the freezer. When ready to eat, remove from freezer, open sub sandwich in half, lay sub on an ovenproof tray and place in a hot oven until sandwich is hot. Can also be heated in a microwave. Open sub in half and lay on a microwave plate and heat 2 to 3 minutes. Microwave is not quite as tasty as conventional oven.

HOW TO COOK DRIED BEANS

Mixed Bean and Ham Soup RecipeMixed Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

Learn how to cook dried beans to make many cheap food recipes. Soak 2 pounds of dried beans like kidney beans, Northern beans, black beans or pinto beans in water overnight. Bring beans to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender. I measure 1 to 2 cups and put them in small freezer bags; after flattening out the bags, I stack them in the freezer. These beans make delicious meals by adding other ingredients or are great additions for extenders in many family dishes.

RICE RECIPES

Rice recipes have been used for years around the world as an economical food source. Rice makes many cheap dishes. Cook a large pot of whole grain rice as directed on the package. Divide into servings and freeze in small freezer bags (I use 1 cup).

How to Make Cheap Food Recipe of Beans and RiceHow to Make Cheap Food Recipe of Beans and Rice

BEANS AND RICE RECIPE is a popular cheap food recipe

When I was learning how to make cheap food recipes, this beans and rice recipe became my favorite. It is also high in fiber and very healthy and filling.

  • 1 Teaspoon olive oil
  • ¼ Cup green pepper, diced
  • ¼ Cup onion, diced
  • 2 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • 2 Medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 Cup cooked beans
  • 1 Cup whole grain rice, cooked
  • Pinch hot pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 Teaspoons chili powder
  • Salt/pepper

Sauté the green peppers, onion and garlic in the olive oil. Add the chopped tomatoes, cilantro, chili powder, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Add in the cooked beans and the rice. Stir over heat until hot and blended.

SALSBURY STEAKS RECIPE

I first tasted Salisbury steak when I was still in school. They served them in the cafeteria and I loved the flavor. For some reason we never had this Salisbury steak recipe at home. When I was learning how to make cheap food recipes, I was bent on finding put how to make them remembering the taste from my childhood.

  • 1 ½ Pounds ground beef
  • ½ Cup fine bread crumbs
  • 1 Can onion soup, divided
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon ground sage
  • 1 Egg
  • ¼ Cup catsup
  • ½ Tablespoon mustard

Mix ground beef, 1/3 can onion soup, bread crumbs, sage, salt and pepper all together. Form into 6 oval patties. Brown in skillet until done.

Mix together the flour, catsup, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Stir to make a smooth paste. Gradually add remaining onion soup, stirring until smooth. Pour over burgers and simmer for 20 minutes.

CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS RECIPE

Chicken and Dumplings is a Cheap Food RecipeChicken and Dumplings

Of all the cheap food recipes to make, chicken and dumplings recipe has to be the favorite recipe all over the United States. Although it is certainly not low in calories and I would not call it healthy simply because when you start eating you cannot stop. This delicious dish is especially a favorite among children.

  • 4 Chicken legs with thighs attached
  • 1 Stalk celery, chopped
  • 1 Medium onion, chopped
  • 1 Carrot, chopped
  • Salt/Pepper

DUMPLINGS

  • 2 Cups flour
  • 1 Tablespoon solid shortening
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 3 Eggs, beaten
  • ½ Cup milk

Cover chicken with water in a heavy pan. Add chopped onion, celery and carrot. Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook until chicken is very tender. Remove the chicken from the broth. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones and set aside.

In a bowl, mix together flour, shortening, salt, eggs and milk. Turn dough out on a floured surface. Knead until smooth. Divide into 4 parts. Roll each dough part out to about ¼ inch thick. Cut into 1 x 1 inch pieces.

Bring broth to a rolling boil and add the dumplings, a few at a time. Cook the dumplings until they are no longer doughy. Return the chicken meat to the pan with the dumplings and season to taste.

Chicken and DumplingsChicken and Dumplings

HAMBURGER CASSEROLE RECIPE

There are many cheap food recipes suitable for taking to church suppers and other carry in dinners. This hamburger casserole recipe is always a hit because of the delicious flavor but is a cheap recipe.

  • 1 Pound ground beef
  • 1 Can cream mushroom soup
  • 1 Small bag tater tots
  • 1 Small diced onion
  • Grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown hamburger and onion. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir hamburger and onion into the tater tots. Stir in the soup. Dump into a greased casserole dish. Top with the grated cheese. Bake for 35 minutes.