I like to think I grew out of that pickiness…

Anyway now I make grown up mac n cheese that doesn’t come from a box! Here’s my problem with most recipes; you bake the macaroni and the cheese sauce loses the creaminess. BUT I like the crunchy breadcrumb top. So I set out to fix this problem, and fix it I did.

Solving difficult problems one taste test at a time.

Here’s my super simple recipe for creamy macaroni and cheese. Don’t be intimidated by making the cheese sauce from scratch, it doesn’t take long and it’s really not that hard, pinky promise.

Also this recipe is super cheap: $0.93 per person!! This leaves lots of room for mix-ins or spices!

See my other Budget Bites recipes!

Ingredients & Cost

Serves 4. This recipe can be doubled, or halved! We make the half version all the time.

1 ½ tablespoons flour $0.01
1 ½ tablespoons butter or margarine $0.42 (butter) $0.13 (margarine)
1 ¼ cup cream $1.41
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese $1.28
1 ½ – 2 cups elbow macaroni $0.55
¼ cup breadcrumbs (we like panko) $0.33
Salt & pepper to taste $0.01
TOTAL: $3.72 = $0.93 per person

Optional: mix-ins like jalapeno pepper diced, caramelized onions, shredded chicken, sriracha, basically anything you want!

Saving money on groceries is our goal right now! Here are some tips for saving money on groceries without coupons!

[mv_create title=”Creamy Mac ‘n’ Cheese” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/mac_n_cheese.jpg” key=”16″]

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t learned by now, I love pasta! Homemade Mac n Cheese has been a staple at our house for as long as I’ve been an adult. It’s quick, easy, and versatile. Hope you love it as much as we do!

We love this recipe for tomato & spinach tortellini! It’s quick, comforting and everyone likes it! This recipe is an amazing weeknight meal, especially if you have tortellini in the freezer because you can whip it up in less than 20 minutes.

We always buy the cheese tortellini at Costco, but you can use any kind of tortellini or pasta you want – we’ve even made this recipe with penne noodles in a pinch!

This tomato and spinach tortellini recipe is vegetarian, but you can add cooked ground meat, crumbled sausage or shredded chicken if you want to up the protein.

Check out our other Budget Bites Recipes!

Ingredients & Cost

Serves 4

1 x 250g package of tortellini $2.50
1 cup cream $1.13
2 tablespoons flour $0.01
1 tablespoon olive oil $0.04
3 cloves of garlic, minced $0.12
1 can diced tomatoes $1.49
3 cups of spinach $1.87
¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese $0.43
2 teaspoons dried basil $0.02
1 teaspoon dried oregano $0.07
½ teaspoon thyme $0.02
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) $0.02 

TOTAL: $7.72 = 1.93 per person

See how we save money on groceries (without coupons)

[mv_create title=”Easy Tomato & Spinach Tortellini” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/tomato_spinach_tortellini.jpg” key=”13″]

Final Thoughts

Who doesn’t love a comforting pasta dish? We make tomato & spinach tortellini when we are short on time in the evenings, but it also makes a great lunch! If you make it, let me know what you think!

I love pasta and cheese, seriously; cheese might be my love language. What I love about this spinach and ricotta stuffed shells recipe is that it is super versatile! We love it with tomato sauce, but you could easily use jarred or homemade alfredo sauce as the base instead.

If you’d like some extra protein, you can always add some shredded chicken breast or diced and sauteed italian sausage to the ricotta cheese mixture. Possibilities are endless!

You can also make this in advance and put it in the fridge until you are bake it. Meaning you can meal prep in the morning or evening before, then you’ll have dinner ready in 20-30 minutes!

See More Budget Friendly Recipes

Ingredients  & Cost

As always, we focus on budget friendly recipes here at Will Save For Travel, and this one comes out at $2.37 per person.

Serves 4

20 jumbo shells $1.62
10 oz frozen spinach or handfuls of fresh* $1.87
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese $2.61
1 tablespoon oil $0.04
1 small onion, diced $0.30
2 cloves garlic $0.08
2 cups crushed tomatoes or pasta sauce $1.49
1 teaspoon oregano $0.07
1 teaspoon thyme $0.04
1 teaspoon rosemary $0.02
1 ½ – 2 cups mozzarella cheese $1.33
TOTAL: $9.47 = $2.37per person

*Note: I usually use fresh spinach, but I don’t measure! I just add a couple of handfuls to the pan and wilt it down. You can use as much or as little as you want. For simplicity, the price is for 10oz of frozen spinach.

Read More: How We Save Money On Groceries Without Coupons

[mv_create title=”Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ricotta_shells_baked.jpg” key=”9″]

Final Thoughts

Let us know if you make this recipe! I would love to know what you add to it to make it perfect for you and your family. 

It was only a few years ago when my good friends took me out for Indian food for the first time. I had never tried it before, and was a little nervous! With their help picking out a dish, I had a great experience and now Indian is one of my fav cuisines.

I had been craving a curry dish for a few weeks, and found this recipe. We are also experimenting with eating less meat, and lentils are amazingly high in protein, iron, folate, potassium and fibre!

