cheap meals

55 Cheap Meals for Large Families

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Food is one of the largest items of the family budget. A lot of Americans literally eat most of their income, deliberately spending much more than they should on food shopping and dining out. Cooking cheap meals on a budget at home is the best way to please your family with delicious homemade dishes without breaking the bank in the process.

Besides, there are a ton of tasty, easy, and cheap family meals under $20 you can make at home with very few ingredients and without spending too much time. It only takes a few organizational skills, spending some time for creating weekly menus, and, of course, finding the best cheap dinner ideas for families like the ones we are offering you in this article.

Delicious Fruit Pizza

fruit pizza
Wikimedia / Fruit pizza

Kids love eating pizza! Unfortunately, it’s not the same with fruits and veggies. But there is a perfect solution to make your children love eating fruits and to involve them in the process of cooking. Make a fruit pizza! It is much cheaper and healthier than a regular one. And your kids would love to help you decorate it! You can make a cold fruit pizza which will be perfect on a hot summer day or add a little bit of chocolate and melt it in the oven. So yummy!

Recipe: Sally’s Baking Addiction – Delicious Fruit Pizza

Chicken Kebabs

chicken kebabs
Pixabay / Chicken kebabs

Looking for new summer dinner ideas under 20 dollars? These chicken kebabs marinated in a delicious sauce and grilled on skewers until golden brown are definitely something you need to try on a spring or summer evening. An interesting mixture of spices will give them an irresistible touch. They are full of flavor and very easy to make either you decide to cook them in the oven or on the grill. It is likely that you have never tasted anything like this before. If you want to prepare juicy, tender, cheap and healthy chicken kebabs at home, follow this recipe, it’s very easy!

Recipe: BBC Food – Chicken Kebabs

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Stuffed cabbage rolls with meat is a popular dish in many latitudes. Yes, it takes some time to make them but the result is so tasty that it is worth all the time spent. The best thing about these cabbage rolls is that you can keep them in the fridge for a few days, and they will be as tasty as on the first day you made them. So you can make a good batch of them and eat them little by little. Just try cooking them once, and your family will want you to cook these cabbage rolls more. Enjoy!

Recipe: Dinner At The Zoo – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Goulash Supreme

goulash supreme
Pixabay / Goulash supreme

The goulash is a traditional Hungarian dish. Some people consider it to be a national dish, although there are lots of different variants of recipes in the Balkans. Originally it was considered to be a dish for shepherds. The goulash is based on a few ingredients: onions, beef, butter, and paprika (Hungarian paprika), which are stewed over low heat. It can also be well accompanied with rice.

Recipe: AllRecipes – Goulash Supreme

Greek Lemon Chicken and Roasted Potatoes

What is the first thing you think about when you hear about Greek cuisine? If all you can think of is Greek yogurt and mousaka, then you should try to make another popular dish – delicious potatoes with lemon chicken. These roasted potatoes with lemon, oil, and oregano is a perfect way to vary your side dishes. You can cook them for any occasion – either it’s a regular dinner with family or a big holiday celebration with friends and family it’s still a perfect dish to make. Just a look at this lemon chicken with golden-brown potatoes will make your mouth water.

Recipe: AllRecipes – Greek Lemon Chicken and Roasted Potatoes

Curried Eggs

curried eggs
Wikimedia / Curried eggs

This delicious curried eggs recipe, accompanied by a garnish of vegetables is a perfect budget dish to make either for breakfast or dinner. You can accompany this dish with a portion of carbohydrates, such as cooked white rice, couscous, or a handful of chips. Check out this quick and easy recipe and start your day with a healthy breakfast that will give you an energy boost to face a tough day. Being healthy doesn’t require you to spend lots of money and these curried eggs are the best example of how you can save up some money but still enjoy your meal.

Recipe: Indian Healthy Recipes – Curried Eggs

Stuffed Zucchini

It’s a perfect option for cheap dinner for large families, especially when there is an abundance of inexpensive, low-calorie, nutrient-packed zucchini! This stuffed zucchini recipe is a perfect way to satisfy your appetite without filling you with excess calories. Zucchini is high in water, vitamins, and fiber, which are very beneficial for our health. This recipe is quite easy to prepare and at the same time, it is an excellent choice for those who want to make their diet healthier.

Recipe: AllRecipes – Stuffed Zucchini

Sloppy Joes

sloppy joes
Flickr / Sloppy joes

Sloppy Joes is a well-known sandwich in the United States. It is a thick meat sauce (based on minced meat, onions and some kind of tomato sauce) that is served on a hamburger bun. It looks just as if you ordered a hamburger with an unfinished cutlet. But it doesn’t make it taste worth than a hamburger, some find it much tastier. Make sure you have lots of napkins to eat this delicious sandwich enjoyed by both adults and children!

