Easy, Budget-Friendly Large Family Dinner Ideas
Feeding a large family on a budget can be challenging, but with the right meal-planning strategies and recipes, it’s entirely possible to enjoy delicious recipes without breaking the bank. For this reason, I’m sharing easy, budget-friendly, large family dinner ideas perfect for the whole family. From hearty one-pot meals to simple side dishes and kid-friendly favorites, there’s something here for every preference.
As a large family with 6 growing children, our grocery bill is the largest portion of our monthly budget aside from our mortgage payment. Although that used to seem embarrassing to admit, I realized that we make a tight budget work while still providing meals that please our large crowd! I recently shared how our family makes our monthly grocery budget of $400 work while still providing nutritious meals. It hasn’t been easy, but with some creativity, we’ve created easy recipes with simple ingredients that even our pickiest eaters love.
Budget-stretching tips
Over the past 2 years, I’ve implemented over a dozen strategies to help us stretch our budget while continuing to provide meals that even our picky eaters won’t complain about. These tips are some of the easiest ways to accomplish that goal and serve delicious budget-friendly meals our family loves.
Keep meals simple
Creating easy meals that everyone loves is essential. Think about it- the fewer ingredients on your grocery list, the more you’ll save at checkout! Simplify your meals by choosing recipes with as few ingredients as possible. If I’m searching for new large family dinner ideas to try and I notice that the ingredient list is 15+ items long, you better believe I’m moving on to the next search result. It can be the most appetizing dish I’ve ever seen, but it’s not worth it if it’s too complicated or requires too many ingredients. I’m already incredibly busy, and as much as I love being in the kitchen, meal planning is meant to save money as well as time so I can be present with our children.
Bulk up meat by using beans
Beans are not only filling; they also contain important nutrients like fiber, copper, and magnesium. I like to add beans to meat like ground beef or turkey whenever possible to stretch it further. While meat is delicious and an incredible source of protein and other nutrients, it’s expensive. Because of this, we try to add beans to stretch our meals further. Adding beans to the meat we serve ensures we consume enough fiber and important nutrients while stretching our food budget as much as possible.
Meat should be the side, not the main dish
Meat is an important food group that our family enjoys. Sorry if that offends you, but we see nothing wrong with eating meat. While I’d love to be at a point where we could afford high-end cuts of meat and larger portions, we’re not there yet, and that’s okay! Instead, we choose to view meat as a side dish. If we’re grilling, burgers are served with veggies like green beans, roasted carrots, and homemade fries. That way we still enjoy our burger, but we’re more likely to fill up on potatoes and veggies before grabbing a second helping.
Another example would be pasta dishes. I make chicken parmesan casserole served with homemade breaded chicken strips and parmesan cheese over pasta with tomato sauce. It’s delicious and one of our kids’ favorite recipes. I could easily use 2-3 pounds of chicken breast for the recipe, but I use around 1 pound and cut the pieces smaller. Each serving still has some chicken, but the main portion of the dish is pasta. We often serve a side salad and roasted veggies along with the pasta and it’s a well-rounded dish perfect for large families.
Almost any recipe can work for big families if you’re willing to tweak a few things and get creative.
Keep reading for my favorite large family dinner ideas!
Meal plan before heading to the grocery store
Before I step inside a grocery store, I plan our meals for the next two weeks. We shop for two weeks at a time, as this aligns with when my husband is paid, and it prevents us from going to the grocery store more often. While it was a hard adjustment at first, I like having two weekends each month that I don’t spend grocery shopping and preparing meals.
We ask our children for input so they are included in the meal planning, and we look ahead to any events coming up in the next two weeks.
We also repeat meals, so while I’m cooking 14 dinners, we choose 6-8 different meals, and then I repeat them. This makes family meals easier to shop for as I’m not shopping for 14 different dishes. We have themed dinners like taco night, pizza night, and more, and we swap those out when we need variety.
I also like to plan once a week for leftovers or a night when the kids choose something simple and cook for themselves. This allows me a much-needed break, and we usually plan those nights for a date or when we have a busy night.
Utilize grocery pickup
As much as I enjoy grocery shopping, sometimes I need to free up time in my busy schedule. Using grocery pickup keeps me from purchasing items not on my grocery list and gives me time back in my schedule for other items on my to-do list. I like to compare the prices of items on my shopping list between 2-3 stores in my area and schedule my pickups for Saturday morning. Then, I grab my groceries, prep any baked goods we need for the week, and spend the rest of the day with our kids. Creating our weekly meal plan and using grocery pickup ensures I have everything I need for easy dinner recipes without spending extra money on impulse purchases.
