How To Have Delicious Meals On A Budget

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Costs are going up while paychecks are going down. Finding meals on a budget for the family can be a difficult and different change for the whole family. Pasta dishes are popular family meals and are so easy on the budget. When meal planning, pasta menus provide for filling meals as well as being super tasty. A  filling pasta meal that family members of all ages really enjoy is macaroni and cheese and spaghetti and there are several different recipes for them. These easy pasta meals make good additions to the weekly meal plan.

Check out these delicious ideas for meals on a budget below!

Mexican Macaroni Casserole

1 pound of hamburger or ground turkey
1 pack taco seasoning mix
1 box of elbow macaroni
1 can of mexicorn
1 can of ranch style beans
1 8 oz can of rotel
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Cook noodles according to directions
Brown meat and add taco seasoning.
Mix all ingredients together.
Pour in 9X13 dish
Top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees

Meals on a Budget Adapters

To increase grocery savings and make an even more economical pasta meal, try any of these changes:

Cut hamburger to 1/2 pound
Add one can of beans to stretch the number of servings
Substitute tomato sauce for rotel and add a pepper or pepper sauce for extra spice.
Replace shredded cheese with cheese slices.

Easy Italian Macaroni Beef Casserole Recipe

Double this frugal pasta meal and freeze half for a later meal.

2 boxes Macaroni and Cheese
1 lb hamburger
1 small onion diced
1 16oz can spaghetti sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Make macaroni and cheese according to package directions
Brown hamburger and onion. Add Italian seasoning to taste.
Drain and add spaghetti sauce.
In a 9×13 baking dish layer meat mixture, then noodles, then mozzarella.
Bake at 350 until cheese is as melted

More Budget Adapters

Macaroni Beef Casserole can be made less expensive by making the following changes:

Cut hamburger to 1/2 pound
Substitute tomato sauce and Italian seasonings for the spaghetti sauce.
Top with packaged parmesan instead of mozzarella

Easy Pasta Meal: Spaghetti Pizza

1/2 pound spaghetti noodles
1 can of jar of spaghetti sauce (or homemade if you have some on hand or frozen)
2 eggs
1 package meatballs
1 cup shredded cheese

Break noodles in half and cook.
Beat 2 eggs and add to the cooked and drained noodles.
Mix well, and pour into a greased cake pan. Spread evenly.
Pour sauce on top and spread evenly.
Cut meatballs into fourths and put on top of the sauce.
Sprinkle on the cheese and bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until cheese starts to brown around the edge.

Pasta can be prepared in so many ways and with so many seasonings it can be added to a frugal meal without seeming repetitive. Add a few cheap pasta meals to the weekly menu and watch the grocery savings increase.