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A good cook doesn't need to spend money to eat well.
We asked our Southern Living readers to tell us about their favorite "cheap" meals from childhood, and we're already craving these old-school classics. Here are 13 no-frills Southern meals we'll never stop making.
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01 of 13
Pinto Beans and Cornbread
By far the most popular answer from our readers, pinto beans and cornbread is a hearty, affordable, leftover-friendly meal that packs a punch. Any good cook knows how to infuse those beans with major flavor using not too many ingredients.
02 of 13
Soup Beans
Showing that beans never go out of style and always offer major bang for your buck, soup beans (an Appalachian staple) is another reader-favorite childhood meal. The broth is what sets it apart from other dishes, and it's customarily served with chow-chow or other pickled toppings.
03 of 13
Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
This nostalgic, no-fuss dish is the definition of making the most of your ingredients, which is key to a "cheap" Southern meal. Stewing down okra and tomatoes create a multifaceted dish that doesn't even require meat. It's typically served over rice with cornbread.
04 of 13
Macaroni And Tomatoes
This recipe is a bit of a cult classic that many of our readers still remember (and enjoy). Put simply, it’s exactly how it sounds, starting with macaroni noodles and canned tomatoes—no meat required— and is often served with a good old-fashioned slice of buttered white bread.
05 of 13
Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast
This dish is known by another less-appropriate name, if you could guess it. This old-school skillet recipe includes a creamy, gravy-like white sauce with dried beef ladled heartily over slices of toast.
06 of 13
Vegetable Soup
Many readers noted this was a staple dinner for using up in-season vegetables, or making do with frozen veggies, in a convenient way to feed a whole family. Moreover, adding simple ground beef was a common addition, though not always needed.
07 of 13
Red Beans and Rice
The best part of red beans and rice is that it can feed a crowd and then some, able to be stretched thanks to rice and a side of skillet cornbread. It cooks all day and makes for hearty leftovers—who doesn't love that?
08 of 13
Tomato Gravy
We'd consider this the dinnertime (or breakfast) answer to tomato sandwiches, though tomato sandwiches are enjoyed all times of day. Thanks to a short ingredient list and use of in-season tomatoes, it costs even less than you think, especially with grandma's leftover biscuits.
09 of 13
Chicken and Dumplings
It shouldn't be allowed for something so good to be so cost-efficient and family-friendly, but chicken and dumplings happen to exist. It's easy to whip up and relies upon those delightful dumplings (whether you're more of a drop biscuit dumpling family or rolled dough dumpling family) for major heartiness.
10 of 13
Salmon Cake Patties
Canned salmon has been quite the Southern household staple for generations—seeing as it is cheaper than making crab cakes, but just as flavorful thanks to a typical mixture that includes plenty of mayonnaise and Old Bay seasoning.
11 of 13
Sausage Gravy And Biscuits
Turns out, many of our readers weren't alone in enjoying this comfort dish at dinner as well as breakfast. It's quick and easy to make, and it happens to be perfect with the leftover biscuits that usually were hanging around your grandma's house.
12 of 13
Black-Eyed Peas and Cornbread
It seems that most hailed from a pinto bean family or a black-eyed pea family, but the cornbread is a non-negotiable. As long as those peas are cooked down with some bacon or ham hock, they're more than sufficient for a salty, savory, satisfying meal.
13 of 13
Hamburger Steak with Gravy
You can always rely on ground beef for a meal that doesn't break the bank, and hamburger steaks are easy to pair with a quick gravy and potatoes of any capacity, which always stay a cost-effective side dish for a crowd.
Read the original article on Southern Living