Ditch the pre-packaged products
While convenient, packaged foods often come at a price. Pre-packaged and seasoned pasta or rice sides often cost around $2 per box and contain 2-3 servings max. At $0.75-$1 per serving, that might not seem too pricey, but compare this to homemade pasta or rice sides with prices at $0.05-$0.10 per serving; this is a heavy markup simply for convenience. Instead, cook your rice or pasta in chicken broth, make seasonings yourself, and add them to homemade rice or pasta. You’ll have a simple meal filled with flavor at a fraction of the price and avoid unnecessary preservatives often found in pre-packaged foods.
Bake from scratch
Baking from scratch has saved us so much money, allowing us to stretch our budget further. In the past few years, I’ve learned how to make bread, bagels, dinner rolls, pasta, pizza dough, and more. Even products like pasta sauce are incredibly easy to make using tomato sauce and some seasonings and cost around $1 per batch instead of $3-$4. These savings start to add up, especially for larger families who use meals that feature items like meat sauce and similar products for hearty meal options.
Once you implement changes like this, it becomes incredibly simple. Finding large family dinner ideas becomes second nature once you’re able to look at a recipe and instantly know how to make it more affordable.
Add vegetarian recipes to cut back on meat
At least once a week, we like to serve meat-free meals. This is usually a night we serve breakfast for dinner- a huge hit, by the way!- cheese quesadillas with rice and roasted broccoli, or soup and homemade French bread. These cheap meals are still filling, and we can help stretch our budget a little further. It doesn’t feel cheap when you serve it as a complete meal with a side and a veggie.
Cook once, eat twice
I cannot stress this tip enough, especially for busy moms like me. I am always trying to find ways to cook less. As much as I love being in the kitchen creating a tasty recipe, it sometimes feels like a chore. I try to avoid that feeling by simplifying my schedule whenever possible. A great way to do this is by getting out of the kitchen more often. If you’re already working to come up with large family dinner ideas, you might as well double that meal and save yourself some time in the future!
Cook once, eat twice. I don’t remember where I first heard this idea, but I live by this motto whenever possible. Whether that’s doubling my pasta recipe and freezing half of it or doubling a casserole recipe. I’m going to do it. This makes busy weeknights so much easier for the whole family, and it creates the opportunity to stock up on a variety of great freezer meal options.
Budget-Friendly Large Family Dinner Ideas
These are some of my favorite recipes perfect for large groups. Whether you’re feeding your family or hosting a special occasion, these dishes are sure to please. All the recipes shared today use minimal ingredients and feed a crowd on a tight budget!
One pot pasta with meat sauce
Ingredients:
One pound of ground beef or turkey. Turkey is often cheaper than beef, making it an excellent money-saving swap.
16 oz box of spaghetti, rotini, macaroni, or rigatoni noodles. I make my pasta from scratch using this recipe, but store-bought pasta is fine, too, if you’re not interested!
1- 12 oz can tomato sauce
Seasonings like basil, oregano, garlic, onion, and pepper.
Directions:
Bring water to a boil and cook pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside. In the same pot, ground meat until cooked through. Drain the fat and return to the pot. Season with garlic, pepper, and onion powder. Once browned to your liking, add the can of tomato sauce and 1/4 cup of water to the meat. Season to your preferred taste, and allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add the pasta back into the pot, stir to incorporate, and serve with shredded parmesan cheese. Add garlic bread and a veggie or salad.
Sloppy joes
Amanda over at The Chunky Chef has the most delicious recipe for sloppy joes I’ve ever tasted. Easy to follow, plus we like to add some sneaky veggies like shredded carrot and zucchini while the meat is browning to stretch it further, and our kids can never tell! Served on homemade rolls with baked fries and veggies, this recipe rarely makes it in the fridge for the next day. It’s that good.
