3 Comfort Food Dinners Made with Gravy (MM#34)

Even though it is a new year, it is still really nice to have a simple dinner that cooks quickly. It is also wonderful when those quick meals still feel hearty and cozy, and that is where gravy comes in.

Gravy has a way of turning basic ingredients into true comfort food with very little effort. This mini menu shows how using three different types of gravy can create three completely different dinners.

All three meals use just 13 ingredients, and the total came to $22.21, which is well under our $30 budget. That leaves plenty of room to stay extra frugal for the week or to make small upgrades, like making gravy from scratch or picking up a loaf of French bread to turn the stuffing into a homemade version.

Grocery Items Needed for the Mini Menu

If you want to see the full shopping list on Walmart in your area, all you have to do is click my Walmart Grocery list and change the zip code to your area. *This is an affiliate link, and I do make a small commission on any purchases, but at no additional cost to you!*

**** Please note, that every once in a while, an item that I pick turns out to be regional. This means that it may be a much higher price in some areas. Always double check the list and if you see an item that is much higher than normal, just adjust as needed.

Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy over Noodles

This cozy, hands-off dinner combines tender chicken, rich gravy, and egg noodles for a filling meal with very little effort. The noodles can be swapped for mashed potatoes or rice, and the mixed vegetables can be changed to whatever frozen or canned veggies you have on hand.

Hamburger Gravy over Rice

Ground pork and beef cooked with onion, peas, and mushrooms in a savory brown gravy makes this an affordable, hearty dinner served over rice. This dish works just as well over mashed potatoes or toast, and the peas can be swapped for corn or carrots if that’s what you have.

Chicken & Pepper Gravy Stuffing Bowls

These comfort-style bowls layer chicken stuffing, tender chicken, canned green beans, and pepper gravy for a fast dinner that feels like classic comfort food. If needed, you can swap the pepper gravy for turkey or mushroom gravy, or replace the green beans with peas or corn.

Free Printable List & Recipes

Here is a 1-page cheat sheet that includes the grocery list as well as all the recipes you need to make this budget mini menu work!

Don’t forget to check out our full week menus, as well as join our email newsletter for more fun and affordable meal ideas!