Easy and Delicious Family Meal Ideas That Cost $5 a Go

1. Waffles

This is a simple recipe for the morning, and I love that it comes together really quickly and also the kids are able to help. It is nearly impossible to mess up, and it is so versatile and can be tweaked to your liking.

For example, yogurt adds a lot of protein and it adds a good amount of substance to the finished product, but it is not essential.

Ingredients:

• 2 C Flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 C sourdough starter discard
• 1 C milk
• 1 C vanilla yogurt (optional)
• 2 TBS sugar
• 1 egg (or however many you want)
• 2 TBS coconut oil or butter

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. Heat the waffle maker to medium heat. Pour 1/3 C batter for each waffle. Cook until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup.

For a no sourdough version, substitute the sourdough starter with ¾ cup of flour and ¼ cup of water.

If you do not have a waffle maker yet, I highly recommend investing in one of those. They are so great to have in your pantry, and you can find one for just $5-10 at a yard sale or thrift store.

I scrambled some eggs on the side, chopped up a couple of strawberries and bananas and finished the meal off with some maple syrup. I think this is a really well-balanced meal, with plenty of protein and vitamins and minerals.

2. Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 C Flour
• 1 TBS baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 C butter, softened
• 1 1/2 C sourdough discard
• 1/2 C milk or buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 400F. Combine the dry ingredients. Stir well. Add butter. Combine. Add sourdough and milk. Stir well until no longer sticky (using your hands is the easiest way).

Roll out on a floured surface. Cut with a large cup or biscuit cutter.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve with scrambled eggs & fruit.

For a no sourdough version, substitute the sourdough starter with about 1 1⁄4 cup of flour and 1⁄2 cup of water.

These were some of the best biscuits I have ever made. I fried up some bacon to go along with it and scrambled some eggs. I added honey to my biscuits and jelly to others.

I love how inexpensive and easy this meal is. You do not have to have a lot of extra time to make this meal, but it just feels homey.

3. Tortillas

Another meal that we have really enjoyed in the past couple of weeks is our homemade quesadillas. I was really excited to try to make my own tortillas, and here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C sourdough discard
• 1/4 C oil (I used avocado)
• 1/3 C water
• 1 2/3 C flour
• 1 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients and stir well.

Knead on a floured surface until well combined and no longer sticky.

Allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Heat skillet and 1 tsp oil.

Roll out medium sized dough balls as thin as possible, 8-10 inches in diameter. Place the tortilla in a skillet and cook on one side for one minute and the other for 30 seconds. Repeat for each tortilla.

To make quesadillas, add cheese to half of a tortilla, and fold over. Heat on one side for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.

Top with sour cream and diced tomatoes!

Here are the ingredients for the version without sourdough:

• 1 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 TBS oil
• 1/2 C warm water

I cooked up one pound of ground beef with some cumin, chili powder and salt. Some of the quesadillas were just cheddar cheese, and some were beef and cheese. I served this with rice and beans, and it was such an easy but festive dinner.

4. Homemade pizza

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C sourdough discard
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 TBS olive oil
• 4 C flour
• 1 1/2 C water

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Cover and allow to rest and rise for 3-4 hours or ideally the whole day.

When ready to use, roll out on a floured surface, making it as thin as desired.

Heat oven to 400 F.

Oil a cookie sheet or pizza pan and place the dough on the pan. Top as desired.

Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and browning.

Enjoy!

For a no sourdough version, substitute the sourdough starter with 2 cups of warm water, 1 ½ tablespoons of active dry yeast and 1 ¼ cups of flour.

This was a really fun one to put together. I love getting the kids in the kitchen, and this recipe is the perfect opportunity to do that.

If you want to make your sauce, just pour some crushed tomatoes in a pot, add some salt, a quarter cup of olive oil and two tablespoons of sugar, stir that together really well and then just let it simmer on the stove while you make the rest of the pizza.

$5 family meals

All of these meals have turned out great and were a huge hit here at our house. I hope you will give them a try and let me know what your family thinks.

What are your family's favorite quick, easy and nutritious frugal meals that you like to put on the table every single week? Leave a comment below!

Next, check out my 4 Cheap & Delicious Meal Ideas With Rotisserie Chicken.