30+ Tasty Crockpot Chicken Recipes for Tight Budgets

One of the great things about using a crockpot is that you pretty much dump all the ingredients in together and just let it cook all day. As crockpots have become more popular, some of the recipes have gotten bigger and more expensive.

Today, we are going to go over some tried and true very inexpensive chicken dinners that can be made in a crockpot. These recipes are perfect for busy families with not a lot of time to cook in the evenings.

These recipes are also good for those that work from home, have multiple people eating at different times, and for an easy way to make heathy home cooked dinners for cheap!

Cheap Chicken Crockpot Dinner Ideas

Some of these recipes work better with chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or a whole chicken and we will note that for you. I have priced these all out at my local Walmart, so your costs may vary.

1. Chicken and Dumplings

This basic dish is so warm and filling and always symbolizes that start of cold weather for me! Ingredients you will need:

2-4 chicken breasts ($7.59)
1 can of cream of celery soup ($0.92)
1 can of cream of chicken soup ($0.68)
2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables ($0.84)
2 cups of chicken broth ($0.66)
1 can of refrigerated biscuits ($0.84)
Total: $11.53

To start you will put your chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot. Then in a small bowl mix together the cream of celery and chicken soup. (You can add seasonings to this mixture like poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder or any other seasonings you like!) Spread the mixture over the chicken and then pour your chicken broth over the breasts. Cook for at least 4-5 hours on high.

Just before serving, you will take your refrigerator biscuits and flatten them on a cutting board. (You can use your hands or a rolling pin.) Cut each biscuit into strips and then add the strips and the 2 cups of frozen vegetables to the crockpot. Cook for 1 more hour. Just before serving, remove the chicken breasts and shred with a fork. After you add the shredded chicken back to the crockpot, you will have a very filling and cheap meal for the whole family. (You will probably have leftovers for lunch too!)

For more cost savings, check out “Is it cheaper to make or buy Cream of Chicken Soup?“

2. Crack Chicken

This super tasty chicken dish combines the yummy flavors of chicken, bacon, ranch, and cream cheese! Ingredients you will need:

2lbs chicken breasts or tenders ($5.94)
1/2 cup of chicken broth ($0.22)
8oz pack of cream cheese ($1.68)
1 oz dry ranch seasoning ($0.50)
crumbled cooked bacon ($1.64-half a pack of precooked bacon)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($0.55)
Total: $10.53

I like to mix my dry ranch seasoning with the chicken broth and then pour it over the chicken in the crockpot. Cook the chicken for about 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Then using a fork, shred the chicken and put back in the crockpot. Now we get to add the cream cheese (cut into small chunks), crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese.

Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cream cheese is melted. This dish is awesome served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice! (You can also add a little spice by adding in jalepenos or canned rotel tomatoes with peppers!)

3. Whole Chicken and Potatoes

This dish is a great way to cook a whole chicken for dinner instead of baking it in the oven for hours. Ingredients you will need:

Whole Chicken ($6.92)
4 potatoes ($1.24)
Seasonings
Total: $8.19

This super easy dinner starts with the 4 washed potatoes placed at the bottom of the crockpot. Then you place your whole chicken on top of the potatoes. Next you will want to rub your seasonings on top of the chicken. (An example of really good seasonings would be: pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and brown sugar. Mix all the seasonings together in a small bowl and then rub into the chicken skin!)

Cook the chicken in the crockpot on high for 3-4 hours and then check to make sure internal temperature is at least 165 degrees. If you want to crisp up the chicken skin, you can put the whole chicken on a baking sheet and place under the broiler in your oven for 4-5 minutes.

4. Pepper Jack Chicken

This tasty chicken with a kick is perfect by itself of serve over rice! The ingredients you need are:

4-6 boneless chicken thighs or breasts ($5.46)
1 bag of frozen green beans ($0.84)
1 diced bell pepper ($0.82)
8oz sliced raw mushrooms ($1.98)
1/4 cup of butter ($0.56)
10 slices or 1 cup shredded pepperjack cheese (you can substitute any other cheese if you don’t like spicy) ($2.00)
seasonings like: onion powder, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper
Total: $11.66

This crockpot dish can be adapted to any flavor you love! First let’s start by adding our chicken to the bottom of the crockpot and sprinkle with seasonings. Then we will add our frozen green beans, mushrooms, and diced bell pepper. Lastly, we will add our butter on top in small chunks.

