Chicken Taquitos with Refried Beans and Cheese:
One of our staple Friday night dinners that gives us a taste of eating out at home.
We added this to our meal line-up a year or so ago when the seasons changed and it started getting darker earlier; we were regularly going to Taco Time on Friday evenings to give me a night off from dishes, but since we like to eat in our car and enjoy watching the Walmart parking lot for entertainment, it becomes less fun in the dark.
So, we found a great at-home substitute thanks to Costco and we watch a movie instead.
Cost Breakdown & Savings:
- The taquitos cost $13.49 the last time we purchased a box in September 2022; the taquitos come 15 in a bag, with 2 bags in a box for a total of 30; we use half a bag in one meal, between 7 and 8 taquitos for both of us, so it takes us four meals to go through one box which is a month of Friday night dinners; using half a bag at a time, the cost breaks down to $3.38 for both of us for one meal.
- The organic refried beans come with 8 cans in a box at a cost of $10.89 the last time we purchased them in September 2022; we use one can in a meal and split it between us, which breaks down to $1.37 for the two of us.
- The cheddar cheese we last bought in May of 2022 and at that time it cost $8.99 for a 2.5lb block; I portion the cheese into eighths, wrap the portions in foil and vacuum seal them, which is why it lasts so long without going bad; the cost breaks down to $1.13 per eighth, and the amount we use with dinner isn't even half of an eighth, but I'll use that as a cost guesstimate which would be $0.57 for both of us.
- Not pictured are the Cokes we drink with the meal; a 35-pack purchased in September 2022 cost $14.79 and we each have one can which breaks down to $0.43 each, or $0.86 for both of us.
- The total cost of the meal based on the receipt prices ($3.38 taquitos + $1.37 beans + $0.57 cheese + $0.86 drinks) is $6.18 for both of us!
- My husband enjoys a little salsa with his meal, which we buy at the grocery store since it isn't used often; the last time we purchased salsa was September 2022 at a cost of $2.50 and it usually lasts between 5 or 6 meals; so, an extra $0.42 to $0.50 could be added to his meal, and it would still be under $7.00 for both of us.
- Compared to going out to eat at Taco Time once a week (or any other fast food place in our area) which now costs between $20 to $25 for both of us depending on what we order; we save between $13 and $18 in a week ($52 to $72 in a month; $676 to $936 in a year!), not including the gas it costs to go out, by staying home on Friday nights to enjoy dinner from Costco!
Preparation & Clean-Up:
I prepare the taquitos on the air fry setting in our Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven; they take 9 minutes at 350 degrees.
I prepare the beans on the stove top in a pan while the taquitos are in the air fry oven; it doesn't take long and everything is ready when my husband is done cleaning up after work.
I don't use the big tray that came with the Ninja Foodi for the taquitos anymore; I use another smaller tray and rack from the toaster oven we had that was replaced by the Ninja Foodi.
Post-dinner clean-up is fairly easy although it takes more time than preparing the meal; clean-up includes: the pan for the beans, two plates, two bean bowls, a salsa bowl, silverware and utensils, and the oven tray/rack; all hand-washed, dried, and put away that night except the tray/rack that I prefer to air dry overnight.
Products & Links:
El Monterey Mexican Grill Taquitos, Chicken & Cheese
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