Budget Bytes

Best Potluck Recipes

Marsha - Budget Bytes — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Potlucks are always a great time for families and friends to get together for special occasions, summer BBQs and Sunday dinners. And I’m sure we’ve all worked somewhere where they loved having a potluck to celebrate just about anything, ha! Well if you’re looking for something easy, budget-friendly and delicious to bring to your next potluck, you’re in luck! We’ve put together 30 of the Best Potluck Recipes to impress your friends at your next social gathering!

Easy Potluck Recipes

1. Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar is a deliciously fresh bean salad with a colorful mix of beans and vegetables, plus a zesty lime dressing.

4.87 from 53 votes

$5.30 recipe / $0.53 serving Get the Recipe

You’ll definitely steal the show at your next party or BBQ when you make this Cowboy Caviar! It’s an easy salsa-type salad that can be served with chips, on top of tacos or salads or as a side dish with your next dinner meal.

2. Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey Pinwheels are a fun and easy spin on simple sandwiches, and the perfect recipe to make ahead for lunch meal prep or take to a party or potluck.

5 from 3 votes

$9.91 RECIPE / $2.48 SERVING Get the Recipe

Pinwheels are a classic party item that everyone seems to love. These Turkey Pinwheels are easy to make and extremely versatile. So grab this basic formula then feel free to switch up the ingredient combinations!

3. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad is an easy and inexpensive classic for potlucks, summer BBQs, or an easy side dish for dinner.

5 from 5 votes

$4.89 recipe / $0.61 serving Get the Recipe

You can’t have a summer BBQ or potluck without this classic Macaroni Salad recipe. It’s cold, creamy, budget-friendly and delicious!

4. Homemade Cornbread

Easy Homemade Cornbread Recipe

Toss that boxed mix and make this fast and Easy Homemade Cornbread, which makes a great side dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

4.72 from 102 votes

$1.51 recipe / $0.19 serving Get the Recipe

If there is one thing I absolutely love it’s definitely homemade cornbread. You can ditch the box stuff and serve this easy cornbread recipe with your soup, chili or as a side with your collard greens and pinto beans.

5. Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad

This chunky chopped Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad is a great fresh salad that can be eaten on its own or turned into several different easy lunch ideas!

4.88 from 25 votes

$4.84 recipe / $1.61 serving Get the Recipe

Everyone loves a good chicken salad and this Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad puts a fun spin on a classic recipe.

Potluck Dinner Recipes

6. Homemade Lasagna

Homemade Lasagna

This easy homemade lasagna recipe has layers of homemade meat sauce, tender lasagna noodles, and a rich combination of melty cheeses!

4.75 from 8 votes

$14.96 recipe / $1.66 serving Get the Recipe

When it comes to comfort food, it doesn’t get much better than a deep dish serving of cheesy Homemade Lasagna. This easy lasagna recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleasing food and is perfect for potlucks and Sunday dinners.

7. Homemade Chili

The Best Homemade Chili Recipe

This is the BEST homemade chili recipe. It's super easy and delicious, plus there are plenty of ways to customize it and make it your own.

4.89 from 136 votes

$9.28 recipe / $1.55 serving Get the Recipe

This warm and comforting Homemade Chili recipe is great to enjoy all year long. You can serve it at a potluck or dinner party and allow guests to customize it with their own toppings for a super flavorful and hearty meal.

8. Baked Spaghetti

Baked Spaghetti with Sausage

Baked spaghetti is a warm and comforting pasta casserole. As the pasta bakes, flavor infuses into the spaghetti, making it even more flavorful.

4.96 from 22 votes

$8.95 recipe / $1.49 serving Get the Recipe

Yes – Baked Spaghetti, because why not? It turns the traditional spaghetti recipe into this delicious casserole topped with a gooey layer of melted cheese. Trust me, it’s worth the extra effort.

9. Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

Ground beef in a tangy sauce piled onto a soft bun, homemade Sloppy Joes are an easy, classic American weeknight dinner.

4.54 from 13 votes

$10.20 recipe / $2.04 serving Get the Recipe

These Sloppy Joes are great to make for a big party or get-together. Our version is made with a rich, homemade sauce which makes them extra flavorful. You can easily serve these with mini slider buns to feed a crowd.

10. Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole is a creamy and comforting classic American dinner full of noodles, a creamy mushroom sauce, tuna, and peas.

4.43 from 28 votes

$6.85 recipe / $1.14 serving Get the Recipe

You can never go wrong with a creamy, pasta casserole dish at potlucks and Sunday dinners. This Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is made with a creamy, homemade mushroom sauce. It takes a little more time that using canned cream of mushroom soup – but it’s totally worth it!

Potluck Salad Recipes

11. Classic Southern Style Potato Salad

Classic Southern Style Potato Salad

This classic Southern Style Potato Salad uses both mustard and mayonnaise for a super flavorful dressing that is rich, tangy, and creamy.

4.89 from 9 votes

$5.56 recipe / $0.70 serving Get the Recipe

You definitely can’t have a summer BBQ or potluck without a big bowl of Southern Style Potato Salad. This classic comfort food is creamy, tangy and has just the right amount of crunch.

12. Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

This light and fresh Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks, or your weekly meal prep.

4.84 from 31 votes

$8.76 recipe / $1.10 serving Get the Recipe

I love a good pasta salad during the warm summer months. This refreshing Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad has lots of colorful veggies, an easy homemade vinaigrette and pasta – that’s it! It also stretches well so it’s great for large gatherings.

13. Three Bean Salad

Classic Three Bean Salad

Simple ingredients come together in this Classic Three Bean Salad to make a simple summer side dish, perfect for BBQs and potlucks!

4.64 from 11 votes

$2.79 recipe / $0.56 serving Get the Recipe

This simple Three Bean Salad has minimal ingredients, an easy and basic homemade dressing and is perfect for your next BBQ or potluck dinner.

14. Tortellini Salad

Tortellini Salad

This fresh, vibrant, and utterly delicious Tortellini Salad feeds a crowd on a dime. The best part: you can put it together in minutes!

5 from 1 vote

$15.57 recipe / $1.30 serving Get the Recipe

Your family and friends will love this Tortellini Salad recipe at your next potluck event! It’s a fresh, vibrant and delicious salad made with tortellini pasta, fresh summer vegetables and Italian dressing. Super easy and perfect for big parties!

15. Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad

Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad

Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad is a light, fresh, and vibrant pasta salad perfect for any summer meal.

4.84 from 53 votes

$6.46 recipe / $1.08 serving Get the Recipe

This fun and delicious Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad is super easy to make and stays fresh in the fridge for days. It’s the perfect side dish for anything you might cook on the grill and it works great for meal prep!

Vegetarian Potluck Recipes

16. Cheese Enchiladas

Cheese Enchiladas

Cheese enchiladas are a simple and delicious comfort food that never disappoints. These enchiladas are extra creamy and full of flavor!

4.91 from 10 votes

$5.97 recipe / $1.49 serving Get the Recipe

These Cheese Enchiladas are a simple recipe that combines tortillas, cheese, an extra kick of green chiles and of course our homemade enchilada sauce. They’re warm, cheesy and seriously delicious!

17. Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber sandwiches with a dilly cream cheese spread are a light and refreshing lunch or snack to serve with tea or brunch.

4.80 from 5 votes

$5.06 recipe / $0.42 serving Get the Recipe

These simple, light and refreshing cucumber sandwiches are perfect to make for brunch parties, bridal and baby showers, potlucks and even work gatherings. They’re also really flexible so feel free to play around with the ingredients and make them your own.

18. Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs

Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs

Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs are seasoned with a fiery spice blend and pepper sauce for a smoking hot appetizer that's a total breeze to prepare!

5 from 1 vote

Get the Recipe

Everyone loves a good deviled egg, but have you ever had hot deviled eggs?? These Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs are a fun twist to a classic potluck favorite recipe…and yes they’re seriously hot!

19. Broccoli Cheddar Casserole

Broccoli Cheddar Casserole

A creamy broccoli cheddar casserole from scratch, using no "cream of" soups. Rich, cheesy comfort food at its best!

4.73 from 74 votes

$6.56 recipe / $1.09 serving Get the Recipe

Broccoli Cheddar Casserole is a comforting, classic recipe that is always welcomed at social dinner parties. This homemade version comes together quickly and is a great way to use up some leftover rice!

20. Succotash

Succotash

Succotash is a simple and colorful side dish made with corn and lima beans that is savory, subtly sweet, and full of delicious flavor.

5 from 1 vote

$5.46 recipe / $0.55 serving Get the Recipe

We love a good side dish that you can pair with almost any meal. This colorful Succotash is simple to make, budget-friendly and a great dish to use up other vegetables in your fridge.

Slow Cooker Potluck Recipes

Slow cooker recipes are perfect for potlucks because if you’re someone like me there are probably a million other things you need to do to get ready for a party – especially if you’re the host. Not only are these slow cooker potluck recipes delicious, but it will also free up some of your time and keep you from having to stand over a hot stove all day!

21. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Seasoned chicken breast and tangy BBQ sauce are slow cooked until tender and delicious. Perfect for sandwiches, nachos, pizza, and more.

4.86 from 7 votes

$8.34 recipe / $2.09 serving Get the Recipe

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is one of my favorite ways to cook tender, flavorful chicken. Chicken breasts are seasoned well and topped with BBQ sauce, then cooked slow which helps make them extra tender and allows them to soak up that yummy sauce.

22. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Easy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

The slow cooker does all the work with this easy, flavorful, and healthy white chicken chili. This "dump and go" dinner will become a family favorite!

4.82 from 125 votes

$10.23 recipe / $1.71 serving Get the Recipe

This Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili is the perfect dump and go recipe. Add all of your ingredients to the bottom of the slow cooker, set your timer and when you come back you’ll have a big batch of hearty, delicious white chicken chili!

23. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is an easy way to cook the most tender and juicy pork ever. It's great on tacos, sandwiches, burritos and more.

4.50 from 6 votes

$9.48 recipe / $1.19 serving Get the Recipe

You’ll be surprised just how tender and juicy this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe is after it’s cooked low and slow. It’s perfect for BBQ sandwiches, nachos or any potluck or party meal.

24. Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

This super easy Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew is simple, comforting food at its best. And the leftovers are even better the next day!

4.50 from 32 votes

$9.88 recipe / $1.65 serving Get the Recipe

Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew is a simple, budget-friendly take on the classic beef stew recipe. It’s made with ground beef, lots of veggies and is perfect to feed a crowd.

25. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken is tender, juicy, tangy, and rich all at the same time! Perfect for sandwiches, nachos, salads, pizza, and more.

4.90 from 19 votes

$12.65 recipe / $1.58 serving Get the Recipe

This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken is always a favorite at potlucks and dinner parties. Our version goes a step further and uses ranch seasoning which adds a huge burst of flavor to the sauce and makes it even more delicious!

Potluck Dessert Recipes

26. Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake might be the ultimate chocolate cake. It's incredibly easy to make and has a luscious buttery richness with a pure chocolate punch!

5 from 3 votes

$11.27 recipe / $0.75 serving Get the Recipe

Say hello to one of the best chocolate cake recipes you’ll probably every taste. This Texas Sheet Cake can easily feed a crowd and is great for potlucks and large family gatherings.

27. Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

This easy-to-make banana pudding has all the things you want in a dessert: honey-like fruit, velvety vanilla pudding, and the crunch of buttery wafers.

5 from 2 votes

$4.91 recipe / $1.23 serving Get the Recipe

Is it just me or does it seem like Banana Pudding is always the first dessert to be devoured at potlucks? I suggest making a double batch of this easy Banana Pudding recipe because it’s always a crowd favorite!

28. Super Fudgy HOmemade Brownies

Super Fudgy Homemade Brownies

These super fudgy homemade brownies are thick, rich, extra-chocolatey, and super moist. They're the ultimate homemade fudge brownie!

4.74 from 19 votes

$3.93 recipe / $0.44 serving Get the Recipe

If you’re team fudgy brownies with dense, chewy, rich chocolate then these super fudgy homemade brownies are just for you! They’re easy to serve making them great for parties.

29. Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

These easy Raspberry Oatmeal bars are a fast fix for your sweet tooth and they only require a few pantry staples plus your favorite jam!

4.72 from 35 votes

$2.86 recipe / $0.32 serving Get the Recipe

You can whip up a batch of these super easy Raspberry Oatmeal Bars when you need a sweet dessert to go with dinner. They’re fun and simple to make with just a few pantry staple ingredients.

30. Easy Lemon Cream Pie

Easy Lemon Cream Pie

This sweet and creamy cloud-like lemon cream pie is an easy summer dessert that can be made completely no-bake, if needed.

4.95 from 17 votes

$4.26 recipe / $0.53 per slice Get the Recipe

This fluffy Lemon Cream Pie is a simple dessert thats perfect for summer gatherings. Make it with a buttery graham cracker crust or vanilla wafers and just a few simple ingredients for a sweet and creamy dessert!

Enjoy all of these delicious potluck recipes at your next party and let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below!

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The post Best Potluck Recipes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Smash Burger

Monti - Budget Bytes — Wed, 24 May 2023 15:13:05 +0000

If you love a meaty, juicy burger patty with loads of crispy edges and tons of smoky crooks and crannies for your favorite sauce or cheese to sink into, this Smash Burger recipe is for you! Will you be left with a greasy stovetop? Undoubtedly. Will your smoke alarm holler? Probably. Will it be worth it? A million times YES. Plus, you get four burgers for what you’d pay for just one at a restaurant. Oh haiiiii, Budget-Friendly Smash Burger! Let’s be best friends.

What is a Smash Burger?

Unlike traditional burger patties that are thick and round, a Smash Burger has a thin patty with crispy, charred edges packed with smoky flavor. You make a smash burger by smashing a ball of ground beef onto an ungreased, hot, flat surface.

Ingredients for The Best Smash Burger

Smash Burgers are easy (though a bit messy) to make, ridiculously delicious, and perfect for a weekend get-together. Here’s what you’ll need to make a Smash Burger:

Ground Beef- Don’t use lean ground beef. You need fat for a smashed patty to be flavorful and juicy. Instead, use 80/20 ground beef, which means the beef is 80% meat and 20% fat. If you want to make your burger patties with ground turkey or ground chicken the same rule applies.
Butter- Adding frozen butter to the beef mix helps give you juicy results with deep, meaty flavors while also delivering smoky, crispy edges. To add even more depth to your burger, you should butter your buns before toasting them.
Seasoning – We use our Homemade Burger Seasoning, but you can also season this burger with a teaspoon of salt and a quarter teaspoon of black pepper. For a little more kick, try using a teaspoon of your favorite spicy blend, like our Homemade Cajun Seasoning.
Buns- What’s a burger without a fabulous bun? I prefer potato buns, but classic white, pretzel, brioche, or sesame buns are great choices too. You can also wrap your patty in a big, juicy lettuce leaf!
Toppings – If you want to make a cheeseburger, I recommend American cheese, which melts beautifully. We went super-classic with lettuce, red onion, and slices of tomato for our toppings, and skipped sauces that would overpower the flavor of our patty. But you do you. Other toppings that work fabulously are slices of avocado and crispy bacon topped with a fried egg. Or smother your patty with sautéed mushrooms and onions and smoky chipotle peppers.

Chill your beef. Cold burgers have solidified fat. That means more fat stays in the patty as it cooks, producing a crispy brown exterior with a juicy interior.
Salt your burgers when you’re ready to cook them. Salt denatures the proteins in ground beef very quickly, and it only takes minutes to transform the patty into a dry, rubbery, meatloaf-like texture.
Use a cast iron or heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan which holds heat when a cold patty hits it. Do not use a non-stick pan; you should never heat non-stick to high temperatures.
Use the biggest, heaviest spatula you have to smash your burger. If you need more leverage, place a tall, thick, heavy glass lip-side down on the spatula and place your palm on its bottom to smash down even more.
To ensure your burgers are cooked evenly, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The internal temperature of a cooked burger should be 160°F.

What To Serve With Smash Burgers

We paired our Smash Burgers with our Oven Baked Steak Fries and they were absolutely AMAZING. You can also try our super crispy Garlic Parmesan Oven Fries. Other great options are our Easy Creamy Coleslaw or our Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad.

How To Store Smash Burgers

You can store cooked patties in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Then, reheat the patties in a preheated pan until steaming hot. Avoid using a microwave, which will leave you with rubbery results. If you’d rather freeze the burgers, don’t cook the patties. Instead, freeze the buttered, unseasoned ball-shaped portions wrapped in plastic or wax paper in an airtight container. Take them out of the freezer the day before you want to prepare them and thaw them overnight in your fridge.

Smash Burger

If you love a meaty, juicy burger patty with loads of crispy edges and tons of smoky crooks and crannies for your favorite sauce or cheese to sink into, this Smash Burger recipe is for you!

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Total Cost ($11.85 recipe / $2.96 serving)

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings burgers

Calories 516kcal

Author Monti – Budget Bytes

Equipment

Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef $6.99
4 Tbsp frozen salted butter, divided $0.56
3 tsp Homemade Burger Seasoning $0.33
4 burger buns $2.99
4 leaves iceberg lettuce $0.37
1 tomato, sliced into thin rounds $0.45
1/4 small red onion, sliced into thin rounds $0.16

Instructions

Separate the ground beef into four equal portions.
Grate 1/2 tablespoon of frozen butter onto each portion. Wrap the meat around the butter and shape it into a ball. Chill the beef until you are ready to cook. Place an ungreased cast iron skillet over high heat. Turn on your exhaust fan. Open a window.
When the skillet is smoking hot, sprinkle a 3/4 teaspoon of burger seasoning all over the beef ball, then place it in the pan.
Smash down with a spatula and keep the spatula on the burger as it cooks. When you see the top of the patty change color (about 2 minutes), carefully work the spatula under the patty. Take your time with this step, as the patty will be stuck to the pan.*
When you have loosened the patty, flip it and smash it again. Cook for 2 minutes more, remove the patty from the pan, and rest it on a cooling rack. Wipe the pan down with a paper towel and cook the remaining patties.
While the patties rest, place a rack in the top third of your oven and put it on broil. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and brush it onto the inside of the buns. Place them buttered side up on a sheet pan and toast in the oven for a few minutes until golden.
Assemble the burgers. Place the burger on the bottom bun and top with onion rounds, tomato slices, and lettuce. Add the top bun and enjoy the crispiest, smokiest, burger ever!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*If you want to make this a cheeseburger, as soon as you flip the patty and smash it again, remove the spatula and top the patty with a slice of cheese. I prefer American, as it melts beautifully.

Nutrition

How to Make Smash Burgers – Step by Step Photos

Separate 1 pound of ground beef into four equal portions.

Grate 1/2 tablespoon of frozen butter onto each portion. Wrap the meat around the butter and shape it into a ball. Chill the balls of beef until you are ready to cook. When it’s go time, place an ungreased cast iron skillet over high heat. Turn on your exhaust fan. Open a window.

When the skillet is smoking hot, sprinkle a 3/4 teaspoon of our Homemade Burger Seasoning all over the beef ball, then place it in the pan.

Smash down with a spatula to create an even patty about 1/4 to a 1/2 inch thick. Keep the spatula on the burger as it cooks. When you see the top of the patty change color (about 2 minutes), gently slide the spatula back and forth to take it off the top of the patty. If you try to just push it up, the movement could break the patty. Then, carefully work the spatula under the patty. Take your time with this step, as the patty will be stuck to the pan.

