You can build your Meal kits with recipes that don’t require extra ingredients in a clear Ziplock bag. 

Here are some examples: 

🥫 5-Can Taco Soup

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

This one’s a dump-and-stir classic. It’s hearty, flavorful, and ridiculously flexible.

Ingredients:

• 1 can refried beans
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can other beans (kidney, great northern, chili, etc.)
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can corn (optional)
• 1 packet taco seasoning

Directions:

1. Combine all canned ingredients (drain if you want a thicker soup) and taco seasoning in a large pot.
2. Add 3–4 cups water and bring to a boil.
3. Simmer at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Top with corn chips, cheese, sour cream, or hot sauce.

Budget Tip: Add a pound of cooked ground beef or chicken if you want it meatier.

🍲 Easy Dump Chili

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

Basically chili’s lazy cousin — and that’s not an insult.

Ingredients:

• 1 can each of kidney, black, and pinto beans
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 packet chili seasoning

Directions:

1. Dump everything in a large pot (don’t drain the cans).
2. Bring to a boil, simmer 20 minutes, done.

Optional: Add meat or veggies, and serve with cornbread or crackers. Also available in a low calorie chicken version. Watch here.

🍗 Chicken & Dumplings

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients:

• 1 packet biscuit mix
• 2 cans chicken
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 can mixed vegetables (drained)
• 1 can diced potatoes (drained)
• 1–2 bouillon cubes

Directions:

1. Drain and shred chicken, saving the broth.
2. Combine everything except the biscuit mix in a large pot with 2 cups water.
3. Bring to a boil, season to taste.
4. Mix biscuit dough per package and drop spoonfuls into soup.
5. Cover and simmer 12 minutes, then gently stir and serve.

Pro Tip: Add herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage to make it taste homemade.

🌽 Creamy Corn Chowder

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 6 | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

• 1 can whole kernel corn (partially drained)
• 1 can cream-style corn
• 1 can diced potatoes (drained)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1–2 bouillon cubes

Directions:

1. Combine everything in a large pot and simmer.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Serve with biscuits (store-bought or baked from mix).

Add-ons: Toss in canned chicken or ham for extra protein.

🍅 Minestrone Soup

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 2–4 | Difficulty: Easy

All the veggie goodness of Olive Garden, no salad dressing required.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups pasta
• 24 oz. pasta sauce
• 1 can kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 can carrots (drained)
• 1 can green beans (drained)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1–2 bouillon cubes

Directions:

1. Combine sauce, veggies, and bouillon with 3–4 cups water.
2. Bring to a boil, then add pasta.
3. Simmer 12–15 minutes until pasta’s tender.

Serve with: Garlic bread or toast.

🧄 Chicken Alfredo

Time: 25 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

A white-sauce win with minimal effort.

Ingredients:

• 1 can chicken
• 1 jar alfredo sauce
• Pasta
• Italian seasoning
• 1 can veggies for the side

Directions:

1. Boil pasta 8–12 minutes, drain.
2. Brown chicken in pot, then add alfredo and seasoning.
3. Stir in pasta and heat through.

Optional: Add peas to make it a one-pot meal.

🥧 Shepherd’s Pie

Time: 25 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Medium

All the comfort of grandma’s recipe — minus the 2-hour bake time.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet instant mashed potatoes
• 1 packet brown gravy mix
• 1 can meat (beef or chicken)
• 1 can sliced carrots
• 1 can peas

Directions:

1. Make mashed potatoes and gravy per package directions.
2. Mix meat, veggies and gravy.
3. Spread into baking dish and top with potatoes.
4. Bake at 450°F for 12–20 minutes until golden.

🍚 Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

Fast, filling and way cheaper than takeout.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice
• 1 can chicken
• 1 bottle teriyaki sauce
• Optional: 1 can peas and carrots or stir-fry veggies

Directions:

1. Cook rice.
2. Heat chicken with teriyaki sauce (and veggies, if using).
3. Pour over rice and serve.

🍝 Pasta with Meatballs

Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4–6 | Difficulty: Easy

Because sometimes you just want carbs and sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 box pasta
• 1 can or jar pasta sauce
• 1 pack precooked meatballs
• 1 can veggies for the side

Directions:

1. Boil pasta, drain.
2. Brown meatballs in pot, then add sauce.
3. Stir in pasta and heat through.

Serve with: Garlic bread.

🐟 Tuna Casserole

Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4 | Difficulty: Easy

The ultimate cheap comfort meal — creamy, cheesy and nostalgic.

