Recipes Archives - Sweet Frugal Life

Easy Pizza Night Ideas

March 20, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life6 Comments

Fun pizza night at home ideas!

Years ago our family started the tradition of having a monthly Friday movie and pizza night. The first Friday of each month I make a homemade pizza and we watch a movie together as a family. We started this tradition when my oldest was 8, and now she’s 16, but all 3 kids still look forward to our monthly movie and pizza night! I rejoice every time that my teenagers want to spend time with me! I usually make the pizza, but some nights I just don’t have the time or energy to make, so I have found a few alternative pizza night ideas.

Here are two of our favorite easy, simple pizza ideas for your next pizza night. The kids love helping me make these easy pizza night ideas.

French Bread Pizza

One easy pizza night idea is to make a French Bread Pizza! This is a super quick and simple pizza alternative.

First, you need to slice a loaf of French bread in half.

Place both slices of bread on a baking sheet and cook in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes. You do not want the bread to get golden, you just want to harden it up a bit (it tastes much better this way, promise!).

After a few minutes in the oven, take out the French bread. It’s now time to put all of your toppings on.

Choose your favorite toppings, we usually just use pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Top each slice of bread with your toppings of choice and then put your French bread pizza back into the oven.

Bake the pizza in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Slice and serve!

Roll Pizza

Another fun and easy pizza night idea is to make pizza out of rolls! These is a very fun hands on activity to help get kids involved in the kitchen!

I like to make roll pizza using Pillsbury Biscuits or Rhodes Freezer Rolls. This time I used Rhodes frozen rolls.

First you will need to take the Rhodes Freezer Rolls out of the freezer three hours before you will need to eat. Place the rolls on a baking sheet to thaw.

Once they are all thawed and had a little time to rise (about 3 hours) you are ready to make your pizzas!

Gently smoosh, flatten and pull each rolls to form a flat pizza dough circle. My kids love helping with this step!

Place your pizza dough circles onto a greased pan. Top each dough with your favorite pizza toppings, let each person choose their own toppings! Encourage your kids to be creative!

Bake the roll pizzas in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is slightly browned.

Your mini pizzas are all ready to eat! Enjoy!

In Conclusion

Our family loves making pizza together, and I hope these easy pizza night ideas can help your family enjoy it too!

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Enjoy these Easy Pizza Night Ideas during your next family night!

How To Make Flour Tortillas

March 8, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe

I made my kids day last week when I made homemade tortillas for dinner, instead of using store bought. My homemade flour tortillas recipe is a family favorite around here. It makes the perfect tortillas that are soft and delicious!

Truthfully, I don’t make homemade tortillas very often because they feel time consuming, and when we are having tacos, I want something quick and easy. But, the days when I do take the extra 30 minutes to make these, I never ever regret it!

My dad always loved making homemade flour tortillas when I was a kid. He’s the one that taught me how and I always think of him when I make them. I remember him standing in the kitchen with his homemade stripped apron rolling out the dough and flipping hot tortillas over the stove. They are such fond, happy memories and I hope my kids remember me making them too!

Sweet Frugal Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

How To Make Flour Tortillas

Homemade flour tortillas are so cheap to make! The ingredients are all staples in my pantry, so it’s nice to be able to make them homemade every now and then, rather than having to spend money at the store to buy tortillas.

To make flour tortillas you will need to first, mix the below ingredients together in a bowl:

5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder

Next, use a pastry cutter to cut in 1/2 cup shortening. You can use a fork if you don’t have a pastry cutter, but I personally prefer the pastry cutter! Keep cutting until the shortening is mixed evenly throughout the dry ingredients.

Form a well in the bowl and add 2 cups of boiling water. Using a spoon, mix all ingredients together well.

Knead the dough for 5 minutes and then separate it into 12 equally sized balls.

Next, you will need to roll each ball into a circle until it is flat and very thin.

Fry each tortilla in a hot frying pan for 1-2 minutes, or until it’s just barely beginning to brown. Flip and fry the other side of the tortilla for 1 minute. Be careful not to cook the tortilla to long or it will become dry and brittle.

Keep the tortillas warm until it is time to use them. These flour tortillas are perfect for fajitas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas.

