Feeding a large family can feel like a daunting task, especially when trying to keep costs down. As someone who has cooked for a big family for years, I understand the challenge of creating meals that are both satisfying and affordable. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of my favorite cheap meals perfect 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-friendly options, this collection of recipes is for you.
Having raised four children, I’m well-acquainted with the balancing act of putting dinner on the table while sticking to a budget. Now that my daughter has children of her own, I’ve been sharing my go-to budget-friendly dinner strategies with her as well.
With rising grocery prices, stretching every dollar is more critical than ever. The good news is that feeding your family affordably doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. Cheap meals for big families can be incredibly delicious. In fact, some of our family’s most loved meals are made from simple pantry staples that cost mere pennies per serving!
Why These Easy and Cheap Meals for Big Families Are Perfect
- Budget-Friendly Ingredients: These recipes rely on ingredients that are kind to your wallet and likely already in your pantry. Forget expensive cuts of meat or exotic spices!
- Adaptable Recipes: Easy substitutions are key! You can adapt these meals based on what you already have on hand, minimizing extra grocery trips.
- Large Family Portions: These recipes are designed with big families in mind. Feeding a crowd doesn’t have to mean blowing your budget.
- Flavorful and Wholesome: Enjoy meals packed with flavor and good-for-you ingredients. You can feel good about serving these dinners to your family, and your bank account will thank you too.
- Quick and Easy Preparation: When you’re watching your spending, time is often also a precious commodity. These recipes are perfect for busy weeknights, getting dinner on the table without a fuss.
Deliciously Cheap Family Meal Ideas
To maximize your budget, these cheap dinner ideas emphasize limited meat and common, affordable ingredients. Meat, specialty sauces, and expensive spices often drive up grocery costs. These recipes prioritize simple, budget-conscious ingredients to keep your spending in check.
We’ll start with family-sized casserole recipes, move on to soups and stews, explore pasta dishes, and finally, present more budget-friendly dinner ideas to round out your meal planning.
Budget-Conscious Casserole Recipes
Close up of a cheesy Sloppy Joe Casserole in a baking dish, showcasing the melted cheese and saucy filling.
My Kids’ Favorite Sloppy Joe Casserole
This casserole is made with inexpensive, readily available ingredients, and the recipe includes instructions for a homemade sauce that’s far better than store-bought versions. If you’re looking to reduce the cost even further, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
Check out this recipe
Ham and Potato Casserole
This incredibly tasty, cheesy casserole is a fantastic way to use leftover ham or inexpensive deli ham. The simple cheese sauce brings it all together for a comforting and memorable meal.
Check out this recipe
Close up of a Stuffed Cabbage Casserole in a white baking dish, with a serving spoon, highlighting the layers of cabbage and ground meat.
Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
Cabbage is an incredibly affordable vegetable and forms the base of this hearty and satisfying casserole. Like many ground beef recipes, you can easily swap in any ground meat you have on hand. Using a higher fat content ground meat can also work well in this recipe, adding extra flavor and moisture.
Check out this recipe
Quick, Easy, Cheesy Chicken Potato Casserole
Frozen hash browns, shredded chicken, and a simple creamy sauce make this cracker-topped casserole a flavorful and budget-friendly meal. Using rotisserie chicken makes it even easier and quicker to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights.
Check out this recipe
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole on a white plate with a silver fork, showcasing the golden brown tater tots and cheesy egg filling.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
This breakfast casserole is the ideal budget-friendly option for feeding a large family in the morning. Frozen tater tots, simple seasonings, and your favorite breakfast sausage combine to create a casserole that’s both delicious and easy on the wallet. It’s perfect for weekend brunches or even a fun dinner!
Check out this recipe
Cheap and Filling Soup Recipes
Soups and stews are naturally cozy, comforting, and easy to make, often requiring only one pot. They are also incredibly versatile and can easily be made vegan or vegetarian. With a focus on vegetables, soups are a fantastic way to create budget meals that are also healthy and nutritious for your family.
Bowl of Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with pumpkin seeds on top, highlighting the vibrant orange color and creamy texture.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash is often very affordable, especially during the autumn months, making this flavorful and aromatic soup a remarkably cheap meal. Roasting the squash enhances its natural sweetness and adds depth of flavor to this simple soup.
Check out this recipe
Crockpot Vegetable Soup
Utilize your frozen vegetables to their fullest potential with this simple, flavorful, and hands-off crockpot soup. With staple vegetables, classic pantry spices, and a touch of tomato paste, you can create a rich and satisfying dinner that everyone will enjoy. The slow cooker does all the work!
Close up of a bowl of Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup with fresh limes and tortilla strips, showcasing the creamy broth and shredded chicken.
Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup
This recipe is a reader favorite and surprisingly budget-friendly! It’s rich, creamy, and made with easy-to-find ingredients, many of which can be purchased canned or frozen for extra savings and convenience.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup
A bag of 15 bean soup mix is incredibly inexpensive and forms the hearty base of this flavorful soup. Add some ham, extra vegetables, and simple seasonings to create a soup that’s both delicious and incredibly filling. The beans provide protein and fiber, making it a satisfying and nutritious meal.
Close up shot of Crema being spooned over a bowl of Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup, showing the creamy texture and garnishes.
Affordable Pasta Recipes for Families
Pasta is a pantry staple that’s incredibly budget-friendly. A large box of store-brand pasta can cost as little as $1 and is enough to feed a large family with leftovers! These pasta dinner ideas use simple, inexpensive ingredients like eggs and tomato sauce to create delicious, family-filling meals that won’t break the bank.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Skip the boxed mixes and make your own hamburger helper at home! This homemade version is far tastier and likely uses ingredients you already have in your pantry. Use your choice of ground meat to create a taco pasta dish that the whole family will love.
