Delicious Meals for $3 or Less!

Listen we know: Feeding the family can cost an arm and a (chicken) leg. That's why we developed these easy and affordable recipes-all $3 or less a serving!

Fresh Vegetable Lasagna for $3 a serving
Fresh Vegetable Lasagna: $3 per serving
Ingredients
4 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 lb.)
1 (8-oz.) package sliced fresh mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
Vegetable cooking spray
1 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium-size yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups fat-free ricotta cheese
1 large egg
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
5 cups Basic Marinara Sauce (use our recipe or premade sauce)
1 (8-oz.) package no-boil lasagna noodles

Basic Marinara Sauce
Sauté 3 cups chopped yellow onions in 3 Tbsp. hot olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add 1 Tbsp. sugar, 3 minced garlic cloves, 5 tsp. freshly ground Italian seasoning, and 2 tsp. salt; sauté 1 minute. Stir in 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar; cook 30 seconds. Add 2 cups low-sodium fat-free vegetable broth and 3 (28-oz.) cans no-salt-added crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 55 minutes or until sauce thickens.

Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°. Bake zucchini, mushrooms, and garlic in a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray 12 to 14 minutes or until vegetable are crisp-tender, stirring halfway through. Repeat procedure with bell peppers and onion. Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Toss together vegetables and salt in a bowl.

Stir together ricotta, egg, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese.

Spread 1 cup Basic Marinara Sauce in a 13- a 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with 3 noodles, 1 cup sauce, one-third ricotta mixture, and one-third vegetable mixture; repeat layers twice, beginning with 3 noodles. Top with remaining noodles and 1 cup sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan.

Bake, covered, at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until cheese is melted and golden. Let stand 10 minutes.

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Hearty Italian Soup for $2.50 a serving.
Hearty Italian Soup: $2.50 per serving
Ingredients
1 (16-oz.) package mild Italian sausage
2 tsp. olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (48-oz.) container chicken broth
2 (15-oz.) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 (14.5-oz.) cans diced tomatoes
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1 (5-oz.) package baby spinach
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Preparation
Cook sausage in hot oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove sauce from Dutch oven, reserving drippings in Dutch oven. Sauté onion in hot drippings 3 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Cut sausage into 1/4-inch-thick slices, and return to Dutch oven.

Stir chicken broth and next 3 ingredients into sausage mixture; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 25 minutes.

Stir in spinach and next 2 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes or until spinach is wilted. Top each serving with Parmesan cheese.

Related: 26 Satisfying Soups & Stews

Kentucky Hot Browns for $3 a serving
Kentucky Hot Browns: $3 per serving
Ingredients
4 thick white bread slices
3/4 lb. roasted turkey
Mornay Sauce
1 cup (4-oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese
3 plum tomatoes, sliced
8 bacon slices, cooked

Mornay Sauce
Melt 1/2 cup butter in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in 3 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Whisk in 1/2 cup (2-oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper.

Preparation
Preheat broiler with oven rack 6 inches from heat. Place bread slices on a baking sheet and broil 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until toasted.

Arrange bread slices in 4 lightly greased broiler-safe individual baking dishes. Top bread with turkey slices. Pour hot Mornay Sauce over turkey. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Broil 6 inches from heat 3 to 4 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned; remove from oven. Top sandwiches with tomatoes and bacon. Serve immediately.

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Chicken-and-Brisket Brunswick Stew for $2.75 a serving.
Chicken-and-Brisket Brunswick Stew: $2.75 per serving
Ingredients
2 large onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. jarred beef soup base
2 lb. skinned and boned chicken breasts
1 (28-oz.) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
1 (12-oz.) package frozen white shoepeg or whole kernel corn
1 (10-oz.) package frozen cream-style corn, thawed
1 (9-oz.) package frozen lima beans
1 (12-oz.) bottle chili sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. coarsely ground pepper
1 lb. chopped barbecued beef brisket (without sauce)
1 Tbsp. freshly lemon juice
Hot sauce (optional)

Preparation
Sauté onions and garlic in hot oil in a 7.5-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes or until tender.

Stir together beef soup base and 2 cups water, and add to Dutch oven. Stir in chicken and next 9 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 hours.

Uncover and shred chicken into large pieces using 2 forks. Stir in brisket and lemon juice. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.

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Stovetop Chicken Pie for $3 a serving
Stovetop Chicken Pie: $3 per serving
Ingredients
8 frozen buttermilk biscuits
1 small sweet onion, diced
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 (8-oz.) package sliced fresh mushrooms
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 (8-oz.) package 1/3-less at cream cheese, cubed
1/2 (0.7-oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix (about 2 tsp.)
1 cup frozen baby peas, thawed

Preparation
Bake biscuits according to package directions.

Meanwhile, sauté onion in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until golden. Add mushrooms, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients; cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is thoroughly heated. Stir in peas, and cook 2 minutes. Spoon chicken mixture over hot split biscuits.

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