Real dinners for real budgets. Every meal here uses four ingredients or fewer, feeds a family of four to five, and costs under $20 at Savannah grocery prices.
Dice chicken thighs and brown in a large skillet. Add sliced bell peppers and cook until slightly softened. Stir in uncooked rice and chicken broth, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Pan-sear chicken breasts until golden brown and cooked through; remove from pan. In the same pan, melt cream cheese with a splash of chicken broth to create a sauce. Add frozen broccoli to the sauce and cook until tender, then return chicken to the pan to coat.
Sear chicken thighs in a large, oven-safe pan until skin is golden and crispy; remove chicken. Prepare yellow rice mix in the same pan with chicken broth according to package directions. Nestle chicken thighs back into the rice and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
Arrange cod fillets, cherry tomatoes, and whole garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 12-18 minutes, or until fish flakes easily and tomatoes are bursting.
Brown ground beef and drain any excess fat. Stir in cream of mushroom soup and frozen green beans, then transfer mixture to a baking dish. Top with crispy fried onions and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and heated through.
Brown ground turkey in a large skillet and drain any fat. Add diced zucchini and canned diced tomatoes, cooking until zucchini is tender. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, cover, and cook until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Slice sausage and sauté in a large skillet until browned. Add shrimp, corn, and okra to the skillet, cooking until shrimp are pink and vegetables are tender. Season with a touch of Old Bay or Creole seasoning before serving.
Slice onions and apples; place half in a baking dish. Season pork loin well and place on top of apples and onions; cover with remaining apples and onions. Pour apple cider over everything and bake at 375°F (190°C) until pork reaches 145°F (63°C) internal temperature, about 45-60 minutes.
Chop Italian sausage, butternut squash, and red onion into uniform pieces. Toss all ingredients with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 25-35 minutes, flipping halfway, until squash is tender and sausage is browned.
Chop sausage, potatoes, and cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Toss all ingredients with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 25-35 minutes, stirring halfway, until potatoes are tender and cabbage is slightly caramelized.
Prepare grits according to package directions. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Sauté shrimp seasoned with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until pink and cooked through; serve immediately over cheesy grits.
Bake or pan-fry tilapia fillets until cooked through. Dice mangoes, finely chop red onion, and chop cilantro; combine to make a fresh salsa. Serve the cooked tilapia topped generously with the mango salsa.
The cheapest place to fill a cart depends on where you live. Here's the best value stop in each part of town.
Historic District, Starland, Thomas Square, 31401
Money saver: Kroger for meat on sale, the Saturday market for produce, Dollar General for staples.
Abercorn corridor, Twelve Oaks, Oglethorpe Mall area, 31405/31406/31419
Money saver: Aldi for the base cart, Publix only for whatever's on BOGO this week.
Wilmington, Whitemarsh and Talahi islands, 31410
Money saver: Stack Kroger digital coupons for the big shop and top off at Publix.
Tybee Island, 31328
Money saver: Do the big stock-up on the way onto the island; use the island market only for top-offs.
Pooler, Bloomingdale, Port Wentworth, 31322/31407
Money saver: Aldi for the staples, Walmart for everything else in one trip.
Tell the CoPilot what's already in your kitchen and it will build a plan around it.
Prices are estimates and exclude pantry staples like salt, oil and spices.
