20 Meatless Meals That Will Save Money on Groceries
By lisaduncan
Meatless Mondays
Meat tends to be one of the most expensive items in our grocery baskets each week. One big way to save money on groceries is to plan some meatless meals during the week and Monday is a perfect day of the week to start – Meatless Mondays. While meat is a great source of protein, there are also many great meatless protein sources to keep your muscles fueled. If you’re like my husband, Mike, who can’t imagine life without meat, here are some great meatless meal suggestions that even meat-lover “Mikey” likes.
While these may not be fancy, gourmet dishes, living frugal certainly does not mean eating “war-rations.” All of these meatless meals can be enjoyed simply, or dressed up with the suggested serving options for delicious money-saving, meatless meal alternatives.
1. Baked Potatoes
Options: Stuff them up with broccoli, cheese and anything else that strikes your fancy. Or swap them out and try baked sweet potatoes.
2. Black Beans – Plain or make a soup. Quick and cheap store bought versions are great or you can make your own with fresh or canned black beans, stock, sautéed onion and jalapeño pepper.
Options: Top with salsa, sour cream and cheddar cheese.
3. Cheese Pizza – So delicious plain. We have a
Friday night pizza night ritual and we get the Walmart Take and Bake Pizzas and dress them up.
Options: Add fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil to a store bought cheese pizza. Pesto also makes a great addition. Jazz it up with whatever fresh and affordable vegetables you have on hand (onions, mushrooms, green peppers, black olives) or even try a can of pineapple for a Hawaiian twist.
4. Christmas casseroles – Think about all the great casseroles we only make at the holidays.
Options: Green bean casserole, spinach casserole, sweet potatoes casserole … the list goes on.
5. Edamame – Store-bought, frozen is great.Shop around as prices vary. I’ve found the lowest price at my local Target store with their Archer Farms store brand. It’s full of soy protein!
Options – Steam and serve with a dash of garlic salt or with a soy wasabi sauce 9love it this way).
6. Egg Sandwiches – This is a personal favorite even for dinner. Just toast an English muffin and add a cooked egg (fried or omelet style) and a slice of cheese.
Options: Use any other bread options you may have handy, or add a tomato.
7. Cereal – Any on-sale, store-bought brand will do.
Options: I prefer using whole oats (uncooked), raisins, bananas, cinnamon and soy milk.
8. Eggs – Scrambled Eggs or Omelets
Options: Add some veggies (tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, spinach, etc.) and/or cheese.
9. Grilled Cheese
Options: Add tomatoes. Or experiment with different types of breads and cheeses for a gourmet grilled cheese version.
10. Grilled Vegetables
Options: Grill in foil or as shish-kabobs on sticks. Onions, yellow squash, zucchini, grape tomatoes and red potatoes work the best.
11. Macaroni and Cheese – Store bought is great or you can make your own with elbow macaroni and a can of cheddar cheese soup.
Options: Feeling adventurous, add other mixes of cheese you have on hand (cheddar, Swiss, Velveeta, pepper jack, etc.). You can also make a veggie mac by adding sautéed or steamed broccoli, onions and/or mushrooms. Top them all with some breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese and bake in the oven
12. Pancakes or Waffles
Options: Add blueberries, bananas, or chocolate chips to the batter. Or top with fresh strawberries, apples or whipped cream.
13. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Options: Plain is great, or toast the bread for warm, yummy, goodness. You can also add honey and bananas.
14. Protein Shakes – I love these! I use soy protein (chocolate or vanilla) and soy milk.
Options: Add peanut butter, bananas, strawberries, and/or flax seed.
15. Quesadillas
Options: A flour tortilla can be dressed up many ways with cheese, black beans or refried beans, tomatoes, avocados, and more.
16. Salads
Options: To turn leafy greens into a protein packed meal add sliced hard boiled eggs, diced tofu, and slivered almonds. Or just max it out with an assortment of chopped veggies (cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, onions, scallions, mushrooms, etc.). Another idea, slice some ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, add some fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar (see picture above). Serve with some crusty bread. Delish!
17. Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce
Options: A store bought sauce will do, or make your own with a can of crushed tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil (I grow my own) for a light, healthy option.
18. Veggies – use fresh, grilled or sautéed veggies
Options: veggie tacos, veggie sandwich
19. Veggie Chili – Make your old standby chili recipe minus the meat.
Options: Add a variety of beans beyond the red chili beans – black beans or northern beans are good.
20. Vegetable Soup – A box of chicken stock, fresh or frozen veggies, and some seasoning and you’ve got a quick, healthy meal.
Options: Turn a soup into a hearty stew by first creating a roux with some butter and flour, then add the stock and veggies and simmer.
The above meatless meal suggestions are Living Frugal Tips that are quick and simple recipes and serving suggestions that I use daily to save money on groceries.
Bon Appetit!
