The $20 Table

• •1 lb ziti or penne
• •1 jar marinara sauce
• •1 lb ground beef
• •2 cups shredded mozzarella

Brown beef, mix with cooked pasta and sauce, top with cheese, bake at 375F for 20 minutes.

• •1 box pancake mix
• •1 dozen eggs
• •1 pack bacon
• •syrup

Make pancakes, scramble eggs, cook bacon. Kids love it and it is one of the cheapest filling dinners there is.

• •1.5 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
• •1.5 cups rice
• •1 can cream of chicken soup
• •1 bag frozen broccoli

Mix soup with 2 cups water and rice in a baking dish, nestle chicken on top, cover and bake at 375F for 50 minutes, add broccoli last 15 minutes.

• •10 large flour tortillas
• •3 cups shredded cheese
• •1 rotisserie chicken
• •1 jar salsa

Shred chicken, fill tortillas with chicken and cheese, toast in a dry skillet 2-3 minutes per side, serve with salsa.

• •5 large russet potatoes
• •2 cups shredded cheese
• •1 pack bacon
• •1 bag frozen broccoli

Bake potatoes at 400F for 50-60 minutes, cook bacon and steam broccoli, let everyone build their own. Butter and sour cream are pantry staples.

• •3 lb pork shoulder
• •1 bottle BBQ sauce
• •1 pack hamburger buns
• •1 bag coleslaw mix

Slow cook pork on low 8 hours, shred and mix with sauce, serve on buns with slaw. Often cheaper when pork shoulder is on sale.

• •2 cans red beans
• •1 pack smoked sausage
• •1.5 cups rice
• •1 onion

Slice and brown sausage with diced onion, add beans and a cup of water, simmer 20 minutes, serve over rice. A Gulf Coast classic.

• •1 pack smoked sausage
• •2 lbs baby potatoes
• •1 bag frozen green beans
• •olive oil

Chop everything, toss in oil and seasoning, roast at 400F for 30-35 minutes.

• •2 lbs chicken breasts
• •1 jar salsa
• •8-10 flour tortillas
• •shredded cheese

Put chicken and salsa in a slow cooker on low 6 hours, shred, serve in tortillas with cheese. Pantry staples like salt and spices not counted.

• •1 lb spaghetti
• •1 lb ground beef
• •1 large jar marinara
• •grated parmesan

Brown beef, add sauce and simmer, serve over spaghetti with parmesan.

• •3 cups cooked rice (day-old is best)
• •4 eggs
• •1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
• •soy sauce

Scramble eggs in a large skillet, add vegetables, add rice and soy sauce, stir-fry 5 minutes. Cheapest meal on the list.

• •1 lb ground beef
• •2 cans kidney or pinto beans
• •1 large can crushed tomatoes
• •1 packet chili seasoning

Brown beef, add everything else, simmer 30 minutes. Serve over rice or with cornbread if budget allows.