Feeding My Family a Gourmet Meal for Under $25

[@ChefBillyParisi]

The thing I've come to learn about shopping at grocery stores and trust me I've been to quite a few is that the ones that are pricier seem to have better quality ingredients and in 100% of the case last longer, especially with fresh produce and protein. My guess is, that these stores must get first pick at whatever comes in and then pays a premium for it which is why it can be pricier in these stores. With that being said, if I know I can eliminate grocery store runs and extend the life of what I buy, then I think it's a net win for me. All these folks on here telling me where to shop can honestly just take what I made and purchase it from their favorite store and heck I hope they save even MORE money doing it. My goal is to help YOU save money and make a nice fine dining meal. Where I shop to get the food I want should be irrelevant. Rant over...

[@SuzanneBaruch]

No actually -- believe it or not -- Walmart requires its suppliers to give it "first pick" at the lowest price they sell to any other store or restaurant. I think people often denigrate Walmart (sometimes for good reason), but their produce isn't bad at all. I think you'd have spent significantly less if you'd have shopped there and you wouldn't have noticed any difference in taste.

[@evelinholmes6401]

$25.00 for a meal is still expensive. I have to go much lower than that. You multiple that $ 25.00 over 30.00 days and you spent $750.00 per month.

[@JessPoetics178]

Now I feel bad for my joke. Lol

[@nicolesy]

I wish I had a Whole Foods near my house! I wouldn’t shop there for *everything*, but it’s nice when you need ingredients you can’t find elsewhere. However, I’ve been doing great (saving $$ and making really good meals) just by shopping at WinCo 😁.

[@merseltzer]

I rarely ever shop at Whole Foods. The have always been over the top expensive.

[@lehhan5056]

I think everyone is going to love this video. In this environment is getting hard and harder to feed a family on a budget.

[@JoshTheCipher]

Definitely, and seeing how to elevate those "special" supermarket grabs is how my wife and I make the weeks slow down because GOOD FOOD makes nights memorable. "YEAH, Mom made those fried pickles that day!" Vibes. Really appreciate this format.

[@businessoffice4964]

Thanks Biden administration

[@amyoung101]

I love that you keep making content for us “regular families” on budgets for time or money. You make creating wonderful food accessible! Thank you 🥰

[@PattyDooley]

I shop on budget all the time. After awhile, you learn how to stretch things. Like basil, I grow it in the summer, chop it and blend with olive oil. Then pop that into ice cube trays, freeze, pop out and put into freezer containers. Then during winter I take a few out and add to sauces, casseroles or wherever I want that flavor. Works great.

[@oliviatheresa]

Love this!!! Thanks for sharing 👍 😊

[@PattyDooley]

@@oliviatheresa you're welcome! I do a ton of stuff. Lol . I do a low salt diet, so instead of fancy Italian sauage, I take 1 lb. Of ground pork, season it just like the sausage. Set covered in fridge for a couple of hours. Then take out and cook with it. Tastes just like the other but with WAY less salt.

[@oliviatheresa]

@@PattyDooley Wow I like that sounds great!!! I am always trying to make sure I don't eat a lot of salt so that is a great idea as well!🙂

[@horaliarn]

Loved this video! Please make some more like these, with everything so expensive it's nice to get ideas when feeding family. I also liked that you didn't edit out using a whisk when making the butter for the bread, keeps it real!

[@gmarie1395]

I loved this video and would love to see more videos about how to shop on a budget. That's something I have been struggling with lately. Thank you for sharing this!

[@lisahidlay4563]

Ok...so...I just ate a sandwich and I am hungry after watching this video. This looks amazing! Actually I don't think shopping at Whole Foods was so terrible... actually it proved that with those cooking techniques you can shop just about anywhere and pull a great meal together without breaking the bank. Love it... keep em coming Chef!

[@anitraahrens905]

Here's a suggestion: either download a calculator app for your cellphone to keep track of how much your spending, OR buy a cheap handheld calculator at a dollar store. I hope your garden will give you an abundance of vegetables and herbs to help with your food budget. As always, I love your recipes and cooking tips. Take care!

[@Fupachu]

Love how you didn't budge on the 25$ limit. Kudos

[@kaminidandapani9047]

Fantastic video, as always. Is that your daughter? She is absolutely adorable!! What a lovely smile she has!