I like to cook this for 4-6 hours until the chicken shreds easy with a fork when stirred. Then I top with my pepper jack cheese and let cook for another 15 minutes. (We love to use the leftovers from this dish to make chicken quesadillas or burritos!)

For more ways to save money, check out “Is shredding your own cheese cheaper?“

5. Mississippi Chicken

This chicken dish can be used on sandwiches or served over rice or potatoes. Here are the ingredients you will need:

3lbs of boneless chicken breasts ($8.91)
1 packet of au jus gravy mix ($1.34)
1 pack (1oz) of dry ranch seasoning ($0.50)
1/2 cup of butter in chunks ($0.56)
6 pepperoncini peppers ($0.89)
Total: $12.20

This dish could not get any easier! You start with the chicken on the bottom of the crockpot and sprinkle with the au jus and ranch seasoning. Top with your butter chunks and pepperoncini peppers. (If you want more kick add some pepperoncini juice to taste).

Cook on high for 6-8 hours until the chicken easily shreds with a fork. The chicken will release its own juices as it cooks so no additional liquid is needed.

6. Mushroom Chicken

I am a huge fan of mushrooms, so this is one of my favorite easy crockpot meals! All you need is:

2-4 boneless chicken breasts ($7.59)
1 pack of dry onion soup mix ($0.72)
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup ($1.08)
2 cans of water
Total: $9.39

To start this dish, you need to decide if you prefer shredded chicken or pieces of chicken. I prefer to serve mine in pieces, so depending on the size of the chicken breasts I will cut them into 2-3 pieces. Place your chicken at the bottom of the crock pot and season with the dry onion soup mix.

Next add your cream of mushroom soup and fill those cans with water in each and add to the crockpot. Let the chicken cook for about 4 hours or until chicken has reached 165 degrees. You can shred the chicken now or leave in pieces.

We love to serve this mushroom chicken with mashed potatoes or rice and a vegetable on the side. For more cost savings, check out “Is it Cheaper to make or buy Mashed Potatoes?“

7. Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

This chicken dinner is a nice change to the everyday chicken! Here is what you need:

4-6 boneless chicken thighs or breasts ($5.46)
4 tbsp minced garlic ($0.33)
1 cup brown sugar ($0.42)
1/4 cup of water
1 tbsp of olive or vegetable oil ($0.03)
2 tbsp of soy sauce ($0.11)
Total: $6.35

This is truly a dump and go crockpot meal! I add my chicken to the bottom and then top with everything else. I give it a little stir to make sure the brown sugar is dissolved but you can mix everything in a bowl first and then pour on top. Cook the chicken for about 4 hours or until fully done and reaches 165 degrees.

We have also added a can of drained pineapple or mandarin oranges and served this over rice. It tastes a lot like Chinese takeout for a fraction of the cost!

8. Sweet Hawaiin Chicken

This dish is actually a twist on the one above “Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken.” With this one addition, it can be served over. It tastes a lot like Chinese takeout for a fraction of the cost!

4-6 chicken thighs or breasts ($5.46)
4 tbsp minced garlic ($0.33)
1 cup brown sugar ($0.42)
1/4 cup of water
1 tbsp of olive or vegetable oil ($0.03)
2 tbsp of soy sauce ($0.11)
1 canned of drained pineapple tidbits or chunks ($1.28)
Total: $7.63

Save that pineapple juice to use in another dish or make some homemade pineapple popsicles!

9. Orange Chicken

This is another twist on the Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken from above by just adding one ingredient!

4-6 chicken thighs or breasts ($5.46)
4 tbsp minced garlic ($0.33)
1 cup brown sugar ($0.42)
1/4 cup of water
1 tbsp of olive or vegetable oil ($0.03)
2 tbsp of soy sauce ($0.11)
1 canned of drained mandarin oranges ($1.34)
Total: $7.57

I am a huge fan of making small changes to recipes that I already know to make something else. This keeps us from getting bored and I get creative with what I already have on hand!

