Spinach Bacon Pasta Toss

This is a recipe I haven't made for a while, but one my family really loves. I got the recipe here about 2 years ago. I will do 2 price break downs. The 1st one is if you make it for the serving size it suggests and the usual best price of the ingredients. The second will be based on how I make it, and how much I paid this week for my ingredients.

Spinach Bacon Pasta Toss, Serves 8
If you make this according to recipe directions this is a breakdown of what it would cost assuming you pay the prices I suggest.

• 1 lb. wide egg noodles, uncooked (12 oz. bag will work from Aldi)=.99
• 3/4 c. Zesty Italian dressing (Use Aldi brand) bottle costs 1.19. 3/4 of a cup=roughly .40 cents
• 1 pt. cherry tomatoes halved (Use grape, Aldi regularly has these for 1.20 or less)=.99
• 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts (Aldi 3 lb. bags of chicken are 5.99) 1lb.=1.99
• 1 bag of baby spinach (If you pay full price)=2.50/bag (if you can find this on manager special for .99 it will cut your cost!)
  
• 1 cup of Italian cheese (You can usually get a 2 cup bag for 1.79 or less with Dillons sale)=.90 cents
• 8 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled (you can get 1 lb. (16 slices) package of Kroger brand for 1.87)= .94 cents

Total for this=$8.71 or $1.09 per serving

My version: I tend to make this fit 6 servings since there are only 3 of us

• 3/4 bag of Aldi brand Egg noodles (bag costs .99)=.66 cents
• 3/4 cup of Italian dressing (I got a bottle of Kraft free a few months ago)=FREE
• 1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes halved (I use grape a paid 1.19 this week at Aldi)=.60
• 3/4 pound of chicken (I paid 4.50 for 3 lbs of fresh chicken a few weeks ago)= $1 for 3/4 lb.
  
• 1 cup of Italian cheese (Mozzarella works too) I paid 2.99 for a 4 cup bag last week= .75 for one cup
• 8 slices of bacon (I paid $1/package last week)=.50
• I think this can do with out with the spinach so I cut this out completely or just make a separate salad.

Total=3.51 or .59 cents a serving!

A good thing to remember is that you do not have to cook according to recipe directions. This is often how we are able to eat on less. As you see here I cut some things out of the recipe or simply used less of an item.

Menu Planning is also very helpful in staying on a low food budget. When I planned my menu for this week I took into account that I had all of these ingredients on hand with the exception of grape tomatoes. I was well stock on everything else because I make sure to always stock up when things I know I use often are on sale for the rock bottom price.

I hope you find this information helpful, and this recipe to be delicious!