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Spend With Pennies

4.9· 1,854 reviews
Average ratingExcellent
4.9/ 5

Based on 1,854 reviews

598%
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31%
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What reviewers say about Spend With Pennies

Generated with AI from 1,854 reviews on Trustburn · updated 2 days ago

Customers generally describe the recipes as simple, delicious, and family-approved, with many noting that the dishes are easy to prepare and reliable for weekly meal planning. Some users appreciate the flavor combinations and the convenience of the meal planning tools, while others have noted minor adjustments like tweaking seasoning or substituting ingredients to suit their tastes.
What does Spend With Pennies do?

Spend With Pennies is a recipe website that shares a wide range of home cooking ideas, including appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, soups, salads, desserts, dips, dressings, beverages, and breakfast options. The site organizes recipes by category and cooking method, covering slow cooker, Instant Pot, air fryer, casserole, and stovetop preparations. It also offers meal planning tools, free and premium meal plans, and a searchable recipe index.

Are there any complaints about Spend With Pennies?

The critical reviewers wrote that some recipes resulted in dry, tough, or flavorless meat, while others had issues with sauces turning thin and chalky or dishes remaining undercooked in the center. One reviewer also mentioned receiving a burnt meal that felt like a waste of time and money.

What do people say about Spend With Pennies outside Trustburn?

People outside Trustburn discuss the site's recipes in various online communities, noting that dishes like cowboy caviar are popular for being cheap, easy to make ahead, and crowd-pleasing. Users also share personal variations of recipes, such as using ground turkey for cabbage rolls or adjusting ingredients for meatloaf, and recommend starting with the site's favorite sections to learn good basics.

AI-generated from reviews on this page. Verify anything important with the company directly.

Bryan Arant
Reviews 1

I tried a recipe from Spend With Pennies tonight using ingredients I already had on hand. The instructions were easy to follow, and my daughter and I really enjoyed the dish. I might add some red pepper flakes next time for a bit of heat, though my four-year-old granddaughter probably wouldn’t have been a fan of that!

Beth
Reviews 1

Just tried the recipe from Spend With Pennies and it was a huge hit! Super simple to make and incredibly tasty. I used up a bunch of jalapenos from my garden, so I also threw in some cooked bacon for extra flavor. I’m already hopeful my plants will keep producing before the season wraps up so I can make this again. Thanks for sharing!

Angela
Reviews 1

Spending Thanksgiving in Canada meant keeping an eye on the budget, and at $50, a turkey was out of the question for just two people. My plan B, a roast, fell through when I realized I’d already bought lamb—classic mistake! So, I swung by my local corner store and grabbed some beef stew meat. Since I hadn’t had stew in ages, I figured it was the perfect alternative. I stumbled upon a recipe on Spend With Pennies and it turned out amazing. It was exactly the comfort food I needed, and it definitely put a smile on our faces. Thanks for saving the day!

Annette
Reviews 1

Spend With Pennies has a hit on its hands with this one. I’ve made it so many times it’s basically my go-to recipe, and my family gives it a perfect rating every single time. I usually double it because it’s such a rich, decadent treat. It’s genuinely perfect as written, so I never change a thing.

Grace Gower
Reviews 1

I whipped up this dish yesterday and stuck to the instructions precisely. I swapped in whole wheat noodles, used up some leftover sour cream (which I’d already mixed with ranch powder for dipping), and grated up some aged cheddar. The result? Easily the best Mac and Cheese I’ve ever had—even for a senior! My usually picky husband absolutely loved it. Although the package claims it serves eight, we only had two portions each after devouring half the crockpot last night.

Lucia
Reviews 1

My partner and I made this stew for dinner tonight, and it’s hands down the best I’ve ever tasted. I swapped in baby yellow potatoes and skipped the bouillon for a richer broth. We did run out of red wine, but it was still fantastic. I can’t wait to try making it again from Spend With Pennies.

Luana A Brown
Reviews 1

The flavors in this classic dish were spot on, especially with that optional kick from the chili sauce. Spend With Pennies really nailed the aroma—the whole house smelled amazing, and the excitement at the table before digging in was palpable. A truly delicious meal.

Maureen DeJonge
Reviews 1

As a new follower of Spend With Pennies, I decided to give their chicken spaghetti recipe a shot, and it definitely hit the mark. I slow-cooked chicken breasts in the crockpot on low for six hours, resulting in meat that was incredibly tender and moist. Using fire-roasted diced tomatoes really elevated the flavor profile. For the next batch, I’m planning to sauté some fresh mushrooms along with the onions and peppers to add another layer of taste.