10. Salsa Chicken

This Mexican style chicken is perfect to use in tacos, over rice, or as the filling in quesadillas! All you need is:

3 chicken breasts ($2.95)
1 jar of salsa (12-16oz) ($1.12)
1 oz taco seasoning (1 pack) ($0.48)
Total: $4.55

For this one I like to mix my taco seasoning and salsa together first and then pour it over the chicken at the bottom of the crockpot. Depending on the size of the chicken breasts, it typically takes about 4 hours to cook on high. Your chicken should shred easily with a fork when done!

11. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Gumbo is a very tasty dish, but I have always been intimidated to make it until I founf this easy crockpot recipe! The ingredients that you need:

1lb boneless chicken thighs cut into chunks ($2.86)
1 pack of smoked sausage like kielbasa cut into chunks ($3.28)
1 bag of frozen okra ($1.34)
1 can of rotel style tomatoes with chiles ($0.98)
2 cans chicken with rice soup ($1.84)
2 cups of water
Total: $10.30

This is the ultimate dump and go crock pot meal. I put the chicken, sausage, okra and tomatoes in the crockpot and then top with the soup and water. The soup has some seasonings, but I like to add any creole style or old bay seasoning I already have on hand.

Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. This dish easily serves 6 people, and you can also throw in more vegetables like frozen mixed vegetables, carrots, or corn to stretch further!

12. Honey Chicken Wings

This is a super fun way to make chicken wings and it works well for a party as well because the crockpot keeps them warm! All you need is:

3lbs chicken wings ($2.96)
1 cup honey ($2.62)
1 cup pancake syrup or corn syrup ($0.60)
1 tsp minced garlic ($0.17)
1/4 cup soy sauce ($0.42)
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil ($0.15)
Total: $6.77

This dish starts in the oven by placing chicken wings on a broiler pan. Broil in the oven for 10 minutes and then flip the wings and broil another 10 minutes. While that is cooking, I like to mix the honey, syrup, garlic, soy sauce, and oil together in a bowl.

Once the wings are out of the oven, place directly into the crockpot and pour your mixture over the wings. Cook on low for 2-3 hours. This recipe works really well if you want to make chicken wings for a crowd.

Pro Tip: Use a crockpot cooking bag to have less cleanup with this sticky recipe!

13. Italian Chicken

This is a dupe for Olive Garden style chicken that can be served over pasta. Most people use the Olive Garden dressing, but it still turns out fabulous with store brand Italian dressing. All you need:

3-4 Chicken Breasts ($5.94)
1 bottle of Italian dressing ($1.97)
8oz block of cream cheese ($1.68)
Total: $9.59

I like to place my chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot and then pour in a bottle of the Italian dressing. I top everything with chunks of cream cheese and then let it cook for 4 hours. Once the chicken is done you can shred the chicken and then mix everything together and serve over pasta. We love to serve with a side salad and a roll! Lots of leftovers for lunches and everyone always asks for seconds!

14. Sweet and Sour Orange Chicken

Here is another version of a great Chinese food for less! All you need is:

2-4 chicken breasts or boneless thighs ($2.95)
1 cup BBQ sauce ($0.65)
1/2 cup of orange marmalade ($0.51)
Total: $4.11

I totally cheat to make this crockpot meal even easier. I place the marmalade in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 30 seconds and stir and keep repeating until the marmalade is completely melted. Then I mix in the barbecue sauce and pour it over the chicken. Cook on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken starts to fall apart.

This is another one that some people like to shred, but you can also just cut the chicken into chunks before you put it in the crockpot. I love to serve this over rice with vegetables!

15. Chicken and Stuffing

This super easy crockpot dinner is wonderful with a roll and mashed potatoes. We even have a side of cranberry sauce for a mini-Thanksgiving meal anytime of the year! Ingredients you will need:

2 lbs chicken breasts ($3.94)
1 box of stuffing mix ($0.88)
1 can of cream of chicken soup ($0.68)
4 tbsp butter ($0.56)
1 cup of sour cream ($1.16)
1/2 cup of water
Total: $7.22

I like to start by putting the stuffing mix at the bottom of greased crockpot. Then top with chicken breasts and chunks of butter. Mix in a bowl the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, water, and any additional seasonings you like. Pour the mixture over the chicken and cook on high 4-6 hour or low for 6-8 hours.

