Thursday nights typically mean at least one of us will be coming home late, so I’m always on the lookout for something fairly straightforward to make on the fly, even if it’s 8 p.m. and we’re starving. Tonight, I ended up getting home early and had all the time in the world, but, safe in the knowledge that I’d already chosen a one-pan meal, I used my spare time to make and can six jars of salsa. (I don’t idle well.)
So. Dinner!
A week or so ago, I stumbled upon a Taco Pasta recipe over at $5 Dinners (which is quickly becoming one of my go-to sites for frugal, healthy, and filling – not to mention delicious! – meals), and I knew it would be a perfect Thursday night candidate. It might even get us off our Hamburger Helper habit (which, in fairness, we haven’t fallen prey to in awhile).
I was initially skeptical that our pasta would cook in the pan with everything else, but I was pleasantly surprised with the results! The excess water boiled off as the pasta cooked, and we were left with a wonderful meal that was rich in protein and low in fat. Paired with a side salad, it was a complete dinner that left us both full and satisfied. We’ve given it the thumbs-up, which means we’ll be adding it back into the rotation soon. In the meantime, LeeLee has plenty to take for lunch tomorrow – always a bonus!
The stats:
Ground “beef”: $3.99 ($2.00/person)
Fusilli pasta: $0.99 ($0.25/person)
Tomato paste: $0.89 ($0.45/person)
Kidney beans: $0.99 ($0.50/person)
Cheese: $4.59 ($1.15/person)
Salad: $3.99 ($2.00/person)
GRAND TOTAL: $15.44 … or $6.35 per person.
BUT WAIT! This meal makes a good-sized portion for lunch tomorrow. So the per-person price goes down even more!
:)