Taco bowls
Start with fresh rice, then top it with your favorites like cheese, lettuce, beans, meat, salsa, and guacamole. A fun twist on taco Tuesdays, and you can customize the bowls based on each family member’s preferences. One of my favorite cheap dinner recipes, as it’s easy to ensure everyone at the dinner table is happy.
chicken teriyaki bowls
Similar to taco bowls, chicken teriyaki bowls can be customized for everyone! Start by cooking 1 pound of chicken breast your favorite way. If time allows, our favorite is on the grill. Brush each side of the chicken breast with teriyaki sauce as it cooks. Once thoroughly cooked through, remove the chicken from the heat and cut it into bite-sized pieces. As the meat is cooking, roast your favorite veggies. We like broccoli, carrots, and red bell pepper. Fill your bowls with rice, then add your grilled chicken. Drizzle more teriyaki sauce on top, and add your favorite roasted veggies! A well-balanced meal everyone will love.
Barbecue chicken with rice
Another rice bowl variety! Start by cooking one pound of chicken your favorite way. Alternatively, you could use chicken thighs as they’re a cheaper cut of meat. Bake in the oven until cooked through, remove all meat from the bones, and mix with barbecue sauce. If cooking chicken breast, brush both sides with barbecue sauce and cut it into bite-sized pieces once cooked. Fill your bowls with rice, add chicken, and top with more barbecue sauce. Serve with a salad or roasted veggies.
Sheet pan meals
Sheet pan dinners are some of my favorite large family dinner ideas as they provide tons of variety. From the meat used to the veggies chosen, each one is a little different from the last. Here are a few of our favorites:
Kielbasa sausage with potatoes, green beans, and roasted carrots: place all ingredients on a sheet pan and bake until the potatoes are soft.
Sheet pan chicken fajitas with peppers and onions: Serve with warmed tortillas and your favorite fajita toppings for a well-rounded meal!
Chicken tenders with baked sweet potatoes: Slice chicken breasts into tender-length pieces, dip them in a scrambled egg, then dip them in breadcrumbs and place on a baking sheet. Slice sweet potatoes into fries, spray with olive oil and salt and pepper, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Keep reading! I’ve got even more large family dinner ideas below!
Shredded chicken quesadillas
These are a huge hit with our kids!
Ingredients:
2 large chicken breasts (About 1 pound of chicken)
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
8-12 tortillas
1 pound of shredded cheese
Directions:
Start cooking 1 pound of chicken breasts. I love using my Instant Pot for this. It makes it so easy! All you have to do is add your chicken breasts to the pot, add 1 cup of broth and 1 cup of salsa, and seal the lid. Pressure cook for 7 minutes and allow the steam to release quickly. Don’t toss out that extra liquid! You need it for later.
You can shred the chicken with forks, but I like to add them to my mixer and let it do the work for me! As the meat is shredding, make sure the broth and salsa are mixed together. Heat a skillet on medium heat.
Dip each tortilla in the broth and salsa mixture, place on the heated skillet, and sprinkle cheese over the tortilla. Add shredded chicken to have the tortilla and fold it in half. Cook the quesadilla for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts, flipping it halfway through. Serve with a salad or carrots and ranch. Enjoy!
Baked potato dinner
While pretty straightforward, this recipe from Gimme Some Over is the best. Potatoes are filling and cheap, making them one of the best large family dinner ideas. They can be customized in dozens of ways, making them perfect for picky eaters.
Potato pancakes (very similar to latkes!)
Remember when I said potatoes are cheap? I wasn’t kidding! I can make 25 potato pancakes with 6 shredded potatoes, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of flour, and 1/2 cup of cheese. That’s enough for 2 dinners plus leftovers! We love to serve these with scrambled eggs, steamed veggies, and ground beef for a deliciously filling meal!
Ingredients:
6 large potatoes (Russet is best, but yellow or red will work too.)
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cheese
Pepper, salt, garlic, and onion powder to taste.
Directions:
Shred the potatoes and squeeze out as much excess water as possible using paper towels or cheesecloth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Form into flat pancakes about the size of the palm of your hand. Heat a skillet on high. Once the skillet is hot, add a pat of butter or olive oil and potato pancakes to the pan. Cook on both sides for 2-3 minutes each or until golden brown. Serve with eggs, veggies, and your favorite meat for a well-balanced meal.
Lasagna
I’m working on writing up my lasagna recipe because it’s the best I’ve ever had. I don’t mean to sound boastful, but it’s delicious! In the meantime, this one from Spend with Pennies is good, too! I make my own bechamel in place of ricotta cheese, and it gives the dish the most delicious creaminess.
Chicken enchiladas
This dish is a huge hit any time I host a family dinner! It’s not very spicy, as some of my kids are picky about spices, but you could easily use hot green chiles for an extra kick!