Flour Tortillas

How to make soft, flour tortillas at home.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 12 tortillas

Ingredients

5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups boiling water

Instructions

In a bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder.
With a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening.
Add boiling water and mix together well.
Knead dough for a few minutes and then separate it into 12 equally sized balls.
Roll each ball out until thin and flat.
Fry tortilla in a hot frying pan for 1-2 minutes, until it's just starting to brown.
Flip over and fry the other side for 1 minute.

Keyword easy dinner recipes, easy recipes, flour tortillas, tortillas

Let me know if you try this recipe and how it turned out! I hope you’ll love it as much as we do!

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Pin For Future Reference:

I hope this helped you learn how to make flour tortillas!

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

December 19, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

You can make your own pizza with this easy homemade pizza crust recipe!

Over a decade ago we started our friday pizza and movie night tradition with our little family. The tradition is to eat pizza and watch a movie together as a family on the first Friday of every month. We started out watching Barbie movies and now as the kids have grown, so has our choice in movies. However, the one thing that hasn’t changed is we still eat pizza! Sometimes I make my own pizza using this easy homemade pizza crust recipe, and other times we order out…either way the pizza always happens!

I thought we would grow out of this tradition as the kids grew, but we didn’t. The kids still look forward to our monthly pizza and movie night! Today I am sharing my favorite pizza dough recipe. I have tried many recipes, and this one is by far the best, trust me!

“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Related: Easy Pizza Night ideas

How To Make Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza is one of those foods that seem intimidating to make, but is actually SO easy!

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Next, mix 2 1/4 tsp. of yeast with 1 cup warm water. Let it sit until the mixture becomes bubbly and frothy.

Add 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 2 1/4 cups flour to the yeast mixture and mix well. You might need to add a little flour. The goal is for the dough to be slightly sticky, but also able to bounce back when you poke it.

Put your dough into a greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth. Let it rise for 30-60 minutes or until doubled.

Once risen punch down dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out into a pizza shape.

Place your rolled out dough on a greased pizza pan. I prefer to use a pizza pan similar to this one. The holes in the bottom helps the crust to cook evenly. If you don’t have a pizza pan you can use a cookie sheet! It will work great!

Top your pizza with your favorite toppings. Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

See how easy that was?!?!?!

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

2 ¼ tsp yeast
1 cup warm water baby bath temp
2 TBSP olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 ¼ cups flour

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In mixer lightly mix water and yeast together. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
Add the oil, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture. Mix well. You may need a little less or little more flour. You want the dough to bounce back if you poke it. I also usually keep the dough slightly sticky.
Put dough into greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth. Let rise for 30-60 minutes until doubled. I will usually put it next to the flour or in the sun to speed up the rising process.
Place dough on lightly floured surface. Roll out into a pizza shape. (If you don’t have a pizza pan, just use a cookie sheet. It works great!) Place on greased pan. Poke all over with a fork. Cover with your favorite toppings.
Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

The fun thing about homemade pizza is all of the easy ways to customize. My kids love pepperoni, so that’s what I make most days. You can make it Hawaiian, cheese stuffed, thick crust, thin crust, and so on.

Encourage your kids to help with making the pizza. They will love rolling out the dough and covering it with all the toppings!

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Don’t forget to pin this recipe for your next pizza night:

Easy homemade pizza dough recipe.

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

November 3, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life28 Comments

The best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe makes everything better!

We love keeping hot chocolate stocked in our home during the cold winter months. My kids will spend hours and hours playing outside in the snow and the first thing they ask for when they come inside is some hot chocolate! Back in my “spender” days I use to buy hot chocolate mix at the store like it was nobody’s business! Once I started learning how to save and live a frugal life I learned how to make hot cocoa from scratch with this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe and I have never looked back!

Not only does making your own hot cocoa save you money, it is also so quick and easy to do. We love this easy homemade hot chocolate recipe because it tastes much much better than anything we ever buy from the store. I like to whip a huge catch up at the beginning of every winter and keep it stored in the pantry for the kids to use whenever they need a warm drink.

How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Once you start making this easy hot cocoa recipe you will never go back to the expensive store bought kind. Kids love to help make this recipe and it’s a fun family activity to do together.

Gather Ingredients

All you need is 5 cheap ingredients to mix up this creamy hot cocoa….and you probably already have them all in your pantry!

You will need:

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup powdered creamer
1/8 tsp salt

Mix It Together

Now, with a spoon, stir all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.