Lentils are also cheap! This recipe comes in at less $1 per person! Including the rice it is $0.98 per serving. This recipe serves 6 or so, but it keeps well in the fridge for 4-5 days or you can freeze it in portions for 3-4 months. Perfect for meal planning!

Read More: How To Save Money On Groceries Without Coupons!

Ingredients & Cost

1 tablespoon olive oil $0.05
1 onion $0.30
2 cloves of garlic $0.08
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, or 2 teaspoons dried $0.08
1 teaspoon curry powder 2g $0.01
1 teaspoon cumin 2g $0.05
1 teaspoon coriander 2g $0.33
½ teaspoon tandoori masala 0.5g $0.01
½ teaspoon turmeric 0.5g $0.03
½ teaspoon salt $0.01
3 cups of stock (your choice) $1.69
1 ½ cups red lentils $0.95
15 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices $0.75
1 ½ cup basmati rice $1.53
TOTAL $5.87 $0.98 per person!

See other Budget Recipes!

[mv_create title=”One Pot Red Lentil Dal” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/red_lentil_dal.jpg” key=”7″]

Final Thoughts

We’ll be making this one again for sure! If you’ve made it, tell me what you think!

Another one of my favs! (will I say every recipe is my fav? Possibly). This one is great because you can cook the chicken inside if the weather is bad, or BBQ it outside for a nice summer meal.

Although I really feel like the rice is the star of the show here, with cheese, veggies and spices it’s a perfect side dish! Actually I’ve eaten just the rice for lunch; anyway onto the recipe.

See More Budget Friendly Recipes!

Ingredients & Cost

4 Chicken thighs or 2 chicken breasts $4 approx
4 tablespoons BBQ sauce (we use sweet baby rays) $0.42
½ onion diced $0.15
½ red pepper $0.75
½ can corn $0.50
½ cup cheddar cheese $0.64
½ cup basmati rice $0.51
1 cube chicken bouillon $0.25
1 teaspoon thyme $0.04
1 teaspoon parsley $0.07
2 tablespoon oil $0.09

TOTAL PRICE = $7.42            $3.71 per person

Read More: How We Save Money On Groceries

[mv_create title=”BBQ Chicken & Cheesy Rice” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BBQ_Chicken_Cheesy_rice.jpg” key=”2″]

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! It’s a staple in our house, we usually make it once a week or so! Let me know what you think.

This spicy chicken burger recipe has become one of our go-to meals since we got it in a Hello Fresh box a while ago. Although we have changed the recipe a little bit to fit our needs. 

These burgers are just a little bit spicy from the sriracha mayo, and are delicious for lunch or dinner. They are made with ground chicken or turkey, which makes them a little healthier than beef or deep fried burgers.

This recipe is a little more on the expensive side, coming in at $4.87 for 2 people. If you can get the ground chicken or turkey on sale then they become a bit cheaper. 

We usually serve these with some baked (or air fried) fries.

See More Budget Recipes!

Ingredients & Cost

227g Ground Chicken or Turkey $3.49
⅓ -¼ cup (50g) Red onion $0.22
Garlic clove 1 $0.04
1 tablespoon soy sauce $0.08
½ tablespoon canola oil $0.02
1 ½ teaspoon Sriracha (to taste) $0.05
4 tablespoon mayonnaise $0.19
Spring mix or spinach $0.16
2 Burger buns $0.62

TOTAL $4.87 – $2.44 per serving

Read More: How We Save Money On Groceries

[mv_create title=”Spicy Chicken Burgers” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/spicy_chicken_burgers.jpg” key=”6″]

Final Thoughts

I hope you love these as much as we do! I love spicy food, what about you?

French onion soup is one of my favorite comfort foods. This recipe is so easy because you make it in your slow cooker! It is easily made vegetarian by swapping the broth type, which in my opinion doesn’t impact the flavor at all.

If you don’t already buy parmesan cheese you can leave it out. It is delicious but not 100% necessary. Is this the most authentic French onion soup recipe? Not even close, but it is yummy!

Since we are focusing on budget meals around here, this one comes out to about $1.53 per serving, that’s pretty good! 

See other budget recipes!

Ingredients & Cost

6 tablespoons butter or block margarine $1.68 (butter) $0.50 (margarine squares)
4 large yellow onions $1.20
1 tablespoon white sugar $0.02
2 cloves of garlic $0.08
½ cup cooking sherry or wine $1.67 approx
7 cups broth (chicken, beef or vegetable) $3.94
1 teaspoon salt $0.01
¼ teaspoon thyme $0.01
1 bay leaf $0.01
Baguette $1.49
1 cup mozzarella cheese $1.28
½ cup parmesan cheese $0.85

TOTAL: $12.24  — $1.53 per serving

Read More: How To Save Money On Groceries

[mv_create title=”Crockpot French Onion Soup” type=”recipe” thumbnail=”https://willsavefortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/French_onion_soup_crockpot.jpg” key=”3″]Based on this recipe from All Recipes.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this recipe! As always, let me know what you think in the comments!