Ingredients:

• 2 boxes mac and cheese
• 1–2 cans tuna
• 1 can cream soup (mushroom, celery, or chicken)
• Breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Boil noodles, drain.
2. Mix noodles, cheese packets, tuna and cream soup.
3. Transfer to baking dish, top with breadcrumbs.
4. Bake at 450°F for 10 minutes.

Budget Bonus: Skip baking and eat it right out of the pot. No one will judge.

Creamed Tuna over biscuits

1 can tuna (drained)

1 can white gravy mix

1 can green peas

1 can evaporated milk

1 pkg biscuit mix

Directions:

1. Preheat oven and prepare biscuits according to package directions.
2. In a saucepan, combine drained tuna, white gravy mix, green peas, and evaporated milk. Heat until bubbly.
3. Serve the creamy tuna mixture over warm biscuits.

Italian Pepperoni Pasta Salad

1 pkg pepperonis (sliced into forths)

1 pkg pasta (or 1 pkg mac n cheese)

1 bottle Italian Style dressing of choice

1 can diced tomatoes (drained)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain and cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, quartered pepperonis, and drained diced tomatoes.
3. Toss with Italian dressing until evenly coated. Chill before serving.

 Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 can chicken (not drained)

1 can pinto beans (or 1 can kidney beans)

1 can enchilada sauce

1 pkg tortilla strips (or 1 pkg corn tortillas cut into strips)

1 can pace mild nacho cheese sauce (or a can of cheesy dip)

1 can whole corn

1 pkg taco seasoning

Directions

1. In a pot, combine canned chicken (with liquid), beans, enchilada sauce, corn, and taco seasoning. Heat until

warm.

2. Stir in nacho cheese sauce.
3. Top each bowl with tortilla strips just before serving.

Chicken Fried Rice

1 can chicken (drained)

can mixed vegetables ( well drained)

1 pkg rice

1 bottle soy sauce

1 pkg French fried onions

Directions

1. Cook rice according to package directions.
2. In a large skillet, sauté drained chicken and mixed vegetables until heated.
3. Add cooked rice and soy sauce, tossing to combine.
4. Top with French fried onions just before serving.

Tuna Pasta Salad

1 can tuna (drained)

1 pkg pasta of choice

1 jar mayo (or 1 bottle of salad dressing of choice)

1 can of green beans (drained)

1 snack or small pkg of almonds or walnuts

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain and cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, drained tuna, green beans, and almonds or walnuts.
3. Mix in mayo or salad dressing until evenly coated. Chill before serving.

Chili Cheese Casserole

1 can chili

1 can pinto beans (or 1 can kidney beans) (save the bean water to mix into the Jiffy mix instead of milk and

egg)

1 can corn

1 pkg mild nacho cheese sauce (or 1 pouch Velvetta)

1 box Jiffy mix (for topping layer)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl, mix chili, beans (reserve bean water), corn, and nacho cheese sauce.
3. Pour into a baking dish.
4. Prepare Jiffy mix using reserved bean water instead of milk/egg, then spread over casserole.
5. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden.

Optional: Swap chili for tamales using the same method.

Mediterranean Noodle Bowl

1 pkg elbow noodles

1 can tuna or sardines (drained)

1 can diced tomatoes (drained)

1 can green beans (drained)

1–2 tbsp olive oil

Italian seasoning, to taste

Directions:

1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. In a large bowl, combine noodles, drained fish, tomatoes, and green beans.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
4. Toss to combine and serve.

Vegetarian Burrito Bowl

1 pkg instant rice

1 can black beans (drained)

1 can corn (drained)

1 can diced tomatoes (drained)

1 packet taco seasoning

1/2 cup salsa

Directions:

Prepare rice according to package directions.

In a saucepan, heat black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning until warm.

Serve rice in bowls and top with the bean mixture. Add salsa before serving.

Bean and Rice Chimichangas

4–6 flour tortillas

1 can refried beans

1 can diced green chilies

1 packet taco seasoning

1 can corn (optional side)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Mix refried beans, diced green chilies, and taco seasoning in a bowl.

Spoon mixture onto tortillas and roll tightly. Place seam-side down on a baking sheet.

Bake 15–20 minutes until golden. Serve with corn if desired.

Chili Mac

1 pkg elbow macaroni

1 can chili

1 can diced tomatoes (drained)

1 can kidney beans (drained)

1 tsp chili powder (optional)

Directions:

Cook macaroni according to package directions.

In a large pot, combine chili, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and chili powder. Heat until warm.

