Meals On A Budget: Recipes That Won't Break The Bank!

If you're like a lot of hobby-cooks and foodies, you love to make great-tasting dishes but can't afford to spend tons of cash on fancy ingredients. Here are a few meals on a budget you can try today, recipes that will scintillate your taste buds without draining your wallet!

1. Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp

Most people think of shrimp as a high-price food that they can only occasionally enjoy, but if you go for the frozen stuff, it's not too pricy at all! Hit up your local discount store or big-name supermarket, and check out their prices on frozen large or jumbo shrimp.

In addition to the shrimp, you'll just need some olive oil, fresh garlic, one jalapeno, one bunch of cilantro, and a couple of limes. Make a marinade out of these ingredients but finely mincing the jalapeno, garlic, and cilantro, and combining them with about a quarter cup of olive oil. Squeeze in the juice from the limes, use a grater to add the zest, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Combine the thawed shrimp and marinade in a gallon-sized plastic bag and allow it to rest for at least an hour - a half day or overnight is preferable. When you're ready to grill, skewer the shrimp on wooden kebab sticks, grill using the rest of the marinade, and serve fresh!

2. Easy Beef Stew

Though simple, a good beef stew is one of the most honest and delicious meals you can eat. To make a great stew on a budget, all you'll need is a 4-5 pound chuck roast, a few potatoes, some carrots, some beef broth, and a few basic seasonings that you probably already have in your cabinet.

Start by salting and searing the outside of the roast in a super-hot cast-iron pan. This will add a golden-brown crust to the roast that will give it some seriously rich, deep flavor. Put the browned meat in a crock-pot or other slow-cooker along with chopped potatoes and carrots.

For the sauce, simply mix 3-4 cups of beef broth with salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Pour this mixture over the meat and veggies, and fill the crock-pot almost to the brim with water. Leave about an inch so that it doesn't boil over! Set the cooker on low, and allow it to do its thing for 8-10 hours. At the end, you'll have a fantastic, hearty stew and leftovers to spare!

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