Cheap ingredients/recipes that kids will eat?

[hazelnutvanillalatte]

Hi, after a bit of a crazy unforeseen when-it-rains-it-pours month, I am looking for some very low cost kid-friendly recipes and ingredients.

If it were just me, I could make it work having rice and lentils and tinned tomatoes, but I have young children who want more variety and flavour. They all have different tastes so I can't really paint a picture of what they would like, but I'm just looking for inspiration in terms of affordable ingredients, recipes, lower cost retailers etc.

Thank you x

Plenty of beans (kidney, butter, chickpeas), I love them in a sausage casserole at this time of year.
Only buy loose, British veg - single items cost loads less than packaged items.
Similarly with fruit.
None of those packets of microwave rice everyone seems to buy now - big bag, preferably from Asian supermarket.

Hard to say without knowing your kid's tastes, but big pasta bakes made with cheap sausages, tinned tomatoes and bog-standard cheddar, chunky veg soups thickened with red lentils, stir fry (more veg, less meat) plus rice. Most (all?) supermarkets have a section of the chill cabinets with marked down, short-life fresh food. You can get some great bargains there - assuming you have the time.

Budget and tastes and ages unclear

lidl and Aldi tend to be cheaper but you need to shop twice a week to avoid wastage on the veg

Sometimes children need to learn that they might want something but can’t afford it

home made bean burgers ( two tins of beans and sweetcorn and onion all mashed together , herb or spice of choice, thin halomi slice on top ) with home made coleslaw ( grate cabbage and carrot and onions and small amount mayo or salad crème)

large casserole with a little meat ( sausages, braising steak , chicken thighs ) and loads of vegetables ( carrots and turnips ) , tin Toms and lots of beans

halomi burgers in buns with .. carrot and pepper sticks on the side

egg chips and baked beans or coleslaw

jackets with cheesy or tuna coleslaw ( cabbage and carrots are dirt cheap you see)

Thanks, some great suggestions here - might try the sausage bake

Budget is as low as possible
Primary school and nursery age
Tastes I can't say as they will eat something one day and refuse it the next

We love poached egg, air fryer chips and peas as a quick mid week dinner from time to time.

Love egg, chips & beans! Very cheap too. Eggs are just £1 for 6 in many places.

Dahl.

Returned for add corned beef hash inspired by another thread!

Baked potatoes are cheap and easy. Bake a whole bag at once to reduce costs of oven and pop the unused ones in the freezer. Lots of different cheap toppings depending on taste - baked beans, grated cheese (a little goes a long way), left over casserole, bolognaise, tuna, etc

Meals on toast are also good for lighter meals or toasted sandwiches. Baked beans, eggs, cheese are the obvious ones.

Don’t have seconds for the sake of it or throw away leftovers. Use them with bulky ingredients for another meal or once a week have a buffet of leftovers and everyone can help themselves.

Pitta pizzas- Pitta breads, topped with Passata and grated cheddar with any protein or veggies they will eat is my kids fave cheap meal. Then use the rest of the passata to make an easy pasta sauce, just add some dried herbs, garlic granules and a bit of cream/cream cheese. Egg based
meals are also cheap and great for protein. Omlettes, eggy bread, egg, chips and beans, egg fried rice with bits of chicken/veg/bacon. Pork instead of beef mince for bolognese/chilli with lentils/beans to bulk it up.

Loaded potato wedges https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/loaded_potato_wedges_22372
Tuna sweetcorn pasta
Tinned tomato risotto https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tinned_tomato_risotto_50756
Peanut butter noodles https://healthylivingjames.co.uk/speedy-satay-sauce-noodles/