I love budget recipes, and I tend to collect them and save them and sometimes I even make them.
This is one of them. This recipe is adapted from the original found over at Cooking Light. As is usual, in my kitchen, I had to change it up a bunch, because well, that’s what I do.
This week’s #SundaySupper theme is budget recipes and there is a whole slew of them begin brought your way (see the bottom of the post).
This recipe is surprisingly simple and extremely low cost. The original site dubbed it under $10 for 4, but I can assure you that this recipe fed 7 of us with no problem. And the price was under $10.
The most expensive part was the chicken. We bought 5lbs for around $9 and only used half of it and froze the rest for another dinner. The brown rice was $2 for 1 bag and we made almost all of it (8 cups) – 2 cups are left for another meal. The frozen veggies were $1.00, we used them all. The cremini mushrooms were $3 for a quart, pre-sliced. I already had olive oil, garlic, onion & paprika. My thyme is growing wonderfully, so I just snipped off a sprig, but buying it at the store would have been inexpensive and could have been used for a lot of meals. I happened to have some half and half I wanted to use, so I chose that but you could use milk instead or even heavy cream if that’s what you have. Half and half is about $2.50 at our store for a quart, so that would go long way.
Definitely under $10 for 4, but we stretched this meal to fit 7 people. I call that budget friendly!
Chicken and Brown Rice with Veggies and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 Tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup chopped onion
- 4 cups of cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup of half and half, or milk
- 4 cups uncooked brown basmati rice
- 2 cups frozen vegetables, thawed
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
Instructions
- In a large pot, prepare the brown rice as directed on the packaging. Brown rice takes about 45 minutes to cook through, so be sure to start it early.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, heat a tablespoon of olive oil and coat the pan. Drop in the garlic.
- Sprinkle the paprika over the chicken. Salt and Pepper to taste.
- Add the chicken to the olive oil and saute with the garlic for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan.
- Place the pan back over medium high heat and add the other tablespoon of olive oil to the pan.
- Add the onion and the cremini mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste.
- Saute the mushrooms for about 4 minutes. Add the half and half and stir.
- Stir the vegetables, chicken and the chopped fresh thyme into the mushrooms.Heat until everything is hot and ready to go.
- Serve the the rice on the bottom and everything else over the top.
- The perfect, hearty meal for not a lot of cash.
Soups and Salads
- Lentil Soup {Linsensuppe} from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Gado-gado from The Urban Mrs.
- Pasta e Fagioli from Curious Cuisiniere
Main
- Bibim Nangmyun from Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
- Salmon Lasagna from The Meltaways
- Kadun Pika from The Foodie Army Wife
- Mushroom and Artichoke Quiche with Red Pepper Puree from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Pasta Carbonara from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- San Francisco Special Breakfast Burritos from Gourmet Drizzles
- Chicken Divan from Simply Gourmet
- Chicken and Brown Rice with Veggies and Mushrooms from Daily Dish Recipes
- The Cod Puffs War {Duelo de Buñuelos de Bacalao} from My Cute Bride
- From the Pantry Peanut Noodles from Supper for a Steal
- Pasta Puttanesca from Juanita’s Cocina
- Hawaiian Grilled Cheese from Home Cooking Memories
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas from I Run For Wine
- Ramping Up Instant Ramen from girlichef
- Browned Butter Pasta with Collards from Momma’s Meals
- Turkey and Acini Di Pepe Skillet from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Golden State Gourmet from Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Buffalo Chicken Dip Quesadillas from Chocolate Moosey
- Tonkatsu {Pork Cutlet} from Damn Delicious
- Tarka Dal {Spicy Curry Lentils} from Food Lust People Love
- Kung Pao Tofu from Ninja Baking
- Roasted Honey Mustard Chicken from Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Four-Cheese Risotto with Turkey Italian Sausage from The Weekend Gourmet
- Three Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookie from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Lemon Chicken and Vegetables from The Lovely Pantry
- Salvage-Your-Vegetables Frittata from Daddy Knows Less
Sides
- English Baked Beans from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Southern-style Black-eyed Peas from Magnolia Days
- Classic Macaroni and Cheese from The Skinny Chick Can Bake!!!
- Baked Beans from What Smells So Good?
- Hearts of Palm Mix Rice from Basic N Delicious
Drinks and Desserts
- Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Frappe from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Portuguese Rice Pudding {Arroz Doce} from Family Foodie
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter Sunday! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.
Oh yeah. One more thing before you go.
P.S. Look what we’re sponsoring! Come join us in sunny Orlando, this July!
Learn more at www.foodandwineconference.com
You really DON’T want to miss it!
Nicole Cook is the owner/editor of Daily Dish Recipes, a lifestyle blog with an emphasis on food/cooking/cocktails and much more.
She calls the Midwest home – Missouri to be exact. Coffee is her go-to drink, music is her vice and she is endlessly tethered with devices to her online world. She loves all things planner, lives for her great big family and loves her pets endlessly!
Her motto in life: Live Simply, Dream Big, Be Grateful, Give Love, Laugh Lots. Always, always laugh lots.
Renee
I just can’t imagine your budget for feeding a family of 7. You really must have become a pro at stretching a food dollar. Nicely done with this recipe. It sounds both filling and delicious.
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
I love that you could really use any frozen vegetable in this and that you used 1 1/2 lbs of chicken for 7 people, dishes like this are great for getting a smaller amount of meat to go a long way
Jen @JuanitasCocina
Yeah…saw these teaser photos on FB and KNEW I would love this. Just…yum!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers
I love that you used frozen vegetables in your dish, it looks amazing!!
Family Foodie
Like you… being a family of 6, I am loving this week’s recipe! Love this dish.
Bea
Oh, love it…sounds like a fantastic dish that will not break the bank 🙂 Thank you so much, Nicole.
Hezzi-D
Love all the vegetables you added to this dish. It sounds wonderful.
Diana @GourmetDrizzles
Great recipe… love that it has fresh ingredients, but also makes it simpler and more cost effective using frozen veggies. The fresh thyme was a great touch too- yum!!! 😉
Liz
What a beautiful meal, Nicole! I’d love to make this simple, cost effective recipe!
Wendy Wofford-Garcia
This is just how I love to eat during the work week: healthy, quick to make, and economical! I do high-low shopping…I splurge on a few things, but compensate by going bulk/budget in other areas. It all sort of evens up that way. When my Sprouts has boneless breasts or tenders on sale for 1.99 lb. I buy 2-3 lbs. and portion them in freezer bags for several meals.
Cindys Recipes and Writings
Quick and easy, great choices Nicole!
Laura | Small Wallet, Big Appetite
I love the colours of this dish. It is so simple and since I got some free chickens from my mother-in-law, she raised some last year and gave us 5 birds, in the freezer this is a great cheap idea for our meals.
Sarah Reid, RHNC (@jo_jo_ba)
Even though the vegs are frozen the meal looks SO fresh and bright! Perfect for Spring and cheap too!
Conni @FoodieArmyWife
What a nice simple, but filly dish. Perfect!
Susan
Quite impressive for a family of 7 and what a lovely dish too!
Megan
This is a lovely recipe! LOVE it!!