When you have loosened the patty, flip it and smash it again. If you want to make a cheeseburger, top the patty with a slice of cheese. Cook for 2 minutes more, remove the patty from the pan, and rest it on a cooling rack. Wipe the pan down with a paper towel and cook the remaining patties.

While the patties rest, place a rack in the top third of your oven and put it on broil. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and brush it onto the inside of the buns.

Toast the buns buttered side up in the oven for a few minutes until golden. Assemble your burgers with red onion rounds, slices of tomato, and lettuce. Top the burger with the remaining bun and chow down, my friend!! Don’t forget to say “I cook. You clean.” as you get showered with compliments! #Trust

More Great Burger Recipes

The post Smash Burger appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Homemade Burger Seasoning

Beth - Budget Bytes — Mon, 22 May 2023 13:14:41 +0000

I know Memorial Day is still a couple of weeks away, but if you ask me, grilling season has BEGUN! And whether you’re cooking homemade burgers outside on a grill or inside on a griddle, the first step to making a knock-it-out-of-the-park burger is to season it properly. This super simple homemade burger seasoning takes seconds to make, uses spices that you probably already have on hand, and really does take a ground beef patty to the next level. Try it on your next burger and let me know what you think! (I think you’ll be going back for seconds.)

What’s in Burger Seasoning

Burger seasoning doesn’t have to be fancy to really add a lot of depth of flavor to your homemade hamburgers. For our simple burger seasoning mix we use paprika (smoked and sweet), onion powder, garlic powder, freshly cracked pepper, salt, and just a tiny pinch of cayenne. They’re all pretty basic spices but when they come together they elevate the flavor of the beef without overshadowing it, making the perfect homemade hamburger.

How to Season Burgers

The best way to use this burger seasoning is to sprinkle a light layer on the outside of your already-formed burger patties. When making hamburgers you want to avoid overworking the meat, which can make your burger dense and tough. So gently shape your burgers then lightly coat them in your burger seasoning for the ultimate juicy and flavorful burger!

How Much Burger Seasoning to Use

I suggest using about ¼ to ½ tsp of burger seasoning per side of a ¼ lb. burger patty, but you can add more or less to taste. The recipe below makes about 1 Tbsp of burger seasoning, so that should be enough for about four burger patties.

If you want to make more burger seasoning at a time, simply adjust the number of servings listed in the servings box in the recipe card below and the rest of the ingredients will auto adjust for you.

P.S. This really basic seasoning blend is great on just about everything. Try it on steak fries, pork or beef roasts, or grilled steaks!

Burger Seasoning

Make the best hamburgers ever with this easy homemade burger seasoning recipe that will add flavor and depth to your burgers.

Course Seasoning

Cuisine American

Total Cost $0.33 recipe / $0.08 serving

Prep Time 3

Total Time 3

Servings (about ¾ tsp per burger)

Calories 5kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1 tsp sweet paprika $0.10
1/2 tsp smoked paprika $0.05
1/2 tsp onion powder $0.05
1/2 tsp garlic powder $0.05
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.03
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper $0.02
1/2 tsp salt $0.03

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Use immediately or store in a an air-tight container, away from light and heat, until ready to use.
To use the burger seasoning, sprinkle about ¼ to ½ tsp of seasoning over each side of a burger patty before cooking.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

How to Make burger seasoning – Step by Step Photos

In a small bowl, combine 1 tsp sweet paprika, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp freshly cracked pepper, ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper, and ½ tsp salt.

Stir the spices together and then they’re ready to use! Get ready for the juiciest, most flavorful burger ever!

You can also make this in larger batches and store it as you would any spice or seasoning blend – in an air-tight container, away from heat and light.

What’s your favorite burger add-in? Let us know in the comments below!

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$12.11 recipe / $3.03 serving

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

$11.47 recipe / $1.91 serving

Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers

$5.68 recipe / $2.84 serving

Green Chile Turkey Burgers

$10.71 recipe / $1.79 serving

The post Homemade Burger Seasoning appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Pasta Primavera

Marsha - Budget Bytes — Sat, 20 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000

For me nothing says Spring quite like a big serving of Pasta Primavera! This dish is full of fresh seasonal vegetables tossed with pasta in a light lemon and butter sauce. Now I know I’m not the only one who struggles getting their daily veggies, which is why I love this recipe. It incorporates lots of colorful vegetables, is simple to toss together and the leftovers are just as good the next day!

Pasta Primavera

Although the name Primavera stands for “Spring” in Italian, Pasta Primavera is actually a popular American dish that was first introduced in the 1970s. It includes lots of fresh Spring and Summer vegetables that are sauteed and tossed with pasta in a light cream sauce. In this recipe we opted for a fresh lemon and butter sauce.

Ingredients for Pasta Primavera

Pasta Primavera is such a simple and fresh recipe, you’ll only need a few ingredients to make this impressive dish. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make Pasta Primavera:

Pasta – Choose your favorite medium-sized pasta like penne, rotini or bow-tie pasta.
Lots of Veggies – The variety of fresh vegetables is what gives this pasta recipe lots of color, flavor and texture. Here we use a combination of Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Carrots, Grape Tomatoes, Red Onion and Peas.
Fresh Lemon Juice – The fresh lemon juice helps bring out the flavor of the vegetables.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Butter – Olive oil to saute the vegetables and a little bit of butter to help make the light sauce.
Salt, Pepper & Dried Oregano – A simple seasoning combination.
Parmesan Cheese – A little bit of fresh parmesan cheese added at the end helps finish the sauce.

Can I Use Different Vegetables?

Absolutely! Pasta Primavera is extremely versatile. You could mix and match with other vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, green beans or any fresh vegetables that are in season that will cook in relatively the same amount of time. This is also a great recipe to use up any leftover veggies that may be hanging out in your fridge to help reduce food waste in your kitchen.

What to Serve with Pasta Primavera

This Pasta Primavera is certainly hearty enough to eat on its own as a main dish, but you can also serve it with some of our favorites like:

Pasta Primavera

Pasta Primavera is the perfect Spring dish packed with fresh seasonal vegetables tossed with pasta in a light lemon and butter sauce.

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Total Cost $5.96 recipe / $1.49 serving

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings about 1.5 cups each

Calories 318kcal

Author Marsha – Budget Bytes

Equipment

Ingredients

8 oz. penne pasta $0.63
2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32
1 zucchini $0.75
1 yellow squash $0.85
1 carrot $0.14
1/2 red onion $0.38
1/2 cup frozen peas $0.21
1 cup grape tomatoes $1.00
3 cloves garlic, minced $0.24
1/2 cup grated Parmesan $0.89
1 tsp dried oregano $0.10
1/2 tsp salt $0.02
1/2 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
2 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice $0.13
2 Tbsp butter $0.28

Instructions

Start by prepping your vegetables. Wash the vegetables, then cut and slice each vegetable into equal size pieces. Cut the zucchini and yellow squash into half moons, slice the carrots into thin rounds, cut the grape tomatoes in half and slice the red onion into strips.
Next bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, or until al dente. Reserve some of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta in a colander.
While the pasta is boiling, saute the vegetables. In a large deep skillet add olive oil and saute carrots and onion over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Next add zucchini and yellow squash and saute for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Next add the minced garlic, grape tomatoes and frozen peas. Season the vegetables with salt, pepper and dried oregano. Saute for an additional 1-2 minutes, then turn the heat off.
Add the butter to the skillet along with the fresh squeezed lemon juice and stir well to combine. Either add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet, or transfer the pasta and vegetables to a large bowl. Add grated parmesan cheese and some of the reserved pasta water. Stir the vegetables with the pasta until well combined. Serve with fresh chopped parsley (optional garnish) and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

How to Make Pasta Primavera – Step by Step Photos

Start by prepping your vegetables. Wash the vegetables thoroughly then cut and slice each vegetable into equal size pieces. Cut the one zucchini and one yellow squash into half moons, slice one carrot into thin rounds, thinly slice half of a red onion, cut one cup of grape tomatoes in half, and mince three cloves of garlic.

Next bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to the package instructions to al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta in a colander. Transfer drained pasta to a large bowl.

While the pasta is boiling, start sautéeing the vegetables. In a large deep skillet add olive oil. Sauté carrots and onion over medium heat for 2 minutes. Next add zucchini and yellow squash and sauté for an additional 2 minutes. Now add the minced garlic, grape tomatoes and frozen peas. Season the vegetables with 1 tsp salt (or to taste), 1/2 tsp pepper and 1 tsp dried oregano. Sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes then turn your heat off.

Add 2 Tbsp butter to the skillet along with about 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice. Stir the vegetables well to combine.

Either add the cooked and drained penne to the skillet and stir to combine with the vegetables or transfer both the pasta and vegetables to a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese and about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir until well combined. Add more of the reserved pasta water if needed to create a light sauce.

Serve with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!

Quick Veggie Pasta

$3.61 recipe / $0.90 serving

Tortellini Salad

$15.57 recipe / $1.30 serving

Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta

$3.69 recipe / $0.92 serving

Roasted Vegetable Baked Penne

$11.34 recipe / $1.42 serving

The post Pasta Primavera appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Vegetarian Recipes

Marsha - Budget Bytes — Fri, 19 May 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Whether you are vegetarian or you simply enjoy the occasional Meatless Monday dish, you’re going to love this list of quick & easy vegetarian recipes! There’s something special about meals that don’t require extra time to brown ground meat or prep chicken, and are still packed with flavor and easy to make. So we’ve gathered all of our favorite vegetarian recipes from veggie-packed pastas and salads, hearty soups and easy dinner meals all in one place! Definitely bookmark this page and let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below!

Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

We’re kicking things off with these six reader-favorite vegetarian dinner recipes to feed your family on those busy weeknights!

1. Cheese Enchiladas

Cheese Enchiladas

Cheese enchiladas are a simple and delicious comfort food that never disappoints. These enchiladas are extra creamy and full of flavor!

4.91 from 10 votes

$5.97 recipe / $1.49 serving Get the Recipe

Dinner doesn’t get much easier than these Cheese Enchiladas! A simple combination of tortillas and cheese with an extra kick of green chiles and spices makes this the perfect easy weeknight recipe!

2. VEgetarian French Dip Sandwiches

Vegetarian French Dip Sandwiches

These Vegetarian French Dip Sandwiches are fast, easy, and feature a salty-sweet herb infused vegetarian au jus for dipping.

4.96 from 73 votes

$6.58 recipe / $1.65 each Get the Recipe

If you’re a fan of the traditional french dip recipe then you’re going to love these Vegetarian French Dip Sandwiches! They’re made with sautéed portobello mushrooms and served on thick, crusty bread with a delicious au jus that’s perfect for dipping.

3. Honey Sriracha tofu

Honey Sriracha Tofu

This sweet, spicy, and sticky honey sriracha tofu is addictively delicious! Add it to salads, bowl meals, wraps, and more.

4.82 from 32 votes

$2.64 recipe / $0.66 serving Get the Recipe

Pan-fried, crispy, Honey Sriracha Tofu is seriously addicting and SO good! It’s made with extra firm Tofu and a sweet and spicy sriracha glaze. The only hard part is trying not to eat the entire batch all by yourself!

4. White Bean With Mushrooms And Marinara

White Beans with Mushrooms and Marinara

White beans make a fiber-filled swap for gnocchi in this cheesy, indulgent skillet full of white beans, mushrooms, and marinara.

4.96 from 47 votes

$6.54 recipe / $1.64 serving Get the Recipe

White Beans with Mushrooms and Marinara is an easy one skillet meal that uses a few simple pantry and produce ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes!

5. Creamy Coconut Curry Lentils With Spinach

Creamy Coconut Curry Lentils with Spinach

These rich, creamy, and earthy Coconut Curry Lentils are an easy and delicious vegan option for dinner or weekly meal prep!

4.97 from 98 votes

$6.29 recipe / $1.57 serving Get the Recipe

These Creamy Coconut Curry Lentils with Spinach are made with a delicious, rich and creamy coconut sauce that goes perfectly with some fresh naan. Enjoy this simple plant-based meal for lunch, dinner or weekly meal prep!

6. BBQ Tofu Sliders

BBQ Tofu Sliders

BBQ Tofu Sliders are an easy and inexpensive alternative to pulled meat sandwiches. With a simple and uncomplicated ingredient list, this is a tofu dish anyone can master!

4.80 from 48 votes

$4.33 recipe / $1.44 serving Get the Recipe

Who says you can’t enjoy great vegetarian BBQ food in the Summertime? These BBQ Tofu Sliders are inexpensive, easy to make and seriously finger-licking good!

Quick & Easy VEgetarian Recipes

You definitely don’t have to be a vegetarian to fall in love with this next set of easy meatless meals. When you don’t have a lot of time and you just want something quick & flavorful – these easy vegetarian recipes can be made in just a few minutes!

7. Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen

Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen

This incredibly simple Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen is a rich and flavorful 15 minute meal that only requires a handful of ingredients!

4.84 from 132 votes

$2.75 per serving Get the Recipe

Move over traditional ramen…this Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen recipe is rich in flavor, includes a delicious broth and comes together in just 15 minutes…WIN!

8. Creamy White Bean And Spinach Quesadillas

Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas

Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, these insanely delicious Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas make an awesomely fast weeknight dinner.

4.94 from 88 votes

$3.99 recipe / $1.00 per quesadilla Get the Recipe

Switch up dinner tonight with these Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas! They’re crispy on the outside, rich in flavor and can be made in just 20 minutes.

9. Spinach And Feta Grilled Cheese

Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese

Take your grilled cheese sandwich to the next level with this gourmet Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese! An easy and flavorful lunch idea.

5 from 39 votes

$3.40 recipe / $1.70 serving Get the Recipe

Who can resist a cheesy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich? Take it up a notch with this Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese for lunch or an easy dinner recipe!

10. Cheesy Pinto Beans

Cheesy Pinto Beans

Cheesy Pinto Beans are a quick and satisfying meal made with simple pantry staple ingredients, like canned beans.

4.89 from 44 votes

$2.96 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

Though this may seem like a simple recipe, you’ll be surprised just how much flavor is packed into these Cheesy Pinto Beans! Serve with a bowl of rice and you instantly have an easy, satisfying meal.

11. Black Bean Quesadillas

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!

4.89 from 211 votes

$6.61 recipe / $0.66 each Get the Recipe

These Black Bean Quesadillas are one of the most viral recipes on our website. They have a spicy blend of beans, corn, taco seasoning and just a few other simple ingredients and come together in just 15 minutes!

Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

If you’re a pasta lover like me, then you’re going to love these veggie-packed pasta recipes! Choose from roasted, sautéed or grilled vegetables, your favorite pasta and a simple sauce and you’ll have a delicious, easy pasta recipe in minutes.

12. Spicy Sriracha Noodles

Spicy Sriracha Noodles

These sweet, tangy, and spicy sriracha noodles take only a few minutes to make and are an inexpensive alternative to take out.

4.89 from 307 votes

$2.50 recipe / $1.25 serving Get the Recipe

This goes out to all my spicy food lovers out there! These viral Spicy Sriracha Noodles are undeniably a huge favorite around here and are made with a super easy and delicious sauce. One of the best 15-minute recipes you’ll ever make!

13. Quick Veggie Pasta

Quick Veggie Pasta

Use up your leftover odds and ends in the kitchen because "anything goes" with this Quick Veggie Pasta! Make it vegetarian or vegan!

4.82 from 11 votes

$3.61 recipe / $0.90 serving Get the Recipe

I love a good flexible pasta recipe and this Quick Veggie Pasta is super easy to make. Use whatever leftover veggies you have in your fridge and your favorite pasta and you instantly have a quick and easy meal.

14. Roasted Broccoli Pasta With Lemon and Feta

Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta

Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta is an incredibly simple pasta dish with big flavors. An easy, fast, and delicious weeknight dinner!

5 from 24 votes

$3.69 recipe / $0.92 serving Get the Recipe

This Roasted Broccoli Pasta with Lemon and Feta is incredibly easy to make and only uses seven ingredients! The roasted broccoli adds a great smoky flavor to the pasta and the lemon and feta gives the dish an extra pop of flavor. Definitely give this one a try!

15. Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad

Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad

This classic summer Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad features smoky fire licked vegetables and a homemade creamy balsamic vinaigrette.

4.95 from 17 votes

$9.65 recipe / $1.21 serving Get the Recipe

If you love grilled vegetables, especially in the summer time, then this Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad might just be your new favorite recipe. Simply toss the grilled veggies with pasta and a creamy homemade balsamic vinaigrette and it’s perfect for your next family meal or backyard BBQ!

16. Tuscan White Bean Pasta

Tuscan White Bean Pasta

This Tuscan White Bean Pasta is a fast and flavorful dish that is perfect for weeknight dinners. Caramelized garlic, basil, and Parmesan add BIG flavor!

4.85 from 63 votes

$6.45 recipe / $1.61 serving Get the Recipe

Tuscan recipes hold a very special place in my heart and this Tuscan White Bean Pasta definitely does not disappoint. It packs in lots of flavor from the garlic, basil and parmesan and a good source of protein from the white beans. It’s perfect for a simple weeknight meal.

Vegetarian Salad Recipes

If there’s one food I never get tired of it’s salads! They’re extremely easy to customize by adding roasted vegetables, fresh seasonal fruit and quick & easy homemade dressings. So here are six of our favorite vegetarian salad recipes!

17. Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Lemon Tahini Dressing

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

This Roasted Cauliflower Salad combines sweet roasted red onions, spiced chickpeas, tender cauliflower, and a tangy lemon tahini dressing.

4.90 from 167 votes

$6.99 recipe / $1.75 serving Get the Recipe

Can we just get a round of applause for this Roasted Cauliflower Salad! The lemon tahini dressing alone is absolutely incredible, then it’s served with roasted cauliflower and spiced chickpeas for the perfect salad combo!

18. Apple Dijon Kale Salad

Apple Dijon Kale Salad

This Apple Dijon Kale Salad is tangy, sweet, and crunchy with Granny Smith apples, walnuts, raisins, and a homemade Dijon vinaigrette.

4.89 from 36 votes

$5.53 recipe / $1.38 serving Get the Recipe

It’s hard to go wrong when you mix Kale with a great vinaigrette like this Apple Dijon Kale Salad. The crisp apples, walnuts, raisins and homemade dijon vinaigrette give this salad so much flavor and makes it perfect as a side dish or for weekly meal prep!

19. Panzanella

Panzanella

This scrumptious Panzanella salad is a quick and delicious way to use up day-old bread, ripe tomatoes, and other summer produce. For the ultimate convenience, you can even prep the ingredients ahead of time.

$13.54 recipe / $2.26 serving Get the Recipe

If you’re looking for a really simple summer salad recipe, this Panzanella Salad is absolutely perfect and uses very minimal ingredients. Serve it with our easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing and its even more delicious!

20. Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

This Cold Peanut Noodle Salad with homemade peanut lime dressing is the perfect meal prep for summer! No reheating necessary.

4.90 from 89 votes

$5.30 recipe / $1.33 serving Get the Recipe

This Cold Peanut Noodle Salad is perfect for meal prep as the ingredients are all very sturdy and refrigerate very well. And the sauce…Oh the Sauce…the homemade creamy peanut lime dressing is a little tangy, a little sweet and goes perfectly with this salad recipe!

