When you need to feed your large family, but you’re on a budget, having a go-to list of easy and cheap meals can be such a blessing! Here is my list of 72 Large Family Meals on a Budget Dinner Recipes to help you with your dinner and budget needs. I’ve made certain to have lots of variety so that even your picky eaters will be happy!
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What is the Cheapest Meal I Can Make for Dinner?
Sometimes, one of the most budget friendly ways to make dinner is to use your oven for an easy meal. Another great way to make a dinner that’s easy on the budget is to use your slow cooker. The oven and the slow cooker can save you both times and money in your budget by using easy ingredients that are cheaper to purchase. These 72 Large Family Meals on a Budget Dinner Recipes can be pulled together with ease and placed in the oven or cooker for a “once and done” affect. This lets you move on to other important tasks in your evening- like spending precious time with your family.
Oven ready dinners are so budget friendly because they allow you to purchase more things in bulk and save money. A great added bonus to these is the smell that comes from your oven and fills the whole house with their wholesome smell. Everyone is excited about dinner time! Here are some great meals to get you started:
- Large Family Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
- Lasagna Roll-Ups
- Chicken, Mushroom, and Spinach Lasagna
- Large Family Apple Barbecue Pork Tenderloin for the Slow Cooker
- Large Family Chicken Pesto Tortellini Bake
Are Slow Cooker Meals Budget Friendly?
Don’t forget our favorite time saver- the humble slow cooker! While some of these recipes have “Instant Pot” in the title, you can still simply use your slow cooker feature and enjoy an easy meal that is saves on time and money!
- Slow Cooker Cajun Pork and Beans | Easy Dump and Go Recipe!
- Large Family Slow Cooker Bacon Cheddar Potato Soup
- Big Family Pumpkin Turkey Chili Slow Cooker Dinner Recipe
- Slow Cooker Chicken a la King to Feed a Crowd!
- Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Pulled Chicken Sandwiches | Dairy Free
This Large Family Freezer Friendly Baked Taco Spaghetti can be made long in advance, and placed in your slow cooker the morning of! Learning which meals are freezer friendly gives you the additional bonus of buying more ingredients in bulk to be even more budget friendly. Like these Large Family Crock Pot Sweet & Spicy Beef Tacos – beef can often be found on sale and then frozen for use long into the future. My Crock Pot Chicken Wings & Peanut Sauce is such a throw together meal that takes minutes of prep times but is a great frugal replacement for getting take out.
- Large Family Instant Pot Country Style Ribs | Dairy Free
- Sloppy Joe Casserole Freezer Meal | Large Family Meals
- Large Family Instant Pot Ham and Potato Hash | Dairy Free
- Instant Pot Creamy Lemon Pork Chops
- Large Family Shredded Chicken Nachos in the Instant Pot
How Do I Feed My Family Gluten Free on a Budget?
Gluten free can be done on a budget! Are you looking into a KETO, Dairy-free, THM inspired, special meals on a budget recipe? I have done the homework for you! Here is an easy list of budget friendly- and super yummy- Special Diet meals that you can eat on a budget.
- Low Carb Chile Relleno Casserole | THM-S, Keto
- Large Family Low Carb Parmesan Chicken with Artichoke Hearts Casserole| THM-S, Keto
- Hearty Beef and Corn Noodle Casserole | Dairy-Free Option
- Low Carb Sheet Pan Steak Bites and Veggies Meal, Dairy-free
- Instant Pot Salsa Chicken | Dairy Free Chicken for Any Spicy Meal
- Big Family Low Carb Sheet Pan Bacon Wrapped Chicken Dinner | Dairy-Free, THM-S
- Low Carb Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken and Rice | Gluten-Free Recipe
- Large Family Palmini Lasagna (Healthy Lasagna Variation)
- Big Family Slow Cooker Chipotle-Barbecue Meatballs | Dairy Free, Gluten Free
- Big Family Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
- Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner | Dairy Free
If you really want some Dairy-Free options, you can easily try this Large Family Instant Pot Pork Carnitas | Dairy-Free Option, or even these favorite Low Carb Simple Sub Bowls | Keto, THM-S, Dairy-Free Option.
