This tried and true list of budget meals for large families is a winner! Cheap, easy dinner recipes for your next family dinner.
The cost of groceries is insane right now, especially when you’re feeding a family of eight. That makes having a good list of budget meals for large families on a shoestring grocery budget.
Not only are these meals filled with simple, affordable ingredients, but they are also easy to double, triple, or whatever -le your family needs!
For a year, I had my family try out new recipes.
These are only the winners. The recipes they loved and asked to have again.
So save these recipes to use in your Large Family Home over and over.
And don’t miss these large family dinner ideas, either!
Budget Meals for Large Families, Proven To Be Tasty!
Want my number one, absolute top level, must have secret for making a delicious meal?
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that if you want to make a fool proof chunk of meat, it’s easier than you think!
All you have to do is season it with garlic and onions, salt and pepper, brown the meat in this cast iron dutch oven, pop the lid on, and stick it in the oven at 375 until it’s done.
(Done, of course, depends on the type of meat and how big it is. Use a meat thermometer to determine “done” ness.)
Cheap Dinner Recipes with Beef
Enchilada Meatball Bake
Enchilada Meatball Bake Yummy!
If you have a bag of frozen meatballs, this budget meal throws together quickly on a weeknight.
Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwiches
Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwiches This recipe is a great way to use up leftover roast beef. Imagine your family begging for leftovers!
Big Mac Sliders
Big Mac Sliders Makes a fun dinner idea or a good appetizer. Take this to your next potluck.
Classic Sloppy Joes
Classic Sloppy Joes What else can I say? Tastes like childhood. You’ll love to share this one with your family.
Frito Pie
Frito Pie My kids especially loved this one!
Taco Ring
Taco Ring I had a random craving for this, due to not having attended a Pampered Chef party in 10 years. Still as yummy as you remember!
Cheap Dinner Recipes with Pork
Ham Steaks Sheet Pan Dinner
Ham Steaks Sheet Pan Dinner Last time we had a hog processed, I asked to have my hams cut into steaks.
So much easier to thaw and make on a weeknight. AND this recipe makes it even easier! (Plus my kids devoured it.)
BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos
BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos I love this one for using up pulled pork leftovers.
The Best Sheet Pan Barbecue Pulled Pork Nachos
The Best Sheet Pan Barbecue Pulled Pork Nachos This recipe literally makes me excited to have leftover pulled pork. Which is a relief, because I always used to force feed my kids pulled pork sandwiches until they ran away from home.
(Just kidding. Sort of.)
Settle this for me. I think nachos make a great meal. Hubby says they are only a snack. What say you?
Sausage Egg and Cheese Sandwiches
Sausage Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches (Don’t tell anyone, but we totally ate these for dinner instead.)
Crispy Pork Carnitas
Crispy Pork Carnitas Another favorite way to use up leftover pulled pork.
This one might be my Hubby’s favorite.
Creamy Sausage Pasta
Creamy Sausage Pasta Yummy homemade version of hamburger helper, just with sausage.
Sweet & Savory Pork Chops
This one is my Hubby’s go to recipe when it’s time to grill pork chops. And the reason we look forward to pork chop night.
Cheap and Easy Chicken Recipes
White Chicken Chili
White Chicken Chili An old family favorite, and the perfect thing for a rainy or chilly night.
Easy Chicken Stir Fry
Easy Chicken Stir Fry Maybe this is dumb, but I’ve always struggled to make a good stir fry. This recipe fixed all that! And it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken.
Grilled Cheesy Buffalo Chicken
Grilled Cheesy Buffalo Chicken You can use barbecue sauce to make this one more kid friendly if you want.
Sticky Chicken Finger Wrap
Sticky Chicken Finger Wraps My daughter would eat chicken tenders every night if I let her. Of course she loved these!
15 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken
You have got to try this 15 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. The name says it all!
Oven Fried Chicken Tenders
Oven Fried Chicken Strips I used Corn Chex (because that’s what I had on hand), and it turned out delicious!
Loaded Chicken and Potatoes Casserole
Loaded Chicken and Potatoes Casserole This is like the ultimate comfort food.
Chicken Enchilada Ring
My family absolutely gobbled up this Chicken Enchilada Ring. It’s a new favorite!
Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo
Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo I don’t know why we’ve never had much alfredo, but this recipe took care of that right away.
Maple Dijon Roasted Chicken
This maple syrup/dijon mustard glaze sounds a little different, but it was delicious on the chicken drumsticks that I found on a great sale. Definitely give this Maple Dijon Roasted Chicken a spot on your meal plan!
Budget Dinner Recipes That Are Meatless (Or At Least Less-Meat)
Warning: This list is going to include egg recipes. We have backyard chickens, with an abundance of eggs. Hopefully the cost of store eggs will become reasonable again soon!
Creamy Potato Soup
Creamy Homemade Potato Soup Like a warm hug! Great way to use leftover mashed potatoes.
Tortellini and White Sauce
Tortellini and White Sauce Occasionally you can find frozen bags of tortellini at Aldi for cheap, and that’s when I pull out this delicious recipe.
Easy Homemade Pizza
Easy Homemade Pizza My son wants this pizza every night of the week. My teenage daughter would be happy if I just made the crust and let her eat it without toppings.
Luckily, the crust takes just 5 minutes of effort and hardly any rising time!
Easy Homemade French Bread
I made this Easy Homemade French Bread recipe one Saturday afternoon and we used it for meatball subs. It was so good! This hearty bread will fill you up, no matter what you serve with it.
Eggy Make Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas
Eggy Make Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas Another one of those breakfast foods we serve for dinner.
Baked Denver Omelet
Baked Denver Omelet This recipe looks deceptively simple, but at the first bite I had to stop and say “Wow, that’s good!”
Sheet Pan Classic Breakfast Bake
Sheet Pan Classic Breakfast Bake Hearty breakfast foods, once again, served at dinner time.
Tattie Scones
If you’re wondering what in the world Tattie Scones are, it’s basically a potato pancake made of leftover mashed potatoes and a couple of simple ingredients. I don’t know about you, but I love ANY tasty recipe that uses leftovers and costs me next to nothing!
These budget meals for large families are the perfect way to feed your whole crew!
Want more cheap meals for large families? Don’t miss this list of over 40 ideas!