21. Broccoli Pasta Salad With Tomato Vinaigrette

Broccoli Pasta Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

This Broccoli Pasta Salad features a tangy homemade vinaigrette, nutty sunflower seeds, and creamy-salty feta.

4.63 from 16 votes

$4.67 recipe / $1.17 serving Get the Recipe

If pasta salads are your jam, then this Broccoli Pasta Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette will be one of your favs! It features a tangy homemade tomato vinaigrette, lots of crunchy vegetables and your favorite pasta for a delicious salad combination.

22. Crunchy Cabbage Salad

Crunchy Cabbage Salad

This crunchy cabbage salad holds up great in the refrigerator, so you can have a fresh crunchy vegetable side all week long!

4.44 from 23 votes

$3.01 recipe / $0.51 serving Get the Recipe

This Crunchy Cabbage Salad made with our yummy sesame ginger dressing is perfect for a quick lunch, a vegetable side dish or it works great for dinner especially when you add some teriyaki chicken or honey sriracha tofu on top!

Vegetarian Soup Recipes

There’s a reason why soup is often referred to as a hug in a bowl. It’s warm, hearty, comforting and can be enjoyed all year long! These easy vegetarian soups are packed with vegetables, have tons of flavor and the best part is they make large servings so it’s perfect for leftovers or to freeze for later.

23. Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup

Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup

This incredibly easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup takes only eight simple ingredients to deliver a bowl full of rich, bold flavor.

4.80 from 129 votes

$2.49 recipe / $0.62 serving Get the Recipe

This creamy and cozy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup comes together with just eight simple ingredients and it’s perfect with some homemade croutons on top or a piece of crusty bread for dipping!

24. Tomato Lentil Soup

Tomato Lentil Soup

This tomato lentil soup is full of vegetables and herbs for a simple, flavorful, and warming winter soup. Makes great leftovers!

4.88 from 33 votes

$4.74 recipe / $0.79 serving Get the Recipe

This super hearty and comforting Tomato Lentil Soup is perfect on a cold winter day. If you enjoy soup as much as I do you can certainly make it any time of the year and freeze any leftovers to enjoy later!

25. Cabbage Soup

Cabbage Soup

Forget the cabbage soup diet, you'll want to eat this super healthy vegetable-filled cabbage soup just because it tastes incredible!

4.85 from 119 votes

$7.89 recipe / $0.99 serving Get the Recipe

Surprisingly this Cabbage Soup recipe is extremely flavorful and absolutely delicious! It’s loaded with veggies and made with a simple herb-filled broth. And this recipe makes a LOT so you’ll definitely want to enjoy it throughout the week or freeze some for later.

26. Easy Minestrone Soup

Easy Minestrone Soup

This easy Vegetarian Minestrone Soup is hearty, chock full of vegetables, budget friendly, meal prep ready, and super flexible!

4.85 from 26 votes

$5.96 recipe / $0.99 serving Get the Recipe

Another one of our favorite vegetable-loaded soups is this Easy Minestrone Soup recipe. It’s warm, comforting, budget-friendly and great for meal prep! Wanna add pasta…go for it! Or just keep it simple by adding some extra beans for an even more hearty flavor.

If you loved this list of Easy Vegetarian Recipes and want to see more of our favorite recipe rounds ups then check out some of our other popular ones below!

Cheap And Easy Family Dinners

Creamy Pasta Recipes

Easy Recipes For Beginners

Easy Ground Beef Recipes

The post Easy Vegetarian Recipes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Yuca En Escabeche

Monti - Budget Bytes — Wed, 17 May 2023 16:22:50 +0000

My mouth waters every time I think about Yuca En Escabeche, a traditional Puerto Rican pickled cassava dish that’s as delicious and vibrant as it is versatile. It’s a bit like a punchy vinegar-based potato salad but with olives, onions, and yuca. It holds exceptionally well and makes a perfect appetizer or side for a backyard BBQ or beach picnic.

What is Yuca?

Yuca is a root vegetable like potato or taro. It is shaped like a large yam with a dark brown bark-like exterior and bright white flesh. It has a woody core that looks like a white root running through the middle of it lengthwise. You can find yuca fresh, frozen, and canned in most Latin grocery stores. It’s also often stocked in the freezer section at mainstream grocers.

What Is Escabeche?

Escabeche is a preserving technique that’s very popular all over Latin America. You warm a simple mix of oil and vinegar with a few aromatics and use it to pickle cooked vegetables, fruits (like green bananas), or fish. Because of the high acidity of the sauce, the pickled food stays fresh for a week, developing deeper flavors as it ages. Yuca En Escabeche is boiled cassava root smothered in escabeche sauce and served hot, cold, or at room temperature.

Ingredients

Get ready for your new summer favorite! It’s cooling on a hot day, comes together in just a few minutes, and you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the recipe. It’s one of those dishes I’ll make a big batch of and eat nonstop, paired with absolutely everything until it’s all gone. Here’s what you need to make Yuca En Escabeche:

Yuca– You can purchase yuca fresh or frozen. Fresh requires a lot of prep as you must peel off its woody bark and quarter it to remove the woody core. Frozen is my preference, as it’s already peeled and chopped. However, you should thaw it and make sure the woody core is removed, as sometimes it isn’t. Canned yuca is already prepped and cooked. You can simply drain it and add it to the escabeche sauce.
Olive Oil and Distilled White Vinegar– are the base of the escabeche sauce. Use an olive oil that has a flavor you enjoy. Though distilled vinegar is traditional, feel free to use apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar. This recipe is a 2 to 1 ratio of oil to vinegar. If you want something less acidic, use a 3 to 1 ratio. I prefer an aggressively acidic escabeche and use a 1 to 1 ratio of oil to vinegar. You do you!
Bay Leaves, Peppercorns, Salt, and Adobo – these spices add much-needed complexity to the simple escabeche sauce. If you don’t have adobo, omit it and up your salt game by a 1/4 teaspoon. Also add 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cumin. Bay leaves are a must for me, but try subbing them with a pinch or two of dry oregano if you’re out.
Onions and Garlic– are an integral part of the escabeche. They add deep earthy flavors and texture to the dish. You can substitute yellow onion with white or red onion. Sometimes garlic will turn a blue-green color when exposed to a highly acidic sauce. Don’t fret. It isn’t mold. If blueish-hued garlic slices make you uncomfortable, remove them.
Spanish Olives and Olive Brine – these roasted red pepper-stuffed olives (AKA Manzanilla or green olives) add a pop of tart and fruity notes to the dish, while their brine rounds out the acidity of the escabeche and creates complexity.

Variations on Yuca en Escabeche

Make this dish your own with additional veggies, spices, and proteins.

Strips of roasted red pepper make a beautiful and tasty addition. So do thin slices of fresh green and red bell peppers.
Mix different kinds of vinegar to add complexity. Just makes sure to use white or light-colored vinegar to preserve the color of the yuca.
Make a heartier version by topping the yuca with slices of hard-boiled egg, cooked shrimp, or chopped chicken.
Add different vegetables, such as chopped zucchini, squash, or tomatoes. Though not traditional choices, they are delicious.
Try using different spices, such as cumin, oregano, or cilantro.

What Do I Serve With Yuca En Escabeche?

This dish is excellent on its own, but I love it even more as a side. I pair it with Roasted Chicken, Chuletas Guisadas, or Puerto Rican Rice and Beans.

How To Store Leftovers

Store the yuca in an airtight container with plastic film over the surface. If at all possible, use a glass container, as the vinegar and garlic odors will cling to plastic. Refrigerate for up to a week. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw frozen yuca overnight in the fridge. Yuca can be served cold or at room temperature. If you prefer to serve it hot, warm it in a microwave until steaming.

Yuca En Escabeche

Yuca En Escabeche is a traditional Puerto Rican dish of pickled cassava, olives, and onions. It's delicious, vibrant, easy, and versatile!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine Latin

Total Cost ($4.53 recipe / $0.57 serving)

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Resting Time 30

Total Time 1 10

Servings cups

Calories 270kcal

Author Monti – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1 lb yuca (fresh or frozen) $1.55
4 tsp kosher salt, divided $0.16
2/3 cup olive oil $0.84
1/3 cup distilled white vinegar $0.41
3 bay leaves $0.30
1/2 tsp black peppercorns $0.05
1 tsp adobo seasoning $0.04
1 yellow onion, sliced in half moons $0.42
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced $0.34
1/4 cup sliced Spanish olives (AKA Manzanilla olives ) $0.33
1/8 cup olive brine $0.09

Instructions

If the yuca is fresh, peel and split it into 4-inch long quarters. Remove the woody center root. If the yuca is frozen, split it into 4-inch halves. Make sure the woody center has been removed and then cut each half in half.
Add yuca to a Dutch oven or other large heavy-bottomed pot. Add water until you cover the yuca by two inches. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Boil until the yuca is fork-tender but not mushy, about 25 to 30 minutes. Then drain the yuca and cool.
While the yuca cooks, set a small pot over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil and warm. Add the vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaf, remaining 2 teaspoons salt, adobo, onions, garlic, olives, and olive brine to the warm oil. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat.
Add the yuca to a large bowl. Cover the drained yuca with escabeche. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to develop the flavors, then serve.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

How to Make Yuca En Escabeche – Step by Step Photos

Prepare 1 pound of yuca. If the yuca is fresh, peel and split it into 4-inch long quarters. Remove the woody center root. If the yuca is frozen, split it into 4-inch halves. Make sure the woody center has been removed and then cut each half in half.

