You already know that I’m a huge fan of casseroles as a convenience dish. I love the fact that I can make up several different casseroles over the weekend and freeze them for use during the next week or two. The whole process is a real life-saver during particularly busy weeks.

What you may not realize, though, is that using casseroles in your meal plans can also help you stretch your food budget. By using inexpensive ingredients or even leftovers from another meal you can put entrees together for next to nothing. Here are some of my favorite options:

Beef and Macaroni Bake I think of this casserole as a home-made version of hamburger helper. Begin by cooking a bag of your family’s favorite pasta. We like macaroni, but you can also use shells or bow-tie pasta. Then combine the pasta with brown hamburger (we use leftovers from the previous night’s taco night) and your favorite spices. You can use Mexican seasoning for a spicy casserole or stick to salt and pepper for a more traditional meal. Finally add some chopped onion and two or three cups of shredded cheese into the mixture. Stir everything together and then place into a casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese bubbles.

Chicken and Cheese Casserole Nothing can be simpler than this delicious chicken casserole. Begin by placing thin, boneless chicken breasts into the bottom of a baking dish. Cover the breasts with bread crumbs. (Flour will do in a pinch.) Add a cup of marinara sauce and your favorite spice to the dish. Then, sprinkle cheese over everything. Bake at 400 degrees for thirty minutes or so.

Tuna Noodle Casserole Cooked egg noodles, tuna, and cream of mushroom soup come together to create this comforting dish. Begin by combining the soup, a cup of milk, and salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, mix your cooked noodles with two cans of drained tuna. Pour the soup mixture over the noodles and tuna and stir until it is well-mixed. Finally, pour the entire concoction into a baking dish. Sprinkle ½ cup of crushed saltine crackers over the entire dish and bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes.

Turkey Casserole This casserole is great for using some of that turkey leftover from Thanksgiving. Place leftover turkey chunks into a baking dish sprinkling in chopped onion and celery. Add a cup of Alfredo sauce, some shredded cheese and bread crumbs over the top of the dish. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.

Sausage and Egg Casserole Who says casseroles are only suitable for dinner? Brown your favorite sausage, breaking the sausage into small bits as you cook. Drain any fat or grease from the sausage on paper towels and lay it aside. Now you can focus on preparing the eggs. Prepare the eggs as you would prepare scrambled eggs, adding milk and any seasonings you like. Then, sprinkle the sausage and a cup of your favorite shredded cheese into the mixing bowl. Pour the entire concoction into a baking dish and bake at 325 degrees until the eggs are cooked all the way through.

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