[@chrishewitt4220]

Thanks Chef... loving these videos! Easy to follow and always educational.

[@schriemontague1970]

I love this content from start to finish. I hope to see more videos like this .

[@glorimarperez5819]

I regularly watch your channel and this video is exactly what I needed to see. We definitely need more ideas to cook budget minded family meals. Thank you so much for your effort and terrific videos!!!

[@mariavictoriaboscan1060]

Just discovered your channel and I’m binging ! So cool to see all the techniques and the use you give to each ingredient and how you elevate it without using a lot!

[@garyhostetler3800]

Great video. Hope to see more of these.

[@KrispyKremePies]

Whole Foods is always the most expensive but you got that KZbin money so I understand haha. Love the vids, and your garden!

[@chantalpuissant3960]

Thank you chef, this is an awesome series

[@richardp1471]

Absolutely beautiful dish thx for sharing this recipe 👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@88herbie]

I would love to see more of these! Feeding a family under $25 is great!

[@dianed2448]

Love and appreciate this video. We get to shops with Chef Billy. Thank you for helping us to shop on a budget. Pasta looks delicious! Hope everyone has an amazing day. :)

[@chrismaclean9735]

This is an incredible idea. I hope this goes viral so you do more !

[@charlesst-hilaire1420]

Holy cow! Cheap cooking wine in canada is 10-15$ Love your videos always get some great recipes from you!

[@ST-bm6sw]

Great video! Simple but you take the time to bring out the very best flavor in all the ingredients. Thank you!

[@looper451]

Best chef on youtube

[@Stan_L]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@valeriebrown4769]

Absolutely spectacular Chef Billy. I can smell the food coming out of my iPad. As always, many thanks, another winner.

[@Garapetsa]

Fyi: cheese/cheese related products will be hard to find folks. The FDA shut down major factory in Wisconsin and Kansas. You'll see high demand for imported cheese which will be way over priced. I suggest maybe a video on making cheese.

[@denisegaylord382]

I get that you live in an upscale area of Chicago, but when food prices skyrocket many of us frugal shoppers chose other options to shop at. Case in point, I have an Aldi's and a United Grocers Outlet near me. Between the two of them, they get the bulk of my shopping dollars. We have several upscale grocery stores in our area, but I rarely if ever use them because they are upwards of 25 to 50% higher in cost to start off with. Additionally, many great buys can be had from unlikely sources; Walmart and Big Lots! Yes you read that right. Walmart typically has fresh items that I can not get at Aldi's, but Big Lots! has dry goods galore from snacks, to flours and oils, to four and soup bases. These designer grocery stores make you pay for the privilege of shopping there. I also grow some things myself when I can, and try to support local growers. I imagine there is a farmers market near you Billy. I'd love to see what you can get there to make a dinner with, as a contrast to the Whole Foods Market.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

I don’t live in Chicago. WF was the only grocery store in the area that let me film in their stores.

[@denisegaylord382]

@@ChefBillyParisi sorry, my mistake on your location. The surrounding back ground looks a lot like the 'burbs of chicago, ☺️ sorry for that. Really, WF is the only one? Wow. You would think others would want a little bit of advertising (even if it was just the "background"). Hmm learn something new every day...

[@marefisher6462]

Thanks and God bless you.

[@yolandavaldez5256]

Mr.P I really enjoyed going shopping with you it was fun , and your meal looked delicious I will make it thank you and May God Bless 🙏

[@belleandy183]

These are amazing videos! Been trying to meal prep plus at the same time save some money.. these are so helpful.. please continue making them ☺️

[@wmbrice]

Great job, Chef! That looks terrific

[@tstevens6554]

I love these videos because I gripe about the dollars spent every time I go to the grocery store. This is one of the biggest factors I weigh when I vote no matter if it’s local, state or national.

[@beachydayz]

Looks delicious. Love pasta and make it quite often. Simple, tasty recipe on a budget. Thank you for sharing 💕🇨🇦

[@connieory7024]

Looks delicious! I'd love to see more budget friendly gourmet meals👍

[@CDDae-ew7gg]

Please make a series of these videos

[@realrussclarke]

Really enjoy your videos Chef

[@parkerolson4509]

I love budget meal videos!