And this Low Carb Five Guys Cheeseburger Casserole is just as good as going out- but without the carbs, gluten, traffic and hassle!
- Large Family Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Casserole | Meatless Option, THM-S, KETO
- Coconut Peanut Stew | Large Family Recipes, Dairy-free
- Beef Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats | THM-S , Low Carb, Keto, Gluten Free
- Low Carb Pizza Casserole | THM-S, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free
- Large Family Low Carb Beef Steak and Peppers | Slow Cooker, THM-S, Keto, Dairy-Free
What Can I Make for Dinner on a Budget?
It’s no secret that the humble casserole has long been one of the easiest and most frugal ways to feed a large family. Your budget won’t need to be stretched with these healthy recipes that are put together easily. And many of these are great as freezer meals!
Big Family Low Carb Chicken and Swiss Casserole with Broccoli
Large Family Chicken and Swiss Casserole
This Big Family Freezer-Friendly Southwestern Casserole is sure to be an instant hit- and because it’s a freezer meal, you can make it double and freeze the rest for another day. The Chicken Parmesan Casserole for the Freezer is a low carb casserole that lets you prepare it in advance if you want. If you’d like to have something for a busy night, try my Large Family Freezer-Friendly Pork Chops and Rice . It’s a super tasty meal that is thrown together with only a few healthy ingredients.
Some other great budget friendly dinner ideas are:
- Low Carb Chicken and Swiss Casserole with Broccoli
- Large Family Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Brown Rice | Dairy Free
- Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Tomato Basil BIG FAMILY RECIPES
- Large Family Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
- Big Family Easy Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup | Dairy Free Option
- Large Family WONDERFUL Slow Cooker Catalina Chicken Recipe *so good!*
- Big Family Crock Pot Tuscan Pork Stew
- Big Family Chicken, Broccoli, Cheese & Rice Instant Pot Casserole
- 5 Ingredient Shepherd’s Pie
- Amish Country Casserole
What Are the Cheapest Meals to Cook?What Are Some Easy Cheap Dinner Ideas?
We can’t talk about 72 Large Family Meals on a Budget Dinner Recipes without bringing up one of the best, and that’s that Sheet Pan Dinner! These meals allow for the greatest ease in preparing and the most simple recipes to follow.
- Meat Loaf, Potatoes, and Broccoli Sheet Pan Dinner, Dairy-free Option
- Large Family Sheet Pan Philly Steak & Cheese Dinner
- Large Family Style Orange Tilapia Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe
- Oven-Baked Olive and Tomato Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe, Dairy-free!!
- Black Bean Nachos | Large Family Sheet Pan Meals, Dairy-Free Option!
This frugal Large Family Ranch Pork Chops, Potatoes, and Green Beans Sheet Pan Dinner is an absolute delicious meal that makes up in minutes. Another budget favorite is the Caesar Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner that is complemented so easily with some fresh fruit on the side. If you want something a bit on the different side without having to learn a new skill, these Large Family Sheet Pan Meatball Gyros are great for the nights you don’t want to spend money on going out to eat.
- Big Family Chicken and Peaches Sheet Pan Meal | Dairy Free
- Large Family Sweet and Spicy Drumsticks and Vegetables Sheet Pan Meal | Dairy Free
- Sesame Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner | Dairy-Free
- Large Family Sheet Pan Sirloin Steak and Potatoes Meal | Dairy-Free Option
- Big Family Sheet Pan Hamburger Steak with Mushrooms and Onions
- Sheet Pan Low Carb Balsamic Chicken and Brussel Sprouts Meal, Dairy-free
- Large Family Jerk Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner | Dairy-Free
- Beefy Sheet Pan Nachos | Lunch, Snack, or Dinner, Dairy-Free Option
- Large Family Low Carb Sheet Pan Steak Bites and Veggies Meal, Dairy-free
- Sheet Pan Roasted Kielbasa and Cabbage Dinner
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