Healthy Family Meals for Under $5

Erin Chase, also known as the $5 Dinner Mom and author of The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook, stopped by today to share some recipes for quick, tasty, nutritious meals that are easy on the budget! Check out the dishes featured on today's show below!

COUNTRY RIBS WITH OVEN FRIES

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups BBQ sauce ($.50)
• 1.5 lb pork ribs ($1.98)
• 1 onion, chopped ($.40)
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed ($.10)
• 10 small white potatoes ($.80)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil ($.20)
• Chili powder or Cajun seasoning (optional)
• Salt/Pepper, to taste
• 2 broccoli heads ($.79)

Directions

1. Place 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker with 1/2 cup of water. Place ribs on top of BBQ sauce. Sprinkle chopped onion and crushed garlic around and on top of ribs. Pour 1 cup or so of BBQ sauce over ribs. Set slow cooker on low and cook for 8 hours.

2. Peel potatoes and cut into fry wedges. Toss in large bowl all the wedges with 3 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Lay wedges on baking sheet in a single layer. Overlapping pieces will create a longer cooking time. Sprinkle with chili powder or Cajun seasonings if you wish to add some kick to the oven fries. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, then turn the wedges and bake another 10-15 minutes, until wedges golden and sizzle.

3. Steam broccoli in stovetop steamer for 4-5 minutes, or microwave for 4-5 minutes in a microwavable bowl, covered with plastic wrap.

4. Serve BBQ Country Ribs with Oven Fries and Steamed Broccoli.

Cost: $4.77

Frugal Fact: A fantastic meal for all those "Meat and Potato" guys out there!

SUMMER PASTA SALAD

Ingredients

• 1 lb. bowtie or rotini noodles ($.97)
• 1 large chicken breast or 1-2 cup of leftover diced chicken ($.83)
• 1 tsp oil ($.03)
• 1 cucumber, diced ($.50)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese ($.75)
• 1 15 oz. can Italian style tomatoes ($.59)
• 1/2 cup homemade Italian dressing ($.40)
• 1/4 of watermelon ($.75)

Directions

1. In medium saucepan, cook pasta as directed on package. Drain and rinse with cold water.

2. Dice chicken breasts and sauté in small skillet for 8-10 minutes, or until chicken pieces are no longer pink in the middle. Cooking time will vary depending on thickness of the diced chicken.

3. Peel and slice open cucumber lengthwise. Remove seeds with spoon. Dice cucumbers.

4. Prepare homemade Italian dressing according to directions on page *.

5. In large bowl, toss pasta, chicken, diced cucumbers, cheese, diced tomatoes and Italian dressing.

6. Slice or dice watermelon.

7. Serve Summer Pasta Salad with Fresh Watermelon.

Cost: $4.82

Frugal Fact: Using 1-2 cups leftover chicken from a previous meal or from preparing a whole chicken will help keep the costs down on this meal.

ORANGE BEEF AND BROCCOLI STIR-FRY

Ingredients

• 1 lb. beef for stir-fry strips ($1.68)
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce ($.10)
• 1 orange, juiced ($.33)
• 1 orange, peeled and sliced ($.33)
• 2 cups frozen broccoli ($1)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup brown rice ($.50)
• 2 cups frozen corn ($1)

Directions

1. In small bowl, toss stir-fry beef with soy sauce and juice from 1 orange. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

2. In medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups of water to boil, add 1 cup of brown rice and bring back to boil. Reduce heat and cover. Let simmer for 40-50 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.

3. In large skillet or wok, add marinated stir-fry beef with sliced fresh orange, frozen broccoli and salt and pepper. Stir-fry for 8-10 minutes over high heat, until beef is cooked through and broccoli is hot, stirring and tossing often. Cooking time may vary depending on thickness of the stir-fry beef pieces.

4. Cook frozen corn according to package instructions.

5. Serve Orange Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry over Brown Rice with Corn.

Cost: $4.94

Frugal Fact: Keep an eye out for unadvertised meat sales and/or "Reduced for quick sale" stickers for the less common cuts of meat like "stir-fry beef."

BACON WRAPPED APPLE CHICKEN

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce ($.25)
• 1 granny smith apples, peeled and grated ($.25)
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice ($.05)
• 3 chicken breasts ($2.52)
• 3 slices bacon, halved ($.38)
• 2 sweet potatoes ($.99)
• 1 cup frozen green beans ($.50)

Directions

1. In small bowl, stir BBQ sauce with grated apple and lemon juice.

2. Place chicken breast in crock-pot, pour BBQ/apple mixture over the chicken. Place 3 pieces of bacon over each chicken breast and sauce. Set the slow cooker on low and cook for 8 hours.

3. Slit or vent sweet potatoes. Add sweet potatoes to baking dish with 1/4 inch of water and cover with foil. Bake sweet potatoes at 350 for 1 hour. Remove and let cool about 10 minutes. Peel skins off of the sweet potato and mash.

4. Cook frozen green beans according to package instructions.

5. Serve BBQ Wrapped Apple Chicken with Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans.

Cost: $4.96

Frugal Fact: Because the protein portion of this meal is more expensive, consider using vegetables that you have stockpiled and frozen.

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