chicken with homemade teriyaki sauce

A Simple Delicious Way to Cut Your Food Costs Even as Prices Soar

Recently, I posted an impromptu fan poll on our  EC Facebook page asking, “What is your greatest financial temptation?” Answer choices: accepting more credit, vacation, clothes, new car, stuff for the house, eating out, and none-of-the-above. I thought I could easily predict the poll results: Stuff for the house would win. And I was wrong! The runaway winner at 41% was eating out. I should not have been surprised.

chicken with homemade teriyaki sauce

How much do you think the average American spends in a year by eating out, picking up, or home delivery of food prepared and provided by restaurants?

Consumer units

In 2021 (the latest release), the average “consumer unit” spent $3,751 when eating food away from home, according to the U.S. Department of Labor—a consumer unit being defined as 2.5 people of whom 1.3 are earners, in a household with 1.9 vehicles. You know, your typical family with half a kid, someone working one-third of the time, and a vehicle that’s so on its last leg it could only be considered nine-tenths of a car.

Regardless of the humorous definition of a typical family, I find that $3,751 figure to be not only startling but worse, seriously understated. Reportedly, 81% of the money spent at full-service restaurants in America is paid in plastic. That means only 19% pay with cash.

Mostly debt-ridden

Add to this fact roughly half of all credit-card purchases turn into revolving consumer debt for many of those “consumer units.” That means that by the time all of that eating out actually gets paid for, the real number is at least double. Let’s just round it off at $5,000 per consumer unit that pays with a credit card and is revolving its debt.

And wasteful

Add one more thing to the equation: Wasted food at home. I know the routine because I struggle with it as well: You load up with groceries, but then the week gets crazy busy, and who’s got the time or the desire to cook dinner seven days in a row?

It’s so much easier to just grab something to bring home or to traipse once again to a marginally satisfying restaurant, drop $40 plus tax and tip (at least another 20 percent pushing that bill to nearly $50) and wonder what on earth you were thinking. And it’s not really easier when you consider all of the time, effort, and money that takes.

Without meaning to let it happen (again), the stuff you bought at the supermarket has begun decomposing and in what seems like no time at all and into the trash it goes. You may as well have just thrown the money into the trash and saved all that time and effort at the grocery store.

Time to pivot

Whether eating out is your top temptation or it comes in second or third, you can deal with it more effectively if you can figure out how to make eating at home more convenient and more delicious than going out. Let me repeat that: Make eating at home more convenient and more delicious than going out. Let me offer these suggestions:

Make a plan, stick to it

This doesn’t have to be anything more elaborate than something like, Monday: Spaghetti and Meat Sauce. That’s the easy part. It’s the “stick to it” part that throws us off course so easily because there are so many options.

The secret here is to take control of your mind. Do not allow any room for doubt or alternatives like, “… if I feel like it,” or “…if we get home in time.” Don’t allow a thought like that to have a spot in your frontal lobe—the part of your brain that makes decisions.

Make it special

I’m the last person on earth to suggest we ban eating out altogether. But we all know that eating out too often removes much of the enjoyment. In fact, it becomes a pain to figure out, “Where shall we go this time?”

If you save eating out for special times like birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations, it will take on a new kind of joy. 

Make it better

The annoying temptation to eat out all of the time will melt away when you become such a fabulous cook that eating at home is faster, cheaper, and better than eating out. It’s that simple.

Make sauce!

The fastest way to get up to speed with making your own food at home faster and better is just one word: sauce.

A great sauce:  

  • makes food look better, which prompts even the pickiest eaters to dive in
  • makes food taste better than restaurant fare, which given my experience is not hard to do
  • makes meals cost less

You’ve already paid for the groceries so no worries about a big surprise on your next credit card statement, either.

Bonus:

A quick, delicious sauce is the best way to repurpose or even disguise leftovers.

Here for your culinary enjoyment are six of the best, easiest, and most scrumptious sauce recipes ever. These recipes could make all the difference to help you eat out less, enjoy eating at home more—and pocket the difference.