[@candywong4697]

Thanks for your sharing and I from Hong Kong

[@joeyfitzpatrickfishing]

Looks awesome! Def looks like a dish my kids would love too 🤙🏽

[@COGirl444]

Hard to be on a budget at Whole Foods. We always call it Whole Paycheck. 🤣

[@ChefBillyParisi]

I’ll tell you like I did and all the other comments that say this, it is incredibly difficult to be able to shoot indoors at any of these places and get approval. Whole Foods agreed to do it which is why I even made this video.

[@hablin1]

Made your stuffed pasta shells Sunday …….. fantastic everyone was blown away 👍👍👍👍🥰❤️

[@vonniek347]

Great video!

[@sonickhalid325]

Thanks for all the video sir 😇

[@michaellewisguitarlessons6505]

Great channel. Love the videos.

[@sonickhalid325]

Thanks for the sharing with US sir From Philippines

[@trivialone11]

Made this tonight. Used Italian chicken sausage and we like a little heat in our pasta added a habanero pepper half in the Sause with the onions & garlic the other half on one side of the garlic bread. $27.

[@icommenttoplay1301]

That garlic bread looks magificent!! 🤌 I can't wait to try the pasta recipe!

[@ddallmann1373]

Something that isn’t discussed here is cost vs # calories. pasta, fats in the meat, cheeses, butter, bread. If anything this could probably stretch further than people think if it didn’t taste so damn good.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

Good point

[@Sky_moondance]

Well done! I wish food was that cheap in Canada from whole foods.

[@sl0523]

Location is NYC, a two person household. Yet we run a $20 budget per meal, cooking at home though. lol

[@JessPoetics178]

First problem. You went to a whole foods. Lol Great vid chef!

[@ludan8984]

Love it!

[@zachzockoll3450]

Relatively new to the channel. Loving the videos but one thing i think would be helpful for us viewers is you often near the end of the video say a phrase like "fundamental cooking techniques" but then listing the 2-3 specific things you thought are key takeaways from the video as far as techniques goes would be a useful review that wouldnt take too long to mention in that phase. Thanks for the good videos

[@nastynate46]

Budget food or no, I just made this for lunch and it's delicious. I didn't have broccolini, but I did have some baby bella mushrooms so I threw those in instead. This is going into the rotation for my family.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

Nice!

[@johnmcginn7102]

Great dish chef! Btw am I seeing things? You're going old school on us. No garlic press? Lol

[@ChefBillyParisi]

😂😂 I don’t know what’s gotten into me!

[@chadroehrick]

My mouth is watering...

[@michaelad48]

YUMMMM YES PLEASE LOOKS SOOOOOOO DELISH

[@sheteg1]

This is just what people need right now. ! I made a beef Wellington for 4 last week with veg & a tiramisu. Cost me $130 for ingredients ouch !

[@evelyngrammar]

It's a great meal; however, times 7 days = $175. Add breakfast, lunch, toilet paper - you get the picture. It is hard to feed families these days.

[@brucetominello325]

TRy shopping in a different store. Whole Foods is not known for their prices. I shop there for specialty items, otherwise Safeway/Albertsons’ or one of the Kroger Grocery sores.

[@jonathanmorris9519]

Billy please teach me how to cook the perfect waffle

[@danielmargolis3210]

Food is expensive and Whole Foods is a wonderful store, but usually pricier than other stores.

[@nathanbenton2051]

dang that whole foods is STOCKED. always fun goin there

[@shameermulji]

This recipe is epic

[@lylerobinson3515]

if budget was $30 would you add more cheese and maybe mushroom?

[@sarabaghaei5056]

Billy, there is no tax on food items. Unless New York is different?🤔

[@synthlady101]

Your challenge would have been far easier if you would have choose to shop anywhere else but Whole Foods. I don't think other markets charge taxes for food items either. Anyway, I'm still very interested to see what you can do with a budget meal. Going to keep watching....

[@ChefBillyParisi]

Trust me no matter where I shop, the challenge isn’t easy. And again as I’ve stated on other comments a lot of grocery stores will not let you film in there, but Whole Foods gave me the OK to do it so that was a big reason why I went there.

[@YouTube_can_ESAD]

“…shop anywhere else but Whole Foods. I don’t think other markets charge taxes for food items either.” Are you f’n serious about only Whole Foods charges taxes- wow!! You really have ZERO awareness.. lol!! 🤫👉🏽🤡

[@magicalmystery1964]

The reason you were having problems is you have to sacrifice top quality. You can’t get San Marzano. You have to get generic or store brand. That is the reality of a budget.

