Alright, listen up, y’all! It’s hotter than a pepper sprout out here, and nobody wants to be slaving over a hot stove all day. Plus, money don’t grow on trees, ya know? So, we gotta figure out some cheap summer dinners that won’t break the bank or make ya sweat buckets. I got a few ideas, not fancy or nothin’, just good eatin’ that fills ya up.
First off, let’s talk about them walking tacos. Heard of ’em? Well, they ain’t tacos that walk, silly! You get yourself some of that cheap ground beef, fry it up with some taco seasoning – the kind that comes in them little packets, cheap and easy. Then, you get those little bags of chips, the corn chips, ya know? Smash ’em up a bit, not too much, just enough to make room for the good stuff. Then, you dump that meat right in the bag, top it with some shredded lettuce, maybe some chopped tomatoes if you got ’em, and a dollop of sour cream if you’re feelin’ fancy. Kids love ’em, and they’re easy to eat on the go. Perfect for a picnic or just a quick supper on the porch.
Another thing we do is pork shoulder in the crockpot. Now, I know some of y’all are scared of that big ol’ hunk of meat, but trust me, it’s the easiest thing ever. You just toss it in that slow cooker, pour in a little bit of water or chicken broth, whatever you got on hand, and let it cook all day. It gets so tender, falls right apart, ya know? Then you can do all sorts of things with it. Shred it up and make BBQ pork sandwiches, slap it on some cheap rolls from the store. Or, you can eat it with some mashed potatoes, or even just plain rice.
- BBQ Pork Sliders: Get those little honey rolls, they’re sweet and soft. Shred up that pork, mix it with some BBQ sauce – the cheap stuff is just fine – and slap it on those rolls. Easy peasy.
- Pork and Beans: Mix that shredded pork with a can of baked beans. Hearty and cheap, fills ya right up.
- Pork over Rice: Just plain ol’ pork over rice. Add a little bit of gravy if you want, but it’s good even without it.
Now, if it’s too hot for even that crockpot, then we go with wraps. Tortillas are cheap, ya know? And you can put just about anything in ’em. I like to get some deli meat – turkey, ham, whatever’s on sale – and some cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Slap it all in that tortilla, roll it up tight, and then cut it into those little pinwheel things. Kids love ’em, and they’re easy to grab and eat. You can make a whole bunch at once and keep ’em in the fridge for a quick lunch or dinner.
And don’t forget about pasta salad! That’s another good one. Boil up some noodles – the cheap kind, whatever’s on sale – and then throw in whatever veggies you got. Cucumber, tomatoes, onions, even some peas or corn if you got ‘em. Then, you can toss it with some Italian dressing – again, cheap is good – or even just some vinegar and oil. It’s cool and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day. And if you want to make it a little fancier, you can add some cheese or some cooked chicken or ham. But it’s good even just plain and simple.
Another trick I learned is to make a big batch of something on the weekend, and then eat it all week long. Like a big pot of chili or a big pan of lasagna. It takes a little work up front, but then you got dinner for days, and you ain’t gotta worry about cooking every night. And that saves you money, too, ‘cause you ain’t eating out or buying expensive convenience foods. Just pop it in the microwave, heat it up, and bam, dinner is served!
So there you have it, just a few ideas for cheap summer dinners. Nothing fancy, just good, honest food that’ll fill your belly without emptying your wallet. Now, get in that kitchen and start cooking! And don’t forget to drink plenty of water, it’s hot out there!
Remember, good food ain’t gotta be expensive. Just gotta be made with love… and maybe a little bit of salt and pepper!
Tags: [cheap summer dinners, budget meals, easy recipes, summer cooking, family meals, frugal eating, quick dinners, crockpot recipes, pork recipes, wrap recipes]
