Feeding a large family can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re trying to keep costs down. As a content creator at hudsonfamily.net and a mother myself, I understand the struggle of putting together meals that are both satisfying and affordable for everyone. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of my go-to cheap Meals For Big Families. These recipes are designed to be comforting, filling, and most importantly, easy on your wallet. Whether you’re cooking for kids or just looking for budget-conscious options, you’ll find this list incredibly helpful.
Having raised four children, I’ve learned firsthand how challenging it can be to manage dinner while sticking to a budget. Now that my daughter has two growing boys of her own, I’ve been sharing my arsenal of budget-friendly dinner recipes with her, and they’ve been a lifesaver.
With rising grocery prices, making every dollar count is more crucial than ever. The good news is that feeding your family affordably doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. Cheap meals for large families can be incredibly delicious, and some of our family’s favorite dinners are made from simple pantry staples that cost mere pennies per serving!
Why These Meals for Big Families are Perfect for You
- Budget-Conscious Ingredients: These recipes rely on affordable and pantry-friendly ingredients. Forget expensive cuts of meat or exotic spices!
- Adaptable and Flexible: Easy substitutions mean you can whip up dinner no matter what you have on hand in your pantry.
- Large Family Portions: These recipes are designed to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. Proving that a large family meal doesn’t have to be a costly one.
- Wholesome and Flavorful: Packed with nutritious and tasty ingredients, these meals are good for both your family and your budget.
- Quick and Easy Preparation: Perfect for busy weeknights when time is as precious as money. These recipes are straightforward and simple to prepare.
Cheap Family Meals to Satisfy Everyone
To ensure these dinner ideas are as budget-friendly as possible, I’ve focused on recipes with minimal meat and common, affordable ingredients. In my experience, meat, specialty sauces, and expensive spices often inflate grocery bills. These recipes prioritize simple, accessible ingredients to keep costs down.
This list starts with family-friendly casserole recipes, moves onto comforting soups, delicious pasta dishes, and finishes with even more creative and budget-conscious dinner ideas.
Cheap Casserole Recipes for Large Families
Close up of a cheesy Sloppy Joe Casserole in a baking dish, showcasing the melted cheese and savory filling.
My Kids’ Favorite Sloppy Joe Casserole
This casserole is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Made with budget-friendly ingredients and easy-to-make homemade sauce. If you’re looking to save on ground beef, you can easily substitute with ground turkey or chicken for an even cheaper option.
Check out this Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe
Ham and Potato Casserole
Transform leftover ham or deli ham into an unforgettable meal with this incredibly creamy and cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole. It’s a comforting and satisfying dish that’s surprisingly affordable.
Check out this Ham and Potato Casserole recipe
A portion of Stuffed Cabbage Casserole is scooped from a baking dish, highlighting the layers of cabbage, meat, and tomato sauce.
Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
Cabbage is an incredibly inexpensive and versatile vegetable, forming the base of this hearty and warming Stuffed Cabbage Casserole. Like other ground meat recipes, feel free to use any ground meat you have available, including higher fat ratios for extra flavor and moisture.
Check out this Stuffed Cabbage Casserole recipe
Quick, Easy, Cheesy Chicken Potato Casserole
Utilizing frozen hashbrowns, pre-cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great!), and a simple creamy sauce, this cracker-topped Chicken Potato Casserole is bursting with flavor. It’s a convenient and budget-friendly meal, especially when using rotisserie chicken to simplify prep.
Check out this Chicken Potato Casserole recipe
A serving of Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole on a plate with a fork, showcasing the golden brown tater tots and cheesy egg filling.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Start your day off right without breaking the bank with this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole. Perfect for feeding a large family with ease, this casserole combines frozen tater tots, simple seasonings, and your favorite breakfast sausage for a breakfast that’s both delicious and budget-friendly.
Check out this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole recipe
Cheap Soup Recipes Perfect for Big Families
Soups and stews are not only comforting and easy to make, often in just one pot, but they are also incredibly budget-friendly. Many soup recipes can be easily adapted to be vegan or vegetarian and are packed with vegetables, making them a healthy and affordable choice for family meals.
A bowl of creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup topped with pumpkin seeds, showcasing its vibrant color and smooth texture.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
When autumn rolls around, squash is often plentiful and inexpensive, making this Roasted Butternut Squash Soup an incredibly affordable and flavorful option. Its aromatic and delicious profile makes it a fall favorite that won’t break the bank.
Check out this Roasted Butternut Squash Soup recipe
Crockpot Vegetable Soup
Make the most of your frozen vegetables with this incredibly easy Crockpot Vegetable Soup. Simply toss everything in the slow cooker and forget about it! With staple vegetables, classic pantry spices, and a touch of tomato paste, you can create a rich and satisfying dinner for the whole family with minimal effort and cost.
Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup
A close-up of a bowl of Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup garnished with fresh limes, highlighting the rich broth and vibrant toppings.
This Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup is not only one of my most popular recipes but also incredibly budget-friendly. Creamy, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients that you can easily find canned or frozen, it’s a winner for both taste and affordability.
Check out this Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe
Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup
All you need is a bag of 15 Bean soup mix, some ham (optional), and a few extra vegetables and seasonings to create a hearty and flavorful Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup. The beans make it incredibly filling, making it a satisfying and economical meal for large families.
Crema being spooned over a bowl of Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup, adding a creamy swirl to the vibrant soup.
Cheap Pasta Recipes for Family Dinners
Pasta is a budget superstar! At most supermarkets, a large box of store-brand pasta is incredibly affordable and the perfect size for feeding a large family with leftovers to spare. These pasta dinner ideas utilize simple, inexpensive ingredients like eggs and tomato sauce to create delicious and family-filling noodle dishes.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Skip the boxed stuff and make this Homemade Hamburger Helper that is far more delicious and likely uses ingredients you already have in your pantry! Use your choice of ground meat to create a taco pasta that everyone in the family will love.