Recipe: The Chunky Chef – Sloppy Joes

Stuffed Chicken Thighs

Having lots of proteins and being really low in fat, chicken meat has a very soft and delicate taste. Chicken thighs are probably one of the juiciest and tastiest parts of a chicken. Of course, serving it for kids can be a bit of an issue, considering they have a bone. But that’s what makes this recipe so good! Instead of the bone, there will be a very yummy herby filling, which makes them one of the most luscious inexpensive meals for a holiday dinner. Also, you can easily find out where do kids eat free today and choose the best restaurant for your family.

Recipe: Live Strong – Stuffed Chicken Thighs

Saucy Sausage Pasta

sausage pasta
Pixabay / Sausage pasta

Interested in easy cheap recipes for families which will also won’t take lots of your precious time? Then this is the ideal recipe for you! And it is prepared only in one pan! Isn’t it handy? You will have much more time to spend with your family, instead of washing different pans. This is the beauty of cooking the dish in a single pan. Make this quick and delicious pasta with chopped up sausages tossed in a tomato pasta sauce. Try making this one, and your family will definitely like it!

Recipe: Two Peas And Their Pod – Saucy Sausage Pasta

Courgette Fritters

Without a doubt, people should eat vegetables on a daily basis but in many cases, it takes lots of efforts since it is not the food that attracts people the most. But these courgette fritters got you covered! This easy recipe makes them very crispy on the outside and soft and creamy inside. You can add some cheese in the middle to make them even tastier. These fritters are a nice dish to have for dinner as a snack or a side dish. But it’s not just good for dinner, these healthy courgette fritters can also be as good for breakfast!

Recipe: BBC Good Food – Courgette Fritters

Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

bean chili
Flickr / Bean chili

There is nothing better than getting home and finding a plate of hot comfort food on a cold winter’s day. This Vegetarian Bean Chili is ridiculously easy to make and it can be served as a main course, as well. It is loaded with lots of flavors, that’s why all you need is a piece of tasty cornbread as an accompaniment to enjoy this delicious meal. Perfect recipe if you seek healthy and budget meals ideas under 20 dollars to warm you up on a cold winter day.

Recipe: Epicurious – Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese

If you have to say a dish that you loved when you were little, what would it be? Mac & Cheese, for sure! This is a dish which is appreciated by both adults and children. Just imagine this: juicy pasta, “cream” steeped in cheese and covered in a crispy crust. The reason why this is one of our best go-to cheap dinner ideas under $20 is that it doesn’t require any fancy ingredients and equipment, it’s VERY tasty, quick and easy to make that you will have lots of spare time to spend with your family.

Recipe: Food Network – Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese

Chili con Carne

chili carne
Flickr / Chili con Carne

This easy-to-make chili recipe has to be one of the best meals under $20 to serve to a big family or a group of friends for a casual get-together. It is a really easy and inexpensive recipe which is usually served over rice or with some nachos to dunk. Enjoy the smell and taste of this simple and delicious dish which will surprise you with how fast and easy it is to throw together. You will definitely want to make it again and again! Enjoy this spicy and really delicious Mexican dish!

Recipe: Jamie Oliver – Chili con Carne

Ham and Swiss Casserole

This is a quick and easy ham and swiss casserole recipe. You can prepare it the night before and bake it in the morning to serve a hot meal for your family or guests. Also, this casserole would be a nice comfort food after a holiday when you have some leftover ham and don’t feel like cooking! Enjoy this simple and inexpensive recipe!

Recipe: AllRecipes – Ham and Swiss Casserole

Mushroom Crepes

mushroom crepes
Flickr / Mushroom crepes

Don’t know how to make your family eat mushrooms? Are you looking for new ways to prepare them? Check out this recipe! These savory crepes stuffed with mushrooms are just as delicious as sweet ones. Trust us, even your children will love these crepes! It’s probably one of the best cheap food ideas to make for a family dinner. As a result, you will receive a delicate combination of flavors, integrated into a soft dough of crepes. Your family will love them!

Recipe: Ricardo Cuisine – Mushroom Crepes

Chicken & Avocado Sandwich

A sandwich is always a go-to recipe if you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen or looking for super cheap meals to make for a picnic with the family. The beauty of sandwiches is that you can make them literally with everything! There are even sweet sandwiches with chocolate and marshmallows. So in case you want to vary your sandwich game, just try making this delicious chicken and avocado sandwiches that everyone will adore.