Add the yuca to a Dutch oven or other large heavy-bottomed pot. Add water until you cover the yuca by two inches. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Boil until the yuca is fork-tender but not mushy, about 25 to 30 minutes. Then drain the yuca and cool.

While the yuca cooks set a small stainless steel or enameled pot over medium-low heat. Avoid aluminum pots as highly acidic ingredients, like vinegar, can cause aluminum to leach into food, which leaves the food with a metallic taste. Add 2/3 cup of olive oil and warm. You don’t want the oil hot, just warm. Add the 1/3 cup of vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns, 3 bay leaves, remaining 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon adobo, 1 medium onion sliced in half moons, 8 thinly sliced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup Spanish olives, and 1/8 cup of olive brine to the warm oil. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onions should remain white but will wilt. Once wilted, remove from the heat.

Add the boiled yuca to a large boil and cover with the warm escabeche sauce. Allow the yuca to pickle for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving. To develop deeper flavors, cover the bowl with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the yuca and refrigerate overnight. Serve cold, at room temperature, or heat in a microwave until steaming. Enjoy this incredible dish as is or serve it with Roasted Chicken, Chuletas Guisadas, or Puerto Rican Rice and Beans!

More Puerto Rican Dishes

Picadillo

Arroz Con Pollo (Puerto Rican Chicken and Rice)

Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew)

The post Yuca En Escabeche appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Trail Mix

Beth - Budget Bytes — Mon, 15 May 2023 13:12:00 +0000

Trail mix is a great way to clean out your pantry and make a quick and easy snack out of your leftover forgotten-about ingredients. Because I don’t know if you’re like me, but small amounts of random ingredients tend to collect in the back of my pantry just like half-used bottles of sauces in my fridge. If you don’t stay on top of them it can quickly get out of control and result in a LOT of food waste. Instead of letting those ingredients get lost in the pantry, let’s do some Spring cleaning and make trail mix! Reduce waste and make a delicious snack? YES PLEASE.

What iS Trail Mix Made Of?

Trail mix (also known as scroggin) is simply a mix of nuts, seeds, fruit, and sometimes other ingredients. With every handful of this simple snack mix you get a nice combination of sweet and savory flavors, protein, carbs, and fat, plus tons of texture and color, making it fun to eat. It’s an easy snack to eat on the go (no heating or utensils required) and is a great source of energy during activities where you don’t want a super full stomach, like hiking.

Everyone makes trail mix a little bit different, but the classic mix that you’ll find in stores is usually peanuts, raisins, M&Ms, and sometimes a second nut like almonds or cashews. I love how flexible trail mix is because it allows you to make any combination of ingredients that fits your budget, the ingredients you have on hand, and the flavors you prefer.

Other Ingredients for Trail Mix

If looking in your pantry for trail mix ideas is a little overwhelming, here are some ingredients that are perfect for trail mix:

Nuts: peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, coconut, hazelnuts, pistachios, mixed nuts
Seeds: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
Dried Fruit: raisins, cranberries, banana chips, apple, pineapple, ginger, dates, apricots, freeze-dried strawberries
Chocolate: chocolate chips, carob chips, M&Ms, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips
Snacks & Candy: pretzels, granola, popcorn, Chex, Cheeze-its, chocolate or yogurt covered raisins, marshmallows, licorice, rice crackers, Reece’s Pieces

Nuts and dried fruit can be expensive, which is why I like to just use random leftover ingredients that I find in my pantry. BUT you can also tweak the ratios of your trail mix to keep the total cost low. Make sure to bulk up your trail mix with less expensive ingredients and then add in just a small handful of the more expensive ingredients.

Low Cost: peanuts, cereal, raisins, pretzels, marshmallows, coconut, popcorn

Expensive: most nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit (other than raisins), brand name snacks (M&Ms, Cheeze-its, etc.)

Trail Mix Flavor Combinations

I’ve included a very basic trail mix recipe below, but if you still need a little inspo for your own homemade mix, here are some fun combos that I’ve made in the past:

Fruit & Nut Trail Mix: peanuts, cashews, almonds, raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots
Tropical Trail Mix: banana chips, cashews, coconut, dried pineapple, dried cranberries
S’mores Trail Mix: peanuts, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, graham crackers (broken into pieces) or golden grahams cereal
Snack Trail Mix: popcorn, pretzels, chocolate chips, peanuts

How to Store Trail Mix

Because trail mix is made out of all dry, shelf stable ingredients, you’ll want to store it the same way you store the individual ingredients–in an air-tight container away from sunlight and moisture. I highly suggest keeping the trail mix in something clear, like a glass jar or zip top baggies, so you’ll see and remember that you have the trail mix on hand. Even better yet, divide it into small single-serving containers so you’ve got snacks ready to grab and go for the day!

Trail Mix

Making homemade trail mix is a quick and easy way to make a delicious snack AND use up leftover ingredients in your pantry.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings ½ cup each

Calories 372kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1 cup peanuts $0.70
1/4 cup raisins $0.39
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds) $0.50
1/4 cup chocolate chips $0.49
1/4 cup shaved coconut $0.42
1/4 cup dried cranberries $0.31

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl or resealable container and stir to combine. Enjoy one handful at a time!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

What’s your favorite ingredient or ingredient combination for trail mix? Let us know in the comments below!

Spicy Chex Mix

Homemade Granola

Candied Almonds

The post Trail Mix appeared first on Budget Bytes.

How To Make Soft Boiled Eggs

Beth - Budget Bytes — Sun, 14 May 2023 14:40:45 +0000

Soft-boiled eggs are my new obsession. The whites of the eggs are firm, but the yolk stays silky, creamy, and in a liquid gold state. It’s a little like a cross between butter and melted cheese. They’re seriously divine. And they’re not just for breakfast! I enjoy soft-boiled eggs with toast, as an addition to bowl meals, as a topper for salads or soup (hello, ramen!), or just as a quick snack. I pretty much add soft-boiled eggs to everything I eat, no matter what time of day. Are you ready to see how easy it is?

Why we Love Soft Boiled Eggs

How Long Does it Take TO Soft Boil an Egg?

The short answer is that it takes six minutes to soft boil an egg with fully set white and a liquid yolk, or 3-5 minutes if you prefer softer, slightly unset whites near the yolk. The long answer is that it also depends on the size of your egg and the technique used to boil the egg.

The recipe below is formulated for large eggs that are still cold from the refrigerator. In the U.S. large eggs weigh approximately 56-62 grams. You can use this method for other-sized eggs, just be aware that you will need to adjust the time up or down, depending on the size of your egg. Other factors that may affect the cooking time include high elevation, the type of cookware used, and starting temperature of your egg. Start with six minutes for large eggs and adjust the time until you find the exact amount of time needed to achieve your perfect soft-boiled egg.

The diagram above shows how long to cook large eggs (cold) to achieve soft or hard boiled eggs and everything in between.

3-5 minutes: liquid yolk with soft, whites not fully set
6 minutes: liquid yolk with fully set whites
7 minutes: jammy yolk with outer edges set
8 minutes: half set yolk
9 minutes: half set yolk
10 minutes: mostly set yolk

Using the steaming method, I find 12 minutes to be perfect for a hard boiled egg with a fully set yolk. If you prefer to use a full water bath instead of the steaming method, check out my tutorial for hard boiled eggs.

How to Boil Eggs Fast

Half of the time spent when boiling eggs is just waiting for the water to boil, so I like to use a combination of boiling water and steam. To create the steam you only need one inch of water in the pot, which comes to a boil in just a few quick minutes instead of several minutes for a full pot of water. The steam from the boiling water is then trapped under the lid, it surrounds the egg and cooks the egg just as quickly and evenly as a full pot of water. The quick steaming method allows you to cook your soft-boiled egg in just six minutes, or about the amount of time that it takes to start making your coffee or toast a piece of bread.

If you want to see how to make soft or hard-boiled eggs using a full pot of water, check out my tutorial for how to make hard-boiled eggs.

How Long do Soft Boiled Eggs Last?

Soft boiled eggs in the shell will last in the refrigerator for about two days. To reheat the refrigerated soft boiled eggs, just repeat the initial cooing process with half the time. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a small saucepot, add the egg, and let steam for 3 minutes instead of six.

What to Serve with Soft Boiled Eggs

Soft boiled eggs go well with so many different foods that I find myself adding them to almost all my meals (“put an egg on it!”). I add soft boiled eggs to everything from noodles and rice bowls to salads and toast. When you break open that liquid gold yolk is like adding a deliciously rich sauce to your meal. Here are a few recipes where a soft boiled egg can really take your meal to the next level:

How to Make Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs

Perfect soft boiled eggs with firm whites and liquid gold centers are only six minutes away. Use this easy step by step guide for perfect eggs every time.

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine General

Prep Time 4

Cook Time 6

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 74.4kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1 large egg, chilled

Instructions

Add 1 inch of water to a sauce pot, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Once boiling, add an egg (or however many you’d like as long as they are in a single layer in the bottom of the pot), straight from the refrigerator into the pot. Replace the lid and let it continue to boil for exactly six minutes.
After six minutes, remove the egg(s) from the pot and place them in an ice water bath or run under cool water until they are cool enough to handle. Peel, and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Video

Notes

If you do not plan to eat the egg immediately, cool the eggs completely in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Otherwise, the eggs can be peeled and eaten warm as soon as they are cool enough to handle.

Nutrition

How to Make Perfect Soft Boil Eggs – Step by Step Instructions

Add one inch of water to a sauce pot. Yes, you only need ONE INCH of water. Use the smallest pot you have that will house the number of eggs you’re making, so they’re in a single layer in the pot. I usually only do one or two eggs at a time, but this same technique can be used for any number of eggs. Place a lid on the pot and bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, gently place the large egg(s) into the pot. Tongs or a slotted spoon makes this easier to do without burning your finger tips.

