Forktionary

Tight Budget Healthy Dinner Mexican Or Italian Recipe

Craving delicious, healthy meals without breaking the bank? This simple chili/casserole recipe delivers big flavor on a tiny budget! Perfect for two, this recipe clocks in under $8 (excluding pantry staples). We're talking hearty, satisfying comfort food made with store-brand organic meat (or easily adaptable for vegetarians with mushrooms!), canned goods, and your favorite spices. Learn how to make a flavorful and nutritious meal without sacrificing taste or your wallet. Choose your adventure: Mexican chili or Italian-inspired casserole – both are unbelievably delicious and ready in under 70 minutes!

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 70 mins
Calories 713.6 kcal
Protein 120g
Rating 4.0 (2 Reviews)
Tight Budget Healthy Dinner Mexican Or Italian 13

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Tight Budget Healthy Dinner Mexican Or Italian

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How to Make Tight Budget Healthy Dinner Mexican Or Italian

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add 1 pound ground meat (or 8oz cremini mushrooms) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Stir in 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  4. Add 1 (15-ounce) can of diced tomatoes, undrained, and 1 (15-ounce) can of kidney beans, undrained.
  5. If making Mexican, stir in 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  6. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. For Mexican: Top with 2 tablespoons sour cream before serving.
  8. For Italian: Top with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

27 g

Sugar

34g

Fat

32g

Carbs

21g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Starters Salads Soups, Stews & Chilis Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Sweets & Sides Desserts Side Dishes Drinks & Cocktails Beef & Red Meat Ground Beef Recipes Salmon Recipes Shrimp Recipes Cod Recipes Tuna Recipes

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation For 1 Or 2 Main Dish Easy Dietary One Dish Meal Low Sodium Low Calorie Low Carb Inexpensive Low In Something Meat Number Of Servings 4 Hours Or Less