3 Easy Meals to Make on a Budget!

"Why is it so hard to make good food on a budget?" you may ask yourself. But have you ever tried to stretch your budget, or make your budget work FOR you? As a full-time college student and a fiancee, I struggle with what food to make on a daily basis. This post will hopefully shed some light on how if you shop right, you can make good food on a budget.

Meal Number One: Hawaiian Roll Cold-Cut Sliders

PHOTO COURTESY OF EASYPEASYPLEASY.COM

If you have not tried the delicious and ever-so-tasty Hawaiian Rolls by King's Hawaiian, you are missing out big time. Not only can these rolls be served with any meal, they can also BE the main meal! Whether it's for a party or for a couple of people, cold-cut sliders can take less than 5 minutes to prep. Lacie from easypeasypleasy.com showcased how you can make to-go sandwiches using Hawaiian sweet rolls, and I have adapted it to my liking (I am not too keen with having warm deli meat unless I ask for it that way). You can read her full post about it here.

You will need:

Hawaiian Rolls (can be generic or King Hawaiian)
Cold cuts (of your choice)
Thinly sliced cheese (of your choice)
Iceberg Lettuce

Directions:

Using a bread knife, cut through the rolls to separate the top from the bottom.
After your desired amount of Hawaiian rolls have been cut, begin filling them with various cold cuts and sliced cheese.These deli products can vary based on what your local deli offers, and your personal taste.
Fill the rest of the sandwich with iceberg lettuce, and enjoy your Hawaiian roll cold-cut sliders!

Meal Number Two: Pasta with Meatballs & French Bread

PHOTO COURTESY OF GLASSNICKELPIZZA.COM

Looking down the pasta aisle at the grocery store, I did not realize how cheap pasta was per pound, especially in boxes! A simple box of pasta can cost about $1, depending on what grocery store you are shopping from. Toss in some freezer-ready meatballs, along with some french bread from the bakery, and you got yourself a meal fit for two!

You will need:

Meatballs (from the frozen section)
1 box of pasta (of your choice)
1 jar of pasta sauce (of your choice, I prefer red sauce with meatballs)
1 loaf of french bread (the fresher, the better)

Directions:

Follow the package directions for how to cook your chosen pasta and meatballs.
After the pasta has been strained, pour your chosen pasta sauce into the pot where the pasta was previously cooking in. You can season your pre-packaged sauce to add more flavor--elements such as oregano, parsley, and garlic powder can really elevate your simple dish.
Once the pasta sauce begins to bubble, add the strained pasta into the pot.
After the pasta and pasta sauce have been heated together for 3-4 minutes, toss the cooked meatballs into the pot.
With your loaf of French bread, cut it up into 1" slices and toast to your liking.
Spread butter on your French bread slices and enjoy them with your easy-to-make pasta with meatballs & French bread!

Meal Number Three: Make-Your-Own Calzone

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMEWHATSIMPLE.COM

Calzones sound a lot harder to make than they actually are; you can make calzones from simply grocery store ingredients! I have adapted the easy calzone recipe from somewhatsimple.com and made it more of my own, to fit my fiancé and I's taste. You can read her full recipe on her website here.

You will need:

1 canister of Pillsbury Pizza Crust
1 jar of pasta sauce (of your choice)
1 package of pepperoni
1 package of shredded mozzarella cheese
Filling of your choice (can be meat, jalapeños, whatever you want!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350, and roll out pizza dough on a baking sheet.
In the center of the dough, spread sauce, cheese, and other toppings (make sure to leave room for the cutting!).
Cut 1" strips all the way down each long side of dough, from the edge of the filling to the outer edge of the dough to braid with.
"Braid" the bread by starting with the strips in each top corner, laying them over the filling and criss-cross each strip over one another. Continue braiding and tuck the last braid under when you get to the end of the dough.
Brush the braided dough with the melted butter mixture, and then bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown (please check the directions on your pizza dough for proper temperature and cook times).
Cut the finished calzone diagonally and enjoy your make-you-own calzone!

And there you have it, three budget friendly meals that are easy to make!

Let me know if these recipes work out for you! If you add your own twist to it, tag me on social media, and I may feature you on my story!

Instagram: @dianesmullis