Dollar Store To The Rescue
You don't need an expensive grocery bill to make dinner feel a little more special. Dollar stores often carry surprisingly useful staples such as pasta, rice, canned vegetables, beans, sauces, spices, and frozen foods that can become the foundation for a much more polished meal. With a few simple techniques and some thoughtful combinations, ordinary inexpensive ingredients can come together into dishes that look and taste far more elaborate.
1. Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
You don’t need fancy sauce for pasta to impress your family. Simply cook the noodles and toss them with butter or oil, garlic, milk or cream (if you have it), and Parmesan cheese. Black pepper and dried parsley can round out the flavor.
2. Crispy Chicken Parmesan
Frozen breaded chicken patties or tenders are a good shortcut for making chicken Parmesan. Bake until crispy, top with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella or whatever melted cheese you have on hand, and serve over pasta with additional sauce.
3. Loaded Baked Potatoes
Need to stretch some cheap ingredients? Potatoes are one of the cheapest ingredients you can buy and are also very versatile. Bake potatoes in the oven until soft, slice them in half, and stuff them with chili, beans, cheese, corn, and whatever else you have.
4. Tomato Basil Pasta
You don’t need fresh tomatoes to make tasty tomato pasta. Simply add some garlic to a can of tomatoes and season with onion powder, Italian seasoning, and olive oil. Pour sauce over cooked pasta and top with dried basil and Parmesan cheese.
5. Creamy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese
Garlic powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and milk can elevate canned tomato soup. Make grilled cheese out of cheap sandwich bread and whatever cheese is on sale, and cut it into triangles before serving with the soup. It feels much more “assembled with care” than ordered.
6. Crispy Bean And Cheese Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a cheap food that can be seriously filling. All you need is canned beans, some tortillas, and cheese. Mash up the beans with taco seasoning, spread them on the tortilla, top with cheese, fold it over, and cook until crispy and browned.
7. Chicken Fried Rice
Frozen vegetables and a little chicken go a long way in stretching a bag of cheap rice. Fry rice in a hot skillet with veggies, then add soy sauce and scrambled egg if you have one. Sesame oil and green onion make for a nice finishing touch as well.
8. Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
Buy shrimp when it’s on sale at your local store (often marked down if it’s near the expiration date) and keep a bag in the freezer. Cook shrimp in butter with garlic, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Toss with pasta and top with Parmesan cheese and lemon if you have it.
9. Rustic Sausage And Potato Skillet
Throw some smoked sausage and diced potatoes in a skillet with your favorite canned or frozen vegetables. Season with garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and onion powder. Cook until crispy and browned on the outside for maximum flavor.
10. Cheesy Mexican Rice Bowls
Add canned corn and black beans to cooked rice for an easy Mexican rice bowl. Season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and hot sauce. Top with a dollop of sour cream and chopped green onions for serving.
11. Homemade Margherita-Style Flatbread
Use pita, flatbread, or even cheap tortillas to make pizza at home when you’re in a pinch. Spread tomato sauce over the flatbread, top with mozzarella, dried basil, and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake until crispy and melted, then cut into slices or scoop it up with a fork.
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12. Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Make tuna noodle casserole with canned tuna, noodles, cream of whatever soup you like, and frozen peas. Mix together tuna, noodles, soup, and peas, then top with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers. Bake until golden brown and crispy for a tasty twist on tuna casserole.
13. Spiced Chickpea Curry
Canned chickpeas are inexpensive, filling, and particularly useful when you want a meat-free dinner. Simmer them with canned tomatoes, coconut milk if available, curry powder, garlic, and onion seasoning until the sauce thickens. Spoon the curry over rice and finish with a little dried cilantro or parsley for a hearty meal with plenty of character.
14. Fancy Mac And Cheese
Inexpensive macaroni and cheese from a box can be elevated by adding extra ingredients. Finish cooking the mac and cheese as normal, then stir in extra cheese, black pepper, garlic powder, and a splash of sour cream. For extra crunch, transfer to a baking dish and top with crushed crackers before baking.
15. BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Warm canned chicken with barbecue sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper, then serve on toasted sandwich rolls or cheap bread. Add bagged coleslaw if you have it, or simply put some pickles on the sandwiches for crunch.
16. Herbed Vegetable Couscous
Cook couscous according to package directions, then stir in frozen or canned peas, corn, carrots, or any other vegetable you have. Add olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and dried herbs. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice or vinegar to brighten it up.
17. Savory Sausage And White Bean Stew
Canned white beans and inexpensive sausage can create a hearty stew with very little effort. Brown sliced sausage, then simmer it with beans, canned tomatoes or broth, garlic, onion seasoning, and Italian herbs. Letting everything cook together gives the flavors time to develop, and serving it with toasted bread makes the meal feel especially substantial.
18. Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls
Cook frozen chicken in a skillet until browned, then toss with inexpensive teriyaki sauce. Serve over cooked rice and top with frozen vegetables. Add sesame seeds or green onion as a garnish if you have them on hand.
19. Crispy Potato And Egg Hash
Dice up some potatoes and cook them in a skillet until crispy and brown. Add onion, peppers, or any other vegetables you want to use up, then top with fried or scrambled eggs. Finish with shredded cheese and hot sauce if you like a spicy kick.
20. Pantry Pasta Primavera
Cook any combination of pasta and vegetables you have in your pantry for an easy pasta primavera. Sauté canned or frozen veggies in olive oil with garlic, then toss with cooked pasta and Italian seasoning. Top with Parmesan cheese.
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