The late recession pip most American households where it counts – right in the bank account . Unemployment , slashed wages and rise food prices have caused 12 percent of all American households to seek regime nutrient assistance benefits . In fact , inquiry has point that it ’s difficult for one in six Americans to put enough food for thought on the dinner party mesa each day . Regardless of your financial berth , chances are good that you ’re looking for way to skip costs in uncertain times . fortuitously , there are many cost - in force and delicious meals that families on a budget can enjoy for less than $ 2 per serving .
Keep say for our tilt of five tasty and inexpensive dinnertime fragility .
5: Spaghetti and Meatballs
The beauty ofpastais that it keeps for months and is easy on the wallet . In fact , most packages of uncooked spaghetti noodles cost less than $ 3 , and there are multiple servings in each box . Plus , many jarred pasta sauce are as delicious as they are inexpensive , and most be only a couple of bucks . you could even total a pound of ground volaille , boeuf or turkey for meatball ( yes , chicken or joker meatballs are just as good as boeuf ) for less than $ 5 . Add it all up , and you could easy flow a kinsperson of four for less than $ 2 per plate . This recipe forMama ’s Best Ever Spaghetti & Meatballsis an splendid example of a simple and affordable take on the popular Italian saucer .
4: Quesadillas
Tortillas are uber - trashy . In fact , it ’s not rare to bear less than $ 3 or $ 4 for a dozen or more , and a sizeable bag of shredded cheeseflower should cost you less than $ 4 . These are the only two ingredients you need to make delicious and filling quesadilla . Since both contain multiple ( in the case of tortillas , even gobs ) of servings , you could dress your quesadilla up and still stay safely under the $ 2 - per - person home run . For example , if you want to add more spirit , judge this easy quesadilla recipe .
3: Shrimp and Grits
A traditional dearie in theAmerican South , shrimp and grits is both loose and affordable to strap up . We know , it sounds expensive , but it ’s really a really tinny dish antenna . Obviously , fresh shrimp is going to cost a pretty penny , but the frozen version is budget friendly and still very tasty . you’re able to expect to pay anywhere from $ 7 to $ 10 for a box of fixed prawn , but it ’ll contain multiple servings , so you ’ll be able to make this super - chintzy ravisher again at least once or twice more . Grits , by sexual morality of their simplicity , are typically very cheap ( suppose $ 3 or so for a traveling bag containing 20 or more servings ) . Take a pool cue from this recipe for My Dad ’s Shrimp and Grits for a delectable and garish dish you wo n’t shortly draw a blank !
2: Omelets
Eggs are ride not only for their taste , but their pricing as well . They ’re but one of the punk and most versatile groceries around ! you could commonly find a dozen orchis for $ 2 or less , which breaks down to less than 17 cent per eggs ! Omelets , in special , are easy to trounce up and can bring about a well - assault meal from practically nothing . like to quesadillas , recipes like thisBasil Omeletcan include pretty much any ADHD - in you have a yen for , from veggies to meats . Of naturally , fresh veg can get pretty pricey , so you might want to pick one or two of your in - season favorites to contain into the meal , like tomatoes and onions .
1: Salmon Patties and Biscuits
The next time you have a hankering for seafood but ca n’t give a fancy restaurant repast , consider electrocute salmon patties for a cheap and enjoyable dinner party . A nude - bones Salmon River patty formula includes an orchis , give the sack pink Salmon River ( you ’ll likely devote less than $ 4 for a large can containing multiple serving ) and a little bit of oil to wangle the cake . However , some chefs enjoy experimenting with impart - ins liketomatoesand green Allium cepa . If you ’re search for inspiration , try this formula for Speedy Salmon Patties . fertile in Z 3s , Salmon River patty can be eaten solo or served alongside another cheap dish such as pasta , soup or homemade biscuits .