Michelle
Reviews 1

This has been my go-to weekly staple for over a year! I like to keep it fresh by swapping in vegetables, usually adding bok choy right at the end. For a heartier version, I velvet the shrimp and add chicken. Finish with a dash of sriracha or sambal for that perfect amount of heat.

Andrea Brake
Reviews 1

We made the Spend With Pennies recipe exactly as written and the result was fantastic. The ingredient proportions were spot on. We finished the entire batch with zero leftovers, so I’ll definitely be doubling the recipe next time to ensure there’s enough for everyone.

Lisa
Reviews 1

I absolutely love the broccoli salad recipe from Spend With Pennies! I brought it to a dinner party and it was such a hit that everyone wanted to know where I got the recipe. The dish holds up really well when prepped ahead; I packed it in a sealed container and tossed it occasionally throughout the day before serving. I served the cranberries and nuts on the side so guests could customize their portions, which was a great touch. The cranberries really add a nice twist to the classic version. Thanks for sharing!

Treese
Reviews 1

I’ve been loving recipes from Spend With Pennies lately! I had some leftover pot roast and decided to whip up their beef and barley soup, and it was absolutely delicious. I doubled the batch in my Dutch Oven on the stovetop. The best part? It’s a true one-pot meal that comes together fast. The Worcestershire sauce and red wine really gave it a wonderful depth of flavor. Since I was out of dried thyme, I bundled some fresh thyme leaves, two bay leaves, and a sprig of rosemary in cheesecloth to infuse the soup, removing it before serving. It turned out so flavorful and comforting!

Jennifer Murphy
Reviews 1

I recently made a dish from Spend With Pennies and adapted the recipe using my pantry staples. I substituted half milk for the heavy cream and blended cheddar, Monterey Jack, and parmesan for a rich flavor. Finishing it with some leftover gluten-free breadcrumbs was the perfect touch. The result was absolutely delicious!

Justa Bita Feedback
Reviews 1

I was a bit thrown off by the recipe instructions for the noodles. The ingredient list calls for “3 cups,” which are noted to be approximately 6 ounces when measured dry, but the recipe notes state that just “1 cup” of dry egg noodles weighs about 6 ounces. That’s a big discrepancy! I went ahead and used six ounces as instructed and the dish turned out fine, but if I had actually tripled the amount to match the cup measurement, the dish probably would have ended up dry and bland.

Nancy Ferguson
Reviews 1

That cheesecake presentation is stunning. I am just curious about the source of the cherry topping in the photos. I’ve always found that canned varieties tend to lack flavor and consist mostly of a red syrup with very little actual fruit. Since I haven’t come across frozen tart cherries in my local grocery stores around here, I’d love to know where you get your ingredients.

Kerry
Reviews 1

The recipe from Spend With Pennies is a real winner. I followed the instructions and ended up with a delicious result. I added just a touch of salt on top to enhance the natural flavors, which I found made all the difference. If you’re not as obsessed with seasoning as I am, you can easily skip that step. I’ll definitely be making this again.

Nanajee Travels
Reviews 1

Spend With Pennies always delivers on practical inspiration, and this meatball recipe is a prime example. It’s incredibly straightforward to whip up, which makes it a lifesaver for those hectic evenings when you need a hearty meal without the fuss. Whether you’re serving them as a starter, tossing them with pasta, or packing them into sandwiches, this reliable recipe is a total must-have for your culinary repertoire.

Connie
Reviews 1

I really appreciate how flexible this egg bake recipe is from Spend With Pennies. It’s easy to customize based on what you have in the fridge, which helps keep the moisture just right. For this batch, I used sliced sausage links, grape tomatoes, green peppers, green onions, fresh Amish eggs, and evaporated milk, along with extra spices. I was glad to see no condensed soup in the ingredients, though I might swap the evaporated milk for cream next time. It’s a solid base for experimenting with add-ins like spinach or mushrooms—I just need a trip to the store first. Thanks for sharing!

Delicia
Reviews 1

This is hands down the best meatloaf I’ve tasted in ages, if not ever. It’s incredibly flavorful and stays so moist. I never thought to combine ketchup, chili sauce, and brown sugar for the glaze, but it works perfectly. This is definitely going into my regular rotation of go-to recipes.

Brooke
Reviews 1

I generally rely on Spend With Pennies for reliable meal ideas, but this particular dish fell flat for me. The flavor profile was pretty muted, so I double-checked the instructions to make sure I hadn't missed a step. It might need a splash of Worcestershire sauce or an extra dose of herbs to really shine.

Allison
Reviews 1

I really enjoyed how straightforward and tasty the flavors were. I swapped in a concentrated beef base from Sam’s Club for the stock and added a generous spoonful of Dijon mustard. The recipe worked perfectly with a standard 16-oz box of egg noodles. It’s a definite keeper—I’ll be making this at Spend With Pennies again soon.