Stuffed bell peppers
This dish from the Pioneer Woman is simple and delicious, filled with rice or riced cauliflower, ground meat, and spices!
Slow cooker sweet potato chili
I don’t even wait for cooler weather to pull out this recipe from Eating Well. It’s good any time of year and so filling! Black beans and sweet potatoes are inexpensive and filled with important micronutrients making it an excellent large family dinner idea for tight budgets.
Homemade hamburger helper
This recipe from Natasha over at Salt and Lavender is our favorite! Super simple, and there’s always enough for lunch the next day!
Alfredo pasta
Alfredo sauce is inexpensive and easy to whip up. It’s great paired with spaghetti or fettuccine noodles. This recipe from Salty Marshmallow is similar to the one I make. For a lighter sauce, skip the heavy cream and use 1% milk. It’s still creamy and delicious without being overly heavy.
Homemade pizza
Every Sunday is pizza night in our home! The kids look forward to an evening spent together as a family, and I love how quickly the meal comes together! This recipe makes 3 pizzas perfect for piling high with toppings. Paired with a salad and a movie, and you’ve got a new family tradition.
Nacho night
gather tortilla chips and your favorite toppings like salsa, beans, sour cream, and shredded cheese. You can make this a vegetarian meal by skipping the meat or use shredded rotisserie chicken or ground beef. Place chips in a single layer on a cookie sheet, top with beans, meat, and shredded cheese, and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees f. Serve with your favorite dips, like salsa and sour cream, and enjoy! Serve with a side salad for a complete meal.
Tomato soup with turkey and cheddar cheese melts
I make tomato soup very similar to this recipe from Inspired Taste. It’s super simple but still delicious and filling. While the soup is simmering, butter both sides of each slice of bread, and place on a warm skillet. Once one side of the bread is toasted, flip the slices of bread, add cheese and turkey, and top with the second slice of bread. Cook the sandwiches until the cheese is nice and melty. Repeat until you’ve made enough sandwiches for the whole crew! The soup is very filling, but you could always serve a simple salad on the side as well!
spaghetti and meatballs
Ingredients:
1 pound of meat. We usually use half beef and half turkey to cut the grease.
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp each of Italian seasonings, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients well. Using a tablespoon, form into equal-sized meatballs. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or place all meatballs in a pressure cooker, cover completely with pasta sauce, and pressure cook for 10 minutes, then quick-release steam. Serve with more sauce and your favorite pasta.
Chicken spaghetti
This recipe from Budget Bytes is very simple and includes the price breakdown! I use one pound of pasta, skip the heavy cream, and use 1% milk to save money and make it a little lighter.
Chicken parm casserole
Chicken parm casserole is filling and the perfect recipe to double so you can freeze a meal for later use. It’s one of those budget meals that doesn’t feel cheap. This recipe from the Cozy Cook is excellent.
meatloaf and mashed potatoes
We love meatloaf in our home! Paired with baked fries, or mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies, you have a delicious, hearty meal that’ll fill little bellies all night.
Chicken noodle soup and French bread
Breakfast for dinner
Breakfast burritos
fry up shredded or diced potatoes, add eggs, cheese, and crispy bacon or some sausage, and you’re all set. I like to serve meals like this on the evenings when I need something simple. It’s inexpensive and one of those large family dinner ideas that get overlooked when it shouldn’t!
Breakfast sandwiches
We love breakfast sandwiches, especially because each kid gets to pick exactly what they want in their sandwich! Scrambled eggs, shredded chees, bacon, and sausage are common fillings we often use. Bagels and English muffins are excellent bread alternatives to bring the meal together. Serve with fruit to complete the meal.
Stir fry
Stir fry is excellent for using veggies you don’t want to toss, and day-old rice makes the most delicious base. Pair with veggies like diced carrots, green beans, peas, green onion, and a few scrambled eggs. Drizzle with soy sauce, and dinner is served! It’s one of those large family dinner ideas that not only clears out the fridge but also takes little effort to whip up.
Taco soup
I can’t take credit for this recipe, but we love it so much. My daughter has requested it for her birthday dinner, and she’s got three months to go! My friend Haley served us this soup one evening when we had dinner with her family, and we couldn’t get enough. It’s totally customizable and insanely easy.
Ingredients:
1 pound shredded chicken
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 cups of corn
1 can of black beans
1/2 a diced onion
4 cups chicken broth
Toppings:
Shredded cheese
Tortilla chips
Lime juice
Avocado
Sour cream
diced jalapenos
Bring ingredients to a boil and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Once ready to serve, pour soup into bowls and top with your favorite toppings!
