CLASS TWO: CHEAP

I do not know anyone who does not enjoy saving money or finding a great deal. Cooking at home has been and continues to be a great way to save money, no matter if you are cooking for one or ten. A recent article in the Deseret News stated, "healthful meals can cost less than half as much as fast food. According to a study published in Family Medicine in 2010, a diet based primarily on bulk, generic, canned, and frozen foods runs about $7.48 per day vs. $15.30 for fast food." (Ward, David. "Taking Back Family Dinner: A Healthy, Affordable and Convenient Escape from Processed Food." Deseret News 16 June 2013: P4. Print.) (Read article here)

Homemade meals tend to be more filling and nutritive than eating out or relying on largely pre-made, processed foods that just need to be heated. According to the article, "the most popular fruits and vegetables also happen to be the cheapest: apples; oranges; bananas; in-season peaches, pears and plums; potatoes; romaine lettuce and broccoli. Mixing canned or frozen produce into one's diet can further lower the cost."

The links below will take you to the recipes in my repertoire that I consider to be relatively cheap. Some of them are super cheap--literally pennies per serving (beans and rice). This batch of recipes is pretty chicken-heavy since chicken is generally the cheapest variety of meat, but I also included some beef and pork recipes that use cheap cuts. Of course there are a few vegetarian options as well, which is by far the cheapest way of all to eat. We try to include at least one or two vegetarian meals in our weekly meal plan and it really has saved us a lot of money.

One important thing to remember about eating inexpensively is that you need to consistently eat-in in order to be truly successful in saving money. You may consider eating-in to be more expensive because you have to buy certain ingredients for one recipe but are left with extra produce or meat or dairy that goes unused after the one meal you bought everything for. Cooking on a regular basis and finding other recipes that use those same ingredients will curb that waste and you will get into a pattern of purchasing a "regular" list of ingredients that you know you will go through based on what you cook. Here's my list of regulars that I keep on hand at all times. 

Keep trying new things and do not give up! I made reference in my post for Class One that Heavenly Father has provided a pattern of eating for us to follow (D&C 89). I know as we earnestly seek to follow this pattern He will acknowledge our sincere efforts and help us succeed. Even something as simple and seemingly unspiritual as cooking and eating matter to Him who created and loves us! "Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created." (D&C 29:34)

BEANS AND RICE

SOUR CREAM NOODLE BAKE

ROAST CHICKEN

HOMEMADE CHICKEN STOCK

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

BEST CHICKEN ENCHILADAS (take longer to make; much tastier)

EASY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS (these are faster than the ones above, but the other ones are better)

CHICKEN Á LA KING 

AREPAS

FARMHOUSE CHICKEN CHOWDER

CHIMICHANGAS

PAD THAI

CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP

BROCCOLI CHEESE CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS

CHICKEN CHILE CHEDDAR CHOWDER

PEPPER STEAK

BEEF STEW

LASAGNA ROLLS

BLACK BEAN STEW

PORK CARNITAS

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

FRIED CHICKEN BREASTS

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

BASIC GRAVY (CHICKEN OR BEEF)

PINTO BEANS FOR TACOS, TOSTADAS, BURRITOS, ETC.

CHICKEN PARMESAN

LEMON CHICKEN CUTLETS (CHICKEN MILANESA)

CHICKEN STROGANOFF

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

GRILLED LEMON ROSEMARY CHICKEN

LEMON HONEY MUSTARD MARINADE

BLACK BEAN AND CORN CHOWDER

GROUND BEEF TACOS (these are the best but take a few minutes longer than the one below)

GROUND BEEF FOR TACOS, BURRITOS, TACO SALAD, ETC. (use this recipe for a major time crunch)

QUINOA WITH KIELBASA AND VEGETABLES

HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE

MARINARA, PASTA SAUCE, OR PIZZA SAUCE

KITCHEN SINK QUESADILLAS

ALFREDO

CHEESY CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI BAKE

PASTA PRIMAVERA

CREAMY PASTA SHELLS WITH PEAS AND BACON

BASIL PESTO

STUFFED PASTA SHELLS OR MANICOTTI

CORNBREAD

BASIC BEEF AND BEAN CHILI

TEX-MEX TORTILLA SOUP

FAST CHICKEN FAJITAS

BAKED BBQ CHICKEN

EASY CHICKEN PARMESAN

BEEF STROGANOFF

GREEN NOODLES

CROCKPOT EASY TACO CHILI

CROCKPOT TEXAS CHILI

CROCKPOT CLASSIC TURKEY CHILI

SLOW COOKER SHREDDED BEEF FOR TACOS

CROCKPOT BARBECUED DRUMSTICKS

EVERYDAY SHREDDED BEEF FILLING (Crockpot meal)

EVERYDAY SHREDDED CHICKEN FILLING (Crockpot meal)

CROCKPOT SHREDDED BARBECUED CHICKEN

CROCKPOT LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

CROCKPOT SLOPPY JOES

CROCKPOT TORTILLA SOUP

CHICKEN NUGGETS

BRINED PORK CHOPS

MAKE-AHEAD BREADED CHICKEN CUTLETS

HAMBURGER SOUP

CROCKPOT WEEKNIGHT BEEF CHILI

CHICKEN TACOS

CREAMY WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

INSTANT POT "BAKED" ZITI

SLOW COOKER MEATLOAF

HONEY LIME CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

CREAMY BEEF AND SHELLS