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Frugal Food Finds for Family, Friends, and Fun
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items I love trying different foods at home that won’t break the bank. Here are some budget-friendly favorites my family enjoys for meals, snacks, and time spent together. I also enjoy entertaining, so this list includes ideas for easy things to serve.
Sections
4
Meals
Snacks
Treats & Desserts
Food for Get-Togethers
Meals
Foods and ingredients we enjoy for meals at home, from quick lunches to family dinners.
YUM! My daughter and I love cheese tortellini. Whether it's with a tomato sauce, Alfredo, or just butter these are great.
Great Value Family Size Cheese Tortellini, Pasta, 36 oz Bag (Frozen)
This is another quick and easy family favorite! We follow the microwave instructions and serve as open-faced sandwiches on sliced bread.
Banquet Family Size Salisbury Steaks and Brown Gravy, 8g Protein per Serving, Frozen Meal, 27 oz.
I make these Italian-style meatballs when we're having pasta for dinner or for meatball sub sandwiches.
Great Value Fully Cooked Italian Style Meatballs, 32 oz (Frozen)
My kids LOVE these chicken fries! I love how easy they are to make.
Tyson Any'tizers Frozen White Meat Crispy Chicken Fries, 26.5 oz, 11g Protein per Serving (Fully Cooked)
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These spicy chicken patties are quick and easy to make for lunch or dinner. They come in a plain, non-spicy version but we prefer the flavor of these.
Tyson White Meat Spicy Breaded Chicken Patties, 23 oz (Frozen, Fully Cooked)
This is my middle son's favorite frozen pizza. It also also comes with a Brick Oven crust but he prefers the Classic crust.
Red Baron Pepperoni Classic Crust Frozen Pizza, 20.61 oz
While my middle son enjoys a Pepperoni-only pizza on classic crust, the rest of us are eating either the Supreme or Meat Trio on brick oven crust.
Red Baron Supreme Brick Oven Crust Frozen Pizza, 18.64 oz
There are SO MANY ways to cook chicken that it is almost impossible to get tired of eating it. We buy the family size pack and split it in two - freeze one - and can get two meals that is enough for our family of 5 to eat.
Freshness Guaranteed Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, 3.0 - 7.3 lb Tray
I didn't start cooking Minute Rice until about a year ago. It is so quick and easy to make and tastes just as good - if not better - than the rice that takes forever to cook. I love this rice!
Minute Instant White Rice, Light and Fluffy, Gluten Free, 42 oz
We love this tuna! If you buy single cans, they are pricier - that's why I buy the packs. It is more cost effective.
(4 Pack) Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil, 5 oz
Snacks
Some of our favorite things to snack on between meals, during movie nights, or whenever we want to satisfy a craving.
I love cheese and this is one of my favorites to snack on. They're great with just crackers or you can serve with olives, pickles, deli meats, etc.
Great Value Colby & Monterey Jack Snacking Cheese, 27 oz Bag, 36 Count
Another great cheese! My mother and daughter love eating these with their favorite crackers.
Babybel® Original Snack Cheese, 8.5 oz (12 Count Net)
Fresh mozzarella is THE BEST snacking cheese. Sprinkle a little oregano and drizzle some olive oil - YUM!
BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese
Go big or go home! We ALWAYS get the Family Size box because we love these crackers so much.
Town House Original Oven Baked Crackers, Salty Snacks, 20.7 oz
These crackers are great with cheese BUT have you ever tried them with a little bit of peanut butter and a dollop of grape jelly? They are SO GOOD!
RITZ Fresh Stacks Original Crackers, Travel Snacks, Family Size, 17.8 oz (12 Multi Snack Packs)
Love these peaches with cottage cheese or yogurt
Dole Fruit Bowls Diced Peaches in 100% Fruit Juice, 4 oz Cups (12 Pack)
These mandarin oranges are great on their own as a snack but also delicious in a salad for lunch, dinner, anytime!
Dole Fruit Bowls Mandarin Oranges in 100% Fruit Juice, 4 oz Cups (12 Pack)
My family loves this popcorn and I love that it comes in this box of 12! It lasts a while, we have plenty for movie night, and anytime we want a lightly salted snack.
Orville Redenbacher’s Microwave Popcorn Value Size, Naturals Simply Salted Flavor Popcorn, 3.29 oz., 12-Count
Treats & Desserts
A few sweet treats to enjoy at home or share with family and friends.
These had me at "TRIPLE CHOCOLATE"!
Marketside Moist Triple Chocolate Muffins, 14 oz, 4 Count
I don't mind "banana nut" muffins and I am not allergic to them BUT I love these banana-only muffins because they don't have nuts.
Little Bites Banana Muffins, 5 count, Mini Muffins, 8.25 oz Box
Another family favorite! We love these as an occasional treat.
Hostess Donettes, Powdered Mini Donuts, 10 oz Bag
Perfect for when you're craving something sweet but don't want to cut a full size pie - look for that one in the Get Togethers section!
Edwards Frozen Key Lime Dessert Pie Slices, 6.5 oz 2 Pack
YUM! These are the best chocolate mint candies!
Andes, Crème de Menthe, Mint Chocolate Candy, 8.5 oz
This is my favorite B&J ice cream flavor -and, no, I don't share!
Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Chocolate Ice Cream Pint, 16 fl oz
Food for Get-Togethers
Things to serve when family or friends come over, whether it’s a special occasion or just a chance to spend time together.
I love serving these as an appetizer for get-togethers. I heat them in the slow cooker with a BBQ sauce and grape jelly mixture. It may sound like a strange combination but they are SO GOOD!
Great Value Fully Cooked Homestyle Meatballs, 32 oz (Frozen)
When we're expecting company, it's nice to know there is an affordable frozen pizza that tastes good. I love the Brick Oven crust Meat-Trio pizza.
Red Baron Meat Trio Brick Oven Frozen Pizza, 18.22 oz
A shrimp ring is a fun addition to our New Year's Eve party. It is actuall one of the EASIEST things to serve.
Great Value Frozen Cooked Medium Shrimp Ring with Cocktail Sauce, 16 oz
When I make this for company, I buy two of the family size boxes. Otherwise, one is enough. I also make it with smoked sausage. You can add cooked chicken or shrimp to it but I haven't tried that yet.
2 Pack - Zatarain's Family Size Jambalaya Rice Dinner Mix - 12 oz Packaging may vary
This is the smoked sausage I use when making jambalaya at home for the family or when we have company.
Hillshire Farm Beef Smoked Sausage Rope, 12 oz (Refrigerated)
We love this cheese! It's great in a tomato + mozzarella salad for lunch or dinner and/or served on a platter with deli meats when we have company.
Galbani Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Ball, Non-Marinated, 6 oz (Refrigerated)
Definitely more affordable than the donut chains and a fun treat to serve with coffee when we have company.
Freshness Guaranteed Regular Assorted Ring Donuts, 12 oz, 12 Count
I could eat this year round! I love key lime pie.
Edwards Premium Frozen Desserts Key Lime Pie, 36.0 oz