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MEAL PLAN #2: Quick, Easy, and Cheap Meals

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This is meal plan #2 with five quick easy and cheap meals that you can use for one week. The meal plan includes all five recipes and a shopping list for you to download and print.

Meal plan #2 recipe images including a casserole dish with beef and rice casserole, close up of ground pork with kidney beans and noodles, a pot with cabbage wedges and ground beef in sauce, Sliced garlic toast loaf topped with chili mixture and melted cheese, and a bowl with chicken legs, rice and sweet potato.

Meal Plan #2

This is Meal Plan #2 and includes five dinner recipes that use cheap and easy ingredients. Here you'll get sweet and sour beef with cabbage, chili pizza garlic bread, sweet pan chicken and sweet potatoes, one-pot ground pork with noodles, plus a beef and rice casserole.

Why Should You Use A Meal Plan?

  • Meal plans make life easier, once you get the hang of things.
  • You'll know what to expect for the entire week, taking the guesswork out of knowing what to cook for dinner.
  • You'll save money at the grocery store by knowing exactly what to buy, and nothing more.
  • It allows your family to enjoy a variety of recipes without having to search for new ones yourself.
  • you'll save time! Everything is planned out for you already. No need to write a grocery list either, I've done that for you!

Download Our Printable Shopping List

Download the full meal plan and shopping list for FREE! Click here to download Meal Plan #2.

Meal Plan Tips

  • Take a look at the meal plan with the shopping list before you go grocery shopping.
  • Shop your pantry first! For example, there's no need to buy new spices or canned diced tomatoes if you already have some.
  • Swap out ingredients that you don't like. For example, if sweet potatoes aren't your thing, try using russet potatoes instead.
  • Work smarter not harder. Cook a double batch of a recipe and freeze the rest for later. For example, our parmesan ground pork quiche freezes beautifully. One could easily be frozen for a future meal.
  • Check your local grocery stores for any sales and discounts. For example, one of my local stores was offering 2-for-1 on chicken thighs. I don't normally shop there because it's more expensive, but I made a trip and just bought the chicken!

More Meal Plans To Try

Watch The Meal Plan Cooking Video:

Be sure to watch the video below so you can cook along with me!

Watch Andi make these 5 quick and easy cheap meal ideas. These recipes are perfect for busy weeknights!

A white pot with cabbage wedges and ground beef mixture inside.

Dinner 1: Sweet and Sour Beef with Cabbage

Ground beef, onion, lentils, and bell pepper and cooked on the stove. Chopped cabbage and a sweet and sour sauce are poured on top. Everything is baked in the oven for a delicious and filling recipe.

  • Green cabbage is inexpensive and filling. Just cook until soft and tender.
  • Swap out ground beef for ground pork (it's cheaper), ground turkey or ground chicken.

See the full Sweet and Sour Beef with Cabbage recipe here.

Sweet and Sour Beef Cabbage

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup lentils
  • 3 celery stalks - chopped
  • 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 Tbsp old fashioned rolled oats - or breadcrumbs
  • 1 medium cabbage - core removed and cut into wedges
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar - or coconut sugar
  • 1 tsp salt - divided
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper - divided
  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Slice the cabbage into quarters. Remove the inner core by slicing off with a knife. Cut each into 8 wedges. This recipe will use 6 wedges.
    Wedges of cabbage on a cutting board with a knife.
  • In a bowl, mix together the tomato sauce, white vinegar, brown sugar, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground pepper. Set it aside for now.
    A white bowl with red sauce and a spatula.
  • Add the ground beef and onions to a large pot over medium high heat. Cook until the beef is browned.
    Two images of a white dutch oven. First with raw beef and chopped onion. Second with cooked beef and onion.
  • Stir in the lentils. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
    Two images of a white dutch oven. First with cooked beef and lentils dumped on top. Second with beef and lentils mixed together.
  • Add in the chopped celery and bell pepper.
    Two images of a white dutch oven. First with ground beef and celery and bell pepper dumped on top. Second with ingredients mixed together.
  • Add the garlic powder, rolled oats (or breadcrumbs), ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground pepper.
    Two images of a white dutch oven. First with oats and spices dumped on top of ground beef mixture. Second with all ingredients mixed together.
  • Add the ground beef to an oven-safe dish (if it isn't already in one). Spread into an even layer. Add the cabbage wedges on top. Drizzle the cabbage with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Pour the sweet and sour sauce overtop.
    Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 60-75 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender when poked with a fork.
    Two images of a white dutch oven. First with raw cabbage wedges on top of ground beef mixture and sauce pour on top of everything. Second with aluminum foil covering the pot.
  • Scoop 1-2 cabbage wedges with ground beef mixture on to each serving plate. Enjoy!
    Cooked sweet and sour beef cabbage recipe in a white large pot. Second is cabbage and ground beef recipe in a white bowl with a fork.
Sweet and sour beef with cabbage in a white pot.
Sliced garlic bread loaves with chili and melted cheese and top. A knife beside them. All on a cutting board.