16. Creamy Pesto Chicken

This creamy pesto chicken is perfect over pasta and with a side of garlic bread! (To save more money, check out “Is it Cheaper to Make or Buy Garlic Bread?” This is what you need:

2lbs chicken breast cut in chunks ($3.94)
1 cup pesto ($3.64)
8oz block of cream cheese ($1.68)
Total: $9.26

I like this dish with the chicken in chunks, but you can leave them whole and shred them if you like. I start with my chicken at the bottom of the crockpot, small chunks of cream cheese, and then pour the pesto sauce on top.

Cook on high for 4 hours until chicken temperature is 165 degrees. We love to serve this with a side salad, green beans, or asparagus from our garden!

17. White Chicken Corn Chili

This is similar to a white chili but with a little extra! Here is what you need:

1.5lbs chicken breasts ($2.97)
1 jar of salsa (about 8 oz or so) ($1.12)
2 cans diced tomatoes ($1.76)
1 can pinto beans (rinsed and drained) ($0.78)
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained) ($0.78)
1 bag of frozen corn($0.84)
Total: $8.25

This is truly one of those that I can dump everything in and let it cook for 5-7 hours. Right before I want to serve it, I will shred the chicken and then stir it back in. I like to serve this with buttered bread or cornbread. Bonus: There is usually leftovers for lunch too!

18. Chicken Parmesan

This super easy Italian meal is so yummy that everyone always asked for more! All you need is:

2 lbs chicken breasts ($3.94)
2tbsp Italian Seasoning blend ($0.20)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce ($1.18)
1 cup mozzarella cheese ($1.10)
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese ($0.74)
Total: $7.16

This is another super easy meal that you really just add your chicken to bottom of the crockpot, sprinkle with Italian seasoning blend, and then top with spaghetti sauce. I look this on low for 8 hours and about 30 minutes before I am ready to eat, I will top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and cook until melted.

I love to serve this on top of pasta and have a side salad or green beans. Don’t forget to make some garlic bread too! I swear this dish even tastes better for leftovers too.

19. Chicken Enchaladas

You can make this really tasty dish with the green or the red sauce and both turn out awesome! To make this meal, you will need:

2-4 chicken breasts or boneless thighs ($2.95)
1 can of enchilada sauce ($0.98)
5 Corn Tortillas ($0.31)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.10)
Total: $5.34

This Mexican style dish is so yummy and so easy to make. You simply start with your chicken at the bottom of the crockpot and pour enchilada sauce on top. Depending on how much you like enchilada sauce you can use 1 small can or 1 large can.

Let cook for 6-8 hours on low, and then shred the chicken with a fork. I like to slice my corn tortillas in nice strips and stir them in. Top the whole meal with shredded cheddar and let cook until gooey and melted.

This one never makes leftovers for us, because my husband and I are constantly going back for a few more bites!

20. Chicken and Broccoli Rice

This one reminds me of a chicken broccoli rice casserole that my aunt makes that is a huge hit at family dinners.

2-4 chicken breasts ($3.94)
1 cup dry white rice ($0.32)
1 bag of frozen broccoli ($0.98)
1 can of cream of chicken soup ($0.54)
1 can of water ($0.00)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.10)
Total: $6.88

I like the chicken to be in chunks, but you can make this one shredded too. First, I place my chicken at the bottom of the crockpot, and then add the uncooked rice, cream of chicken soup, and water.

Cook 4-6 hours or until chicken reaches 165 degrees. I then add my broccoli and stir well. About 30 minutes before dinner, I top with shredded cheddar cheese and cook until melted.

If you love the casserole style, you can also top with Ritz cracker crumbles for a little crunchy topping!

21. Chicken Veggie Soup

This is such an easy soup for a cold and rainy day! Here is what you need:

2 chicken breasts ($1.97)
1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables ($0.84)
1 cup of chicken broth ($0.72)
1 can of tomato soup ($0.68)
Total: $4.21

I start with my chicken breasts on the bottom, and top with the veggies, soup and broth. Let cook for 4-6 hours until chicken shreds easily with a fork and stir it back in. Depending on how thick you like your chicken soup, you may want to add more broth or water.

