Quick-fix meals can bridge the gap between hunger and a pricy meal out on the town. Try one of these favorite fall fixes.
I think that one of the biggest detriments to our grocery budgets is the desire for immediate gratification, also manifesting itself as hanger, in our house. If you’re hungry, it’s just so much easier to buy the convenience foods or run through the burger take-out line instead of coming home to fix something.
If you’ve got a few great quick-fix meal ideas in your back pocket, you can stave off all of that. Come home and enjoy a great meal that you made yourself for cheap!
Spicy Sausage Burger
Golly, I love these Spicy Sausage Burgers. Oh my! These are perfect for one last fall BBQ before the weather turns — if you live in that kind of place, of course. And you can easily cook them up in a skillet for all year enjoyment.
Cabbage is in season, so be sure to make the Creamy Coleslaw that Won’t Go Soggy to go with.
Vegetable, Beef, and Barley Soup
Warm the tummy with this Vegetable, Beef, and Barley Soup, one of our favorites. Honestly, it reminds me of the version from the can that I grew up on, but this is full of good stuff, no preservatives, and can be customized however you like it.
Serve it with buttered soda crackers for the perfect throwback meal.
Spicy No Bean Chili
Welcome the armchair quarterbacks on game day with a pot of Spicy No Bean Chili and hot dogs to go with. Lay out an array of toppings and a side of Cumin-Scented Cabbage Salad. Both come together super quickly.
To save extra money and enjoy some stellar hot dog buns, make your own. You’ll need to plan ahead for those, but they are worth the time investment. Trust me.
Easy Slow Cooker Pork Tacos
Obviously, if you’re going to use the slow cooker, you need to plan ahead. But, once you do that, prep time is super minimal. These Easy Slow Cooker Pork Tacos are a flavorful quick-fix to spice up your life this week.
If you end up with extra time, make Homemade Corn Tortillas for an out-of-this-world supper.
Guinness Beef Stew
Again, you’ll need to plan ahead a bit to make this Guinness Beef Stew, but it will really take you just minutes in the morning and then you can just walk away. Just walk away. This is a super freezer-friendly meal, so make a double batch and freeze half for another night.
Want a quick bread to serve alongside the stew? Try Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread. It’s cheap and easy to mix up.
Have YOU got a favorite quick fall fix? We’d love to hear about it!
Save Money on Groceries
This is part of the How to Save Money on Groceries series. Scroll through the archives to get tips and tricks for reducing your grocery total at the checkout stand.
Easy Breakfast Ideas to Save You Time in the Morning
Create a Party Pantry for Frugal Entertaining
Stock Your Pantry for Easy, Quick Desserts
How to Cut Pineapple Quickly & Easily
How to Cut Melon the Quick & Easy Way
To defeat the impulse to eat out, I am assembling a portfolio of recipes that are faster and easier to fix at home from what’s on hand than going for takeout. So far my bank of takeout-thwarting options includes french bread pizzas, creamed tuna on toast, tuna melts, black bean quesadillas, and spaghetti and meatballs (jar of sauce and frozen meatballs). Though not gourmet, they are all tastier–and more convenient–than the fare from local chain fast food joints. So when I’m tempted to swing by the drive through, I drive home instead. I’m also looking for new ideas, so share your faves, please.)
Good ideas, Nancy. Here are a few more: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches; Meatball Sub Sandwiches, Soup Burgers (brown 3/4 lb ground beef then stir in one can of Campbell’s chicken and rice or chicken gumbo soup, Simmer to reduce to a saucy consistency. Then either stir in some mayo or put the mayo on the burger buns.)
We’ve gone out twice in the last few weeks to grab burgers when I didn’t feel like cooking. They were delicious, but it took SO LONG to get them. It amazes me how long it takes to get the order at our In-N-Out!
I need to make a list like this too. I know that Jessica had a few posts on what to eat when there is nothing to eat. Maybe those will help inspire us all. 🙂 Here are the links —
https://goodcheapeats.com/2013/08/6-more-easy-meals-to-make-when-theres-nothing-to-eat/
https://goodcheapeats.com/2012/09/meal-planning-101-12-easy-meals-to-make-when-theres-nothing-to-eat/
I just wanted to write to you to say a tremendous THANK YOU!!! You have done what I am trying to do – feed my family quality, healthy food on a budget. I read through your website and tried for one month to follow your advise, plan ahead and have on hand some “go to” items. I wasn’t sure where to begin before and I had so little time to make things work. You have made my world manageable and your tips have been invaluable. I love your recipes and my family does too. My stress level is down and the planning schedule is working well. I am forever grateful to you. As a working mother of three extremely active children, in a high stress job, managing also the medical needs of two of my children, there was little time left to accomplish this clean eating goal. Thank you so much for sharing what works for your family because we are going to keep going with this and I will also share recipes and things that work for us.
I used to be tempted to reach for convenience food just because it sounded good. Recently, though, I started a new job that has me starting work before dawn and on my feet for long hours. With late-evening family commitments, I’m perpetually under-slept. I’m exhausted when I get home, I grab any time I have to sit down or nap, and dinner prep has become necessarily brief. I’m all the more motivated to use your freezer meals and other tips to reduce dinner prep times as much as possible for my work days. I’m looking forward to a time in the future when I have more time and energy to spend leisurely hours in the kitchen. I didn’t appreciate that when I had it! Meanwhile, thanks for the resources on your website!