Stir in cooked macaroni and mix well. Serve hot.

Ham and Bean Soup

1 can diced ham or canned ham

1 can great northern beans

1 can mixed vegetables

1 bouillon cube (chicken or vegetable)

Directions:

In a pot, combine all ingredients with 1-2 cups of water.

Simmer for 10 -15 mins

Serve with Crackers, cornbread or biscuits

Soup & Side combos

1. Shepherd’s Pie Bowl: Beef Vegetable Soup + Mashed Potatoes
2. Chicken Burrito Bowl: Southwest Soup + Spanish Rice + Canned chicken
3. Cajun Pasta Bowl: Gumbo + Creamy chicken Pasta
4. Creamy Comfort Bowl: Chicken Potpie Soup + Biscuit mix

Directions for all:

Heat soup and prepare side per directions.

Serve together in bowls or layer for heartier meals.

Chicken, Gravy & Potatoes

1 can chicken

1 packet chicken gravy m ix

1 packet instant mashed potatoes

1 can green beans

Directions

Prepare mashed potatoes per instructions.

In a small pan, mix chicken with gravy per packet

Serve chicken and gravy over potatoes with beans on the side.

Chicken Pot Pie:

Pioneer Chicken Pot Pie Seasoning Packet $1

2 small cans of chicken breast $1.33 X2

2 cans of mixed Veggies .62c X2

Jiffy Buttermilk Biscuit Mix .93c

Total: $5.21

*Drain Veggies and chicken. Mix together. Add seasoning packet and 1 cup of water. Mix biscuit mix according to package directions. Add mixture to an oven safe dish, drop biscuit dough on top. Baked according to biscuit directions. 

Broccoli Casserole:

2 cups of instant rice $1.48

can of cream of mushroom .58c

evaporated milk $1.25

can of campbell’s broccoli cheese soup $1.58

seasonings of your choice. I will use salt, pepper, and onion powder.

Total: $4.89

*In a casserole dish, add rice, cream of mushroom, broccoli cheese soup, half a can of evap. milk, and equal parts water. Season to your liking. Baked on 375 for 45 mins. 

Chili Casserole:

2 Cans of light red kidney beans .78c X2

can of rotel .78c

can of chili beans .78c

8 ounces of tomato sauce .33c

chili seasoning packet .72c

Water only cornbread mix .98c

Total: $5.15

*Mix all ingredients EXCEPT CORNBREAD MIX, into a pot and cook up like a big pot of regular chili. Pour into a casserole dish. Mix cornbread with water like the package directions say, and pour on top of chili. Bake at 375 for 30 mins or until cornbread is done. 

Cheddar Tater Soup w/ Hushpuppies:

Bear Creek Cheddar Potato Soup Mix $3.57

Bag of bacon pieces $1.58

water only hushpuppy mix .98c

Total: $6.13

*Cook soup mix according to package directions (water only needed), add bacon pieces as toppings. Cook up hushpuppies according to package directions. I bake mine. I do not like it fried in oil. 

HomeStyle Bake Chicken & Gravy:

Family size bag of instant potatoes $2.23

can of chicken breast $3.23

Can of green beans .58c

country gravy packet .52c

Jiffy Buttermilk Biscuit Mix .93c

Total: $7.49

*Put green Beans into a oven safe dish. Mix instant potatoes according to packet directions (The Idahoan brand is water only), spread them over the green beans. Make the gravy packet as the packet says. Drain the chicken, add it to the gravy. Pour that over the potatoes. Make the biscuit mix according to the package directions. Drop it over top and bake as the biscuit mix says. 

Hashbrown Casserole:

2 cartons of hungry jack dried hashbrowns $1.48 X2

Cream of potato soup .82c

cream of mushroom soup .58c

Campbells Cheddar cheese soup $1.58

Total: $5.94

*Mix all ingredients together with one can of water. Bake on 375 for 45 mins to an hour. 

Taco Soup:

Can of corn drained .58c

light red kidney beans .78c

dark red kidney beans .78c

petite diced tomatoes .72c

Taco seasoning packet .46c

Black beans .78c

Total: 4.01

Mix all ingredients together in a pot and simmer until every flavor has combined. 

Chicken Alfredo:

2 bags of Knorr Alfredo Broccoli $1.32 X2

small can of chicken $1.33

Bag of bacon pieces $1.58

Total: 5.55

*Drain chicken, and add to a pot to crisp up edges, add Knorr pasta mix, and add 4 cups of water. Cook until thickened. Add bacon pieces. Bam done!