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Inexpensive Spaghetti Meals

Spaghetti is a go-to side dish for families on a budget. Here are some simple ways to make spaghetti inexpensive and delicious.


Spaghetti is a go-to family dish that’s inexpensive, easy to make, and delicious. However, if you’re cooking regular spaghetti and topping it with a jar of sauce your family might get… bored. 


The beauty of spaghetti is that you can dress it up and have some fun without going over your grocery budget every week. 


We’re here to walk you through a few of our favorite, inexpensive meals that use
 3 Minute Spaghetti


Here are our favorite budget-friendly simple meals to add to your list of cheap dinner ideas:


Ground Beef Spaghetti Skillet 


A meat lover’s paradise! This simple meal is jam-packed with protein and only requires a few ingredients. Not a big beef fan? You can easily swap the ground beef for ground turkey for a leaner alternative. 

  • Start by chopping up your veggies. We recommend onions, green peppers, and some fresh garlic.
  • Add the chopped onions, pepper, garlic, and ground beef into a dutch oven. Let this cook on medium heat for 8-10 minutes until the veggies are soft and the meat crumbles. Once it’s ready, drain the dish and set this aside. 
  • In a separate pan, add water, your 3 Minute Spaghetti, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes. 
  • Once it’s cooked, add everything into one pot, mix, and enjoy!


Cheesy Spaghetti 


Tired of marinara sauce? Looking for a delicious cheap dinner idea and a comfort dish that includes over four different types of cheese? We have exactly what you’ve been missing from your simple meals list. This cheesy spaghetti dish is a favorite among the younger ones. It’s filled with delicious flavor and requires less than 10 ingredients. 

  • Start by cooking your 3 Minute spaghetti.
  • While your spaghetti cooks, add flour and butter to a saucepan. Slowly add in half-and-half cream and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the sauce has a thicker consistency, you’ll want to stir in grated provolone, parmesan, fontina, and mozzarella cheese.
  • Mix the spaghetti with the cheese sauce, and enjoy! 


Taco Night Spaghetti 


Is your family tired of having an Italian meal once a week? Looking for a fun and innovative way to invite new flavors into your simple meals? Introducing taco night spaghetti! This flavorful dish is filled with delicious spices and is one of Medallion’s favorite simple and cheap dinner ideas!

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and cook your 3 Minute spaghetti until it’s al dente. 
  • While that’s cooking, cook your ground beef in a dutch oven for 8-10 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Slowly add in water and your favorite taco seasoning. 
  • Once that’s cooked, add in cheese, black beans, and salsa. 
  • Drain your pasta and add everything into a baking dish.
  • Pop the dish into the oven and let it cook for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 
  • Serve with sour cream, extra cheese, and salsa - enjoy!


Discover Cheap Dinner Ideas with Medallion


Our 3-minute spaghetti is a household favorite. It completely changes the cooking game, making it easier to put together a simple meal for you and the whole family. 

Follow us @medallionfoodsinc on Instagram for more go-to dishes for families on a budget!



