When it comes to dinner every penny counts! Find great ingredients to make a $5 Dinner like these Ravioli Bakes at Dollar General.
I am always on the hunt for the most affordable, best quality ingredients to make dinner every night. And I love the challenge of mixing and matching ingredients and prices to get the most bang for my food budget buck.
As I continue my own personal mission of spending as little as I can on groceries, while encouraging you to do the same, I gladly took on the challenge from my friends at Dollar General to make a scrumptious, hearty and healthy dinner for my guys.
I knew immediately that this dinner would be the perfect blend of produce, pantry staples and freezer ingredients.
In addition to the items I bought for the ravioli bakes, I also grabbed:
- bananas to freeze for smoothies – they were perfectly ripe and sweet, so they will make the best smoothies!
- a bag of gold potatoes – because hello amazing price!
- a pre-made salad kit (that I had for lunch after shopping) – also hello great price!
- Clover Valley Chicken Sauce – a great at-home version of a fast-food fave!
- some hangers
- some birthday cards for the boys’ friends birthday gatherings this month
There’s just something euphoric about scoring the very best deals on things you need and use day in and day out, as well as great ingredients for your dinner at home.
My money saving hack for you today: Download the DG app to scan, surface and clip available coupons while in store. Don’t forget their $5 off $25 on Saturdays, too!
Now, let’s get to these ultra budget recipes and cooking strategy that will help you save money…and time…and sanity 😉
Video: How to Make One & Freeze One Ravioli Bakes
Make One, Freeze One Ravioli Bakes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bag baby carrots
- 8 oz. box white mushrooms washed
- 2 large bell peppers seeded and chopped
- 2 9 oz. bags Clover Valley frozen ravioli small or large rounds
- 12 oz. bag Clover Valley frozen meatballs
- 26 oz. jar marinara sauce
- 2 cups Clover Valley shredded mozzarella cheese
- grated Parmesan cheese optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Set out 1 baking dish to bake tonight and a disposable baking dish for the freezer bake.
- Chop the carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers.
- Heat the meatballs and cut in half.
- To baking dish, add 1 bag of frozen ravioli. To the disposable baking dish, add 1 bag of frozen ravioli.
- To the baking dish, add the chopped carrots, chopped bell peppers and half of the chopped mushrooms over the ravioli. To the disposable baking dish, add the halved meatballs and half of the chopped mushrooms over the ravioli.
- Pour the jar of pasta sauce over the top of both baking dishes and spread to cover the veggies and meatballs. Add 1/2 cup of hot water to the pasta jar, swirl round and pour half into each tray. This extra liquid will be soaked up by the ravioli as it bakes.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top, evenly over both baking dishes.
- Bake the one for tonight at 350 F for 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving with a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese.
- TO FREEZE: Cover the disposable baking dish tightly with foil, or with the accompanying lid for the baking dish and freeze up to 3 months in your fridge freezer, or 6 months in a deep freezer.
- TO BAKE the frozen ravioli bake, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Bake covered at 350 F for 30minutes, and then uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Overall bake time will depend on how thawed it was before baking.
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