We love to serve this with grilled cheese sandwiches or just top with croutons and shredded cheese!

22. Chicken and Green Beans

This is a dinner dish that I rotate between making in the crockpot and making a sheet pan meal in the oven. All you need is:

4 chicken breasts ($3.94)
4 large potatoes ($1.24)
1 bag of frozen green beans ($0.84)
1/2 cup of zesty Italian dressing ($0.49)
Total: $6.51

Sometimes crockpot dinners just get mushy, so I like to use chicken that is cut into 2 or 3 pieces instead of shredding the chicken. I also like to quarter my potatoes and put those on the bottom of the crockpot. Top with the chicken, green beans, and the zesty Italian dressing.

Cook this for 4-6 hours on high and the chicken will release its juices as it cooks so no other liquid is needed! This is a great one pot meal and nothing else really needs to be served with it.

23. Chicken Fajitas

I love fajitas and this is a super easy way to make them. All you need for this dish is:

2-4 chicken breasts or boneless thighs ($3.94)
1 can diced tomatoes ($0.88)
1 oz or pack of taco seasoning ($0.48)
1 sliced bell pepper ($0.82)
1 sliced onion ($0.55)
Total: $6.67

This is one of the few crockpot dishes that I feel needs to be layered a certain way but I may be wrong. This is just the way I do it! LOL

I start by pouring half of the tomatoes on the bottom of the crockpot, then I add my chicken breasts. I sprinkle the chicken breasts with half the taco seasoning and then top with the sliced bell pepper and onions. I end by sprinkling the rest of the taco seasoning on top.

This will cook for 4-6 hours, and I like to stir it well after about 4 hours. This makes sure everything is cooked and seasoned well. You can shred the chicken or just slice it. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings like fresh avocado or Valentina sauce.

24. Creamy Chicken Potato Soup

I love a nice hearty soup and this one is just so good. It reminds me of a potato chowder, and it is perfect to add in any leftover vegetables too!

2 chicken breasts or a few chicken thighs ($1.97)
4 potatoes diced ($1.24)
1 can of cream of chicken soup ($0.54)
1 cup sour cream ($1.16)
1 cup of water ($0.00)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.10)
Total: $6.01

This super simple creamy soup is so easy. I put my chopped potatoes at the bottom and then place my chicken on top. Mix the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and water together and then pour on top.

I rarely every use the same seasonings on this one and go with what sounds good. Poultry seasoning, garlic herb blend, or even lemon pepper would be great with this soup.

I will cook this on high for 4-6 hours and then shred the chicken and stir it back in with the shredded cheese. This soup is so thick and creamy and goes perfect with some rolls or biscuits to dip into the soup!

25. Hawaiian Barbeque Chicken

This is a nice twist on a barbeque chicken and kids tend to love it because it sweet! Here is what you need:

2 lbs chicken breasts or boneless thighs ($3.94)
1 can crushed pineapple ($1.28)
1 cup barbeque sauce ($0.64)
Total: $5.86

I like to place the chicken at the bottom of the crock pot and just pour the BBQ sauce and crushed pineapple with juice on top. Then I let it cook for 4-6 hours and the chicken is super easy to shred. You can use this to make barbeque sandwiches or serve over rice!

26. Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup

All the flavor of Chicken cordon blue but none of the hard work of actually stuffing chicken breasts! Here is what you need:

2 chicken breasts ($1.97)
1/4 cup of butter in chunks ($0.56)
3 cups chicken broth ($0.75)
2 cups milk ($0.45)
1 block of cream cheese in chunks ($1.68)
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese ($1.00)
1 cup of diced cook ham ($2.68)
Total: $9.09

I start this soup by placing my chicken at the bottom of the crock pot and covering with butter chunks, chicken broth, and milk. I will cook this for 4-6 hours and then about a 1 hour before dinner I will add my cream cheese chunks, Swiss cheese, and ham. I let this cook until the soup is thickened and so yummy!

This soup can get a little heavy, so I serve with garlic bread and a small side salad. You can also top with croutons and more cheese if you want some more crunch on top.

