2 Easy to make Budget Meals – Lasagne & Chilli Con Carne

Feeding a family can be very challenging, time consuming and not to mention very expensive. I am very aware of how much the weekly shopping can cost families so I have come up with some great Money Saving ideas to stretch your shopping budget and avoid food wastage. Today I will show you how to make two budget meals that will have your family feeling full and asking for more!

I have started to dedicate one day a week, armed with a variety of ingredients ready to make home cooked, nutritional family friendly meals.

Since I have discovered using my trusty slow cooker, which was locked away in a cupboard for year after receiving it as a gift I have literally not looked back! In fact why did it take me so long to try using it in the first place! This device saves times and makes food taste fantastic.

Here are 2 recipe ideas which are my families favourite mid-week meals. Both are cost effective, nutritional, easy to make and above that tasty.

Budget Meal 1 – Chilli Con Carne

This has to be my favorite meal to make in the slow cooker and is a perfect meal to freeze into portion sizes to send my husband to work with for his packed lunch. I also find it is a great meal to have stocked up in the freezer for those unexpected guests and for great quick and easy meals when time is not on your side!

I used the following ingredients to achieve this home cooked family meal:

• Tesco Beef Steak Mince 600g
• Chilli Con Carne Mix
• Red kidney beans
• microwave Rice
• Tinned Tomatoes

Cooking Instructions.

1. Brown the mince in a frying pan with a drizzle of oil
2. drain off the fat and pour the mince into the slow cooker
3. Mix the chilli con carne packet mix with water and add to the slow cooker
4. Add a tin of Red kidney beans and Tinned tomatoes
5. Cook all day on low heat or for 3-4 hours on high heat
6. Serve on a bed of Rice and topp with cheese (optional)

Budget Meal 2 – homemade lasagne

This has to be my son’s favourite meal, so I am always popular when this dish is served up! I regularly make this in large amounts and batch freeze in individual portions, ready to serve on those hectic tea time school nights. Cooking in advance is great for money saving and time strapped parents like me.

I used the following ingredients to achieve this home cooked family meal:

• Beef Steak Mince 600g
• Creamy white Lasagne sauce
• Tomato Red Lasagne sauce
• Lasagne sheets
• grated Cheese

Cooking Instructions.

1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6
2. Heat a large non-stick frying pan until hot. Add the mince and fry it over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes until browned.
3. Add a jar of Red Lasagne sauce to the mince, stir and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
4. Put half of the mixture into a square baking/casserole Tin and cover with pasta sheets
5. Spread half of the white lasagne sauce over the pasta sheets and repeat
6. Sprinkle grated cheese on top

Cook for 30 – 35 minutes until golden brown

Serve with crusty bread, Garlic bread and a healthy, leafy salad.

I would love to hear what your Family’s favourite recipes are! I could probably use them for my own family…