Top 3 BBQ Sauce Recipes Used This Summer

Summer is winding down but we haven’t covered our BBQ grill just yet. Most of our summer family meals are prepared either in the crock pot or on the BBQ grill. So I thought I better get some last minute grilling recipes on so you get grilling while the grilling is still good!

I have never been a big fan of the store bought BBQ sauces and so for the first time this summer we started creating  our own homemade sauce . Why didn’t I do this before? It is so easy to make your own BBQ sauce and when your trying to prepare cheap meals for large families, yes even the sauce counts.

Some of the BBQ Sauce Recipes I had came with a list of ingredients I wouldn’t even know where to purchase let alone pronounce them. But to my delight from search online most of the recipes I found for making my own BBQ sauce were simple and my favorite’s called for ingredients I already had on hand.

Here is a list of the top 3 BBQ Sauce Recipes I used in 2009! I have tried all 3 recipes on different meats and through different cooking process this the summer and would recommend all of them. I included one with a lengthy list of ingredients because it was just so good, I am serious! And another that calls for oven baking. I don’t use my oven much during the summer but wanted to share this great recipe  to be used year round.

Salsa BBQ Sauce

Salsa BBQ Sauce

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of salsa (we used medium but any flavor will work)
  • 1/4 cup of ketchup
  • 2 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp mustard

Directions: Mix together with a fork in a bowl. This is usually enough for about 4 chicken breasts.

  • My Review: This is the first recipe I found and the easiest. I stock all 4 ingredients at all times (staples) and so this one was a no brainer for me. Of course with my big family we triple each of the ingredients. This one has to be our favorite because it is so simple and of course cheap! This is now the only BBQ grilling recipe my husband uses for making hamburgers on the grill. The salsa gives burgers a nice little kick!

The Perfect Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 50 oz. Heinze ketchup (honestly any brand will do)

    BBQ Sauce

    BBQ Sauce

  • 16 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 large lemons, sliced
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. dry mustard
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 31/2 oz. liquid smoke
  • 1 cup oil
  • 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp pepper
  • 1 quart 7-up

Directions: combine all ingredients into a pot, mix well and gently boil for 11/2 to 2 hours.

  • My Review: The flavor of this BBQ Sauce Recipe was amazing. If time is on your side then I would recommend this one to anyone. But time and money is a factor for me. I had to specifically purchase many of the list ingredients and although I loved the flavor of this sauce on grilled chicken, I didn’t  get to use this one much because I didn’t have the time.

BBQ Sauce Recipes

BBQ Sauce Recipes

Slow Cooking BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1 tsp. dry prepared mustard
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup vinegar

Directions: combine ingredients in bowl and mix well. Slow cook over meat of choice for at least 2 hours.

  • My review: This will be my favorite winter BBQ sauce for spareribs. I recommend using this recipe when baking meat in the oven as it won’t hold as well in a crock pot. I cooked my ribs for about an hour on 300 degrees, I then mixed the BBQ sauce, poured it over the ribs and continued slow cooking for 2 more hours. The ribs were tender and delicious. Again a great recipe because of the simple ingredients I already had on hand.
September 4th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, BBQ Grilling Recipes, Dream Dinners Made Cheap, easy ground beef meals, quick dinner recipes | 31 comments

Quick Meal Recipe For Beef Stroganoff

Quick dinner recipes are all I seem to look for these days.

I want something simple, quick and cheap.

This recipe for beef stroganoff has all three.

It’s a simple recipe as it only requires 4 main ingredients.

It’s one of those quick dinner recipes in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

And it is cheap, so of course it belongs to my $5 dinner ideas collection.

This cheap meal only costs $4.38 to prepare, now that’s a cheap family meal!

Quick Dinner Recipes – Beef Stroganoff

Quick Dinner Recipes

Quick Dinner Recipes

Personal Cookbook
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Serves: 4- 6

Cheap Cooking Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 pkg. (16 oz.) egg noodles
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 small onion chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic salt
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tbsp. oil

Easy Dinner Directions:

  1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
  2. While noodles are cooking, brown hamburger, chopped onion(optional), garlic salt, pepper, salt in oil over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain if there is excess fat.
  3. Add cream of mushroom soup and simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Add sour cream just before serving over drained noodles.

For a quick healthy meal add some steamed broccoli and a whole grain roll. If you want a healthy meal you can substitute the egg noddles for white or brown rice.

Here’s another quick dinner recipe using ground beef? Check it out: East Meatloaf Recipe

February 6th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, easy ground beef meals | 4 comments

Easy Meatloaf Recipe

I have found an easy meatloaf recipe that you are going to love and if you looking for a cheap meal idea then this is it.

I try to make meatloaf often for the fact that ground beef is inexpensive and filling.

The only downfall to a great meatloaf is the bake time.

I’m in a hurry these days and most nights I want quick dinner ideas prepared and on the table fast or we would be eating at 8:00pm, which in my house is bedtime for the kids (YEAH!!)

So how do you make an easy meatloaf recipe? Simple, mini meatloaves baked in a muffin pan.

I know, I asked myself the same thing, why didn’t I think of that one!

The bake time is cut in half.

And of course the possibilities of what you add to the recipe are endless.

A shout out to Kraft Kitchens for coming up with some of the best food recipes.

And at less than $5 to prepare this is a cheap family meal for dinner!

Marvelous Mini Meatloaves

Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Credit: Kraft Kitchens
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 servings – 2 mini meatloaves each

Cheap Cooking Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 pkg. stove top stuffing
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning ( I use dry spaghetti packet)
  • 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
  • 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese (any variety of cheese will work)

Easy Dinners Directions:

  1. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and seasoning until well blended.
  2. Press evenly into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray.
  3. Make an indentation in the center of each meat loaf using a spoon then fill with spaghetti sauce.
  4. Bake 30 minutes or until cooked through, top with cheese and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.
  5. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

There you have it, a simple ground beef meal that was less than $5 to prepare. Add in a side salad and some french bread for a complete healthy meal idea.

Looking for something different? Okay here is another great $5 quick meal idea: Easy 3 Can Soup

February 4th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, easy ground beef meals | 6 comments
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