Baked Ziti
It’s similar to lasagna but easier. You can make this recipe ahead of time or double it and put one casserole in the freezer for a busy evening. Traditional ziti is more complicated than this recipe but still delicious. This recipe is affordable and has similar flavors to traditional ziti without all the complicated steps.
Ingredients:
Jar of alfredo sauce or one batch of homemade alfredo.
16 ounces rigatoni noodles
1 cup shredded cheese
Directions:
Cook noodles according to directions.
While the noodles are cooking, cook the meat until browned. Drain any fat, and season with pepper, garlic, and Italian seasonings.
Drain noodles and stir in alfredo sauce. Add ground meat to the pasta mixture.
Pour the noodle mixture into a casserole dish and top with pasta sauce. Don’t worry about mixing the pasta sauce into the noodles. Top with shredded cheese and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.
Potato casserole
Potatoes are inexpensive and incredibly filling. Plus, there are hundreds of potential meal ideas that include potatoes! They make an excellent base for hundreds of large family dinner ideas without being boring. This potato casserole from Talking Meals is an excellent example.
cheesy zucchini pasta
I can’t take credit for this recipe, but I wish I could. It’s so delicious! One of my favorite cookbooks is Looneyspoons by Janet and Greta Podleski. I got it second-hand from Amazon for $0.95, and we use it all the time. You can still find their recipes online, and along with their chocolate cake, this recipe, called ‘Smackaroni and Chese,’ is one of our favorites!
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef or turkey
16 ounces cooked rotini noodles
1 1/2 cups diced zucchini
1/2 cup diced onion
1 can diced tomatoes well drained
garlic and pepper seasoning to taste
For cheese sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups 1% or fat-free milk
In a sauce pan, brown onions and meat and drain excess fat.
Add drained tomatoes and stir together. Let sit.
To make the cheese sauce, start by making a roux with the butter and flour. Add butter to a pot and melt completely. Add flour and whisk to incorporate. Once the butter and flour mixture is combined, add the milk, stirring constantly. Allow the mixture to thicken for about 5 minutes. Add the cheese and stir well. If the sauce is too thick, you can add another 1/2 cup of milk. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Pour cheese sauce over the pasta mixture, and enjoy!
Veggie pasta
When we’re trying to stretch our budget until payday, vegetarian pasta is an easy dish to whip up!
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta- rotini or rigatoni are excellent options
1 jar and batch of homemade pasta sauce
1 cup shredded cheese.
Directions:
Boil pasta and steam veggies.
Combine the two and top with pasta sauce.
Serve in bowls and top with shredded cheese.
Cheddar broccoli pasta
Another low-cost dish that doesn’t feel like anything but an ooey-gooey, delicious bowl and happiness. I make it from scratch, but this recipe from Budget Bytes is very similar!
creamy beefy shells and cheese
While pasta is inexpensive, adding ingredients to make it a hearty meal is the perfect way to spruce it up and stretch your budget. This recipe from Salt and Lavender is a great option.
meatball subs
Using the recipe above for meatballs and French bread makes a delicious dinner. Top with provolone and bake for 15 minutes, then pair with a side salad for an easy meal that utilizes leftovers from another meal!
If you want to make your French bread from scratch, this recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe is excellent, or grab some hoagie rolls at the grocery store!
Pot roast with mashed potatoes
Pot roast is one of those dishes that sometimes gets a bad rap, and I don’t understand why! When cooked properly, it’s hearty, filling, and incredibly comforting. We purchase a full cow from a farmer nearby every 2-3 years, and we’re always sad when we run out of roast cuts. They’re so good! Paired with slow-roasted carrots and mashed potatoes, it’s incredible. You can also make gravy with the juices from the roast to drizzle over your mashed potatoes. I don’t have my recipe written up, but this recipe from Go Bold with Butter is wonderful!
Final thoughts
I hope these large family dinner ideas help you stretch your budget and find meals you can add to your rotation that your family members will love. With a little creativity and budget-stretching alternatives, any meal can be made to fit your needs and feed your family every night of the week. By prioritizing simple, nutritious recipes and utilizing cost-effective ingredients, you can enjoy delicious and satisfying meals together as a family without breaking the bank. Here’s to happy and stress-free family dinners that bring everyone together around the table!
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