11 Cheap Old Fashioned Recipes

Introduction

Old fashioned recipes are timeless for a reason—they showcase simple ingredients, classic flavors, and straightforward preparation that just works. When you’re looking to save money while still enjoying nourishing, comforting meals, there’s nothing better than an affordable dish passed down through generations. These 11 cheap old fashioned recipes are proof that delicious home-cooked food doesn’t have to break the bank.

Why These 11 Cheap Old Fashioned Recipes?

These recipes stand out for their budget-friendly ingredients, ease of preparation, and satisfying results. Each dish is designed with economy and flavor in mind, making them perfect for meal planning, large families, or anyone seeking a taste of nostalgic comfort food without a hefty price tag. From hearty stews to baked casseroles and simple desserts, there’s something here for every taste and mealtime.

Classic Recipe Highlights

What makes these classics so enduring? Many use pantry and freezer staples like beans, rice, pasta, eggs, and inexpensive cuts of meat to build complete meals. Techniques like slow simmering and baking deepen flavors, while adding simple herbs and fresh vegetables elevates each dish. These recipes are ideal for batch cooking, freezing, and stretching your grocery dollar further—without losing out on taste.

11 Cheap Old Fashioned Recipes to Try This Week

1. **Vegetable Soup with Dumplings**
2. **Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Veggies**
3. **Chicken and Rice Casserole**
4. **Bean and Ham Hock Stew**
5. **Potato Pancakes (Latkes)**
6. **Savory Bread Pudding**
7. **Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese**
8. **Sloppy Joes**
9. **Old-Fashioned Goulash**
10. **Egg Salad Sandwiches**
11. **Rice Pudding**

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save all of these recipes to automatically generate an organized shopping list with everything you need, sorted by store section. It saves valuable time and makes sticking to a grocery budget far easier!

Instructions

1. Vegetable Soup with Dumplings: In a large pot, simmer chopped onions, carrots, and celery with diced tomatoes, beans, and water (or broth) for 30 minutes. Drop in quick-mixed dumpling dough (flour, milk, and a pinch of salt) and cook until fluffy.
2. Shepherd’s Pie: Brown ground beef with onion. Layer in a baking dish with mixed frozen vegetables, and top with mashed potatoes. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.
3. Chicken and Rice Casserole: Combine rice, canned soup, diced onion, and chicken breasts in a casserole dish; bake at 350°F for 1 hour.
4. Bean and Ham Hock Stew: Simmer beans with a ham hock, bay leaf, and vegetables for several hours until tender. Season to taste.
5. Potato Pancakes (Latkes): Grate potatoes and onion, mixing with eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Fry spoonfuls in oil until golden and crisp.
6. Savory Bread Pudding: Soak cubed bread in milk and eggs. Add sautéed onions, cheese, and leftover veggies. Bake until set.
7. Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese: Boil macaroni, drain, and toss with a simple cheese sauce. Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 375°F until bubbly.
8. Sloppy Joes: Cook ground beef with onion, bell pepper, and tomato sauce. Serve on bread or buns.
9. Old-Fashioned Goulash: Simmer ground beef and onions with elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, and paprika until thick and hearty.
10. Egg Salad Sandwiches: Mash boiled eggs with mayonnaise, mustard, and diced celery. Serve on bread with lettuce.
11. Rice Pudding: Simmer cooked rice with milk, sugar, and a little butter. Finish with cinnamon or raisins.

Weekly Meal Planning

These recipes are perfectly suited for meal prepping and stretch across breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Save and schedule your favorites to create a balanced weekly plan and generate a smart shopping list that prevents ingredient waste.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically consolidates overlapping staples like onions, potatoes, and eggs for multiple recipes
– Organizes your grocery list by store section—saving you time in the aisles
– Helps prevent duplicate purchases and ensures you never miss a crucial ingredient
– Makes prepping for the week seamless

Pro tip: When planning, schedule several recipes together, allowing CookifyAI to accurately calculate how much of each ingredient you’ll need—so nothing goes to waste and budgeting stays simple.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 to 20 minutes (per recipe)
Cook Time: 20 to 90 minutes (varies by dish)
Total Time: Most recipes are ready in under 1 hour

Cheap Old Fashioned Recipes (Recap)

These 11 cheap old fashioned recipes deliver big on comfort, budget-smart ingredients, and classic flavors your whole family will love. With a little planning and a handy shopping list, you can bring these traditional favorites to your dinner table all week long—no stress, no overspending!