That’s it! You are done! (see, I told you it was easy!)

You can store your homemade hot chocolate mix in an airtight container in a cupboard. This mix will should stay fresh for 6-12 months.

When you are ready to enjoy your hot chocolate just stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 boiling water in a mug. Enjoy! Feel free to add marshmallows, candy canes, or whipped cream for an even more festive treat!

Hot Cocoa Mix

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup powdered creamer
1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in a tightly covered container.
To make hot chocolate: Stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 cup boiling water. Enjoy!

Related: 25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

This easy homemade hot cocoa also makes a great, cheap Christmas gift for neighbors or friends!

Just put some in a mason jar and put a pretty bow around it! Make sure to attach the instructions so your neighbors will know how to use it.

Related: Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

In Conclusion

This easy hot chocolate recipe will cost you pennies to make and tastes so very delicious! I hope your family will enjoy it as much as we do!

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I hope you enjoy this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe!

Easy Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

September 23, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to make a Broccoli and Grape Salad.

Have you ever eaten a broccoli and grape salad??? Because if you haven’t, you are for real missing out big time! It’s sweet, flavorful and delicious, basically all the best things! Every time I make this easy broccoli grape salad recipe I always get so many compliments and requests for the recipe. It’s a huge crowd hit!

Today I’m sharing this recipe with each of you! I know you are going to love this easy salad recipe and wow everyone you serve it to. I am so excited for you!

This recipe was passed down from my grandma, to my mom and to me. I love sharing it with others because I get to remember my dear mom and grandmother and the hands that have perfected the recipe. It’s been loved and shared by so many! Aren’t family recipes just the best kind of recipes??? I think so!

Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

To make this salad you will need:

4 bunches of broccoli, florets cut
2 cups of grapes, sliced in half
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Putting It All Together

First, cut broccoli florets off of 4 bunches of broccoli and put them into a large bowl. Then slice 2 cups of grapes in half. Add them to the bowl.

Next, add the honey roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds. I love watching all of the colors come together in this salad!

In a separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar.

Once mixed, pour dressing over the salad and stir well.

All done! It’s ready to serve! This salad tastes even better after it sits in the fridge for 12-24 hours. So, don’t be afraid to make it in advance!

Broccoli Grape Salad

This easy salad recipe is a crowd favorite!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Course Salad

Ingredients

4 bunches broccoli cut
2 cups grapes sliced in half
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Mix broccoli, grapes, sunflower seeds and honey roasted peanuts together in a large bowl.
In a small separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar to make the dressing.
Pour dressing over broccoli and grapes mixture.
Stir well until mixed throughout.

Keyword easy recipes, salad

Try it! You’ll like it!

Let me know if you try this broccoli and grape salad! I would love to know what you think of the recipe! Just last week I took it to a BBQ with friends and everyone was complimenting me and going back for seconds and thirds. I love surprising crowds with this salad!

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I can’t wait for you to try this easy broccoli grape salad recipe!

Rice Krispie Monsters

September 10, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

Check out these easy spooky rice krispie treats!

My kids school has a fun Halloween carnival each year. It’s a great fundraiser and always a lot of fun for the kids to participate in. As part of the carnival they have a Bake Sale. All of the baked goods are donated and sold off as a way to earn money for the school. I’ve started making these easy Rice Krispie Monsters every year for the bake sale and they are always one of the first items sold! These spooky rice krispie treats are truly so fun for everyone!

Disclosure: “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Rice Krispie Monsters Directions

One of my favorite parts of this easy Halloween treat is that it is so easy to make, but makes such a cute and fun statement.

1. Make Rice Krispies

The first step is to make rice krispie treats according to the package directions. If you have never made rice krispie treats before, don’t worry, they are a so so easy and only take a few minutes to whip up.

Pour your finished rice krispie treats into a 9×13 pan and let them cool and harden.

Once your spooky rice krispies are cool, cut them into rectangles. The size and dimension really doesn’t matter. It actually would be cute to have a few different sizes and maybe a little un-uniformed! They are rice krispie monsters after all!

2. Prepare Chocolate

Next, you will want to prepare your chocolate for dipping.

I bought these candy melts from Walmart. You can order them off of Amazon, but they were cheaper at Walmart. It’s fun to experiment with different colors. I have found turquoise, purple, and orange to be our favorite monster colors.

To melt your chocolate, pour the candy melts into a glass bowl and place in microwave. Heat on 50% heat for 1 minute. Stir well and then return to microwave for another 15 seconds. Keep stirring and heating in 15 second intervals until chocolate is smooth and melted.

Related: The Ultimate Fall Frugal Bucket List for Families

3. Dip Rice Krispies in Chocolate

Now it’s time to make your monsters! My kids love helping with this part!

Dip each rice krispie rectangle half way into the melted chocolate. Be quick with this step. As the chocolate cools it is harder to dip and use.

Lay each dipped rice krispie treat on a parchment paper and add eyes before chocolate hardens.

4. Add Candy Eyes

All that’s left is to add on the candy eyes. I also bought these at Walmart, but they are available on Amazon.

This part is so easy and fun! Use your creativity to make silly faces on each monster! My kids had some fun ideas for making the eyes unique.

Let your cute rice krispie monsters cool, and the chocolate harden.

And that is it! You are done! Now, feed your monster treats to your little monster darlings. 😉

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Pin for future reference:

Enjoy these yummy Rice Krispie Monsters!

Easy After School Snack Ideas

September 5, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Quick after school snacks for kids!

I am always looking for easy after school snack ideas. After school snack time is one of my favorite parts of the day because it is a time for my kids to sit down, refill their bellies, and talk to ME (if I’m lucky tbh)! 😉

I will admit, a big reason I make the after school snack a priority is for selfish reasons. My goal is that as they eat their snack they will tell me all the highs and lows of their day. It doesn’t always happen this way, but sometimes I see success. There have been amazing days when they have sat down and poured their hearts out to me over the snack. And those days make it all worthwhile!

I spent the past month taking a daily picture of our after school snacks. A “pinterest mom” I am not; my parenting thrives on simple and cheap. If you are looking for the healthiest, fanciest snacks…..this is NOT that type of blog.

However, if you are looking for a few easy snack ideas then keep reading, you just might find one here!

Easy After School Snack Ideas Week 1

Day 1: Peanut butter cookie, raisins

Day 2: Cinnamon sugar tortilla, grapes

Day 3: Whole wheat banana chocolate chip muffin, strawberries

Day 4: Bagel with cream cheese, strawberries

Day 5: Applesauce

Week 2

Day 1: Peanut butter cookie, dried apples

Day 2: Peanut butter crackers for running errands

Day 3: String cheese, orange

Day 4: Animal crackers, celery with peanut butter

Day 5: Fruit leather and dried apples

Week 3

Day 1: Animal crackers, grapes for running errands

Day 2: Homemade Graham Crackers, grapes

Day 3: Apple slices with peanut butter and chocolate chips (I use this mandoline slicer for the apples)

Day 4: Monster Rice Krispie Treats

Day 5: Frozen Blueberries

Week 4

Day 1: Oil popped popcorn

Day 2: Muffin Tin Snack of carrots, animal crackers, cheerios, raisins and string cheese

Day 3: Pumpkin muffin and raisins

Day 4: String cheese and carrots

Day 5: Cheerios and raisins

In Conclusion

It was actually so fun to look back and see all of the different snacks we had over the past month! I hope that you found them helpful! Feeding kids doesn’t need to take a lot of work or cost a lot of money!

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How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag

July 19, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

How do you make ice cream in a bag? I’ve got the answer for you!

One of our very favorite summer activities is making ice cream in a bag. It’s easy (the kids can do it all by themselves!), cheap and fun! I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand. And, who doesn’t love ice cream on a hot summers day???? I know we do! So, I knew I needed to blog about how to make ice cream in a bag so you can all enjoy it too!

I’ve always said that I was born in the wrong decade! I truly yearn for the simple life of the early 1900s, I think that’s partly why I love being frugal. There is just so much satisfaction from growing and making my own food; and living a simpler, less materialistic life.

When we make our own ice cream it reminds me of simpler times. It’s a way for the entire family to have fun together, no need to go to an ice cream parlor or the grocery store. We can do it on our own!

Making homemade ice cream in a bag is such a fun summer activity for kids! Try this recipe out with your kiddos, you will not regret it!

How To Make Ice Cream In A Bag

Making ice cream in a bag is so easy and fun for kids to help with!