[@armyrabb1]

Well, you’re definitely not shopping at Walmart like us poorer folk do, but the prices there are still outrageous, compared to a year or so ago.

[@janielewis1475]

You could save money by not shopping at Whole Foods.

[@heersyal2454]

Better budgeting might have been achieved by shopping at a store other than over-priced Whole Foods! I would have first looked at my local market, even local shops. I'm abit confused here ...

[@ChefBillyParisi]

Cool, go ask them for approval to film in them since WF was the only one to get back to me with an ok.

[@juneservant34]

No tax on food so far that is

[@petetrotta182]

You take a spill on your bike?

[@DMS3-sv9oi]

Try Walmart instead of Whole Foods? Just a thought........

[@christinehoolihan7433]

He is shopping at the wrong store if he is on a budget.

[@sandicook10]

I know he had to get permission to film in the store. for us watching we can shop at other places and make this meal even more affordable...

[@shellycarter155]

Kids and teens film TikTok vids all over Walmart and target with no issues or approval! He’s filming himself and no one else. Hence, no permission required! Feel free to do you! He has NO responsibility nor requirements for you to shop at his unnamed store! Geesh!!!!!

[@penelopelavender248]

Look for a (super king) cheaper there

[@jfk1998]

Whole foods=whole paycheck

[@michaelcrowl169]

couldn't you have made the pasta and saved? I know store bought saves time.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

I believe I said that in the video.

[@Ladythyme]

This looks scrumptious but I do have to say….it’s not so much what you are buying as opposed to where you are buying it and I’m almost certain that shopping at Whole Foods is in no way a place to save money 😳. I for one stay away from there at all cost :0/… I opt for Farmer’s Markets mostly…ALDIs is a great option as well….

[@ChefBillyParisi]

You do you.

[@madro5755]

Love the Channel, but.... going to Wholefoods with $25?. Aldi is the place to go.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

Cool you want to call them and see if they’ll give me approval to shoot video in there, because they never got back to me.

[@madro5755]

@@ChefBillyParisi I got you! Which one you want me to call. I will use my european charm.

[@richardsmith9309]

Tip to stay under $25. Skip Whole Foods.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

It’s about much more than that, it’s hard to get approval to film in a lot of grocery stores believe it or not and they gave me the nod to do it.

[@richardsmith9309]

@@ChefBillyParisi You have an excellent channel. I am doing this recipe tonight - looks delicious. And I always have your Pomodoro sauce in the fridge. My comment was really intended to mock Whole Foods (Amazon) as an over-priced grocery store. It's too bad the other stores are so short-sighted.

[@yvesklay7929]

I love the meal but like in every other "cheaper than a restaurant" video you forgot to add opportunity costs. While they are not easy to calculate and differ for each individual, I think they still need to be considerd. Anyway, keep up the delicious work!

[@ChefBillyParisi]

Opportunity as in someone not wanting to take 40 minutes to prepare a meal?

[@yvesklay7929]

@@ChefBillyParisi Yes, this would be an example. As someone who loves and knows how to cook this is a small effort, while for someone it maybe isn't.

[@nickhenderson6246]

Hay hay don’t scrimp on ingredients just don’t invite the family

[@Garapetsa]

I do this every day. People pay fortunes for someone else to get and make food. My problem today is finding food at affordable price. Just made Philly cheese steak .. couldn't afford beef.wt? I used pork. It came out ok.

[@ChefBillyParisi]

I totally get it, I certainly hope things flip around soon.

[@Garapetsa]

@@ChefBillyParisi I don't think they will soon. I'm an old economist. Went to U of Chicago. Milton Friedman was one of my profs. Billy...you won't find affordable food in Chicago. You add high gas/electric plus food expense, you will be forced to shut down shop. It's what they want. It's a deliberate depression created by dem Marxist policy. I say it as I see it. Sad

[@melissacreamer8288]

I wonder how much more he could have gotten if he had shopped at Walmart. Aldi or even Trader Joes instead of Whole Foods (aka whole paycheck). Secondly he could have made that bread at home. Basic Italian bread is flour, olive oil, water, yeast and salt. He has a stand mixer and I know from other videos he has a dough hook. Could have gotten that wine if you made the bread at home.