Dinner 2: Chili Pizza Garlic Bread

Canned chili is mixed with bell pepper, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Added to garlic bread, sprinkled with parmesan and mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven. The result is a fun meal idea the whole family can enjoy.

  • Use a garlic bread loaf, garlic texas toast or a french bread loaf for the recipe.
  • Canned chili makes a great base for this recipe. You can also make your own homemade chili instead.
  • This is a meatless recipe, but you can easily add ground beef, ground pork or diced cooked sausage.

See our full chili pizza garlic bread recipe here.

Chili Pizza Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 15 oz canned chili
  • 1 cup chopped bell pepper
  • 4 oz canned mushrooms - pieces and stems
  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes - drained
  • 1 garlic toast - or french bread
  • 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Preheat the broiler and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cook the onion with a bit of oil in a frying pan over medium high heat.
    Two images of a frying pan, one with raw chopped onion. Second with cooked onion and a spatula.
  • Stir in canned chili, canned mushrooms and chopped bell pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring often.
    Two images of a frying pan. First with bell pepper, mushrooms and chili dumped on top of chopped onion. Second is chili mushroom ingredients mixed together.
  • Place the garlic bread on a bakign sheet. Spoon the chili mixture on top of each side of the bread.
    Two images. First is two pieces of garlic toast. Second is chili mixture dumped on top of garlic bread.
  • Sprinkle parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Broil for 2-4 minutes on the middle rack, or until cheese is melted and the garlic bread is crispy and toasted.
    Slice and serve.
    Two images of chili pizza garlic bread on a baking sheet. First image before cooking, second image after.
A white plate with chicken legs, rice and chopped sweet potato and a fork.

Dinner 3: Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Chicken legs are baked with sweet potatoes, chunks of onion and garlic cloves for a simple, healthy meal.

  • Chicken legs are usually cheapest chicken cut. You can also use chicken thighs for the recipe.
  • If you don't like sweet potatoes, swap them for russet potatoes or baby potatoes instead.
  • Add some greens like broccoli and brussels sprouts if you'd like.
  • Serve this with a side of rice, quinoa or pasta.

See the full sheet pan chicken and sweet potatoes recipe here.

Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potato

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 chicken legs
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 2-3 medium sweet potatoes - peeled and chopped into cubes
  • 1 medium onion - chopped into wedges
  • 1 garlic bulb - 6-8 cloves, all cloves peeled but not chopped
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet (or two baking sheets) with aluminum foil.
  • In a large bowl, mix together olive oil, dried thyme, salt and pepper. Add in the chicken and toss to coat. Keep the leftover sauce.
    Two images of a glass bowl. First with sauce and a spatula. Second with raw chicken mixed with sauce and a spatula.
  • Place the chicken legs in the center of the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
    Two images of a baking sheet with foil. First with seven raw chicken legs lined in a row. Second with the same chicken legs baked.
  • While the chicken is baking, peel and chop the sweet potato into small cubes. Chop the yellow onion into large chunks. Peel the garlic bulb into cloves.
    Two images of a cutting board. First with chopped sweet potato cubes and a peeled sweet potato. Second with chopped onion, onion skins and a knife.
  • Add the sweet potato, chopped onion and garlic cloves to the large bowl with the leftover olive oil mixture. Toss everything until coated.
  • Once chicken has cooked 15 minutes, remove from oven and add the sweet potato mixture along each side.
    Bake for another 45 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are crispy on the ouside and tender when poked with a fork.
    Chicken should also be fully cooked and reach 165°F internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
    Two images of a baking sheet lined with foil. First is unbaked chicken legs in center, chopped sweet potato and onion surrounding chicken. Second image is baked chicken legs, sweet potatoes and onion on the baking sheet.
  • While sheet pan ingredients are baking, cook some rice (this step is optional).
    White rice in a rice cooker with a spatula.
  • Serve the chicken and sweet potato mixture with rice. Enjoy!
Chicken legs and sweet potatoes on a baking sheet/
Ground pork tomato noodle recipe