Comments
OOoh my mouth is watering and my tummy is grumbling but I have to make an announcement to you and the other food nominees. Your hub is nominated for the HUBNUGGETS! Drum roll please tadan... visit the Hubnuggets of the Carribean and bring your meatless dishes for everyone to enjoy. LOL
http://hubpages.com/_hubnuggets10/hub/HubNuggets-P Be sure to vote and promote your hub!
Congratulations for the nomination! I have voted for this hub and I just love it. So helpful... and tasteful! Good luck! =)
Thanks for the votes. This is all new to me, but fun and exciting. I'm glad you found the suggestions useful.
Thanks again!!
Lisa
Congratulations on your hubnugget Nomination!Delicious hub.)! Its got my tummy rumbling and my vote!
Simple ingredients which we all have in the cupboard but avoid using becasue we want meat all the time:)I've bookmarked for future reference!
Any time I can find a hub that shows yummy tasty meals without meat, makes me happy. You have me hungry for sure and I to congratulate you on your nomination to hubnuggets. You deserve to be there. Thanks for the share.
Very good suggestions for meatless meals. Good hub.
Thanks Tim, Saddlerider and Pamela.
I so appreciate your interest in my hub ... and thank you for your vote.
Have a great night.
Lisa
This is a great list! I feel like such a hypocrite. As you might know, I wrote a hub about the history of the hamburger - in competition with your hub for the hubnugget. However, I do not actually eat hamburgers. Even if there were no economical value involved, I am more inclined to enjoy these meatless meals. You have my vote! :-)
I love all of these. I can do without meat for most days, but then all of a sudden I need a big steak. Must be my body crying out for protein. Thanks for the options.
Don't get me wrong. I love my meat too. Just had a burger on the grill yesterday and it was delish! But, when trying to save, it definitely pays to cut back.
Lisa
This is a great hub. I love the idea of meatless monday. At our house, thursday is breakfast for dinner day, and friday is pizza day (we too make frequent use of the walmart take and bake, and pile on lots and lots of fresh veggies). I will be using this idea weekly.
Congrats on your nomination.
Namaste.
I think these are great for health, not just budget. I've read recommendations by several doctors and nutrition experts recently who recommend going as much as 80% vegetarian. I had some fun with this after learning Ruben Studdard had gone vegan, and did a hub with links to meatless versions of soul food and Southern Comfort food.
Some great ideas there thanks..
Good food and Good Value for money too...
Hhhhhmmmm, Good healthy, inexpensive meals, great hub. Congrats on being selected to this week's HubNuggets Wannabe nominees. Good luck to ya!
Ohh veggie meals, I changed over 25 years ago for economic reasons and it does save money. One of the costliest things we buy is my wife's meat each week. Plus its healthy too. Good recipes.
These are good tips since i dont like to eat too much meat during the summer,
thank you.
All excellent meat alternatives, and with the leaner economy and the fact that we really don't, as a society, choose the healthiest meals necessarily, more vegetables and legumes is probably a good idea anyway.
Bookmarking this one.
Thanks EVERYONE!! I am a HubNuggets WINNER thanks to all your comments and votes. I so appreciate your interest and enthusiasm and hope that I can continue to provide quality content that matters and makes a difference. Have a great night!!
Lisa
Congratulations Lisa - it's been fun and livened up the week. I like to cook non-meat meals several times a week for balance and variety, trying to buy meet when on special offer. All the best, Jamie.
Congratulations on being a HubNuggets Winner! I so agree with you about meat-free Mondays; there's such a fantastic selection of delicious vegetarian alternatives.
Congratulations on your HubNugget! Tis a great hub!
Best wishes and happy writing!
Margit
Congratulations! Great ideas. Since going mainly vegetarian I have lost weight, spent less on food and feel better
Great hub! Always good to find some new ways to dress up veggie dishes. I look forward to trying a few of your suggestions.
Great Hub. I am vegetarian and i liked it much.
I like baked beans over baked potatoes, good meal suggestions, thanks.
Ah yes, I love "jacket potatoes" as they are called in the UK. Yummy baked potatoes with toppings like baked beans and cheese. I think I'll have that this evening...
I am a vegetarian. This is a mouth watering hub for me. They all sound so good. I cant wait to try them.
Thanks for delicious hub
Ramkkasturi
You are very right meat is expensive , thanks for the tips.
Meat is expensive, but you just have to buy the best quality for your money. You should do this will all food. Saving money is not always the best thing to do...when it comes to nutrition. If you are on a budget, try meal delivery services rather than eating out.
Hi LisaDuncan!! i lived in florida and we are now liuving near "Duncan" oklahoma!! LOL
love your homey hubs!
These sound wonderful! Gives me an idea, engage my granddaughter in the making and inventing! Might just show her she can enjoy healthy, as well as introduce her to new foods. I think this would encourage her to expand her menu. When she was younger, she ate everything, not so much anymore.
Thanks for sharing.
Great, my wife is a vegatarian so this gives me some more ideas. Thanks for writing.
itakins 2 years ago
I like these- bookmarked.