Big Flavor on a Small Budget

People think they have to spend a lot of money to have a dish loaded with flavor. This couldn't be further from the truth. There are so many great ways to add tons of flavor without spending a lot of money. Whether it's a compound butter or blue cheese, you can get big flavor on a small budget.

1. Compound Butter

A compound butter is so easy to make, but it adds great flavor to everything from a steak to a chicken breast. To make compound butter, all you need to do is let a stick of salted butter soften. Once softened, stir in your favorite herbs, cheeses, or spices. Place the butter back in the refrigerator in an airtight container. For example, make a compound butter using blue cheese crumbles and chopped chives for a great compound butter for an inexpensive sirloin steak.

2. Chicken Broth

Do your vegetables or potatoes taste bland? An easy solution is to replace the water for chicken broth. Chicken broth adds so much flavor to everything from green beans to mashed potatoes. For example, the next time you boil potatoes for mashing, use chicken broth, salt, and pepper. You'll need less salt than normal because the broth has salt. The broth will add so much flavor to the potatoes.

3. Blue Cheese

Blue cheese may seem expensive, but once you realize how little you have to use, you'll discover it's a great flavor booster for your budget. Blue cheese is great on burgers, it can be stuffed inside chicken breasts, makes a great compound butter, and is a great topping for salads.

4. Fresh Citrus

Limes, oranges, and lemons can all be used to add big flavor to your meals. Best of all, they are a great way to add flavor without adding any fat. Try sprinkling chicken breasts with chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper and grilling. Squirt on some lime juice before serving and you've got a delicious Mexican-style chicken dish that was affordable and super flavorful.

5. Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs are something you can spend very little one, if you grow them yourself. Try growing chives, dill, parsley, and any other fresh herb you enjoy. You'll get tons and tons of herbs for literally pennies. This is a huge savings off what you'll pay at the grocery store.

6. Heavy Cream

Last, but not least, heavy cream may be what your mashed potatoes have been missing. After boiling in chicken broth, mash your potatoes with heavy cream, butter, and salt and pepper for the best mashed potatoes. Heavy cream adds tons of great flavor.

Flavorful meals don't have to be expensive. With these simple, inexpensive ingredients, you can add big flavor to your meals. Whether it's heavy cream or fresh herbs, you can get big flavor on a small budget.