27. Brunswick Stew

This is not only a super yummy stew, but it also is a great way to get tons of vegetables in one meal that my kids will love! Ingredients needed:

2lbs boneless chicken thighs ($5.72)
1 large potato diced ($0.32)
1 onion diced ($0.55)
2 cups water ($0.00)
2 cans diced tomatoes ($1.36)
1 can of lima beans (drained) ($1.18)
1 can of corn(drained) ($0.54)
Total: $9.67

I love stews and soups in the crock pot because you can pretty much throw it all in at the same time and just let it cook for hours. I like to place my onion and potatoes at the bottom followed by the chicken thighs. I then pour the tomatoes, drained lima beans, drained corn, and water on top. You can add any seasoning you like, but I usually just use some old bay or creole seasoning.

After the stew cooks for 4-6 hours, I pull the chicken and shred it. When I place it back in the crockpot it usually thickens it up perfectly. If you like your stew thicker, you can mix a slurry of 2 tbsp of flour and 1/2 a cup of cold water, and then allow to boil until thickened. We usually serve this with cornbread!

28. Buffalo Chicken

I love the taste of buffalo chicken wings, but I am not a fan of making wings, so this recipe gives you all the flavor and much less work! Here is what you need:

3-4 chicken breasts ($3.94)
1 bottle of wing sauce ($2.12)
1 cup of milk ($0.22)
1 block of cream cheese ($1.68)
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese ($1.10)
Total: $9.06

We like to start with the chicken at the bottom of the crock pot and then pour the wing sauce and milk over the top. I then put my chunks of cream cheese and shredded cheese on top everything. Cook for 4-6 hours and then shred your chicken.

Serve your buffalo shredded chicken over pasta or rice. I tend to do pasta more because the sauce gets absorbed by the noodles and tastes so good for leftovers or packed lunches.

29. Catalina Chicken

This one sounded really strange, but I tried it, and it is so yummy! Here is what you need:

3-4 chicken breasts ($3.94)
1 can of cranberry sauce ($1.36)
1 bottle of Catalina dressing ($1.97)
1 pack of onion soup mix $0.36)
Total: $7.63

For this one, I mix the cranberry sauce, Catalina dressing, and onion soup mix in a bowl until well combined. I then pour it over my chicken in the crockpot and then cook until chicken is 165 degrees.

This ends up with chicken that has a sweetness but instant overpowering. I have had this over rice and over noodles and I prefer the rice.

30. Garlic Butter Chicken

This is a classic dish, but it is just so yummy and versatile. Here are the basics that you need:

4 chicken breasts or boneless thighs ($3.94)
1 stick of butter ($1.12)
4 potatoes chopped ($1.28)
1/2lb of carrots chopped ($0.49)
4 cloves of garlic chopped ($0.26)
2 tbsp garlic herb seasoning blend ($0.26)
Total: $7.35

I feel like my potatoes and vegetables cook better when they are on the bottom, so i put those in first and then put in my chicken. I then add chunks of butter, chopped garlic and garlic herb seasoning blend on top.

As the chicken cooks it will release the juices, so no additional liquid is needed. This is another one that I prefer to leave the chicken in pieces and not shred, but you can shred this one too.

Everything is pretty much in the one pot, so I don’t have to worry about side dishes on this one. If you want it to be more soup like, you can add 1-2 cups of chicken broth!

Cooking Chicken in the Crockpot for Cheap!

To me, a crockpot is a great way to cook healthy and with little actual cooking on my part. This is because I can set it and forget it pretty much.

I also love to use the crockpot to use up leftovers and odds and ends from my freezer up. Most of these meals, I have substituted what I had on hand, or started with one idea and adapted it to work with what I had on hand.

This is one of the reasons that I don’t give true recipes. This is because cooking dinner is less science and more of an art. I feel like recipes really force us to only do what the recipe says, and we may end up buying a lot of ingredients that we may never use again.

I like ideas and formulas, because those can be easily adjusted to work with what I have on hand without buying a bunch of ingredients that I may not like or use again.

For more cooking ideas, check out “40+ Mashed Potatoes Alternatives for Meatloaf” and “50 Unique Green Bean Casserole Alternatives.”

30+ Tasty Crockpot Chicken Recipes for Tight Budgets