Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cans black beans
- 2 cans white beans
- 2 cans corn
- 2 jars pasta sauce
- Peanut butter
- Instant or pre-cooked rice
- Pasta (any type)
- Salsa
- Chicken broth
- Basic spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder
- 18-count eggs
- Large bag shredded cheese
- Pre-cooked sausages
- Pre-washed lettuce or salad kits
- Tortillas
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Milk or milk alternative
- Deli meat (optional)
- Frozen chopped onions
- Frozen stir-fry veggies
- Frozen spinach
- Frozen mixed veggies
- Store-brand pizza
- Frozen waffles
- Rotisserie chicken
- Bananas
- Apples or oranges
- Bell peppers (optional)
- Baby carrots
- Lemon
- Garlic (optional)
Instructions
- Plan for 15-minute dinners using budget staples and overlapping ingredients.
- Use pantry items like canned beans, pasta, rice, and salsa as foundations.
- Incorporate frozen and pre-cooked items like rotisserie chicken, chopped veggies, and sausages for speed.
- Rotate themes: Taco Tuesday, Pasta Night, Stir Fry Friday, etc.
- Lean on microwave, stovetop, or oven-prepped meals to reduce clean-up.
- Prep ingredients like rice, pasta, and chopped veggies ahead of time to save weekday time.
- Make use of leftovers to build wraps, bowls, or quesadillas.
- Skip over-complicated meals and keep ingredient count low.
- Use humor and flexibility—some meals flop, some win. Adjust to your family’s tastes.
- Stick with the grocery list to avoid impulse buys and stretch ingredients over multiple meals.
Notes
Real-life tested for families on a tight budget and tighter schedule. Not every meal is perfect, but every one is fast, cheap, and good enough to keep you out of the drive-thru.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: No-Cook / Stove / Oven
- Cuisine: American Budget-Friendly
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg