9 meals for $9.99 ... or less

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Despite what you see in TV ads, home cooking is still cheaper than eating out. Here are nine meal ideas to make it just as tasty, too.

WICHITA, Kan. _ We took the KFC challenge, and we didn't stop there.

A recent KFC commercial, in case you haven't seen it, challenged families to re-create a seven-piece fried chicken meal for $9.99, which is what the chain charges.

Our 8-piece fried chicken meal (side dish and biscuits included) cost just $7.82 to make at home. And that got us thinking about other great meals that would feed a family of four well for $10 or less.

We counted all ingredients _ including cooking oils, seasonings and condiments _ in figuring up the cost of these dinners. Your exact cost will depend on where, when and how you shop.

1) Fried chicken with baked beans and biscuits

Cut up a whole chicken. Roll pieces in flour seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika. Heat 1 inch vegetable oil in a heavy 10-inch skillet. Fry chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 20 to 25 minutes total.

Meanwhile, bake refrigerated biscuits according to package directions. Heat canned baked beans and serve with chicken and biscuits.

Our cost: $7.82

2) Creamy ham and beans with jalapeno corn bread

Use a fork to shred ˝ lb. ham steak. In a soup pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Saute 1 chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves until soft and fragrant. Add 2 cups chicken broth, 2 cans (drained) white northern beans and shredded ham. Simmer 20 minutes, mashing some of the beans with the fork.

Meanwhile, make 1 batch of corn bread according to directions, adding a chopped, seeded jalapeno to the batter before baking.

Our cost: $5.21

3) Italian pork roast with polenta

Make horizontal slice in 1 ˝-lb. pork roast. Open roast and stuff with 1/8 lb. sliced salami and 1/8 lb. sliced provolone from supermarket deli. Close up roast and rub all over with Italian seasoning and olive oil.

Wrap roast in aluminum foil and bake at 425 degrees about 30 minutes or until done. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile, prepare polenta or cornmeal mush according to package directions. Serve polenta dotted with butter.

Our cost: $8.70

4) Creole meat loaf with mashed potatoes

With your hands, mix 1 ˝ lbs. ground beef, 1 small chopped onion, 1 egg, 1 slice bread torn into pieces, and 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning. Place in loaf pan and bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.

During last 20 minutes of cooking, top with sauce made of ˝ cup ketchup, 1 clove minced garlic and 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning.

While meat loaf cooks, boil and mash 1˝ lbs. potatoes. Stir in milk, butter and salt to taste.

Our cost: $8.53

5) Tilapia with spicy mayo and coconut rice

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Bake 4 frozen tilapia filets (4 oz. each) for 12 to 14 minutes at 425 degrees. Mix several tablespoons mayonnaise with sirachi hot sauce (sold in Asian aisle of supermarket) to taste and brush over filets during last 6 or 7 minutes of cooking time.

Meanwhile, cook 1 ˝ cups instant rice in 1˝ cups chicken broth. Toast ˝ cup sweetened coconut flakes in a skillet and add to rice after it's cooked.

Cost: $7.71

6) Potato-pea tortilla with crescent rolls

Note: In Spain, tortilla refers to a kind of omelet.

In a large bowl, combine the contents of a 5-oz. package of instant three-cheese or au gratin potatoes, 8 lightly beaten eggs, 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Pour mixture into a well-greased 10-inch ovenproof, nonstick skillet. Place the skillet in a preheated 450-degree oven and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tortilla is browned and puffy.

Carefully remove from oven and let rest a minute before slicing and serving with crescent rolls.

Cost: $5.30

7) Sliders with onion rings

Cut eight dinner rolls in half horizontally to make mini-buns.

Form 1 lb. ground beef into eight round patties and cook as you would hamburgers, flattening them as you go. Top with half-slices of American cheese and place on buns with ketchup, mustard or other condiments.

Meanwhile, dust 2 large sliced onions with flour and fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Serve onion rings with sliders.

Cost: $8.45

8) Baked linguine with bacon and cheese, with green salad and garlic bread

Cook ˝ lb. linguine according to package directions; drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 5 slices cooked and crumbled bacon and Ľ cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Meanwhile, make white sauce by combining 2 tablespoons flour and 1 cup milk in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often, until thickened.

Put pasta in ovenproof dish, top with white sauce and sprinkle with Ľ cup more grated Parmesan cheese. Slide under a broiler and cook until bubbly and lightly browned.

Serve with green salad and garlic bread.

Source: Adapted from "Second Helpings of Roast Chicken" by Simon Hopkinson

Cost: $6.34

9) Black bean tostadas with Spanish rice

Spread 8 tostadas (deep-fried corn tortillas sold in Hispanic section of supermarket) with a layer of canned refried black beans. Top with 1 lb. cooked ground beef, lettuce, chopped onion, salsa and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes.

While tostadas cook, make instant Spanish rice according to package directions.

Our cost: $7.80

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© 2008, The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.).