Note: You will find printable recipe cards for each of the six recipes that follow, when you scroll waaaay down.

One more thing

What are your best budget cooking tips? How do you eat healthy without spending a lot of money? Let us know in the comments below … and yes, waaay below after the recipe cards. Remember: Keep it brief, keep it positive, and skip the personal stuff.

 

Teriyaki Sauce

Perfect for chicken, over rice, and for dipping just about anything you can imagine.

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup mirin*
  • 1/4 cup Japanese cooking wine (sake)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar

In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the ingredients and allow to boil until the sauce reduces by half and thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Bring to room temperature before serving.

*Most supermarkets carry this as Kikkoman Manjo Aji Mirin Cooking Rice Wine in the Asian section of the store. Seasoned rice vinegar is a reasonable substitute.

All-Purpose Dipping Sauce

Walt’s Wharf is a famous seafood restaurant in Seal Beach, Calif., featuring grilled baby artichokes with this dipping sauce as its signature appetizer. Simply amazing. And equally awesome served alongside just about any vegetable—raw or steamed. Or drizzled over chicken, beef, or poultry!

  • 1/4 cup sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons season salt
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise

Combine with a whisk then keep chilled until use. Makes 2 cups. Serves 16 – 24. Or 2. It all depends.

 

Cilantro Cream Sauce

This delicious sauce can be used as a dip or as a sauce for artichokes, fish, or chicken. In fact, you could smear it on just about anything and experience a delicious heavenly bite.

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream
  • 1 (7-ounce) can tomatillo salsa
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Place everything in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl. Done.

Alfredo Sauce

Why spend $18 for a plate of pasta with Alfredo sauce at that restaurant down the street when you can make it yourself for about a buck per serving at home? This is the recipe you need to do that.

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 cups milk
  • 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Melt butter in a medium-size, nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk as necessary. Toss with hot pasta to serve. Serves 4-6

Marinara Sauce

This is it—the marinara sauce everyone loves, even the kiddos.

  • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans Italian stewed tomatoes
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup white wine

In a food processor place Italian stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt, sugar, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the finely chopped onion in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the blended tomato sauce and white wine. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Enchilada Sauce

This is the enchilada sauce that’s so delicious you’ll be tempted to take a bath in it. And yes it contains chocolate. Make it ahead as it stores well in the fridge.

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 5 tablespoons chili powder (mild or hot)
  • 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 square (1 ounce) semisweet chocolate

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onion until tender. Stir in garlic, oregano, cumin, and cinnamon; saute for a few minutes.

Stir in flour and chili powder, stirring until sauce thickens. Slowly whisk in chicken broth; reduce until sauce reaches desired consistency, about 20 mins (your mileage may vary). Stir in chocolate until melted and well blended. Use with your favorite enchilada recipe. Or my favorite

Teriyaki Sauce

Perfect for chicken, over rice, and for dipping just about anything you can imagine.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 6
Calories: 41kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup mirin SEE NOTES
  • ¼ cup Japanese cooking wine (sake)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 tbsp white sugar

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan over high medium high heat, combine the ingredients and allow to boil until the sauce reduces by half and thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes

Most supermarkets carry this as Kikkoman Manjo Aji Mirin Cooking Rice Wine in the Asian section of the store. Seasoned rice vinegar is a reasonable substitute.

Nutrition

Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 616mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

 

Set of various sauces. Popular sauces in bowls, top view, flat lay. Homemade sauces or dip.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

All-Purpose Dipping Sauce

Walt's Wharf is a famous seafood restaurant in Seal Beach, Calif., featuring grilled baby artichokes with this dipping sauce as its signature appetizer. Simply amazing. And equally awesome served alongside just about any vegetable—raw or steamed. Or drizzled over chicken, beef, or poultry!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Calories: 169kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup sesame oil
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tspn season salt
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Combine with a whisk then keep chilled until use. Makes 2 cups. Makes 2 cups. Serves 16 - 24. Or 2. It all depends.

Notes

Nutrition facts are "iffy." It's impossible to know how many this recipe will serve because, well, it's soo good! A reasonable serving would be 1/16th of the recipe. But there are no dipping sauce police!

