Introduction
Dinner can be a challenge in any home between working into the late hours of the night, or a family with both spouses working outside of the home and carrying different responsibilities for caring for the home and each other as well as raising kids and picking them up from after school activities. We understand how busy life is and that for some cooking and cleaning up dinner can be the last thing you want to do, that’s why we created this blog to give you some cheap dinner ideas from using interchangeable ingredients to create a variety of cheap and quick meals. To make your dinners quicker and easier, we recommend meal prepping some of these steps for saving time and money. Check out our meal prepping tips in our blog “Meal Prepping“.
Interchangeable Ingredients
There are many benefits of using interchangeable ingredients, such as reducing food waste and saving money. Using interchangeable ingredients reduces food waste and saves money by buying the protein, vegetables and sauces you frequently use and enjoy and preparing them so they can be used in multiple recipes throughout the week. You can mix and match ingredients to create different meals, such as stir fry, tacos, pasta, and more. By switching up the protein, sauce and/or condiments, and vegetables, you can create endless variations of quick and easy meals. All of the following recipe ideas use interchangeable ingredients but not with specified cooking measurements so they can be customized to fit your taste and preferences from your favorite recipe author.
Stir Fry: Sauté protein (such as chicken, shrimp, or tofu) with a combination of diced vegetables (such as broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers) and a sauce (such as soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, or sweet and sour sauce). Once cooked, serve over cooked rice or cooked noodles.
Tacos: Fill tortillas with cooked protein (such as ground beef, chicken, or black beans), diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and tomatoes), and a sauce (such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream). Top with shredded cheese and chopped cilantro.
Curry: Sauté protein (such as chicken or shrimp) with a combination of diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and carrots) and a curry sauce (such as red or green curry paste, coconut milk, and spices). Once cooked, serve over cooked rice or cooked noodles.
Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, sauté protein (such as ground beef, chicken, ground turkey, or shrimp) with a combination of diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and zucchini) and a sauce (such as tomato sauce, pesto, or alfredo sauce). Toss with cooked pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Kabobs: Thread protein (such as chicken, beef, or shrimp) and diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and zucchini) onto skewers. Optional add your favorite sauce such as tzatziki or barbecue before placing on the grill. Grill or broil until cooked through. Serve with a dipping sauce (such as tzatziki, hummus, or barbecue sauce).
Fried Rice: Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, scramble eggs and sauté protein (such as chicken or shrimp) and diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and peas) in a large skillet with oil. Add cooked rice and a sauce (such as soy sauce, hoisin sauce, or oyster sauce). Serve hot.
Chili: Cook protein (such as ground beef or turkey) and diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and tomatoes) in a large pot until browned. Add canned beans, canned tomatoes, and a chili seasoning mix. Simmer until thickened. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream.
Power Bowl: Layer cooked grains (such as quinoa or brown rice) with cooked protein (such as grilled chicken or tofu), roasted or raw vegetables (such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, or carrots), and a sauce (such as tahini dressing, peanut sauce, or vinaigrette).
Skewer Bowls: Thread protein (such as chicken, shrimp, or tofu) and diced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and zucchini) onto skewers. Grill or broil until cooked through. Serve over cooked grains (such as rice or quinoa) with a sauce (such as pesto, tzatziki, or teriyaki).
Fajitas: Sauté protein (such as chicken, steak, or tofu) with a combination of sliced vegetables (such as onions, peppers, and mushrooms) and fajita seasoning. Serve with warm tortillas and toppings (such as shredded cheese, salsa, and sour cream).
Conclusion
By mixing and matching protein, sauces, and veggies, you can create endless meal options that are quick, easy, and delicious! We encourage you to give it a try and let us know what you think. To make the above interchangeable meals quicker, you can meal prep the protein and grains you plan to eat that week so all you have to do is reheat your protein and grains with the veggies and sauces and/or condiments you plan on using. Meal prep is a useful tool for making the most of interchangeable ingredients, so your meals are made quicker and easier. In our next blog, next Thursday, we will be sharing why bento boxes are perfect for lunch on the go no matter what type of cuisine you enjoy. Leave a comment for what you found the most helpful and Subscribe so you never miss a blog! Stay saucy!
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