One of the most popular boxed meals on the market today is macaroni and cheese. You can purchase name brand types with differently shaped pasta and fancy three cheese sauce, or you can go for the economy box of powdered cheese and plain elbow noodles. When money is tight, you reach for the cheaper box and call it dinner.
It does not have to be served straight out of the box, however. After all, macaroni and cheese is not a complete meal. It does not cover all the basic food groups and provides very little necessary protein. Below are five meal ideas, all costing under $5.00 to make, that starts with macaroni and cheese.
Macaroni and Cheese Meal #1 – Chili Mac
To make Chili Mac, you should prepare a box of macaroni and cheese as directed on the package. To this, you should add one can of chili with beans. This will give you plenty of needed protein. You can also add a chopped up and sautéed onion, and a well-drained can of diced tomatoes for your vegetable requirement.
Macaroni and Cheese Meal #2 – Tuna Surprise
Start this meal with a prepared box of macaroni and cheese. Add a well-drained and rinsed can of tuna. You can use either chunk light or white albacore, which is more expensive. To this, add a thinly sliced onion, thin sliced green pepper, and press it into a casserole dish. Top the whole thing with breadcrumbs and put it in the oven until browned across the top. This meal has protein, vegetables, and the carbohydrates you need.
Macaroni and Cheese Meal #3 – Turkey Divine
Turkey Divine starts like the others, with a prepared box of macaroni and cheese. This is a great recipe to make when you have a lot of turkey leftovers, like after Thanksgiving. You can, however, use chicken, or even canned turkey or chicken chunks.
To the macaroni and cheese, you will add bite-size chunks of the turkey, a drained can of peas, and one cup of sour cream. Mix this all together, spread into a casserole pan, sprinkle with breadcrumbs, and cook until browned on the top and warmed through.
Macaroni and Cheese Meal #4 – Pizza Noodles
This macaroni and cheese meal is sure to become a favorite. To the pot of prepared noodles and sauce, add some browned sausage, cooked onions, mushrooms, pepperoni, or any other pizza toppings your family enjoys. Spoon in about ½ cup of pizza sauce from a jar and stir well.
Macaroni and Cheese Meal #5 – Ham and Cheese, Please
This one meal is lacking vegetables, but is still a great quick meal to make with macaroni and cheese. You should mix the prepared macaroni and cheese with chunks of cooked ham. You can also use slices of deli ham if you wish. It should be layered in a casserole dish with slices of cheddar or even American cheese and baked until cooked through.
These macaroni and cheese meals cost under $5.00 to make and serve your family. Not only are they cheap, they are much more nutritious than plain boxed macaroni and cheese, and they are more delicious as well.
