$5 Dinner Challenge

I'm posting today for the $5 Dinner challenge over at the $5 Dinners blog. Over the past few months, I've discovered that my husband and I really enjoy casseroles, both for ease of preparation, and because they taste great. Two of our favorites are king ranch chicken and chicken-broccoli-rice casserole.






King Ranch Chicken:

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken (i prefer to use breast meat)(cost $2)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (cost 33 cents)
1 can cream of chicken soup (cost 33 cents)
1 can ro-tel (diced tomatoes & green chilies) (cost 50 cents)
corn tortillas (not fried) (cost 50 cents)
1 c. grated cheddar cheese (cost 84 cents)

Total cost: $4.50 (less if you substitute chicken thighs)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook 1 lb chicken breast and cut into small pieces (approx. 1" x 1").
In large bowl, mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, and one can of rotel tomatoes (diced tomatoes and green chilies).
In a 9" square casserole dish (or similar size), spoon about 1/4 cup of the soup mixture on the bottom.
Mix the chicken in with the rest of the soup mixture.
Layer corn tortillas on top of the soup in the bottom of the pan. Layer with 1/3 of the remaining mixture. Repeat with tortillas and soup mixture twice more. Top with grated cheese and bake for 45 minutes.

This should feed four adults.

Chicken-Broccoli-Rice Casserole:

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts (approximately 1 1/2 lbs @ $2/lb cost $3.00)
1 can cream soup (mushroom, chicken or celery - your preference)(33 cents - 3/$1 at 99 Cents Only Store)
1 package broccoli and cheese rice mix (cost 89 cents)
1 package frozen broccoli florets (cost $1.00)
1 c. grated cheddar cheese (cost 83 cents)

Total cost:$6.05 (less if you use coupons and/or substitute chicken thighs)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a 9 x 13 casserole dish, put the contents of the rice mix in the bottom and add water as indicated on package. Mix thoroughly, then add in the broccoli. Lay chicken breasts on top of rice mixture. Spoon soup over chicken. Top with cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.

This should feed four adults.