After adding the egg(s) to the pot, put the lid back on top, and set a timer for six minutes. The lid holds in the steam, which surrounds the eggs with even heat, cooking them quickly and evenly.

After exactly six minutes, turn off the burner, and use the tongs to transfer the eggs to an ice bath. Allow the eggs to cool until they’re no longer too hot to handle, or let them sit in the ice bath until you’re ready to eat. Just make sure you don’t let them sit at room temperature after steaming, otherwise they will continue to cook with their residual heat, and the yolks will continue to solidify.

Carefully tap the egg on a hard surface to crack the shell, then gently peel it away. You’ll need to be gentle because the inside is still liquid and the egg will be somewhat soft and wobbly. Begin peeling on the fat end, which often has an air-bubble that separates the shell from the whites, and makes an easy spot to separate the two. Give it a quick rinse after removing the shell to get rid of any shell fragments.

And now it’s time for that magic moment… OMG the runny yolk is liquid perfection! *squeal* Just so you can see a close up of the awesome results… The whites are completely solid and the yolk is ALL liquid. How perfect is that? I feel like I won the lottery.

OTHER WAYS TO COOK EGGS

The post How To Make Soft Boiled Eggs appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Potato and Green Bean Skillet

Beth - Budget Bytes — Sat, 13 May 2023 14:44:48 +0000

Easy skillet meals are such a life savor on busy weeknights and if that skillet has bacon and potatoes then COUNT ME IN! This simple potato and green bean skillet can be served as a side, or, if you’re like me, you can just eat a big bowl of it for dinner on its own. The caramelized onions, smoky bacon, and tender potatoes are more than enough to keep me satisfied! As usual, I’ve got some ideas for customizations and add-ins for you below so you can make it your own.

What kind of Potatoes to use

I used baby potatoes in my skillet because they’re cute. No, just kidding. Well, kind of. Baby potatoes work well for this recipe because they cook quickly, don’t requite much chopping, and they have a great skin to flesh ratio which gives the skillet great color and texture. If baby potatoes are out of your price range, I would reach for either red potatoes or Yukon gold and chop them into 1-inch pieces before boiling.

Frozen Green Beans for the win

You probably know by now how much I love the convenience of frozen vegetables and how much they can help to reduce waste. For those reasons, I used frozen green beans in this quick skillet meal, but you can definitely use fresh green beans if you have them or if they’re in season. You’ll just want to cook them a little longer in the skillet (until they’re crisp-tender). Frozen green beans are already partially cooked, so they make this skillet that much faster and easier.

What else can I add?

This potato and green bean skillet is ripe for modifications. Here are some swaps or extra ingredients you can add to your skillet to make it your own:

Use smoked sausage in place of the bacon
Use steak seasoning in place of the everything bagel seasoning
Add a couple handfuls of spinach, chopped kale, or shredded cabbage for extra green
Add diced bell pepper (at the same time as the green beans)
Top with crispy French fried onions
Add minced fresh garlic or a pinch of crushed red pepper for a pop of flavor

Potato and Green Bean Skillet

This easy and delicious potato and green bean skillet is the perfect weeknight meal made with simple ingredients like potatoes, green beans, onions, and bacon.

Course Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Total Cost $6.91 recipe / $1.73 serving

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings about 1.25 cups each

Calories 287kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

1.5 lbs. baby potatoes $3.99
1 tsp salt (to salt the boiling water) $0.05
4 oz. bacon $1.15
1 yellow onion $0.37
12 oz. frozen cut green beans $1.25
1 tsp everything bagel seasoning $0.10

Instructions

Slice the potatoes in half and place them in a large pot. Cover with water and add 1 tsp salt. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high and allow the potatoes to continue boiling until the are fork-tender (about 7-8 minutes). Drain the potatoes in a colander.
While the potatoes are boiling, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it is brown and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet. For the most flavor, leave all of the bacon fat in the skillet, or drain off the excess making sure to leave at least 2 Tbsp of the fat in the skillet.
While the bacon is cooking, dice the onion. After removing the bacon from the skillet, add the diced onion and continue to cook over medium heat until the onion is soft and slightly browned.
Add the drained potatoes to the skillet with the onions. Give them a brief stir to coat them in fat, then let them continue to cook, stirring only once every few minutes, to allow the bottoms to brown.
Once the potatoes have some brown color on them, add the frozen green beans (no need to thaw). Continue to cook and stir until the green beans are heated through.
Chop the cooked bacon and add it back to the skillet along with the everything bagel seasoning. Stir to combine, taste, and add salt, pepper, or more bagel seasoning to your liking. Serve hot!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

How to Make Potato and Green Bean Skillet – Step by Step Photos

Slice 1.5 lbs. of baby potatoes in half. Place them in a pot and cover with water. Add 1 tsp of salt to the water. Place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a boil over high heat. Once it reaches a boil, turn down the heat to medium-high and allow the potatoes to boil until fork tender, about 7-8 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander.

Cook 4 oz. bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s brown and crispy. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet. For the most flavor, leave all of the bacon fat in the skillet, or drain off most of the fat making sure to leave at least 2 Tbsp of the fat in the skillet.

While the bacon is cooking, dice one yellow onion. Add it to the skillet after removing the bacon and continue to cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and slightly browned.

Add the drained potatoes back to the skillet. Stir briefly to coat them in fat, then let them cook over medium heat only stirring once every few minutes to allow them to brown on the bottom.

Once the potatoes have some browning on the edges, add one 12oz. bag of frozen cut green beans. Stir to combine and continue to cook over medium heat just until the green beans are heated through.

Chop the cooked bacon, then add it back to the skillet along with about 1 tsp of everything bagel seasoning. Stir everything to combine, taste, and add salt, pepper, or more everything bagel seasoning to your liking. Serve hot!

SO good, SO hearty!

Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet

$5.48 recipe / $1.37 serving

Turkey Taco Skillet

$6.71 recipe / $1.68 serving

Italian Sausage and White Bean Skillet

$6.26 recipe/ $1.57 serving

Creamy Salsa Chicken Skillet

$8.55 recipe / $2.14 serving

The post Potato and Green Bean Skillet appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Ground Beef Recipes

Beth - Budget Bytes — Fri, 12 May 2023 13:51:45 +0000

Ground beef is an easy dinner favorite. Not only is hamburger easy to incorporate into any recipe, it’s hearty and always a winner. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite easy ground beef recipes so the next time someone asks, “what’s for dinner?” or you catch a killer sale on ground beef, you’ve got a short list of easy go-to recipes. And let us know what your favorite is in the comments below!

Ground beef can be on the expensive side, so here’s how we stretch our dollar when using ground beef in recipes. Mix and match these tips to get the most servings for your dollar:

Buy ground beef in bulk to get a better price per pound, divide it into one or one half pound portions, and freeze for later.
Replace half of the ground beef in a recipe with black beans or lentils.
Add extra vegetables to the dish to bulk it up and make more servings for less money. Shredded or minced vegetables often mix seamlessly into ground beef.
Serve your ground beef dish over rice or pasta to make each serving extra filling.
Watch for sales and stock up when prices are good. Stock your freezer with sale priced meat for later!

Favorite Ground Beef Recipes for Dinner

1. Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

Ground beef in a tangy sauce piled onto a soft bun, homemade Sloppy Joes are an easy, classic American weeknight dinner.

4.54 from 13 votes

$10.20 recipe / $2.04 serving Get the Recipe

Sloppy Joes are always a family favorite and making them from scratch is surprisingly easy! So toss the canned sauce and whip up these incredibly flavorful homemade sloppy joes instead!

2. Homemade Chili

The Best Homemade Chili Recipe

This is the BEST homemade chili recipe. It's super easy and delicious, plus there are plenty of ways to customize it and make it your own.

4.89 from 136 votes

$9.28 recipe / $1.55 serving Get the Recipe

I know everyone has their own chili recipe, but THIS chili recipe has won awards. Plus we’ve got a ton of ideas and suggestions for modifying the recipe to make it your own.

3. Homemade Meatloaf

Classic Meatloaf

This classic meatloaf recipe is just like the traditional meatloaf grandma used to make. Tender and juicy with the perfect tomato glaze!

4.90 from 48 votes

$9.56 recipe / $0.96 per slice Get the Recipe

Homemade Meatloaf is a dinnertime classic for a reason. It’s savory and delicious, totally nostalgic, and that tangy tomato glaze on top is to die for. Plus, the leftovers make great meatloaf sandwiches the next day!

4. Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs are a delicious and cozy meal that is easy enough to prepare for a weeknight dinner but fancy enough for a special occasion.

4.90 from 19 votes

$5.83 recipe / $1.46 serving Get the Recipe

Swedish Meatballs are hard to resist with their ultra creamy sauce and bed of fluffy mashed potatoes! No trip to Ikea needed to get a plate of this goodness!

5. American Goulash

Easy American Goulash

This easy one pot version of American Goulash cooks the pasta and beef in the same pot with a homemade red wine tomato sauce for extra flavor.

4.81 from 63 votes

$10.96 recipe / $1.83 serving Get the Recipe

This dish goes by many names depending on where you live: American Goulash, Chop Suey, Beef and Mac, and more. No matter what you call it, it’s a super cozy ground beef and pasta dish that lands somewhere between chili and a traditional red meat sauce, and it’s absolutely divine.

6. Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Homemade Salisbury Steak with a rich mushroom gravy is a quick, simple, and hearty weeknight dinner that will fill even the biggest of appetites!

4.87 from 46 votes

$8.34 recipe / $2.09 serving Get the Recipe

If you grew up on TV dinners in the 70s or 80s, you know about Salisbury Steak. It’s no surprise that homemade Salisbury Steak is 100x better, so it’s definitely worth trying. Put it on your dinner menu this week!

