$5 DINNERS | BEST Quick & Easy Cheap Meal Ideas | Affordable Dinner Recipes | Simple Recipes

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese offers a lower fat option while maintaining a creamy texture.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: cheddar cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories, while cheddar is often more affordable.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Nutritional yeast is a dairy-free option, while grana padano is a less expensive cheese.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often cheaper.

Cook 1 pound of ground beef in a skillet until browned and drain excess fat.

Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon basil, 2 teaspoons oregano, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder to the cooked beef; stir to combine.

Pour in 2 cups of beef broth and stir.

Add 1 cup of elbow macaroni and 24 oz of canned spaghetti sauce to the beef mixture; stir well.

Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a bubbling boil.

Once bubbling, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

After 15-20 minutes, stir in mozzarella cheese until melted and combined.

Serve the macaroni lasagna with garlic bread.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens