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26 Meals for $200


Another six weeks later, and another round of meals. These ones are really easy and can hardly be considered "home-cooked" but they will keep us well-fed.

Menu (make 2 of each) |

Burgers + Fries
Ranch Chicken
 Fish Tacos 
Cajun Smoked Sausage and Rice
Sausage & Shrimp Skillet
Fried Rice
Tacos
Chow Mein
Vodka Pasta
Spaghetti

Grocery List |

Meat:
Sirloin burgers (1-2 packages depending on the size of your family)
5 3 lb. bag of chicken breasts
1 "carne asada" roast
1 3 lb. bag of Mahi filets
4 packages of smoked sausage (turkey or beef)
1 bag of peeled shrimp
4 lbs. of ground beef
2 bags of pre-made meatballs

Produce:
1 sweet onion
2 orange bell peppers
2 red bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers

Seasoning:
2 Ranch seasoning packets
2 fajita seasoning packets
2 mojito lime seasoning packets
1 bottle of Caribbean Jerk marinade
2 packet of taco seasoning
Bottle of Cajun Seasoning
2 fried rice seasoning packet
Bottle of Mr. Yoshidas
Bay leaves
Brown sugar

Bakery:
2 packages burger buns
2 packages of small tortillas
2 packages of street taco tortillas
2 packages of flatbread

Freezer:
2 bags of French fries
2 bags of peas and carrots
2 bags of stir fry vegetables

Canned Goods:
2 cans of black beans
2 jars of vodka pasta sauce
2 jars of marinara sauce

Dried Goods:
6 lbs. brown rice
2 boxes of taco shells
2 packages of Chow Mein noodles
2 packages of chickpea penne pasta
2 packages of spaghetti noodles

Other:
Gallon-sized Hefty freezer bags
Slow Cooker Liners

To prep: label each bag for each meal. All frozen French fries, veggies, and sirloin burgers will go straight in the freezer. I also store noodles, rice, black beans, and fried rice seasoning in the pantry.

Then just start dumping.

Burgers + Fries
I just store all of this (buns included) in the freezer and take it out for an easy kid-friendly dinner. Season the burgers with Cajun seasoning and live your life.
 Ranch Chicken
1.5 chicken breasts
Season well with Ranch seasoning

Thaw. Cut into strips. Dip in egg wash then dip in flour. Fry in oil in frying pan over medium heat.

Carne Asada Fajitas
1 sweet onion
Yellow and Orange bell peppers
1/2 of the carne asada roast
Fajita seasoning mix

8 hours on low. Serve in small tortillas.

Mojito Lime Chicken on Flatbread
1.5 lbs. chicken breasts
1 packet Mojito Lime seasoning packet

Thaw, drizzle with EVOO or avocado oil and grill. Serve on flatbread with cilantro crema and cowboy caviar.

Caribbean Jerk Chicken
2 lbs. chicken breasts
½ bottle CJ marinade

Thaw and grill.

    Fish Tacos
1/2 bag of Mahi (about 5 filets)
Taco seasoning

Season fish, thaw and grill. Serve on street taco shells with cabbage and cilantro crema.


     Cajun Smoked Sausage and Rice
1 sliced smoked sausage
1 can black beans
2 cups brown rice, cooked
Drizzle with EVOO and season with Cajun seasoning to taste (~1 Tbsp - my husband likes more. Way more.)

Warm in skillet.

Sausage & Shrimp Skillet
1 smoked sausage, sliced
Shrimp
Cajun seasoning, to taste

Saute until the sausage and shrimp is slightly browned. Serve with rice. (For this meal, I just keep the shrimp and sausage in the freezer and make it the day of. It's so easy to throw together.)


Fried Rice
I store these ingredients in the pantry freezer and make the day of.

2 cups cooked rice, cooked
1 bag peas and carrots
1 fried rice seasoning packet
1 egg
Toss together in a skillet.

Tacos
2 lbs. ground beef
1 taco seasoning packet

Warm in skillet. Serve with taco shells and toppings.

Chow Mein
1.5   chicken breast  (season with S,P, & garlic powder)
Stirfry vegetables
Chow Mein noodles
Mr. Yoshidas

For this meal I keep the chicken in a gallon bag and keep the vegetables separate. The noodles will be stored in the pantry.

On the day of, thaw and grill the chicken (or pan fry) then add the vegetables and the cooked noodles. Add Mr. Yoshidas to taste.

Vodka Pasta
1.5   chicken breasts, sliced (season with S,P, & garlic powder)
Chickpea pasta
2 jars vodka sauce

Thaw and pan fry chicken until cooked through. Add cooked chickpea pasta and 2 jars of vodka sauce. Top with Parmesan.

 Spaghetti
1 bag meatballs
2 jars marinara
2-3 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. brown sugar

7 hours on low. Serve over your choice of noodles.

That's it! 26 easy meals for $200.




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