4 meals for $20

So I am trying to cut our budget due to Evan's knee surgery, and I thought that I would share some of my recipes. If you were to buy all of the ingredients, it would cost about $35 dollars, but I have most of them around the house so I think I spent about $17. Happy cooking!


Barbeque Beef Casserole (Serves 4) cost about $5

1 pound ground beef
1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8.5 ounce) package corn bread mix

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2. Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until evenly browned. Add the onion, bell pepper, corn and tomatoes. Cook and stir until vegetables are tender. Drain excess grease, and stir in the barbeque sauce. Spread the beef mixture in an even layer in a 9x13 inch baking dish.

3. Prepare the cornbread batter mixes according to package directions. Spread the batter over the top of the beef mixture.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is golden brown, and a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread layer comes out clean.


Taco Pie (serves 4) Cost about $6

1 (9 inch) deep dish frozen pie crusts, thawed
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/2 large tomato, diced
sour cream
black olives

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake pie crusts following package directions, but cutting the bake time in half.

2. In a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until evenly brown; drain excess fat.

3. Place the refried beans in the pie shell, smearing over the bottom and the sides of the partially baked shell. Spread a layer of ground meat over the beans, and top with the onion, crushed tortilla chips, and cheese.

4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown, and the cheese is bubbly. Top with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and black olives.


Cheesy Chicken and Potato Casserole (Serves 4) Cost about $5

1-1/2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/2 (5.5 ounce) package scalloped potato mix
2 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Cook chicken breasts on the stove top until tender. Meanwhile, prepare potatoes according to package directions, adding 1 cup (instead of 2/3 cup) of milk and sliced potatoes. When chicken is tender, remove from heat, let cool and shred. Add shredded chicken to potato mixture.

3. Fold chicken/potato mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes. Add cheese and bake for another 10 minutes.


Chicken Enchiladas (Serves 6) Cost about $6

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.

2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the green onion until tender (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the garlic powder, then stir in the green chiles, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. Mix well. Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside. To the remaining 1/4 of the sauce in the saucepan, add the chicken and 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Stir together.

3. Fill each flour tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish.

4. In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk. Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.