3 Cheap and Easy Family Dinners for Less Than $13

Ingredients

• 400 g canned chicken — or fresh chicken cut into chunks
• 250 g pasta
• 1 cup mixed vegetables — frozen or fresh
• ¼ cup cheese — optional, can use any type
• 1 can cream of chicken soup — or homemade equivalent
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs — for topping
• 1 tbsp butter — for topping
• 1 lb sausage — for jambalaya
• 2 cups rice
• 4 cups liquid (water or broth)
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 cup okra — fresh or frozen
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp hot sauce — optional

Steps

1. 1

   Start by cooking the pasta according to package instructions.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, combine the canned chicken, mixed vegetables, cream of chicken soup, cheese, black pepper, and salt.

3. 3

   Add the cooked pasta to the mixture and stir until well combined.

4. 4

   Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and top with Italian breadcrumbs and melted butter.

5. 5

   Bake in the oven until browned and bubbly, about 25-30 minutes.

6. 6

   For the jambalaya, heat oil or butter in a pot and add the sausage, browning it slightly.

7. 7

   Add the seasoning blend (bell peppers, onions, celery) and cook for about a minute.

8. 8

   Stir in the rice and toast it for a minute, ensuring each grain is coated in oil.

9. 9

   Add the Cajun seasoning, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce, then pour in the liquid (water or broth).

10. 10

    Add the bay leaf and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover until the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

11. 11

    In a separate pan, sauté onion and garlic until softened, then add the okra and stewed tomatoes, cooking until heated through.