My Mom’s Goulash – My Poverty Meal

I ran across a goulash recipe today from Recipezaar called Poverty Meal and I had to laugh.

As a child my mom made something very similar to this but she called it Goulash. I think I like calling it the Poverty Meal instead as that is exactly what it was.

We grew up poor and my mom did her best to provide for us. I could always tell how broke we were by the ingredients she used, no kidding.

If times were good the recipe included vegetables, ground beef, cream of mushroom soup and cheese. If we were broke it became a simple tomato sauce and noodle dinner.

I have made this a few times for my family and I need to include it in my menu planning more often as my kids actually like it and eat it well.

It’s one of those quick dinner recipes that  definitely fits well within my $5 dinner meals and depending on the ingredients you use it could actually be less than $2 to prepare. So here is my version of a Poverty Meal or as my mom calls it her Goulash recipe.

My Mom’s Goulash Recipe – My Poverty Meal

Quick Dinner Recipes

Goulash Recipe

Inspiration from Recipezaar, family recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef (ground turkey works well too)
  • 2 small cans of tomato sauce
  • 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 pkg. elbow macaroni
  • 1 can of mixed vegetables (optional)
  • 1 cup of cheese (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Meal Preparation Directions:

  1. Prepare elbow macaroni according to directions on package, drain and put back in pot
  2. Cook ground beef or turkey until done, drain grease
  3. Add tomato sauce, cream of mushroom soup and mixed vegetable to pot of macaroni, mix well
  4. Add ground beef or turkey and salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Top with cheese if desired.

Meal Assembly:
Serves 4-6. Add a dinner salad and sliced french bread for a nutritious cheap family meal.

TIP: Double the batch for a make ahead freezer meal next week. Need tips to begin make ahead meal planning? Here is a great article: Quick Tips For Make Ahead Meals

Looking for something different? Try this Quick Dinner Recipe: Easy Tuna-Fish Casserole

Or better yet try this kid approved meal: Easy Meatloaf Recipe

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January 24th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Casserole Cooking, easy ground beef meals, freezer meals recipes | 5 comments

Simple Ground Beef Chili Crockpot Recipe

This is a simple yet delicious Crock Pot Chili dinner. I find creating a simple ground beef meal in the crockpot can save both time and money.

I can get very lazy in the kitchen at times making it difficult to resist the temptation to just pick up the phone and order dinner.

I have found two solutions to this dilemma.

First I try to always have simple family meals I can pull from the freezer and second crockpot cooking.

If I start my meal first thing in the morning then there is absolutely no way I will let a good meal go to waste no matter how bad my day has been.

This crockpot recipe for chili is easy to prepare and yet another great dinner idea under 5 dollars.

Crock Pot Chili With Ground Beef

Personal Cookbook
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3-5 hours on low
Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
  • 1 16oz. can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 large and 1 small can of chili beans ( I prefer the Hunt’s Chili Beans)
  • Dash of salt, pepper and chili powder to taste

Meal Preparation Directions:

  1. Brown ground beef, drain
  2. Add ground beef, stewed tomatoes and chili beans to crockpot
  3. Add spices to your taste

Meal Assembly:
Cook on low for 3 -5 hours. The longer you simmer, the thicker and better it is. Add some hot cornbread muffins and you have got an inexpensive family meal with little effort.

TIP: Double or even triple the recipe for a family meal from the freezer next week!

***Looking for something different? Try this easy crock pot meal: Crockpot Lemon Chicken

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January 14th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Best Crockpot Recipes, easy ground beef meals, freezer meals recipes | One comment

Easy Ground Beef Casserole

I love easy dinner recipes that call for ground beef and it gets an A+ from me if it’s also cheap and simple to prepare.

This easy dinner recipe for Hamburger Casserole has been a family favorite since I can remember. 

My mom prepared it often and as the mom now I follow in her footsteps.

Not only is it delicious but it truly is one of the best cheap meals for under 5 dollars to prepare.

Easy Dinner Recipes – Hamburger Casserole

My Personal Cookbook

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes

Easy Dinner Recipes

Easy Dinner Recipes

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ lbs. hamburger
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 can tomato soup
  • 1 can chicken gumbo soup
  • 5-6 medium potatoes

Meal Preparation Directions:

  1. Peel potatoes, dice and boil
  2. Why potatoes boil, fry hamburger and onion until browned.
  3. Add soups(no water) to browned hamburger and simmer over low.
  4. Mashed cooked potatoes with a little butter and milk.
  5. Pour hamburger mix into dish, spoon on potatoes, top with cheese.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Meal Assembly:

Serves 6 – Dish up a side of steamed broccoli and you have  cheap meals to fit any budget.

Tip: Double the batch for a make ahead freezer meal

Looking for something different? Another Easy Dinner Recipes Ideas: Chicken Pasta

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November 26th, 2008 | Tags: , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Casserole Cooking, easy ground beef meals, freezer meals recipes | Leave a comment