10 Cheap Foods That Are Underrated
Grocery prices have skyrocketed, and keeping your pantry full is more challenging than ever. There are some foods that aren’t very expensive that are often overlooked that you can make a lot of amazing meals out of. Here are ten of them for you to pick up next time you’re at the grocery store.
1. Canned Tuna
Canned tuna is still pretty inexpensive, and there are a lot of things that you can do with it. Mix it with noodles for a tuna casserole, add it to a veggie stir fry for a protein punch, or simply make a tuna salad for a quick lunch. Bonus for being shelf-stable so you can keep it in stock for when you need it! Here are some recipes for canned tuna you’ll love
2. Ramen Noodles
You certainly don’t want to be eating packages of ramen all of the time because it’s full of sodium, but there are a lot of things you can do with ramen noodles that don’t involve that little seasoning packet. You can make soups, stir fry, or even this Chinese chicken salad.
3. Cabbage
Cabbage is inexpensive, and you can make a lot of hearty and tasty meals from it. You can saute it in a skillet, add it to a soup, make homemade egg rolls, or even use it in a casserole. Cabbage is perfect for adding to noodle dishes, too. You might even enjoy this quick and simple recipe for cabbage hash.
4. Pasta
Pasta is underrated simply because people forget how truly versatile it is. This staple should be in the pantry of every home. There are so many quick and easy ways that you can prepare pasta that you never have to worry about getting bored with it.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are delicious, hearty, and filling, and some people even like to use them in place of meat in some of their favorite recipes. You can use sweet potatoes in baked goods and in recipes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, as they are very versatile. Check out this recipe for sweet potato chili.
6. Chickpeas
Chickpeas aren’t just for hummus, although that is a tasty way to use them. You can roast them for an easy snack. They are also delicious in soups and salads, and they make an amazing meat substitute for some recipes.
7. Popcorn
Popcorn is perfect for snacking, and it’s inexpensive if you buy popcorn kernels instead of the microwave version. Popping your own popcorn kernels is really easy, and the possibilities for flavoring it are endless. From sweet to savory, you’ll always have an easy snack if you keep popcorn kernels on hand.
8. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are an underrated and inexpensive food that you can use in place of meat, which can be quite expensive, especially if you are trying to feed a family. You can make mushroom burgers, mushroom soup, or add them to pasta or rice to fill out a meal.
9. Lentils
Lentils are very inexpensive, but they are also delicious, healthy, and versatile. Dried or canned lentils will keep in your pantry for quite a while. So you will always have the means for a delicious, inexpensive meal at your fingertips. You can use lentils for burgers, soups, stews, curries, and more.
10. Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods that you can keep in your kitchen. You can bake them and add a variety of toppings to them. You can use them for soups or to fill out stews. You can add them to whatever ingredients you have in the fridge and even whip up a quick hash for dinner.
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This originally appeared on The Gracious Pantry.