Let’s talk about affordable frozen foods that should be a staple in your kitchen!
We live in such a fast-paced world that we like things to be quick and easy, especially when it’s late in the evening, and we come back home tired after a long day, hungry, lazy, and maybe a tad sleepy. Let’s face it: you don’t always have enough time to cook, and that’s perfectly fine.
But what are you going to eat? Maybe you’ve just picked up the takeout menu and are looking at what to order, or maybe you want to go to the nearest fast-food restaurant to grab a bite.
But wait, there’s a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. You open the door to your freezer, and you see lots of delicious foods that can wait to be served on your plate.
You don’t need to think about ingredients, what goes well with what, how long it is going to take to cook everything, and so on. On days when you want to eat something yummy and quick, affordable frozen foods can be your jam.
So if you’re like me and you have moments when you’re too lazy to get cooking, I have some tips for you. You should head to the store and get all these affordable frozen foods because they’ll become staples in your kitchen. If that sounds interesting, keep reading!
1. Tofu scramble pockets
If you love old-school hot pockets and tofu, you’ll love this meal! The next time you go grocery shopping, make sure you get some tofu scramble pockets and pop them in the freezer because they’ll come in handy the next time you’re too busy to cook but still want to indulge in something healthy, satisfying, and crunchy.
These affordable frozen foods pair wonders with some fresh salad for lunch or plain for breakfast. They taste divine, and they’re way healthier than the regular version. And let’s not forget that they’re packed with protein, which means that you’ll be fuller for longer. Yay!
2. Chicken nuggets
Okay, okay, let’s be real for a second, because the chicken nugget craving can hit everyone sooner or later, regardless of their age. Go ahead and stock your freezer with this, because it is delicious for any member of your beloved family.
Not all of these affordable frozen foods on this list are extremely healthy, and we all know that chicken nuggets aren’t exactly clean and green, but if you pair them with something healthier, such as steamed or grilled vegetables or a fresh salad, it will balance everything out.
3. Burgers
Is there someone who doesn’t love burgers? Because it’s pretty hard not to. Whether you like beef, tofu, salmon, Beyond Meat, cauliflower, or any other type of burger, there’s surely one for you!
So why not get a couple of these affordable frozen foods to stock up in your freezer? It’s going to come in handy the next time you need to whip up lunch or dinner in less than 20 minutes.
Toss a burger on the grill, then sandwich it between two pieces of bread with some leafy greens, such as baby spinach or arugula, some onions, olive oil, tomato slices, garlic, Greek yogurt, and fresh dill, and you’ll have the perfect meal.
If this doesn’t sound like enough food for a healthy and nutritious meal, you can heat a bowl of soup, and you’ll be good to go. Oh, these affordable frozen foods sound so good; I’m hungry already.
4. Pizza
Well, is there someone who doesn’t love pizza? This delicious circle thing is one of the best and most affordable frozen foods you should have in your kitchen.
While it isn’t necessarily healthy, considering that the dough is full of gluten and unhealthy carbs that will make you bloated, if you choose one that is nutritious and made with better ingredients, you’re good to go!
Whether you need a quick dinner for you and your family when you have no time to eat, or maybe you have friends over and you want to serve them a snack, a couple of pizzas in your freezer won’t cause you any harm!
5. Pasta
You don’t need to go to the grocery store for all of these affordable frozen treats, especially if you have days when you cook large quantities of food and have leftovers.
Whatever your favorite pasta is, make a bigger batch and then put what’s extra in the freezer. The next time you need something tasty to eat, take your container out, put your meal on the stove for a few minutes, add some fresh cheese and maybe some basil, and you’re good to go. Enjoy!
6. Ground meat
These affordable frozen foods will be lifesavers, you’ll see! Even though this isn’t a ready-to-eat frozen food and it still needs some preparation, it’s a staple for many people.
So the next time you buy ground meat from your favorite butcher or any grocery store you like to shop from, just purchase a little extra. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
You can portion this one exactly as you like and put it in the freezer for when you might need it. You’ll then have the main delicious ingredient to prepare different delicious foods, such as chili, tacos, and spaghetti sauce.
7. Cooked grains
If you like eating grains, why not make a bigger batch and then put the leftovers in the freezer? This way you’ll still have lots of affordable frozen foods, but you won’t spend any extra dollars looking for a pre-made meal at the grocery store.
Just make some quinoa, rice, couscous, or any other type of grain you like, add some veggies, some chicken pieces, tuna, halloumi cheese, tofu, or whatever source of protein you like, and add your favorite herbs, season it with salt and pepper, give it a good mix, and then store it in the freezer for when you want something tasty.
8. Frozen veggies
We’re back to the veggies because they’re truly one of the most affordable frozen foods to have in your kitchen at all times! And as you can already tell, I love frozen veggies.
They’re so tasty, simple to prepare, and go well with a variety of other dishes. Chefs claim that they are a basic need for any freezer and that they are long-lasting, so if you think about affordable frozen foods, these shouldn’t be missing from your list.
As a side dish with just about any meal, vegetables like broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, peas, and green beans taste great when added to pasta for extra nourishment, protein, and fiber, so your hunger will be in check and your body will be happy.
I love to eat steamed veggies with some grilled chicken breast for a healthy meal that is rich in nutrients, protein, and other ingredients that make my tummy happy.
Which are your favorite affordable frozen foods? I told you mine, so it’s time for you to tell me yours now! If you want some staples at home, you should check out this offer on frozen grilled salmon from Amazon!
It will come in handy the next time you come home hungry and tired! It goes well with the frozen veggies you already have, and if you have 5 minutes to make a Greek yogurt, parsley, garlic, and olive oil dip, this will become your new favorite meal!
If you want to read something else from Frugal Americans, here’s a good article for you: 6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Costco Membership