Suzanne
Reviews 1

This beef barley recipe from Spend With Pennies is absolutely delicious! I made a huge batch and really enjoyed every bowl. I tweaked it slightly by using red and yellow peppers instead of green ones since that’s what I had on hand, and it turned out fantastic. Highly recommend giving it a try.

Vivian Ayuso-Sanchez
Reviews 1

I whipped up the recipe from Spend With Pennies tonight for a solo portion to test the waters. The base dish was delicious, and I even threw in some sautéed butternut squash which worked perfectly. I stuck to the original instructions but added a bit of oregano and regular paprika as recommended, and it turned out amazing. I’ll definitely be making this again.

Kim Venturo
Reviews 1

I tried this recipe for the first time tonight and it was absolutely fantastic. I swapped in some defrosted frozen corn for the fresh vegetable, but the result was just as good. It’s definitely going into my regular meal rotation now. Thanks for sharing this gem!

Denise
Reviews 1

I’m officially addicted to this banana cake from Spend With Pennies. It is hands down the best I’ve ever baked. The recipe is so simple that I was shocked to learn you can freeze the cake right out of the oven—I feel like I’ve unlocked a new kitchen hack! The flavor is absolutely incredible, which is why I’m constantly baking extras to share. My neighbors always thank me for dropping off a slice, and they love it just as much as I do. Truly delicious!

Patrick Leigl
Reviews 1

The taste was excellent and the texture was wonderfully smooth. I’ll definitely be using this recipe again with next year’s fresh tomatoes. Since I didn’t have an immersion blender, I relied on my Ninja blender and incorporated it into chicken broth. I also skipped the heavy cream. The tomato skins didn’t fully break down, so I used a slotted spoon to remove most of them.

sanderserika11@gmail.com
Reviews 1

The flavor profile was solid, but I had to adjust the cooking sequence since the onions and peppers require more time than the chicken. I also noticed a slight terminology mix-up with the "shells" reference; I simply grabbed some flour tortillas from my pantry to make it work.

Kathi
Reviews 1

We tried this recipe and it turned out fantastic. To get the best texture, I browned some cubed ribeye in the pressure cooker first, then pressure cooked it for 10 minutes using the meat setting until it was fall-apart tender. After that, I added the remaining ingredients and finished cooking it just like you would in a Dutch oven. Since we didn't have noodles or rice on hand, we served the beef over mashed potatoes instead. It was absolutely delicious—we’re definitely planning to make it over noodles next time. Thanks for sharing!

Denny Carlisle
Reviews 1

Spent half a century thinking the mayonnaise cake from my aunt Mary in Kansas was a unique family secret. Turns out, Spend With Pennies had the recipe right there on their site! I’m kicking myself for not discovering this gem sooner. The chocolate cake is just as good as I remembered, and it’s amazing how a random search led me back to those childhood memories.

Pamela Skinner
Reviews 1

Spend With Pennies delivers a genuinely comforting, hearty soup that serves as a fantastic blank canvas for customization. Since we have a pork allergy, I swap in smoked beef kielbasa to get that rich flavor boost. I also toss in diced potatoes along with the vegetables to give the broth a nice, thick consistency. It’s flavorful enough to enjoy right away, but the flavors really meld together and improve overnight if you can manage to resist eating it all on day one. Pairs perfectly with a warm slice of homemade cornbread or some crusty bread for a truly satisfying meal.

Kaitlynn
Reviews 1

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about this chili recipe being a huge step up from the usual. The sheer volume of 5-star reviews pulled me in, and honestly? It really is that delicious. I made it with ground turkey and swapped in canned green chilies for the jalapeno, plus I used a whole can of beer. The result was fantastic.

Becca
Reviews 1

I’ve seen some complaints about Betty’s timing and temperature instructions, but I’d ignore them. Every oven behaves a bit differently, so just use your best judgment and cook until it’s done. This recipe is fantastic on its own or as a solid base. I always add a touch of onion powder and Tony’s seasoning for a little extra kick, and we prefer our casseroles on the crispier side. In my oven, it works best baked at 350°F, covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 20. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe with Spend With Pennies!

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About Spend With Pennies

Spend With Pennies is a recipe website that shares a wide range of home cooking ideas, including appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, soups, salads, desserts, dips, dressings, beverages, and breakfast options. The site organizes recipes by category and cooking method, covering slow cooker, Instant Pot, air fryer, casserole, and stovetop preparations. It also offers meal planning tools, free and premium meal plans, and a searchable recipe index. The site is associated with Holly Nilsson and includes a cookbook offering as well as a photo use policy.