Add to favoritesWelcome to #ThrowbackThursday! Every Thursday we’ll be celebrating the wisdom of our foremothers with some themed tips from the Great Depression era. Feel free to get in on the fun! Write your own Throwback Thursday tips on our Facebook wall, or tweet @CatchyFreebies with the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday. If we choose your tip for a feature, we’ll send you a sample from our stash!
This #ThrowbackThursday, it’s also National Oatmeal Day! In honor of the noble oat, we’re going to talk about how to save money on meat recipes by using oatmeal. We know everyone’s not a fan of eating oats for breakfast, so here are some great ways to stretch your meats (like ground beef or turkey) with a little oatmeal!
Everyone knows that the best way to make comforting, frugal homemade meatloaf is to use oats! This prizewinning recipe calls for 2 parts meat with 1 part oatmeal for the perfect moist meatloaf – she uses 1.5 pounds of beef or turkey with 3/4 cup of oats, but you can adjust the recipe up or down as needed.
But did you know that Italian-style meatballs are even better with oats? This gluten-free recipe uses 1 cup of oats per 1 pound of meat for a healthy alternative to the Italian classic! Or, if you prefer turkey meatballs, this oatmeal turkey meatball recipe makes meatballs that are under 90 calories each! What a great way to enjoy your favorites while making healthier (and more budget-friendly) choices.
But wait! There’s more! You can stretch your ground beef or turkey in any recipe using oats! We’re talking stir fry, burgers, meat sauce for pasta dishes, burritos, tacos – the sky’s the limit! Stock up on ground meat when it’s on sale, then mix in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of uncooked old-fashioned oats per pound of meat, and brown it as normal. Then you can divvy up your concoction into half-pound or one-pound containers to freeze it for super-easy defrosting for any recipe you like! You could even throw in the seasonings and veggies you need ahead of time, and write instructions on it with a permanent marker, so you’ve got a meal in a bag! Remember that using a lot of oats will make your meat taste a little more bland, but you can always add extra sea salt, spices, onions, garlic, or other favorite seasonings to amp up the flavor while keeping it cheap.
What’s your favorite way to stretch meat or use oatmeal for big meal savings? Leave us a comment on Facebook or send us your thoughts on Twitter @CatchyFreebies using the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday!
Like this post? Sign up for our email newsletter so you never miss a money-saving tip!