Recipe: Great British Chefs – Chicken & Avocado Sandwich

Sausage and Beans Stew

sausage bean stew
Flickr / Sausage and beans stew

Spoil your family with this sausage and beans stew. It is an ideal dish for winter full of vegetables and legumes, with a nice touch of smoked sausages. Beans will give your body lots of vitamins that all of us need during this cold season. Plus, it is a very simple recipe to make. Your family will be so happy to have it on a cold winter evening or even after a tasty Thanksgiving turkey eating. And most importantly – it’s very cheap!

Recipe: BBC Good Food – Sausage and Beans Stew

Southwestern Casserole

This casserole is a perfect idea for someone who doesn’t want to cook. It’s an easy chili that only needs one pot to make it. This casserole is a quick dinner which you’ll be happy to make on those busy weeknights when there is no time to cook. Make this healthy, cheap and loaded with rich flavor dish for your loved ones. They’ll definitely enjoy it!

Recipe: Taste of Home – Southwestern Casserole

Chicken with Fried Rice

chicken fried rice
Flickr / Chicken with fried rice

Fried rice is probably one of the most popular dishes of Chinese cuisine. There is an endless amount of fried rice recipes with a variety of additional ingredients. In this recipe, you will learn how to cook really delicious, juicy and healthy chicken with Chinese fried rice. Just imagine eating this mouthwatering chicken with fluffy soft rice… If you are still not thinking about cooking this dish at home, then what are you thinking about? Do it! Your family will love it!

Recipe: Averie Cooks – Chicken with Fried Rice

Pizza in a Bowl

Who doesn’t love pizza? It is the most famous dish of Italian cuisine which has lots of different variants. This one is one of the most unusual and quickest pizzas to make. So if you are looking for something quick and cheap to cook tonight that doesn’t involve much effort, check out this pizza in a bowl recipe. This unusual pizza will be ready in less than 30 minutes! And the children will definitely love it!

Recipe: Taste of Home – Pizza in a Bowl

Quiche with Cheese & Mushrooms

cheese mushroom quiche
Maxpixel / Quiche with cheese & mushrooms

Pizza has got a new competitor, a famous French open pie – quiche. it is a savory cake made with a few ingredients and can be enjoyed as a starter or as a main dish. That’s the perfect meal for some gathering where the main idea is snacks! This open pie with crispy crust can be eaten hot or served cold on the following day. Learn how to prepare a delicious and soft quiche with cream cheese and soft mushrooms. You’ll love it!

Recipe: Simple Recipes – Quiche with Cheese & Mushrooms

1 Minute Microwave Mug Brownie

Craving something sweet on a Sunday afternoon but having nothing at that time and no desire to spend lots of time in the kitchen. Does it sound familiar to you? Well, here is the solution: a microwave mug brownie. This brownie is super quick and easy to make. Plus, we have all the ingredients at home and you won’t have lots of mess to clean after, so there is no excuse for you not to make it!

Recipe: Bigger Bolder Baking – Microwave Mug Brownie

Garlicky Cherry Tomato Pasta

cherry tomato pasta
Flickr / Cherry tomato pasta

Even though pasta may not be the healthiest meal idea, but it’s definitely one of those easy cheap recipes for families that lots of us seek. It is so quick and easy to make that you will not believe that it is true. You will definitely add this dish to your recipe book (if you have one). You won’t need much – just a handful of ingredients that you usually can find in your fridge, less than 30 minutes of your time and a little bit of love. As a result, you will get a delicious and very inexpensive pasta with sweet and a little bit garlicky cherry tomatoes.

Recipe: Bon Appetit – Garlicky Cherry Tomato Pasta

Herbed Chickpeas

These crispy, creamy and full of protein chickpeas with herbs should be a staple in your kitchen.
Take some time to cook them on your own because they taste much better than canned. You can use these chickpeas in a variety of dishes – soups and salads are the most popular ones. The best thing about these legumes, besides the price, is that they can make a very tasty and nourishing main dish.

Recipe: Bon Appetit – Herbed Chickpeas

Baked Apples

baked apple
Maxpixel / Baked apple

There’s nothing better than getting home in winter, and smelling baked apples. They are an excellent idea for a healthy dessert, or in case you crave something much more interesting – put a scope of vanilla ice cream on the side or add a little bit of rum to them. But baked apples are not just about a dessert. They will taste just as good as a side dish to your main course. Even though they are sweet, they perfectly go together with baked pork or roasted chicken, for example.

