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Budget Friendly Chicken Meals

A collection of budget friendly chicken meals that help make family dinners simple while stretching your grocery budget.

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Ground beef cooking in a skillet while being stirred with a wooden spoon, nearly browned and ready to use for easy weeknight meals and ground beef meal prep.

Budget Friendly Ground Beef Meals

Affordable ground beef meals that help you stretch one package into several family dinners.

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breakfast sausage and kale soup with chicken broth
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Breakfast Sausage and Kale Soup

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1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. 2. Add 0.5 lb breakfast sausage, crumbled and patted dry, in single layer. Brown 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and sausage is firm. Remove and set aside. 3. Add 0.5 cup diced onion (peeled) and 1 clove minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until translucent, 3 minutes. 4. Add 4 cups chicken broth and bring to simmer. 5. Stir in 2 cups chopped kale (stems removed). Simmer 5 minutes until kale is tender. 6. Return sausage to pot. Simmer 2 minutes to heat through. 7. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice off heat.

  • olive oil

  • breakfast sausage

  • onion

  • garlic

  • chicken broth

  • kale

  • lemon juice

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breakfast sausage and potato skillet with onions and chives
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Hearty Breakfast Sausage and Potato Skillet

Crispy potatoes and savory breakfast sausage cooked together in one hearty skillet.

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1. Heat 1.5 tbsp olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. 2. Add 1 lb diced potato (peeled) in single layer. Cook 8-10 minutes without stirring until golden on one side, then stir and cook until tender and crispy, about 12 minutes total. 3. Push potatoes to side. Add 0.5 lb breakfast sausage, crumbled and patted dry, in single layer. Brown 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and sausage is firm. 4. Add 0.5 cup diced onion (peeled) and 1 clove minced garlic to skillet. Sauté over medium heat until onion is translucent, 3 minutes. 5. Stir all ingredients together and cook 2 more minutes. 6. Finish with chopped fresh chives sprinkled over skillet off heat.

  • olive oil

  • potato

  • breakfast sausage

  • onion

  • garlic

  • chives

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creamy breakfast sausage pasta bake with cheddar cheese and fresh basil
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Creamy Breakfast Sausage Pasta Bake

Pasta and savory breakfast sausage baked in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce.

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1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Cook 8 oz dry pasta according to package until al dente. Drain and set aside. 3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. 4. Add 0.5 lb breakfast sausage, crumbled and patted dry, in single layer. Brown 6-8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and sausage is firm. 5. Remove sausage and drain excess fat, leaving 1 tsp in pan. 6. Add 0.5 cup diced onion (peeled) and 1 clove minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. 7. Stir in 1 tbsp all-purpose flour; cook 1 minute to remove raw taste. 8. Gradually whisk in 1.5 cups milk. Simmer over medium-low heat 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats spoon. 9. Stir in 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese off heat until melted. 10. Combine cooked pasta, sausage, and sauce in baking dish. Spread evenly. 11. Bake uncovered 15 minutes until bubbly and top is lightly golden. 12. Rest 5 minutes before serving. 13. Finish with chopped fresh basil sprinkled over bake off heat.

  • pasta

  • olive oil

  • breakfast sausage

  • onion

  • garlic

  • all-purpose flour

  • milk

  • cheddar cheese

  • basil

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easy beef chili with kidney beans and cheddar cheese
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Easy Beef Chili

Ground beef and kidney beans simmered into a thick and hearty chili.

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1. Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. 2. Add ground beef and cook 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns, until fully cooked and no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed. 3. Stir in chili powder and cook 30–60 seconds to toast the spice slightly. 4. Add drained kidney beans. Stir to combine. 5. Pour in pasta sauce and stir well. Use just enough to coat everything generously while keeping the chili thick. 6. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low. 7. Simmer uncovered 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. The chili should hold its shape on a spoon rather than run. 8. Taste and adjust chili powder or salt if needed. 9. Serve hot topped with shredded cheddar cheese. 10. Warm regular buns and gluten-free buns separately and serve on the side.

  • ground beef

  • chili powder

  • cheddar cheese

  • buns

  • gluten-free buns

  • kidney beans

  • pasta sauce

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vegetable soup with gluten free grilled cheese sandwich
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Vegetable Soup & Grill Cheese

Creamy roasted vegetable soup paired with a crispy gluten-free grilled cheese sandwich.