Gather Supplies

The first thing you will need to do is gather your supplies. For this recipe you will need:

1 cup half and half
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup ice cream salt
Ice
Favorite mix ins: chocolate syrup, caramel, sprinkles, vanilla extract, fruit, chocolate chips, etc.
Gallon Ziplock Freezer Bag
Quart Ziplock Storage Bag

Ice Cream In A Bag Instructions

Now that you have gathered all of your supplies, it’s time to make the ice cream! AKA: The best part! 😉

The first step is to pour the half and half, sugar and one or more mix ins into the quart sized bag. (we chose to add cocoa for our mix ins because….I mean…it’s chocolate! ;))

Seal the bag shut tightly, taking care to get out all of the excess air. It’s very important that the bag is shut all of the way so that the salt doesn’t get into the ice cream (nobody likes salty ice cream!).

Next, take out your gallon size Ziploc freezer bag and dump in a lot of and about 1/2 cup ice cream salt (I never measure this, I just kind of guess). It doesn’t need to be exact.

Now, just place the quart size bag inside of the gallon size bag. Close the gallon size bag and seal it tight. It’s time to start shaking, this is the fun part!

You will need to shake the bags for a good 5-10 minutes. It takes a lot of hard shaking to get the ice cream to thicken and it’s important to be shaking constantly.

The kids usually get a little tired of shaking the bag so much, we like to turn it into a game. We turn on music and have a shaking dance party, throw them to each other and take turns shaking everyone’s, etc.

Keep shaking the bags until the milk mixture looks frozen, take the quart size bag out and rinse it under cold water. This helps to wash off any excess salt.

Pour your ice cream into a bowl, top with sprinkles if you’d like, and ENJOY!

I love the simplicity of this activity, and the excitement the kids get out of making their very own personal ice cream!

Ice Cream in a Bag

Make homemade ice cream and enjoy a fun activity with ice cream in a bag!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Course Dessert

Servings 1 person

Ingredients

1 Cup Half and Half
2 Tbsp Sugar optional
1/2 Cup Rock Salt
Ice

Optional Mix Ins

1 Tbsp Vanilla
1 Tbsp Cocoa
Chocolate Syrup
Fruit
Sprinkles

Instructions

In a quart ziplock bag mix half and half, sugar and one or more mix ins.
In a gallon ziplock bag mix ice and rock salt together.
Take the quart size bag with the ice cream ingredients and get out all the air and seal it shut. Make sure the bag is sealed tight so no salt will get inside. Place the quart size bag inside of the gallon size bag.
Now for the fun part. You shake it! This takes about 5-10 minutes of HARD shaking. It’s important to be shaking it constantly. I will usually help my little kids to make sure it gets nice and frozen.
Once the milk mixture looks frozen, take the quart size bag out and rinse it under cold water. This helps to wash off any excess salt.
Pour it into your bowl, top with sprinkles if you’d like, and ENJOY! I love the simplicity of this activity, and the excitement the kids get out of making their very own personal ice cream!

Keyword homemade ice cream, ice cream recipe

In Conclusion

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! It’s so fun to try to make different flavors and experiment! My daughter had the idea to use a little mint extract and chocolate chips in our next batch for our own chocolate mint flavor! There is really no right or wrong combo!

Let me know if you have any questions about how to make ice cream in a bag. I promise, you will love this recipe and easy summer activity!

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I hope this helped you understand how to make ice cream in a bag.

30 Family Friendly Meals On A Budget

June 18, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out this list of Cheap Dinners For Families.

Looking for some family friendly meals on a budget? I have you covered in this article!

One of the best ways to save more money is to cook at home more and eat out less. The problem though is that some of us are busy, some of us have picky eaters, and some of us don’t like to cook.

I hear your frustrations and struggles! Which is exactly why I found you these 29 simple to cook, and cheap dinners for families. One (or all!) of these are sure to be a new favorite in your household.

1. Instant Pot Chicken Enchiladas

If you are looking for a comforting dinner, try these easy instant pot chicken enchiladas! I love meals that are freezer friendly, and this recipe is just that! Make these enchiladas and stick them in the freezer to use for later.

2. Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Got 20 minutes, a pound of ground beef, and some broccoli on hand? You are so lucky: You have the core of this easy Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry recipe all ready to go, the next time you need a quick weeknight dinner idea.

3. Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken

Craving Chinese takeout? Try this easy sheet pan cashew chicken recipe instead! You only need a few ingredients to throw together this quick dinner.

4. Cheap and Easy Doritos Nacho Bake

I love this Doritos Nacho Bake because it it is easy to customize for all taste preferences. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to whip up, which is always a huge plus in my book!

5. Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air fryer chicken thighs are cheap and tasty, basically all of my favorite things! I love the sweet dry rub in this recipe. It’s so easy to make and budget friendly!

6. Garlic Olive Oil Pasta

Check out this quick, meatless Garlic Olive Oil Pasta for an easy dinner. You only need three ingredients for this recipe, and they are all budget friendly. Win-Win!

7. Easy Pasta Bake

If you’re needing a quick, kid friendly meal you must try this Easy Pasta Bake. The prep is so ridiculously easy and my kids always devour it!

8. American Goulash

I love one pot recipes, they just make cooking (and clean up!) so much easier! Here is a great one pot recipe using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! Check out the American Goulash recipe here!

9. Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Honestly, I want to try every single instant pot recipe that comes my way! I’m all about a quick to fix meal! Instead of buying boxed hamburger helper, just make it yourself in your instant pot with this easy Instant Pot Hamburger Helper recipe!

10. One Pot Pasta

All you need is 15 minutes to whip up this one pot pasta. This is the perfect frugal recipe for those busy days!

11. Baked Chicken and Zucchini Casserole

Check out this Baked Chicken and Zucchini Casserole recipe for a low carb dinner idea. It is both frugal and quick to fix! This would be the perfect meal for using up some of your garden zucchini!

Related: 9 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In First Garden

12. Oven Baked Pork Chops

All you need is 5 minutes to prep these Oven Baked Pork Chops. This is a simple, budget friendly sheet pan meal that is sure to become a new family favorite!

13. Chicken Broccoli Instant Pot Casserole

Another budget friendly instant pot recipe is this Chicken Broccoli Casserole. It has very little prep and cooks extra fast using the Instant Pot.

Related: What To Do With A Costco Rotisserie Chicken

14. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

I’m all about celebrating Taco Tuesday, and these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are the perfect meal to do that! You can fix it before work and let it cook in the slow cooker. It will be ready right on time when you get home!

15. Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken

Looking for a twist on the traditional pulled pork? Try this Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken instead! You probably already have all of the ingredients in your kitchen, plus it will only take 5 minutes to throw it all together!

16. Easy Chili Verde

You will only need 4 ingredients to make this Easy Chili Verde recipe. You can serve this meal in tortillas, rice or chips! It’s so fun to customize it however you want!

17. Mushroom Aglio Olio

This Mushroom Aglio Olio is a quick, easy and budget friendly dinner. With just six ingredients it’s on the table in twenty minutes.

18. Easy Skillet Caprese Chicken

If you are a fan of the classic Italian Caprese salad, then you will love this Easy Skillet Caprese Chicken recipe! It has the same amazing flavors added to the top of a sautéed chicken breast. This low carb chicken dinner is a must if you need a quick week night dinner recipe.

Related: Looking for even more family friendly meals on a budget? Check out Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe ebook where easy cooking and frugal living combine!

19. Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

Here is an easy way to make a Chicken Pot Pie. This recipe uses frozen vegetables, which makes the prep minimal! Feel free to make your own biscuits from scratch (I have an easy recipe in my cookbook) or use refrigerator biscuits for an even easier dinner. The choice is yours!

20. One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice

Another great one dish meal is this Spanish Chicken and Rice. This meal is so quick and easy, you’ll be eating it in just 30 minutes!

21. Cream Cheese Pasta

This Cream Cheese Pasta recipe combines a few simple ingredients to create an easy 10-minute recipe that will keep both your budget and mouth happy!

22. Peanut Butter Chicken

You can use your favorite peanut butter to make this peanut butter chicken recipe. This is the perfect weeknight meal when you are craving take out!

23. Skillet Lasagna

This hearty skillet lasagna recipe is easy to make with Campanelle or Bowtie pasta in a skillet on the stove top! It has all of the flavor of classic lasagna, but a fraction of the work!

24. Cheesy Chicken Burrito Bowl

Love burritos? Try this Cheesy Chicken Burrito Bowl! It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is both filling and delicious!

