Who said that Christmas dinner had to be expensive to be successful? we show you how easy it is to prepare cheap recipes for Christmas by creating spectacular menus. The main advice we give you is to vary the menu and make room for recipes that are different and original, such as: preparations of foreign origin or novel foods, although they should always include some seasonal products. The second option is to give a twist to traditional recipes just by changing the expensive ingredients for others that are equally tasty, but less expensive. And finally, you must combine the different recipes with each other to put together the menu, but always maintaining a balance between the flavors and also between the nutrients. And what are the cheapest products of the autumn-winter season? Well, that depends a lot on where you live, however, more or less generically, these are: mushrooms, tangerines, apples, limes, lemons, pomegranate, artichokes, beets, pumpkin, among others.
That said, don’t miss out on the best cheap recipes for Christmas and start the gastronomic tour. Let’s go there!
Tuna cake with sliced bread
The cake with sliced bread, also known as sandwich on, is an appetizer or snack that already delights your eyes, in addition, its price is very accessible. We liked it with tuna as the protagonist, because its meat is cheap, very tasty, low in calories, healthy and combines with many ingredients.
A great start right? Well, add this cake to your list of easy recipes to surprise your guests this Christmas.
Mushroom Soup
This light soup is comforting, healthy, and elegant. Perfect to start the easy and cheap Christmas menu! Also, you can prepare it as a cream by adding any of these combinations: two types of cheese, crushed hazelnuts and scallops, green beans with foe, chicken comfit, among other ingredients
Apple and lettuce salad
Apples are a symbol of Christmas, and depending on their variety, they can be very cheap in some places. What do you think if you include them in a starter or garnish for your Christmas dinner? If you like the idea, here is a light and delicious recipe. This economical preparation is great on a menu with protein products, such as: pork, beef, lamb, chicken or turkey. A gourmet type entree!
Tip: you can substitute the nuts for peanuts, so you will spend less.
Rejoin style pork ribs
Pork is one of the favorite meats for Christmas dinner, although in some places it is more popular than in others. If you want to enjoy its flavor without spending too much, choose distinguished and comforting preparations, but that require cheap cuts similar to loin or ribs.
With all of the above in mind, we suggest this recipe so that you can make it easily just by following the step-by-step Rejoin style ribs. Accompany it with green salads, purees and sautéed vegetables.
Par métier cream
The word Armentieres refers to any dish whose main ingredient is creamed or mashed potato. So, we provide you with a Par métier cream to start your cheap Christmas menu with a classic French recipe very similar to Vichyssoise cream, but with less leek among its ingredients. Delicious right? Take a look at the steps of this Par métier cream, and offer your guests a comforting entrance. It can also be an easy and inexpensive New Year’s Eve recipe!
Chicken stuffed with plums and walnuts
Chicken meat is one of the cheapest proteins on the market, and it is also a very healthy and versatile food in the kitchen. For this recipe, prepare a whole chicken and fill it with seasonal ingredients. We point out that the procedure is quite similar to that used with turkey, but easier. Now, if you don’t want it whole, you can also do it with hindquarters or thighs, however, you must adjust the baking time according to the size of the chosen pieces.
On the other hand, if you are already thinking about the garnishes for this dish, you can cook garlic mushrooms, anisette potatoes, duchess potatoes, green salads, purees, etc. Pure Christmas flavor!
Tip: If you substitute peanuts for the walnuts, you will save money and add an exotic touch to this dish.
Bread streamers
In an economic Christmas menu, snacks with bread are always good. The more the better! Why? Because bread goes perfectly with everything. You can make very ingenious presentations and putting it together as an appetizer is unscientific. As a demonstration, we offer you these bread rolls with different fillings, a bite-like version of the sliced bread cake.
Christmas Misiones
When it comes to easy and inexpensive Christmas dinners, it’s always good to have plenty of options on hand to choose from. We came up with the idea of including more cheap and healthy chicken recipes, but this time in a very special Mexican-style preparation. This recipe is about the mediate, a preparation very similar to the papillae, since the food is kept inside a wrapper that withstands heat and then cooks it steamed, on the grill or in the oven. What is special about this preparation? Food is tenderer, enhances its fragrance and maintains water-soluble vitamins.
Want to treat your guests to new festive flavors? Accompany them with nopalitos salad, raw green sauce, beans from the pot, red rice, and white rice or corn tortillas. Quite a taste surprise!
Tangerine and almond salad
Are you looking for Christmas recipes to surprise? Well, here you have a very special preparation for you to include in your cheap menu as an appetizer or side dish. This salad perfectly combines the citric sweetness of the tangerine, the freshness of the lettuce, the meaty touch of the bacon and the crunchy texture of the nuts. A complete taste experience!
Dare to try it by following the step by step of tangerine and almond salad. Use it to accompany pork, blue or white fish papillae, chicken or pork mediate, white meat, poultry and even seafood.
Tip: You can also use bacon or pancetta.
Chicken breast stuffed with vegetables
Chicken meat is definitely the star of Christmas meals. There are plenty of reasons for this predilection, as this food has many qualities, including versatility and performance. For this reason, we include these medallions with vegetables as a main course, because they look spectacular and you can accompany them with almost any side dish.
Garlic mushrooms
Mushrooms are a cheap product with many uses in the kitchen. In addition, it is a very energetic, satiating, low-calorie and nutritious food. Its main attractions are its meat-like texture and its mild (almost neutral) flavor. We prepare them with garlic for an easy and cheap Christmas menu. A traditional Christmas recipe!
Grilled meat with black beer
Beef is always a good option for Christmas dinner, but you will need a recipe that is very special. We opted to prepare Mexican-style grilled steaks with beer. What are the most economical and good quality steak cuts? The ribs, the skirt, the round, among others.
You already decided? Then follow the next steps of the recipe for roast beef with black beer. The best side dishes are fondant potatoes or Spanish potatoes, orange rice, spaced vegetables or sautéed vegetables, etc.
Tip: Each variety of beer imparts a different flavor to the meat.
Sautéed beans with onion
This colorful and tasty salad is a glamorous prelude to everything that awaits diners during the cheap Christmas menu. The best of all? The ingredients of this preparation are very accessible in every way and match practically any dish. Can you imagine it on your table? An original salad!
Orange cutlets
Do you want to know more cheap meat recipes for Christmas? This recipe is not only a delicacy, but it is also one of the easiest meat options to prepare for Christmas dinner. You can accompany it with purée, with some special potatoes and with a green salad.
Hake in piquillo pepper sauce
Seafood always features in the best Christmas recipes, although some are very expensive during the season. But as you already know, you can always turn the tables using your creativity. So, we propose an inexpensive fish bathed in a very special sauce made with piquillo pepper, but you can make it with the pepper you get. Tip: Accompany this dish with potatoes, asparagus or a green salad.
Lamb stew with potatoes
Think of lamb meat if you want Christmas recipes to surprise, because although it seems like an expensive option, there are always good and cheap cuts. Of course, make sure that the meat is very fresh, as it is very delicate in its conservation. For this particular stew, the ideal pieces are precisely the cheapest, those considered second and third category, as they work best in long cooking: neck, breast, back, and care (rib or steak). In the case of care, although it qualifies as second class meat, many kitchen professionals consider it a first class cut. Keep that in mind!
If you have already decided, then take note of our detailed step-by-step guide for you to cook this recipe for lamb stew with potatoes. Ideal companions? Apple Lettuce Salad, Raw Asparagus, Spring Greens, Plain Roasted Brussels sprouts, Red Cabbage Slaw, or Basic Roasted Artichokes. It can also be a cheap New Year’s Eve recipe!
