We are firm believers in the fact that Christmas dinner does not necessarily need to be expensive. Every single person today wants to save money. We helped out by offering ideas on how to save money when planning a Christmas vacation and there are also many homemade Christmas gifts that will be quite cheap. Why not move the savings to Christmas dinner too? Contrary to popular belief, you do not actually need to spend so much. Let us show you some cheap recipes that will be a hit as they are tasty. Nobody will actually know how cheap they are to make.
The Fast Lasagna Christmas Dinner Idea
The Fast Lasagna can be used as a cheap Christmas dinner dish. One serving costs less than $1.5 and you will love the fact that it is really easy to make. All you need to do is add a salad, some crusty bread and the dinner is definitely going to be loved.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of cooked elbow macaroni
- 1 pound of turkey (you can also use tofu, sausage, chicken or beef)
- 2 eggs
- Parmesan cheese – freshly grated
- Ricotta cheese
- 2 cups of mozzarella cheese – must be shredded
- 2 cups of veggies (matchstick carrots, zucchini and so on
- Pepper and salt
How to prepare:
Brown the meat and drain it if needed. While you do that, stir the ricotta, parmesan, pepper, salt and egg. Mix the cooked meat with the veggies, the sauce and the macaroni. Also, add the ricotta mixture. Take a baking pan and coat it with the use of olive oil or cooking spread. Spread half of the macaroni mixture. Top with the use of one mozzarella cup and Parmesan. Add the rest of the macaroni mixture. Top again with parmesan and mozzarella. Cover everything with a cooking foil.
Your oven should be heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the entire casserole for around 20 minutes. Remove the cover and then bake for up to 20 minutes or until the top layer of cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Fast Chicken Lo Mein Christmas Dinner Idea
This chicken Christmas dinner idea is ready in half an hour. It is perfect to basically enjoy the rest of the Christmas EVE with your friends. Maybe you want to watch some Christmas movies or maybe you just want some family time. This dish will help you to get everything done fast and the ingredients mentioned are suitable for 4 servings (under $10 in total).
Just like every other parent, I need quick and delicious. Under 30 minutes is optimum, especially if you work outside the home or have kids in various extracurricular activities. Try this easy chicken recipe the next time you’re in a bind to get dinner on the table quickly.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of peanut oil or oil-sesame
- 1 clove of minced garlic
- 1 pound of chicken breast – skinless, boneless and cut into very thin slices
- 2 tablespoons of ginger – alternatively use one teaspoon of powder
- 2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce or soy sauce
- 1 bag of 1 pound of frozen oriental mixed vegetables
- 3 ounces of chicken flavor noodle soup
- A quarter of a cup of water
How To Prepare:
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Use medium-high heat. Add the chicken and then cook. Stir frequently until the meat is not pink. Add a lid and the vegetables. Continue cooking until the vegetables are properly cooked. That should be around 5 minutes.
As you cook the meat, also cook your noodles without using flavoring packets based on the indications on the package. Drain. Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce and seasoning to water. Mix properly and pour right over the vegetables and the chicken. Add the noodles and mix. Your Christmas dinner dish is ready in a really short period of time and it is cheap. You can also add broccoli if you like it.