The holiday season often has us cooking multiple special family meals, but that can quickly get expensive! One way to save money on holiday meals is to make your side dishes with affordable pantry staples, like canned fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, and pasta. These are items that you can stock up on when they go on sale to fill your pantry for later. Produce like sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, and apples last longer, can fill out your meals, and add some fresh flavor. Try some of the following recipes at your next holiday meal!
Soups
Vegetable Barley Soup
Curried Pumpkin Soup
Quick Minestrone Soup
Winter Harvest Soup
Beet and Tomato Soup
These soup recipes make use of canned beans, pumpkin, and tomatoes, as well as grains like barley and pasta. Try making a soup the day before and refrigerating it, so there is less to prepare right before your meal!
Salads
3-Bean Salad
Sweet Potato and Kale Salad
Orange Rice Salad
Beet & White Bean Salad
Black Bean and Rice Salad
Salads go well with many holiday meals, as they can add a refreshing taste and crunch. The salads listed above utilize many different pantry staples to help you save money.
Baked and Sauteed Dishes
Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Baked Apples and Squash
Baked Bean Medley
Glazed Carrots and Cranberries
Maple Sweet Potatoes
Warm and cozy dishes are a must for holiday meals, which is exactly what these recipes are! Luckily, they are all super easy to make as well.