We eat beans and rice at least once a week for dinner. Sometimes they are side dishes, but usually they make the bulk of the meal. I make my own pintos as well as “from scratch” Mexican rice. We’ve found that the taste is better than the canned and boxed varieties, and generally the homemade version is less expensive as well.
During very lean times, we might have just beans and rice and perhaps a little cheese. But when we can, we dude them up with toppings. I make my own salsa because it’s very inexpensive. I buy the other items on sale whenever possible. Since I’m a salad girl, I tend to pile on the veggies. Yes, there really is rice and beans under all that. Quite a bit actually.
Here’s a loose recipe as well as the price breakdown.
Beans and Rice
pinto beans $1
Mexican rice $0.75
grated cheddar $1
shredded lettuce $0.25
salsa $0.50
tomatoes $0.25
chips $1
Total cost to feed a crowd: $4.75
For more low-cost meals, visit the $5 Dollar Dinner Challenge.