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1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment. Spread prepared vegetables in an even layer. Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. 2. Roast for 25–35 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until vegetables are tender and lightly caramelized at the edges. 3. Transfer roasted vegetables to a large pot. Add enough homemade vegetable broth to cover by about 1 inch. 4. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook 10–15 minutes to allow flavors to blend. 5. Using an immersion blender (or working carefully in batches with a standard blender), blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust thickness with additional broth if needed. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. 6. For the grilled cheese, heat a skillet over medium. Butter one side of each slice of bread. 7. Place one slice of bread butter-side down in the skillet. Add cheese evenly, then top with second slice butter-side up. 8. Cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp, pressing lightly with a spatula. Cheese should be fully melted. 9. Let rest 1–2 minutes before slicing. Serve alongside hot soup.

  • onions

  • garlic

  • tomatoes

  • gluten-free bread

  • butter

  • gluten-free bread

  • cheddar cheese

  • butternut squash

  • bell peppers

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twice baked potatoes with bacon and cheddar cheese
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Twice Baked Potatoes

Potato skins filled with cheese, bacon, and creamy mashed potatoes then baked until golden.

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1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Scrub the russet potatoes dry. Rub each one lightly with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt. Place directly on the prepared baking sheet. 3. Bake for 50–60 minutes, until the skins are crisp and a knife slides easily into the center. Internal temperature should reach at least 205°F for a fluffy interior. 4. While the potatoes bake, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate and crumble once cooled. 5. Remove potatoes from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes, just until safe to handle. Keep the oven on. 6. Slice each potato in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop the interior into a large bowl, leaving about ¼ inch of potato attached to the skin so the shells hold their shape. 7. Add butter, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper to the scooped potato. Mash until smooth and creamy, with a slight texture remaining. 8. Stir in most of the crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese, reserving a small portion of each for topping. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. 9. Spoon the filling evenly back into the potato shells, mounding slightly. 10. Return to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes at 400°F, until heated through. 11. Switch the oven to broil. Sprinkle reserved cheddar and bacon over the tops. Broil for 2–4 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is melted and lightly golden. 12. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.

  • russet potatoes

  • sour cream

  • bacon

  • butter

  • milk

  • cheddar cheese

  • olive oil

  • salt and pepper

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au gratin potatoes with cheddar cheese sauce
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Au Gratin Potatoes

Creamy layers of potatoes and cheddar cheese baked until golden and bubbly.

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1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with butter. 2. Wash and peel potatoes if desired. Slice thinly and evenly, about 1/8 inch thick for even cooking. 3. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, warm heavy cream and milk together for 3–5 minutes. Do not boil. 4. Arrange a layer of sliced potatoes in the baking dish, slightly overlapping. Pour a small amount of the warm cream mixture over the layer and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. 5. Repeat layering potatoes, cream mixture, and cheddar until all ingredients are used, finishing with cheese on top. 6. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes. 7. Remove foil and continue baking 20–30 minutes until the top is golden brown and potatoes are fork-tender. Internal temperature should reach about 200°F for fully tender potatoes. 8. Let rest 10–15 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken and set.

  • potatoes

  • heavy cream

  • milk

  • cheddar cheese

  • butter

  • breadcrumbs

  • salt

  • black pepper

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gluten free chicken burgers with french fries
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Gluten- Free Chicken burgers and french fries

Crispy chicken burgers on gluten-free buns served with golden french fries.

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1. Heat olive oil in a deep skillet or heavy pot to 350°F. Use a thermometer to keep the temperature steady. 2. Carefully lower the pre-cooked gluten-free chicken burgers into the hot oil in small batches. Fry 3–4 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and heated through. 3. Chicken burgers should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. The exterior should be crisp and evenly browned. 4. Remove chicken burgers and transfer to a paper towel–lined tray. Let rest 2–3 minutes. 5. Return oil to 350°F if needed. 6. Add french fries in small batches. Fry 4–6 minutes, until deeply golden and extra crisp. For a firmer texture, allow them to cook slightly longer until dark golden at the edges. 7. Remove fries with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel–lined tray. Season immediately with salt while hot. 8. Lightly warm gluten-free buns if desired. 9. Assemble burgers by spreading mayo on the bun, adding lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and the crispy chicken burger. 10. Serve immediately with the hot olive oil–fried french fries.

  • buns

  • gluten-free buns

  • pre-cooked GF chicken burgers

  • lettuce

  • mayo

  • tomatoes

  • cheese

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