7. Homemade Meatballs

Easy Homemade Meatballs

These easy homemade meatballs are freezer-friendly and versatile. Keep a batch in the freezer for quick weeknight dinners later!

5 from 10 votes

$10.92 recipe / $1.82 serving Get the Recipe

Take your spaghetti night up a notch with these easy homemade meatballs. I promise they’re not difficult and worth the few extra minutes of prep! Plus, you can freeze some for later. ;)

8. Bolognese

Bolognese

Bolognese, the dreamy (and easy) Italian meat sauce, pairs with more than pasta. Work it into baked potatoes, bell peppers, rice, or nachos!

4.34 from 3 votes

$10.28 recipe / $1.29 serving Get the Recipe

Bolognese sauce is one of those recipes that you want to let sit and simmer away all afternoon so that your whole house smells amazing and the flavors develop into something truly epic. Put this one down for your next weekend and enjoy the best Sunday dinner ever!

9. Curried ground Beef with Potatoes

Curried Ground Beef with Peas and Potatoes

Meat and potatoes come together with savory curry powder in this super simple weeknight curried ground beef skillet.

4.75 from 59 votes

$6.99 recipe / $1.17 serving Get the Recipe

The simplicity of this Curried Ground Beef with Potatoes juxtaposes the incredible flavor, making it one of my all-time favorite dinner recipes. Trust me on this one, you WANT to try it.

Simple Ground Beef Recipes

10. Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

This fast and easy Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry is a filling low carb dinner with big flavor and endless possibilities for customization.

4.85 from 349 votes

$7.14 recipe / $1.79 serving Get the Recipe

Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry (also known as cabbage roll in a bowl) is one of the most viral recipes on our website. So if you haven’t tried this one yet, you’re missing out!

11. Beef and Tomato Rice Bowls

Beef and Tomato Rice Bowl

This budget-friendly, easy Beef Tomato Rice Bowl is lip-smackingly good, endlessly adaptable, and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!

5 from 5 votes

$7.78 recipe / $1.95 serving Get the Recipe

When you just need something simple and GOOD that uses pantry staples, this Beef and Tomato Rice Bowl is it.

12. Beef and Taco Skillet

Beef Taco Skillet

This Beef Taco Skillet can repurpose your leftover ingredients into a fast, easy, and hearty weeknight dinner.

4.93 from 28 votes

$6.30 recipe / $1.58 serving Get the Recipe

Beef Taco Skillet is kind of like beef nachos, but different. Everything is sautéed together in a skillet and topped with shredded cheese for an extra gooey finish. Talk about quick comfort food!

13. Weeknight Pasta Sauce

The Best Weeknight Pasta Sauce

This rich and subtle pasta sauce is incredibly easy, which has earned it the title of The Best Weeknight Pasta Sauce in my house!

4.90 from 29 votes

$4.35 recipe / $1.09 serving Get the Recipe

If you want to level up your pasta game, give this Weeknight Pasta Sauce a try. It’s easy enough to make on a busy weeknight, but still a hundred times better than store-bought jarred sauce!

14. Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner

Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner

Make an entire dinner for two at one time with this fast and easy Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner. Perfect for meal prep!

4.94 from 64 votes

$6.27 recipe / $3.14 serving Get the Recipe

Sheet Pan BBQ Meatloaf Dinner is an easy dinner where you cook your main and two sides all together on one single sheet pan. Talk about easy!

15. Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli

Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli

Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli is a quick and easy all-in-one bowl dinner recipe with a rich, buttery, salty, and sweet sauce.

4.70 from 42 votes

$6.55 recipe / $1.63 serving Get the Recipe

Skip the take out tonight and make these Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli. It’s super quick, so filling, and totally craveable!

Ground Beef Soup Recipes

16. Taco Soup

Taco Soup

Taco soup is an easy and hearty soup with all the flavor of your favorite tacos in a warm and delicious bowl of soup.

5 from 5 votes

$11.84 recipe / $1.97 serving Get the Recipe

Taco Soup is one of the easiest soup recipes you’ll ever make! Just dump everything in the pot, let it simmer, and you end up with a super flavorful and hearty bowl that is ready for your favorite toppings. P.S. The leftovers are awesome, too!

17. Vegetable Beef Soup

Vegetable Beef Soup

This super easy vegetable beef soup is a filling and flavorful option for lunch, dinner, or your weekly meal prep!

4.75 from 16 votes

$11.13 recipe / $1.86 serving Get the Recipe

Vegetable Beef Soup is a childhood favorite, but trust me when I say you want to make this from scratch instead of buying the sad little cans. The homemade version is extra hearty with big chunks of vegetables and plenty of beef in every bite!

18. Beef and Cabbage SOup

Beef and Cabbage Soup

Light, but filling, this Beef and Cabbage Soup will fill you up without weighing you down, and will keep you warm from the inside out.

4.94 from 47 votes

$9.63 recipe / $1.61 serving Get the Recipe

If you want even MORE vegetables (and fewer carbs), go for this Beef and Cabbage Soup. I love this soup so much that I make it at least once a month, year round!

Ground Beef Casseroles

19. Cheesy Cottage Pie

Cheesy Cottage Pie

This Cheesy Cottage Pie is chock-full of vegetables in a rich beef gravy, and topped with a layer of super smooth and creamy cheddar mashed potatoes.

4.93 from 28 votes

$6.59 recipe / $1.10 serving Get the Recipe

Cottage Pie is just a Shepherd’s Pie but made with ground beef instead of lamb. To make this cottage pie extra luscious, we also mixed in a healthy dose of cheese into the mashed potatoes. YUM.

20. Beef and Mushroom Country Casserole

Beef & Mushroom Country Casserole

Beef & Mushroom Country Casserole is a filling and flavorful hot meal that the whole family will love, and with NO cream of soups!

4.79 from 23 votes

$12.09 recipe / $2.02 serving Get the Recipe

Pasta, hamburger meat, and a cheesy, creamy red sauce make this Beef and Mushroom Country Casserole absolutely irresistible!

21. Beef Burrito Casserole

Beef Burrito Casserole

This Beef Burrito Casserole is totally customizable and can include all your favorite burrito or nacho toppings. Leftovers reheat great for lunch!

4.69 from 45 votes

$8.10 recipe / $1.35 serving Get the Recipe

Beef Burrito Casserole has all of the delicious ingredients of a beef burrito, but in casserole form! Ground beef, beans, cheese, plenty of spices, and rice instead of a tortilla.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Recipes

22. Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

These Slow Cooker Meatball Subs are extra tender and flavorful thanks to a low and slow simmer in marinara sauce.

5 from 8 votes

$19.43 recipe / $2.43 each Get the Recipe

These Slow Cooker Meatball Subs are one of the best things I made in 2022. They’re so easy, the meatballs so tender, and the subs are better than anything you’ll get a restaurant. 🙌

23. Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

This super easy Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew is simple, comforting food at its best. And the leftovers are even better the next day!

4.50 from 32 votes

$9.88 recipe / $1.65 serving Get the Recipe

Also known as “poor man’s stew”, this Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew is a simple combination of ground beef, vegetables, and broth. Not fancy, but oh so satisfying!

24. Giant Slow Cooker Meatballs

Giant Slow Cooker Meatballs

As easy as 1-2-3, these Giant Slow Cooker Meatballs are a fun, easy, and effortless answer to weeknight dinner.

4.92 from 12 votes

$8.00 recipe / $2.00 serving Get the Recipe

These big and juicy Slow Cooker Meatballs cook right in the red sauce over slow and low heat so you get the MOST flavor possible and not a drop goes to waste.

One Pot Ground Beef Recipes

25. One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta

Cheeseburger Pasta is a fast and easy homemade version of hamburger helper that cooks all in one pot for easy cleanup!

4.77 from 73 votes

$5.03 recipe / $1.26 serving Get the Recipe

One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is an all-time Budget Bytes reader favorite recipe. You get all the flavor of your favorite cheese burger in an easy one pot pasta and that ground beef is stretched over several servings!

26. Beef Taco Pasta

One Pot Beef Taco Pasta

This Beef Taco Pasta is like a homemade version of hamburger helper with a southwest flavor spin. Hearty, delicious, and comforting!

4.76 from 66 votes

$10.33 recipe / $1.72 serving Get the Recipe

Another easy one pot meal, this Beef Taco Pasta has all your favorite southwest flavors in pasta form. You can’t go wrong!

27. One Pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff

One Pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff

This super easy one pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff is a delicious and comforting weeknight dinner that requires just a few ingredients.

4.67 from 186 votes

$5.54 recipe / $1.39 serving Get the Recipe

Who doesn’t love a rich and creamy stroganoff? We made this One Pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff a little more budget-friendly by adding some mushrooms and cooked it all in one pot to make it as quick and easy as possible!

28. One Pot Chili Pasta

One Pot Chili Pasta

This super hearty One Pot Chili Pasta is bursting with southwest chili flavor, protein, and fiber. It’s a meal in a bowl that the whole family will love.

4.71 from 81 votes

$9.71 recipe / $1.08 serving Get the Recipe

If you grew up on hamburger helper, you’re going to love this One Pot Chili Pasta! It’s like the grown up version, made from scratch, and I promise it is soooo much better but still just as easy. ;)

Smash Burger

$11.85 recipe / $2.96 serving

Homemade Burger Seasoning

$0.33 recipe / $0.08 serving

Beef And Tomato Rice Bowl

$7.78 recipe / $1.95 serving

Bolognese

$10.28 recipe / $1.29 serving

The post Easy Ground Beef Recipes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Budget Bytes

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22. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

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24. Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

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25. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

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Smash Burger

What is a Smash Burger?

Ingredients for The Best Smash Burger

Tips For A Great Smash Burger

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How To Store Smash Burgers

Smash Burger