Check out this recipe
Tongs lifting spaghetti from a white bowl, showcasing the saucy and flavorful pasta.
One-Pot Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a classic cheap dinner for a reason! This one-pot recipe makes it even easier, minimizing dishes and maximizing flavor. Savory, creamy, and kid-friendly, this has become a favorite way to prepare spaghetti. For added protein, consider using frozen meatballs, another budget-friendly option.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Despite sounding fancy, Spaghetti Carbonara is incredibly cheap and easy to make. With just parmesan cheese, eggs, peas, and bacon, you can create a rich and delicious pasta dish in no time. It’s a surprisingly elegant meal made with simple, affordable ingredients.
Check out this recipe
Plate of One-Pot Spaghetti garnished with parsley and cheese, next to a slice of fresh bread, showcasing a complete and appetizing meal.
More Budget Dinner Ideas for Big Families
The beauty of home cooking is the endless possibilities for creating delicious meals with simple, affordable ingredients. Here are more of my family’s favorite budget dinners. These were hits when my kids were growing up and remained staples even when they were in college and looking for cheap and easy meals.
Chicken Chili Recipe
This chicken chili recipe is a long-time favorite and incredibly easy to prepare. Shredded chicken, canned goods, and frozen vegetables combine to create a hearty and flavorful chili that’s perfect for a chilly evening.
Check out this recipe
Platter of Carnitas Tacos with various toppings like cilantro, onions, and limes, showcasing a vibrant and flavorful taco meal.
Mouthwatering Carnitas Tacos
Tacos are a go-to budget meal in our house, and carnitas tacos are a particular favorite! Pork shoulder is often very affordable when on sale, and one roast can feed a large family for multiple meals. Carnitas are incredibly versatile and delicious.
Check out this recipe
Barbacoa Beef
This incredible barbacoa can be made with beef, but for a more budget-friendly option, pork shoulder works just as well and often costs significantly less. Like carnitas, barbacoa is incredibly versatile and can be used in tacos, burritos, bowls, and more.
Check out this recipe
Pulled pork sandwich piled high with coleslaw on a brioche bun, showcasing a classic and satisfying pulled pork meal.
Pork Loin Pulled Pork
Pork loin is a great choice for pulled pork, but pork shoulder or Boston butt work equally well and are often more budget-friendly, especially when on sale. Pulled pork is incredibly versatile – serve it on nachos, pizza, rice, sandwiches, salads, or just about anything else you can imagine!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
This recipe was one of the first I shared with my kids when they went off to college, and it has remained a staple for them ever since. The best part is its simplicity – just dump frozen vegetables, canned beans and tomatoes, and spices into a slow cooker and let it cook. It’s a healthy, hearty, and incredibly easy meal.
Check out this recipe
Two white bowls of Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili, showcasing the hearty texture and colorful vegetables.
Tips on Making Budget Meals for Large Families Even Cheaper
- Embrace Store Brands: For many staples like frozen vegetables, spices, and dried goods such as pasta, store brands offer the same quality as name brands at a fraction of the price.
- Frozen Vegetables are Your Ally: Frozen vegetables are perfect for chili, soups, and casseroles. They’re just as nutritious as fresh, cook perfectly in long-simmering dishes, and last practically forever in the freezer. Stock up on frozen peas, corn, and spinach – they are incredibly versatile.
- Canned Goods are Convenient and Affordable: Canned tomatoes, vegetables, and even meats can be significantly cheaper than fresh alternatives and work wonderfully in many recipes. Keep a well-stocked pantry of canned goods for budget-friendly meal creation.
- Stock Up on Long-Lasting Vegetables: When garlic, carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery are on sale, buy in bulk. These vegetables are used in countless recipes and store well for weeks in the refrigerator or pantry. (Pro-tip: Store onions and potatoes separately to prevent spoilage.)
- Reduce Beef Consumption: Beef is often the most expensive protein. Explore chicken, pork, or vegetarian options to lower your grocery bill. When using ground beef, consider higher fat ratios like 80/20, as they are often more affordable. You can always drain excess fat after cooking.
- Make Your Own Sauces: Bottled sauces can be surprisingly expensive. Many classic sauces are easily made at home with pantry staples like soy sauce, honey, ketchup, and mustard. Making your own sauces is not only cheaper but also allows you to control the ingredients and flavors.
- Shop Seasonally for Produce: Take advantage of seasonal produce sales. Squash, zucchini, and eggplant are often heavily discounted in the summer, while root vegetables like sweet potatoes are budget-friendly in the fall. Buying fruits and vegetables in season ensures the best flavor and prices.
- Bone-In Meat is Often Cheaper: Bone-in cuts of meat, such as pork chops and chicken, are frequently less expensive than boneless options. Bulk buy meat when it’s on sale and freeze it for later use.
- Frozen Chicken is a Budget Superstar: Frozen chicken is a fantastic resource. It lasts indefinitely in the freezer, is often cheaper than fresh chicken, and can even cook up more tender and juicy.
- Dried Herbs Offer Great Value: Dried herbs are a cost-effective alternative to fresh herbs in almost all recipes. If you frequently use fresh herbs, consider growing your own in pots or a small garden for a continuous supply at a minimal cost.
- Explore my Kid-Friendly Easy Weeknight Dinners for Families for more inspiration!
Budget-Friendly Recipe Ideas for Large Families
Creating delicious and affordable meals for a big family is absolutely achievable. By focusing on pantry staples, budget-conscious ingredients, and these helpful tips, you can serve satisfying and flavorful meals without overspending. These recipes and strategies are designed to help you make the most of your grocery budget while keeping your family happy and well-fed.