Check out this Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe
Tongs lifting a portion of creamy One-Pot Spaghetti from a bowl, showcasing the simple yet flavorful pasta dish.
Spaghetti in One Pot
Spaghetti is the quintessential cheap dinner classic, and this One-Pot Spaghetti recipe makes it even easier – and with less cleanup! Savory, creamy, and kid-friendly, this has become my absolute favorite way to prepare spaghetti. For added protein, consider using frozen meatballs for an easy addition.
Spaghetti Carbonara
For a dish that sounds fancy but is incredibly cheap and easy, look no further than Spaghetti Carbonara. With just parmesan cheese, eggs, peas, and bacon, you can create a rich and delicious pasta dish in no time at all. It’s surprisingly affordable and quick to prepare, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
Check out this Spaghetti Carbonara recipe
A plate of One-Pot Spaghetti garnished with parsley and cheese, served next to fresh bread, presenting a complete and comforting meal.
More Budget Dinner Ideas for Large Families
The beauty of cooking is the endless possibilities for creating great meals with simple ingredients. Here are a few more of my favorite budget-friendly dinner ideas that were a hit with my kids growing up, and even when they were in college!
Chicken Chili Recipe
This Chicken Chili Recipe is one of my most beloved and easiest recipes to make! Using shredded chicken, canned goods, and frozen vegetables, you can create a hearty and rich chili that everyone will want seconds (and thirds!) of.
Check out this Chicken Chili Recipe
A platter of vibrant Carnitas Tacos with various toppings, showcasing the flavorful pork and customizable taco experience.
Mouthwatering Carnitas Tacos
Tacos are a fantastic budget meal, and Carnitas Tacos are a top choice! Pork shoulder is often on sale at incredible discounts, and one cut of meat can feed your family for days. The versatility and flavor of carnitas make them a budget-friendly winner.
Check out this Carnitas Tacos recipe
Barbacoa Beef
Make incredible Barbacoa Beef using beef, or for an even cheaper option, use pork shoulder for equally delicious results at half the price! Just like carnitas, this versatile recipe can be used in countless ways – from tacos to bowls to sandwiches.
Check out this Barbacoa Beef recipe
A Pulled Pork sandwich piled high with coleslaw, showcasing the tender pork and flavorful toppings.
Pork Loin Pulled Pork
I love using pork loin for Pulled Pork, but you can easily substitute with pork shoulder or Boston butt – whichever is on sale! Pulled pork is incredibly versatile and can be served on nachos, pizza, rice, sandwiches, salads, and just about anything else you can imagine!
Check out this Pulled Pork recipe
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
This Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili was one of the first recipes I shared with my kids when they went off to college, and it has remained a staple for them ever since, even after they started their own families! The best part? Beyond adding spices, the entire process is simply dumping bags of frozen veggies and cans of beans and tomatoes into a slow cooker and turning it on. It’s incredibly easy and budget-friendly.
Check out this Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili recipe
Two white bowls filled with hearty Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili, garnished and ready to be served, emphasizing the ease of preparation with #SundaySupper.
Top Tips for Budget Meals for Large Families
- Embrace Store Brands: For many pantry staples like frozen vegetables, spices, and dried goods such as pasta, store brands offer the same quality as name brands at a significantly lower price.
- Frozen Vegetables are Your Secret Weapon: Perfect for chili, soup, and casseroles, frozen vegetables are convenient, long-lasting, and more affordable than fresh produce. Don’t worry about mushiness, as they cook beautifully in these dishes. My freezer is always stocked with frozen peas, corn, and spinach!
- Canned Goods are a Pantry Powerhouse: Stock up on canned tomato sauces, vegetables, and even meats. They are often more budget-friendly than fresh alternatives and cook up just as deliciously.
- Stock Up on Long-Lasting Vegetables on Sale: Garlic cloves, carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery are kitchen essentials used in countless recipes and can last for weeks in your fridge or pantry. (Quick Tip: Store onions and potatoes separately to prevent premature spoilage!)
- Minimize Beef-Based Protein: When cooking with ground beef, opt for higher fat ratios like 80/20. You can always drain excess fat, and these options are typically more affordable.
- Make Your Own Sauces: Bottled sauces can be expensive! Whenever possible, try making your own sauces at home. Many classic sauces can be easily recreated using pantry staples like soy sauce, honey, ketchup, and mustard.
- Shop Seasonally for Produce: Take advantage of seasonal produce sales. Squash like zucchini and eggplant are often heavily discounted during the summer, and root vegetables like sweet potatoes become incredibly cheap in the fall. Always buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season for the best flavor and prices.
- Bone-In Meat is Budget-Friendly: Meat with bones tends to be cheaper. Bone-in pork chops and chicken are often significantly less expensive than boneless cuts. Buy meat in bulk when it’s discounted and freeze for later use! This is why I even cut my own chicken wings to save money.
- Frozen Chicken is a Go-To: Frozen chicken is a fantastic resource – it lasts indefinitely, is often cheaper than fresh chicken, and surprisingly, can cook up even more tender and juicy.
- Dried Herbs are Your Friend: Use dried herbs as a cost-effective alternative to fresh herbs in almost all recipes. If you frequently use fresh herbs, consider growing your own herb garden in pots or cups for a continuous supply at a fraction of the cost.
- Explore my Kid-Friendly Easy Weeknight Dinners for Families for even more inspiration!
Budget-Friendly Recipe Ideas for Every Family
These recipes and tips are your starting point to creating delicious and affordable meals for your big family. Enjoy cooking and saving!
