“Fiesta” Pasta Bake

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite quick, delicious and cheap meals.  Dinner doesn’t have to be a major production each night!

Gone are the days where I shop all over town for the best grocery deals.  I just don’t have the time or energy for it anymore.

I used to go grocery shopping 3-4 times a week.  I’d shop different stores for weekly sales and stores that had better everyday prices on specific items.

I realized a few things.

Most importantly, I was spending way too much time grocery shopping.  Something I used to enjoy doing became a dreaded task.

I could save a dollar or two here or there – but at the end of the week – factoring in time and energy – how much was I really saving?

After all was said and done – nothing.

Then I found a one stop kinda place.

I’ve found Food Lion to be the best overall store for my weekly grocery shopping.

It’s easy to save at Food Lion!  Between their everyday low prices, weekly specials, BOGO’s, Personalized MVP offers & coupons, Shop & Earn, Freshness Guarantee and whatever coupons I casually clip – Food Lion reigns superior.  If you’re like me, and can’t keep up with weekly circulars, Food Lion is still easy to shop.  They have in-store signs everywhere leading you to sales and best prices!

I’ll admit, for the most part, I’m not a brand snob.  I’ve come to trust and rely on Food Lion’s private label store brand.  Most of the products I happily stock up on (pasta, sauces, beans, salsa, canned goods galore) save me almost a whopping fifty percent!  Same quality as the name brands…just different label.

I LOVE Food Lion’s fresh meat selection!  The quality, the  selection and prices are awesome!  As a weekly shopper I’ve learned to stock up & freeze during sales – it keeps my budget rounded all month long.

The best example of everyday savings is how I easily feed my family of four with a meal under $10.  A delicious and hearty meal can effortlessly be made any night of the week while on a budget when shopping at Food Lion.

This Fiesta Pasta Bake is one of my favorite examples.  A handful of simple ingredients come together quickly for a fun & tasty dinner any night of the week.

I toss in whatever ground meat is cheapest – be it beef, chicken or turkey.  Or I use leftovers if I have them.  Shredded chicken, pork, beef – they are delicious in this casserole!

Oh, this meal is great meatless as well.  You can skip the meat and add an extra can of black beans & corn.

This meal can be easily dressed up with fresh produce…cilantro, avocado slices, dices tomatoes, shredded lettuce, guacamole…if it’s in the budget.  The family loves it either way!

Don’t forget to top it all off with a generous dollop of sour cream!

Hope you enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by!

Amanda ♥