A Cheap Family Meal With A Crockpot Beef Recipe

Cooking a Roast in the Crockpot can give you so many cheap meal idea options.

I though I would share with you a $5 meal idea using the crockpot and a roast.

My family loves french dip sandwiches and to purchase roast beef from the deli is out of our budget so I found a great recipe that slow cooks a roast to perfection.

It’s full of flavor and so tender it just melts in your mouth.

Not only is the meal simple to prepare but if you can purchase the roast on sale like I did today, for only $2.49 out the door (not per lb.), then you have a the perfect cheap family meal for $5 or less.

French Dip Sandwiches Crockpot Style

Personal Cookbook
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7-9 hours low or 4-5 hours high

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 2 large onions
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 3-4 lb. rump roast
  • 5 cups of water
  • 1/2 cup of soy sauce
  • 1 envelope onion soup mix
  • (optional) 1 clove minced garlic

Meal Preparation Directions:

  1. Saute 2 large onions, slice 1/4 inch in 1/4 cup of butter until tender then add onions to crockpot
  2. Add rump roast to crock pot – cut in half if thick
  3. Mix water, soy sauce, dry soup mix and garlic(optional) and pour over roast
  4. Cook on low 7- 9 hours

Meal Assembly:
Serves 6-8. Slice meat and put on french rolls. Use juice from roast for dipping sauce. Serve with a handful of potato chips and side salad.
TIP: Add shredded Swiss Cheese and broil before serving if desired.
TIP: Save leftovers for the perfect make ahead freezer lunch meal throughout the week!

December 21st, 2008 | Tags: , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Best Crockpot Recipes | 2 comments

A Cheap Family Meal With Hamburger

As the economy tightens I notice the price of even the cheapest cuts of meat are rising. 

Last month I was buying ground beef for $1.99 per lb. As I shopped today the cheapest I could find it for was $2.79 per lb. on sale.

I will have to say it again, now more than even we have to focus on a food budget that allows us to feed our families healthy, delicious meals that are affordable and at $5 or less per meal, that’s my only option right now.

As promised I continue on my quest to provide you with cheap family meals that are $5 or less to prepare.

Amie P. submitted her family favorite cheap meal – Beef Enchiladas – Not only is it easy to make but the flavor was out of this world.

A great family meal that only costs $5.00 to make.

Beef Enchiladas

Submitted by Amie P.

Ingredients:
  • 1 lb Hamburger
  • 1 Can Re-fried Beans 12 oz
  • 1 Can Red Enchilada sauce 10-14 oz
  • 8 Tortilla Shells
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheese
  • 1 can Olives 6 oz (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees..

Brown ground beef in skillet til fully cooked (season with favorite seasonings), drain off excess grease, mix 1/4 can enchilada sauce to ground beef. Take a spoonful of enchilada sauce and spread around on tortilla, put in 2 spoons of re-fried beans 2 spoons of ground beef mixture, sprinkle with cheese roll up and start process over for each additional tortilla. When they are all rolled and in the pan spoon the rest of the enchilada sauce over the tops, sprinkle on remaining cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

TIP: Make a second batch for the perfect freeze ahead meal next week.

December 18th, 2008 | Tags: , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes | Leave a comment

Pizza For The Family for Less Than $3.00

Tuesday’s $5 menu idea is dedicated to the kids. Buying Pizza for our big family is out of the question right now so we make our own, each of us including the kids!

This is a cheap family meal that everyone can help with.

As I focus on meals for the week that will help save some “dough” for the Holiday’s this cheap meal idea/recipe comes in for less than $3.00 depending on optional toppings.

Pizza Please

Personal Cookbook
Prep Time: Should take only 5 minutes but you may want to include kids playtime with the food!
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 can super size jumbo biscuits
  • 8 1/2 tbsp. spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce
  • Mozzarella, Cheddar and American Cheese or Colby Jack to sprinkle on top
  • (optional) Pepperoni, sausage, ham, olives, onion…whatever you like the sky is the limit

Meal Preparation Directions:

  1. Take a biscuit, flatten it (not to thin) use a rolling pin, roll sides up for crust on biscuit.
  2. Spread about 1 1/2 tbsp around in the center of biscuit
  3. Top with cheese and any optional toppings – pepperoni etc…
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown

Meal Assembly:
Serves 4. Add a side salad and bowl of fresh fruit for a complete healthy meal.

December 17th, 2008 | Tags: , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, cheap lunch ideas | 5 comments
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