Dirt Cheap Meals From My Childhood: Tater Cakes and Tuna Melts
Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money, but we always managed to put together some tasty meals with what we had on hand.
Here are a couple of my favorite go-to recipes from those times: tater cakes and poor man tuna melts.
These dirt cheap meal ideas are made with simple, inexpensive ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
Tater cakes
Ingredients:
- Potato flakes (instant mashed potatoes)
- Water or milk
- Egg or melted butter/oil
- Cheese (any kind you have)
- Flour (or pancake mix/cake mix)
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: onions, bacon pieces, sour cream, ranch, ketchup
Instructions:
- Prepare the potato flakes: Start with any amount of potato flakes you have. Add 1 to 1.5 cups of water to the flakes. If you have milk, you can use that instead of water.
- Mix in the egg and cheese: If you have an egg, add it to the mix. If not, use about two tablespoons of melted butter or oil. Add any cheese you have on hand, whether it’s American cheese, mozzarella, or even plastic cheese. Tear the cheese into small pieces if needed.
- Add flour: Add about three tablespoons of flour. If you don't have flour, pancake mix or cake mix will work just fine.
- Season and combine: Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add diced onions or bacon pieces if you have them. Mix everything until you reach a thick consistency that can be shaped into patties.
- Cook the patties: Heat oil or butter in a non-stick pan. Shape the mixture into patties and cook them until they are golden brown on each side. This usually takes a few minutes per side.
- Serve: Serve the tater cakes hot. They are delicious on their own, but you can also top them with bacon pieces, sour cream, ranch, or ketchup.
These tater cakes are not only delicious but also versatile and can be made with whatever you have on hand.
Poor man tuna melts
Ingredients:
- Canned tuna
- Mayonnaise (or mayo packets from a restaurant)
- Salt and pepper
- Hamburger buns or any bread
- Cheese (any kind you have)
Instructions:
- Prepare the tuna mix: Open the cans of tuna and drain them. In a bowl, mix the tuna with mayonnaise until you reach your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. If you have ingredients for a fancier tuna salad, like onions or pickles, feel free to add them.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Place the tuna mixture on hamburger buns or any bread you have. Top with cheese. American cheese or mozzarella work well.
- Broil: Preheat your oven to broil on a low setting. Place the assembled sandwiches in the oven and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, which usually takes about 5 minutes.
- Serve: Serve the tuna melts hot. They are simple but incredibly satisfying.
These tuna melts are a great way to use up leftover bread and cheese while making a hearty meal.
Dirt cheap meal ideas
These dirt cheap meals from my childhood bring back memories of creativity and resourcefulness. They were born out of necessity but are delicious enough to enjoy anytime.
If you try these recipes, you'll see that you don't need fancy ingredients to make a satisfying meal. Let me know which of these meal ideas is your favorite in the comments down below.
Next, check out my Delicious and Filling Pasta Recipe From the Great Depression.
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