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These 10-minute-or-less pasta recipes are perfect for the family that’s always on the move. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice delicious food or nutrition. With these quick family meals, you’ll be able to serve up heaping bowls of pasta all around without skipping a beat. Forget all the dirty dishes, too — these one-pot wonders that will keep your bellies full and sink empty. All of these recipes start with our 3 Minute Spaghetti noodles , quick pasta that goes from dry to al-dente in 180 seconds. Thanks, science! Ready, spaghetti? It’s time to dive into these five perfect pasta recipes that the whole family will love. Just be prepared for everyone to ask for seconds because these dishes are irresistible. Spaghetti alla Marinara You can’t think of spaghetti without imagining the classic Italian red sauce. Technically, this recipe calls for a skillet as well, but it’s so simple and rinses so well that you won’t even mind. The entire dish comes together like a dream, and you’ll fall in love with its bold, warm flavor, heightened with some fresh garlic and onions. Here’s how to make this classic spaghetti meal in 3 steps: Heat a medium skillet on low heat, and add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil; pour in one can of tomato sauce. Add fresh minced garlic, chopped onion, and basil to taste. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and cook Medallion Food’s 3 Minute Spaghetti. Strain well, and add them to the skillet. Toss all ingredients together, and serve. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio “Aglio e olio” is Italian for “garlic and oil”. This pasta recipe is perfect for a quick, filling dinner, and it comes together in just four steps. You can adjust the intensity of the flavor by using more or less garlic. If you don’t have time to chop fresh cloves, don’t worry! You can replace it with some garlic powder instead for a quick family meal. If you're using fresh garlic, chop your cloves into small pieces, and add them to a skillet with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Cook the garlic cloves over low heat, stirring occasionally. Boil a pot of water, and cook our 3 Minute Spaghetti; strain well, and add to the skillet with the garlic. Toss the noodles in the skillet, adding a drizzle of olive oil as you go. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste. Three-Cheese Spaghetti Can’t get enough cheese on your pasta? You’ll love this dish! Combining fresh parmesan, pecorino, and asiago, this crowd-pleasing spaghetti is full of Italian flavor, and it’s just the right amount of creamy without feeling too heavy. If you’re a fan of macaroni and cheese, this dressed-up version with longer noodles is a real delight, and perfect for adding some elegance to your dinner table any day of the week for a quick family meal. Cook our 3-minute spaghetti in a large pot, then strain well. Lightly drizzle the noodles with extra virgin olive oil, stirring in each of the finely grated cheeses as you go. Season with some black pepper to taste. You can also add some garlic, oregano, basil, or even a bit of parsley. Tying It All Together With these pasta recipes under your belt, you’ll have quick, delicious dinners ready in less than 10 minutes. You can complete each meal by adding a side salad with fresh greens and chopped veggies, or some slices of bread baked in the oven for 5 minutes with a light coating of olive oil and fresh garlic and herbs. For more easy pasta dishes, follow us at @madellionfoodsinc on Instagram!
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The back-to-school season is a busy time for parents. As we approach the start of the school year, families begin to get into a new routine. The best way to prepare for a busy back-to-school season is with simple dinner ideas. With just 10 minutes of prep, you can whip up some quick and delicious pasta meals on weeknights. But not just any pasta — the 3 Minute Spaghetti from Medallion Foods! Using our 3 Minute Spaghetti, you can make mouthwatering pasta dishes that the whole family can enjoy together. We're sharing some simple dinner ideas featuring our 3 Minute Spaghetti. Yummy Tomato Spaghetti An easy, tomato-based spaghetti dinner with a secret ingredient! Ingredients: ● 1/lb ground beef, lamb, or pork (or a mixture of all) ● 3 Minute Spaghetti, hot and cooked ● 1⁄2 cup chopped onion ● 2 cloves garlic, finely minced ● 2 tablespoons tomato paste ● 8- ounce can of tomato sauce ● 28- ounce can of crushed tomatoes ● 1 teaspoon dried basil ● 1 teaspoon dried oregano ● 1⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme ● 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce (secret ingredient) ● 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar ● 1⁄2 teaspoon salt ● 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper ● Handful of fresh parsley ● Freshly grated parmesan cheese, for serving Detailed instructions (Cooking time: 15 to 25 minutes) Stir together the ground meat, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and a pinch of salt in a skillet over medium-high heat, while breaking up the meat into small pieces with a spoon. Cook the meat for 8 minutes until it is no longer pink. Next, season with salt and pepper, and stir in the tomato paste, basil, oregano, and thyme. The mixture should smell fragrant after about a minute of cooking over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Add in and stir together the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Simmer the sauce for ten minutes on low-medium heat. Pour the sauce over cooked 3 Minute Spaghetti. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Butter Garlicky Spaghetti A simple dinner that is sure to impress everyone with its simplicity and classic taste. This quick family meal is filled with garlicky goodness. Ingredients: ● 1.5 lb shrimp, fried or boiled (optional) ● 7-8 cloves of thinly sliced garlic ● 1⁄2 cup olive oil ● 1 pound of 3 Minute Spaghetti ● red pepper flakes, to taste ● 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh basil ● salt and freshly ground black pepper ● 1 cup finely grated parmesan ● 1 tablespoon butter Detailed instructions (Cooking time: 20 to 30 minutes) To begin, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Boil the 3 Minute Spaghetti until it is cooked. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl after draining. Next, for 10 minutes, cook garlic over medium heat until it is slowly toasted. Once the olive oil starts bubbling, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for another 5 minutes until the garlic is golden brown. Remove the pan from the heat. Toss the pasta with red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Add the garlicky olive oil on top. Stir together the cooked shrimp, fresh basil, and half the parmesan cheese. If you want to enhance the flavor, toss in an extra tablespoon of butter. Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese and basil sprigs before serving. Serve with: These simple dinner recipes pair nicely with savory breadsticks or pull-apart bread. You can also serve this quick family meal with a simple garden salad. Make A Quick Family Meal With 3 Minute Spaghetti The flavors you love are just minutes away. Don't hesitate to give these quick family meal recipes a try and let us know what you think. Visit our website for more simple dinner recipes and to find the best pasta.
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