Dinner 4: One-Pot Ground Pork with Noodles

Ground beef, egg noodles, kidney beans and bell pepper are cooked together in one pot with a tomato sauce for an easy weeknight meal.

  • Egg white noodles tend to cook the fastest. However, you can try this recipe with other noodles you already have.
  • Swap the ground beef for ground pork (it's cheaper), ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • Kidney beans can be swapped with lentils, chickpeas or white navy beans.
  • Sprinkle a bit of shredded mozzarella on top! Parmesan would be good too.

See the full one-pot ground pork with noodles recipe here.

One Pot Ground Pork with Noodles

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 15 oz canned diced tomatoes - drained
  • 15 oz canned kidney beans - drained and rinsed
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 8 oz pizza sauce
  • ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 3 cup egg noodles
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tspg ground black pepper
  • Add 1 lb ground pork to heated cooking oil in a large pot. Cook over medium-high heat until browned through.
  • Add 15 oz canned diced tomatoes, 15 oz canned kidney beans, 8 oz pizza sauce, ½ cup green bell pepper, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, and 1 ½ cups water. Mix ingredients.
  • Stir in 3 cup egg noodles. Bring to a boil and reduce to let simmer until the egg noodles are cooked al dente.
  • Garnish with shredded mozzarella or parmesan.
A white casserole dish with beef and rice casserole recipe inside plus a wood spoon. Forks, carrots and celery surround the dish.

Dinner 5: Beef and Rice Casserole

Ground beef, onion and celery are cooked in a frying pan. This is layered in a casserole dish with a creamy mixture of mushroom soup, milk and rice. Topped with grated parmesan and baked for a filling meal.

  • Ground beef is inexpensive, but can easily be replaced with ground pork, ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • No need to cook the rice in advance, it will cook right in the casserole dish as the recipe is baking!

See the full beef and rice casserole recipe here.

Beef Carrot Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 2 celery stalks - chopped
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • 10 oz cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup milk - or cream
  • 2 cups water - or broth
  • 1 cup rice
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Add the ground beef, chopped onion and chopped celery to a frying pan over medium high heat. Cook until the beef browns. Drain any excess grease.
    Two images of a skillet. Once with raw ground beef, chopped onion and chopped bell pepper. Second with cooked ground beef, onion, and bell peppe
  • Stir in the shredded carrot, then pour into a bowl and set aside.
    Two images of a frying pan. First with ground beef mixture and shredded carrots on top. Second with shredded carrots mixed into ground beef mixture.
  • Add the cream of mushroom soup, milk, water, and rice to the frying pan. Bring to a boil and reduce to let simmer until the liquid reduces and the rice cooks (mine took about 5-7 minutes). Stir occasionally often during this time.
    Two images of a frying pan. First is creamy liquid with a wood spoon. Second is liquid condensed into a creamy sauce with a wood spoon.
  • Assembly: Pour half of the creamy rice mixture into a casserole dish. Now add half of the ground beef mixture on top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Add the rest of the creamy rice mixture.
    Four images of a white casserole dish. First has creamy rice mixture inside. Second with ground beef mixture spread on top. Third with parmesan sprinkled over top. Four with more creamy rice sauce poured on top.
  • Add the last half of the ground beef mixture and sprinkle with more parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.
    Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes covered. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes.
    Two images of a white casserole dish. First with beef casserole recipe with parmesan on top. Second with aluminum foil on top.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes, then scoop on to plates and serve.
    Beef mushroom rice casserole recipe in a white dish with a scoop taken out and a wood spoon inside.

Don't Forget! The FREE printable shopping list and Meal Plan can be found here.

More Cheap Meals / Budget Friendly

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