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
Set of various sauces. Popular sauces in bowls, top view, flat lay. Homemade sauces or dip.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

Cilantro Cream Sauce

This delicious sauce can be used as a dip or as a sauce for artichokes, fish, or chicken. In fact, you could smear it on just about anything and experience a delicious heavenly bite.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 76kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp sour cream
  • 7 ounce can tomatillo salsa
  • 1 tspn freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tspn celery salt
  • ½ tspn ground cumin
  • 2 tspn garlic powder
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice

Instructions

  • Place everything in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl. Done. 

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 213mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
Set of various sauces. Popular sauces in bowls, top view, flat lay. Homemade sauces or dip.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

Alfredo Sauce

Why spend $18 for a plate of pasta with Alfredo sauce at that restaurant down the street when you can make it yourself for about a buck per serving at home? This is the recipe you need to do that.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6
Calories: 438kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 tspn garlic powder
  • 2 cups milk
  • 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
  • tspn ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a medium-size, nonstick saucepan over medium heat. 
  • Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. 
  • Add milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps.
  • Stir in Parmesan and pepper. 
  • Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. The sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk as necessary. 
  • Toss with hot pasta to serve. Serves 4-6

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1357IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 448mg | Iron: 1mg
Set of various sauces. Popular sauces in bowls, top view, flat lay. Homemade sauces or dip.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

Marinara Sauce

This is it—the marinara sauce everyone loves, even the kiddos.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time32 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8
Calories: 159kcal

Ingredients

  • 29 ounce Italian stewed tomatoes 2 (14.5 oz.) cans
  • 6 ounce can tomato paste 1 (6-oz.) can
  • 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tspn dried oregano
  • 1 tspn salt
  • 1 tbsp granulated white sugar
  • ¼ tspn ground black pepper
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • cup finely chopped onion
  • ½ cup white wine

Instructions

  • In a food processor place Italian stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt, sugar, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the finely chopped onion in olive oil for 2 minutes.
  • Add the blended tomato sauce and white wine.
  • Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over your favorite pasta, chicken, meatballs. Serves 8-10

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 446mg | Potassium: 463mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 672IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2mg
Set of various sauces. Popular sauces in bowls, top view, flat lay. Homemade sauces or dip.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4 from 2 votes

Enchilada Sauce

This is the enchilada sauce that’s so delicious you’ll be tempted to take a bath in it. And yes it contains chocolate. Make it ahead as it stores well in the fridge. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8
Calories: 69kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 3 tbsp chopped fresh garlic
  • 1 tspn dried oregano
  • 1 tspn ground cumin
  • ¼ tspn ground cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 5 tbsp chili powder mild or hot
  • 4 ½ cups chicken broth
  • ½ square semisweet chocolate

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Saute onion until tender
  • Stir in garlic, oregano, cumin, and cinnamon; saute for a few minutes.
  • Stir in flour and chili powder, stirring until sauce thickens. 
  • Slowly whisk in chicken broth; reduce until sauce reaches desired consistency, about 20 mins (your mileage may vary).
  • Stir in chocolate until melted and well blended.
  • Use with your favorite enchilada recipe. Or my favorite.

Nutrition

Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1490IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg
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3 replies
  1. Arthur Mantzouris says:

    I normally try to remember to defrost whatever I’m going to eat the day b4 n when I do that then it’s easy to eat at home. I also use a food saver to freeze my food so they last for a very long time.

    Reply
  2. Belle Mieloch says:

    I make 12 pints of spaghetti sauce in a stock pot. This costs about a $1. A pint. I cook enough boneless pork chops in the sauce for a meal these are very good. Sauce goes in the freezer just thaw and it is ready for a meal. I also double meals that I can freeze. After feeding 4 boys I learned to make extra of everything.

    Reply
  3. Cally Ross says:

    4 stars
    I have to try the enchilada sauce! I don’t like canned, it always tastes metallic to me. this sounds easy enough, AND contains chocolate! 🙂

    Reply

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