Frugal Menu Ideas with Just a Few Ingredients

So, what can you do with a couple of dozen eggs, chicken, ground beef, beans and a few other ingredients?

The answer is...quite a lot! I've come up with some ideas that you can run with and customize to your taste with just a few basic ingredients...

Shopping list:

Salad Greens

Chicken

Celery

Onions

Cucumbers

Ground Beef

Mustard

Honey

Mayonnaise

Tortillas

Bread

Navy Beans

Salsa or canned tomatoes with Chilies

BREAKFAST

Breakfast Burritos

Just scramble six eggs, add ground beef-seasoned with a little fennel seed, salt & pepper or red pepper flakes and sage, if you like, add cheese and garnish with salsa- wrap in a tortilla and you have a breakfast burrito! 

The basic recipe freezes well with the egg, meat and cheese. I just make about a dozen or so and place them in a 9 X 13 pan to freeze, then once they are frozen I place them in a freezer bag. I take one out and heat for about 2 minutes in the microwave.

"Eggs in a basket"

Cut out a hole in the center of a piece of bread, place into skillet, crack an egg into the center and cook to your liking.

Boiled Eggs

I like to boil one dozen and reserve 4 for quick breakfasts, and use the rest in chicken or tuna salad. 

LUNCH

Chicken Salad

Depending on what I have on hand, I make my chicken salad with celery, boiled eggs, onion, and mustard and mayonnaise. I will sometimes get creative and add some sliced red grapes, red onion and slivered almonds.

Tuna Salad

Add celery, onion, boiled eggs, mustard and mayo

DINNER

Chicken Chili

You can cook up the navy beans and add the leftover chicken to it to make chicken chili 

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Diced Tomatoes and Chilies, Chicken, Onions and top with crispy tortilla strips

Navy Bean and Ground Beef Chili

Ground Beef and Navy Beans with some diced tomatoes and chilies

SNACKS

Bean Dip

You can put some of the navy beans in the food processor, add a little salsa and whatever spices you like and it makes for an easy bean dip.

Deviled Eggs

Boil some eggs and make deviled eggs for a snack-try some of these deviled egg recipes

OTHER IDEAS FOR THIS FRUGAL MENU PLAN

• Celery Sticks and Bean Dip
• Chicken or Tuna Salad Sandwiches
• Cucumber Sandwiches with Chicken Chili or Beef and Navy Bean Chili
• Serve Tuna or Chicken Salad over salad greens with cucumbers
• Honey Mustard Chicken Strips (alone or on top of a salad)

Want more frugal menu plan inspiration? Find out how you can get Five Meals Out of One Baked Chicken

Menu planning is only way to lead a frugal lifestyle. I teach you many frugal methods in my Budget Queen System seminars. Find out about upcoming classes and reserve your spot today!