8 Frugal Meals for When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking

I have to confess that there are MANY nights when I do not feel like cooking.  Some evenings we’re running from place to place–practices, church, and more.  Other nights I am just plain exhausted after teaching all day, and the thought of spending even 30 minutes in the kitchen makes me want to forget my budget and call for take out.

If you can relate (please tell me you can!), then I have some incredibly simple, yet frugal, ideas for you!  I try to keep many of these ingredients on hand for busy nights.  Or, if I know that one evening will be chaotic, I’ll plan for one of these meals as I make my weekly meal plan.  All of these dinners can come together in about 20 minutes or less using inexpensive ingredients.  Enjoy!

8 Frugal Meals for When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking

1. Grilled Cheese and Soup

This was actually one of my childhood favorites–and my kids love it, too!  I try to make my own soup most of the time (check out my recipes for Vegan Split Pea Soup and Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Butternut Squash Soup), but I will keep a few cans of soup around for busy nights.  Grilled cheese made with provolone paired with tomato basil soup is our favorite combo!

2. Veggie Frittata

It’s hard to get easier than eggs!  I just do a quick search of the veggies that we have on hand, saute them up in the skillet, add the eggs, top with cheese, and finish in the oven.  Add some fruit or a salad and you have a healthy meal!  Some of our favorite veggies to include are mushrooms, peppers, and onions.

3. Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash

This has become a new favorite in our house.  My husband absolutely raves each time I make it!  Just peel and dice one potato per person, and then boil them.  While the sweet potatoes are going, brown half a pound to a pound of sausage (depending on the number of people eating).  Drain the sausage and add the (mostly) cooked sweet potatoes.  Let the potatoes finish cooking and get some great sausage flavor at the same time.  I usually add a side of fruit or veggies to finish the meal.

4. Kielbasa and Pineapple Skillet

This has been my go-to quick meal for years.  I can usually find kielbasa on sale for $2.50 every couple of months.  When I do, I’ll get a couple to have on hand for this meal.  Just slice the kielbasa, place in a skillet, add a can of diced pineapple, and cook together until most of the liquid has evaporated off.  Serve over rice.  Delicious!

5. “Leftovers Soup”

I often call this “dump soup” because I’m just so eloquent like that.  🙂  I start with homemade vegetable stock or chicken stock and add anything that we have on hand.  I try to have one protein: leftover shredded chicken, or ground meat, or beans.  Then, I’ll add an onion and garlic.  Next, I put in a starch: rice, potatoes, or pasta (penne or macaroni work best). Finally, I dump in any vegetables we have on hand.  It’s a great way to use up produce before it goes bad!

6. Scrambled Eggs and Biscuits

This is one of the quickest meals ever.  I like to make big batches of biscuits and stick them (uncooked) in the freezer to use for fast dinners.  Just thaw and pop into the oven for 12 minutes.  While the biscuits are cooking, scramble the eggs.  I add cheese and veggies to stretch the meal.  The kids love putting homemade jellies or local honey on the biscuits.  With a side of fruit, it’s an easy and (fairly) healthy meal.

7. Build Your Own Salad

My kids like having some control over or choice in their food.  That makes a “build your own salad” night a fun one for them!  I just chop up a bunch of vegetables, boil some eggs, perhaps use up some leftover chicken, add some lettuce, and call it dinner!  I put each of the toppings into their own small bowl so that the kids can add whatever they would like to their own salad.  Our favorite toppings include:  apples, raisins, cucumbers, peppers, and mushrooms.

8. Pancakes and Sausage

Finally, it’s time for another breakfast classic.  I’ve been making pancakes for so long that it’s one of the few recipes I have memorized.  🙂  It’s pretty quick and easy to whip up a batch of pancake batter, fry them up on a griddle, and pair it with sausage links.  The kids (and the husband) never object to this dinner!  (By the way, am I the last person in America who realized how convenient it is to use a griddle?  Wow.  I bought this small griddle about six months ago and am still in love!)

There you have it!  8 simple, frugal meals that can be made in a hurry–even when you don’t feel like cooking.

If you want to make meal-planning even simpler, you’ll want to check out $5 Dinners.  Erin has a variety of meal plans that include recipes,  shopping lists, instructional videos, and more!

What do you make when you don’t feel like cooking?

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(Linked to Thrifty Thursdays.)