Here is another healthy meal that is super easy, quick to make, and low in cost. There is really nothing fancy about this meal. But it’s comforting and warm and perfect for a chilly evening.
Crock Pot Beef Stew with Cornbread Muffins
1 pound stew meat, cut into bit-sized chunks
2 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and cubed
1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
1 medium onion or 2 Tablespoons Onion Soup Mix
1/2 cup water
Sea salt to taste
Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3 hours.
The cost of this meal, including the cornbread, added up to $8.29*. It fed 9 people. Cost per plate (um, bowl) = $0.92. I love this price!!!
Looking for more meals on our Real Food Dollar Menu? Here are the recipes I’ve shared so far:
Stay tuned for many more recipes and ideas for our Real Food Dollar Menu!
*I calculated my cost based on the food sources and prices I have available to me. Most of the ingredients I use are organic. Your cost may be slightly more or less depending on where you find your ingredients.
loving this series!
I’m afraid my situation is hopeless. My son (6’5.5″) could eat that pot of stew, by himself, in one sitting! And he’s skinny! :D
Hi! This may be a silly question…but are sea salt and the “regular salt” interchangeable? If a recipe calls for 1tsp of regular, do I substitute 1 for 1 with sea salt? Thanks!
Thanks so much Laura. Happy New Year, 2013 to you and your loved ones.
One pond of meat for 9 people seems a little skimpy
Not a silly question at all! Yes, they are interchangeable one to one. :)
It does doesn’t it? But with the potatoes and carrots and cornbread, that meat really stretches! :)
I feel that we eat far more meat than is necessary. I normally cut the amount in half, and add more veggies or something. Perhaps it is just what one gets used to.
My family loves beef stew but I cook it on the stovetop because I don’t like mushy potatoes & carrots (the results I get from the crock pot probably because I leave it too long).
Try this sometime: when you cook beans (i.e. pintos for mexican/refried) save the bean broth & use it in place of water as a soup, chili, beef stew base. It kicks the flavor up a notch and you’re not wasting that good broth!
I love your posts. Oh my goodness, I have tried many of the recipes and love them and I love to read about your family and your love for Christ. I check every day to see what you are doing……
I disagree it is not skimpy, I grew up poor and my mom would take a lb of meat and use tons of rice/potatoes to stretch the meal is really the potatoes and carrots, you could add more onion soup and another couple lbs of potatoes if it’s too skimpy and serve with bread and butter.
We’re having a few VERY cold days in the NC mountains. This will be just perfect! :)