What’s for Dinner | Simple Budget Friendly Family Meal Ideas | August 2025
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Recipes in this Video
7 recipes
Originating from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, tortellini is a beloved pasta shape traditionally filled with meat or cheese. This pasta salad brings a refreshing twist to the classic dish, perfect for warm weather gatherings or picnics. Today, tortellini pasta salad is enjoyed worldwide, with countless variations incorporating seasonal vegetables and dressings.
Ingredients
- ●tortellini
- ●cherry tomatoes
- ●cucumber
- ●red onion
- ●bell pepper
- ●mozzarella balls
- ●black olives
- ●fresh basil
- ●olive oil
- ●balsamic vinegar
- ●garlic
- ●salt
- ●black pepper
Instructions
- 1Cook tortellini in boiling salted water until al dente, about 3-5 minutes.
- 2Drain tortellini and rinse under cold water to cool.
- 3Chop cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and bell pepper into bite-sized pieces.
- 4In a large bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, chopped vegetables, and mozzarella balls.
- 5Add black olives and torn fresh basil leaves to the bowl.
- 6In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper.
- 7Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- 8Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- 9Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Ingredient Alternatives
tortellini
Healthier: whole wheat pasta
Cheaper: farfalle
Whole wheat pasta increases fiber, while farfalle is often less expensive.
mozzarella balls
Healthier: feta cheese
Cheaper: cubed cheddar
Feta adds a tangy flavor, while cheddar is usually more affordable.
balsamic vinegar
Healthier: red wine vinegar
Cheaper: apple cider vinegar
Red wine vinegar offers a similar flavor profile, while apple cider vinegar is cost-effective.
olive oil
Healthier: avocado oil
Cheaper: vegetable oil
Avocado oil provides healthy fats, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.
Techniques
boilingmixingchilling
Equipment
large potcolanderlarge bowlsmall bowlwhisk
🌶️🌶️🌶️Lowglutendairy
Also Known As
Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- ●1 lb ground chicken
- ●1/2 cup diced bell peppers (red, green, yellow)
- ●1/4 cup diced onion
- ●1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- ●1 egg
- ●1 tbsp fajita seasoning
- ●1 tsp salt
- ●1/2 tsp black pepper
- ●4 hamburger buns
- ●1 cup shredded lettuce
- ●1/2 cup sliced tomatoes
- ●1/2 cup shredded cheese (optional)
- ●1/4 cup salsa (for serving)
Instructions
- 1In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, diced bell peppers, diced onion, breadcrumbs, egg, fajita seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- 2Mix the ingredients until well combined, but do not overmix.
- 3Divide the mixture into four equal portions and shape them into burger patties.
- 4Preheat a grill or skillet over medium heat and lightly grease it.
- 5Cook the patties for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through and have an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- 6While the burgers are cooking, toast the hamburger buns on the grill or in a toaster.
- 7Once the burgers are done, assemble them on the toasted buns with shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and cheese if desired.
- 8Serve the burgers with salsa on the side.
Equipment
grillmixing bowlspatulameat thermometer
🌶️🌶️🌶️Low
Ingredients
- ●2 lbs chicken wings
- ●1/4 cup honey
- ●1/4 cup lemon juice
- ●1 tsp lemon zest
- ●1 tsp black pepper
- ●1/2 tsp salt
- ●1/2 tsp garlic powder
- ●1/2 tsp onion powder
- ●1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- 1Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- 2In a large bowl, combine honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- 3Add the chicken wings to the bowl and toss them until they are well coated with the marinade.
- 4Let the wings marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for more flavor.
- 5Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top.
- 6Arrange the marinated chicken wings on the wire rack in a single layer.
- 7Drizzle olive oil over the wings to help them crisp up during baking.
- 8Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the wings are golden brown and crispy.
- 9Remove from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
- 10Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Equipment
baking sheetwire racklarge bowlaluminum foil
Ingredients
- ●1 lb ground beef
- ●1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- ●1/2 cup salsa
- ●1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ●1/4 cup chopped onion
- ●1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
- ●1 egg
- ●1 tsp garlic powder
- ●1 tsp cumin
- ●1 tsp chili powder
- ●1/2 tsp salt
- ●1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- 1Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- 2In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crushed tortilla chips, salsa, cheddar cheese, onion, green bell pepper, egg, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
- 3Mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- 4Transfer the mixture into a greased loaf pan, shaping it into a loaf.
- 5Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until the meatloaf is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (70°C).
- 6Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- 7Serve warm, optionally with additional salsa or cheese on top.
Equipment
loaf panmixing bowloven
🌶️🌶️🌶️Low
Ingredients
- ●12 large jalapeño peppers
- ●8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ●1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ●1/2 tsp garlic powder
- ●1/2 tsp onion powder
- ●1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- ●1/4 tsp salt
- ●1/4 tsp black pepper
- ●12 slices bacon, cut in half
Instructions
- 1Preheat your smoker to 225°F (107°C).
- 2Wearing gloves, slice the jalapeño peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and membranes.
- 3In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- 4Stuff each jalapeño half with the cheese mixture, pressing it in firmly.
- 5Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with a half slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick if necessary.
- 6Place the wrapped jalapeños on the smoker rack, ensuring they are not touching each other.
- 7Smoke the jalapeño poppers for about 2 hours, or until the bacon is crispy and the cheese is bubbly.
- 8Remove from the smoker and let cool for a few minutes before serving.
- 9Serve warm as an appetizer.
Equipment
smokermixing bowltoothpicks (optional)
🌶️🌶️🌶️Medium
Ingredients
- ●4 bone-in pork chops
- ●1 cup all-purpose flour
- ●1 tsp salt
- ●1/2 tsp black pepper
- ●2 tbsp olive oil
- ●1 cup chicken broth
- ●1 cup milk
- ●1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- ●1/4 cup butter
- ●1/4 tsp garlic powder
- ●1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- 1Season the pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides.
- 2Dredge each pork chop in flour, shaking off the excess.
- 3In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- 4Add the pork chops to the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- 5In the same skillet, melt the butter and add the chopped onion. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
- 6Sprinkle the remaining flour into the skillet and stir to combine with the butter and onion, cooking for about 1 minute.
- 7Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and milk, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.
- 8Add garlic powder and paprika to the gravy, stirring to combine.
- 9Return the pork chops to the skillet, spooning the gravy over them, and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
- 10Serve the pork chops hot, drizzled with gravy.
Equipment
large skilletwhiskmeasuring cupsmeasuring spoons
Ingredients
- ●12 manicotti pasta shells
- ●2 cups ricotta cheese
- ●1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ●1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ●1 egg
- ●2 cups marinara sauce
- ●1 tsp dried oregano
- ●1 tsp garlic powder
- ●1/2 tsp salt
- ●1/4 tsp black pepper
- ●1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 2Cook the manicotti shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 3In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- 4Fill each manicotti shell with the cheese mixture using a spoon or piping bag.
- 5Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- 6Arrange the filled manicotti shells in the baking dish on top of the marinara sauce.
- 7Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the manicotti shells, ensuring they are well covered.
- 8Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce.
- 9Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- 10Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- 11Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Equipment
large potmixing bowl9x13 inch baking dishaluminum foilspoon or piping bag
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