25. Instant Pot Beef Stew

Whip up a quick beef stew in the instant pot with this recipe. It’s the perfect hearty meal for a cool autumn day! I especially love that you can cook it using frozen stew meat! You don’t even have to remember to thaw it (yay!).

26. Crockpot Sausage and Tortellini Soup

If you’re a big fan of easy, family-friendly meals, you’ve got to try this creamy and delicious crockpot sausage and tortellini soup. With just 6 simple (and cheap!) ingredients, this is sure to become one of your favorites.

27. Easy Cola Chicken

You will love this very simple, low prep Cola Chicken recipe. All you need are 4 ingredients and 30 minutes of your time for a delicious dinner.

28. Oven Baked Lemon Butter Chicken Thighs

I will try just about any recipe that contains the word lemon in the title! It is one of my favorite ingredients! Which is exactly the reason why I fell in love with this Oven Baked Lemon Butter Chicken Thighs recipe. The recipe is simple to follow and produces a moist, delicious chicken!

29. Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff

Crockpot chicken stroganoff is a fun spin on the classic stroganoff recipe. It is a family favorite as well as an easy toss and go crockpot recipe.

30. Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

My mom use to make this Waikiki Chicken recipe and it was one of my favorites! I love making it for my own kids now. It’s the perfect budget friendly and kid friendly dinner recipe!

You Can Cook At Home!

If you are struggling cooking dinner at home try one of these easy family friendly meals on a budget. I have found that the easier recipes I find, the more likely I am to actually cook it!

10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

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I hope you love these family friendly meals on a budget!

What To Do With A Costco Rotisserie Chicken

April 21, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to get the most out of one Costco rotisserie chicken.

Have you been wondering what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken??? You are not alone! This is a common question, one I use to have, but I have since learned a few ways to get the most out of each chicken. I am so excited to share how I use one of their delicious chickens in three different ways!

I started shopping at Costco almost a year ago. I was a little hesitant at first….worried that I would spend to much money, but I am now obsessed with this glorious store! It has saved our family money on groceries and we love so many of their products. Basically a win-win! One of my very favorite things to buy at Costco is their rotisserie chicken. It only costs $5, but is HUGE and delicious! A seriously good deal!

I am a member of online affiliate programs. I will be compensated for purchases made from links in this post.

There are many different meals you can make with your Costco chicken, but we have a few favorites that I make every single month. I am so excited to share those two dinner recipes with you! (Plus a bonus broth recipe!)

Need a Costco membership? No worries you can grab one here: Costco Membership

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Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #1: Buffalo Taquitos

My husband and I are both huge buffalo chicken fans (my kids….not so much...). But, we love to try ANYTHING that includes buffalo chicken, and these taquitos are so easy (especially when made using a rotisserie chicken) and delicious. Two huge wins in my book!

Gather Ingredients For Buffalo Taquitos Recipe

To make these buffalo taquitos you will need:

Shredded Chicken (I use half of one Costco Rotisserie Chicken)
Buffalo Sauce (I love Franks buffalo wing sauce)
Shredded Cheese (I use cheddar, because I always have it at home)
Cream Cheese (softened)
Flour Tortillas

First thing you need to do is use a hand mixer to mix the softened cream cheese and buffalo sauce together. This only takes a minute and is so easy.

Next, gently stir in the chicken and cheese.

Place about 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture on the bottom of a flour tortilla. Roll it up gently and tightly and then place on a greased baking sheet.

Bake taquitos in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until tortillas are golden and slightly crispy.

Related: The Best Deals At Costco

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

A quick dinner using a rotisserie chicken.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

3 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup buffalo sauce
1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1/2 rotisserie chicken shredded
flour tortillas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
With hand mixer, beat together cream cheese and buffalo sauce until well mixed.
Stir in cheddar cheese and chicken.
Place 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture on bottom of tortilla.
Starting at bottom, slowly roll tortilla into a tight roll.
Place on a greased baking sheet.
Repeat until chicken mixture is gone.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes, or until tortillas are slightly crispy and golden brown.

Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #2: White Chicken Chili

My second recipe when deciding what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken is to make our favorite white chicken chili. This is another really easy recipe that can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes, but tastes delicious!

Ingredients Needed For White Chicken Chili:

Onion, diced
Garlic, minced
Chicken Broth
Shredded Chicken (I use half of one Costco rotisserie chicken)
Cumin
Diced green chilis (canned)
Lime juice
White Beans (canned)

The first step to making this delicious white chicken chili is to sauté the onions and garlic in a small amount of oil in a large pot. Let it cook until they are soft and translucent.

I like to use my frozen onions because it saves me from having to dice them!

Then add the rest of the ingredients into the pot. Stir and let it simmer on stove for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve chili with tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.

White Chicken Chili

Easy chili recipe using rotisserie chicken.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Ingredients

1 onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
2 12 oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 rotisserie chicken shredded
1 tsp cumin
1 4 oz. can diced green chilis
3 Tbsp lime juice
2 15 oz. cans white beans

Instructions

Sauté onions and garlic in a small amount of oil in pot until soft and translucent.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.

Related: Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #3: Chicken Broth

And, here is your bonus rotisserie chicken recipe! I am calling it a bonus recipe because it’s not a recipe for a meal…and it’s not technically a recipe (I just kindof randomly throw ingredients in), but it is a GREAT way to stretch your Costco rotisserie chicken even further….which is what we all want, right? Right!

I started making my own chicken broth a few months ago and am currently obsessed! Someone suggested it to me as a way to get more use from my rotisserie chicken, rather than throwing it away, and it’s perfect! So, once you are done using the meat from your chicken, turn the leftovers into broth. It’s really so simple to make and tastes much better than store bought. Plus, if you make it using kitchen scraps it’s basically FREE! And, we all like free!

I freeze my homemade chicken broth using these freezer containers. And then when I make a recipe calling for chicken broth, I just pull one out of the freezer and I’m ready to go!

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Chicken Broth:

Rotisserie Chicken Carcass
Veggie Scraps, Celery, Carrots, Onions, Garlic, etc.
Water

Like I mentioned earlier, I really don’t use a recipe to make this broth. I just throw it all together!

First, place your rotisserie chicken carcass in a large stock pot. Make sure to include any leftover skin, meat, bones, etc. And scrap out any of the goop on the bottom. The more flavor you can get, the better.

Next, quickly cut up your veggies. You can even just use your hand to rip them into smaller pieces. They don’t need to be nice and even. I know some people save the ends of their carrots and celery for their broth, you can use those too if you want!

Add your veggies to the pot with the chicken carcass.

Fill your stock pot up with water until chicken and vegetables are covered. You can also add a bay leaf or two if you have some. Bring water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn heat down and allow to simmer for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.

After a few hours of simmering, use a fine mesh strainer to strain broth into a bowl.

Ladle the broth into freezer containers to freeze. Frozen broth will stay good for 3 months.

Or, you can store it in a container in your fridge. Broth will stay good in your fridge for 1 week.

There Are So Many Ways To Use a Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Well, there are my three ways I use one Rotisserie Chicken from Costco. I love the feeling of getting the most out of everything that I buy. Remember to be creative with your foods and try to not let anything go to waste! Your budget will thank you for it!

Fun pizza night at home ideas!

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Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe

How To Make Flour Tortillas

Flour Tortillas

Ingredients

Instructions

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I hope this helped you learn how to make flour tortillas!

You can make your own pizza with this easy homemade pizza crust recipe!

How To Make Homemade Pizza

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

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The best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe makes everything better!

How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Gather Ingredients

Mix It Together

Hot Cocoa Mix

Ingredients

Instructions

In Conclusion

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I hope you enjoy this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe!

How to make a Broccoli and Grape Salad.

Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

Putting It All Together

Broccoli Grape Salad

Ingredients

Instructions

Try it! You’ll like it!

Mel’s Home Cooking

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1. Make Rice Krispies

2. Prepare Chocolate

3. Dip Rice Krispies in Chocolate

4. Add Candy Eyes

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Quick after school snacks for kids!

Easy After School Snack Ideas Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

In Conclusion

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How do you make ice cream in a bag? I’ve got the answer for you!

How To Make Ice Cream In A Bag

Gather Supplies

Ice Cream In A Bag Instructions

Ice Cream in a Bag

Ingredients

Optional Mix Ins

Instructions

In Conclusion

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I hope this helped you understand how to make ice cream in a bag.

Check out this list of Cheap Dinners For Families.

1. Instant Pot Chicken Enchiladas

2. Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

3. Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken

4. Cheap and Easy Doritos Nacho Bake