Recipe: AllRecipes – Baked Apples

Tomato and Cannellini Bean Soup

This Tomato and Cannellini Bean Soup has a spicy and sweet flavor and is full of proteins. This delicious and healthy tomato soup thickened with white beans is an ideal option if you crave some comfort food on a cold winter evening. Plus, this soup is also very easy to prepare. If you don’t have cannellini beans, you can use any canned white beans for this soup. This soup is definitely worth to try. Enjoy!

Recipe: Bon Appetit – Tomato and Cannellini Bean Soup

Tomato Grilled-Cheese Soup

tomato cheese soup
Flickr / Tomato grilled-cheese soup

Tomato soup is one of the tastiest soups ever and there’s definitely nothing better than melted stringy cheese. But what if you combine the two delicious things? You will get another tasty and pretty unusual dish – a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup on top. Sounds interesting, right? One more ultimate party food recipe to add to your list! Save your family budget making this inexpensive dish and surprise your loved ones with such an original dinner.

Recipe: Tasty – Tomato Grilled-Cheese Soup

Rice Bowl with Fried Egg and Avocado

This rice bowl with fried egg and avocado is not just a good idea for cheap meals on a tight budget but also a pretty filling breakfast idea. But don’t be afraid that you won’t be able to fit into your skinny jeans because this dish is loaded with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals… You can make it with white or brown rice, both will work perfectly. That’s the kind of breakfast that will definitely keep you going for a while!

Recipe: Bon Appetit – Rice Bowl with Fried Egg and Avocado

Shortbread Cookies

shortbread cookies
Flickr / Shortbread cookies

Shortbread cookies are the best option if you want to eat some homemade cookies which are easy to prepare. You can make them at home and decorate with meringue, royal icing or fondant. They are ideal if you feel like eating something sweet. Also, you can use them as a gift for friends or in case you want to make tasty, sweet and cheap snacks for a birthday party, baby shower or any other celebration. Just try making them once, and they’ll become your go-to cookies.

Recipe: Jo Cooks – Shortbread Cookies

Easy Spanish Tortilla

Tortilla with potatoes is a classic dish of Spanish cuisine which is known throughout the world. In each house, it is made in a different way that’s why you can never find two equal tortillas. This tortillas recipe can be a good option for a cheap and quick summer dinner. Make this simple, but very nutritious and delicious dish which everyone will love!

Recipe: Jamie Oliver – Easy Spanish Tortilla

Chicken, Spinach, and Cheese Quesadilla

chicken cheese quesadilla
Flickr / Chicken, spinach, and cheese quesadilla

Mexican food is widespread throughout the rest of the world, and many of us consume and prepare the most typical Mexican dishes in our own homes, but sometimes adapting them to the ingredients we have at hand. Quesadilla is one of the most famous traditional Mexican dishes, traditionally made from corn tortillas and cheese. Although there are lots of other ingredients that can be added to this dish, as well. The most popular ingredients are mushrooms, chorizo or vegetables. If you haven’t tried quesadilla with chicken, spinach, and cheese yet, you should definitely give it a go!

Recipe: Real Simple – Chicken, Spinach, and Cheese Quesadilla

Pizza Baked Potato

These Pizza Baked Potatoes seems to be one of those spur-of-the-moment recipes created from leftovers. This is a perfect budget-friendly dish option which you can easily make if you have some extra jacket potato left. There is nothing more simple – just top up your jacket potatoes with cheese, pepperoni, tomato, and basil, and put it on the oven. This is a pretty unusual dish which your kids will definitely adore!

Recipe: Taste Made – Pizza Baked Potato

Soft Scrambled Eggs

scrambled eggs
Flickr / Scrambled eggs

If you usually don’t cook, it’s good to know that at least you can make some scrambled eggs. They are the best choice if you want to have a protein breakfast, filled with flavor. Do you want your eggs to be as spongy as in restaurants and so that they don’t look like tortillas that have fallen out of a skyscraper? Then you should definitely check out this simple recipe to make perfect soft and creamy scrambled eggs.

Recipe: Pinch of Yum – Soft Scrambled Eggs

Chicken and Lime Soup

Chicken and lime soup is an easy and light traditional Mexican dish made of juicy chicken, onions, pepper, zingy lime, and cilantro. Soup with lime may sound a little bit unusual but you can trust us, once you try it – you won’t stop making it. You will get so much flavor for such a small budget. This soup 100% worth a try!

Recipe: Budget Bytes – Chicken and Lime Soup

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

pancakes
Maxpixel / Pancakes

Pancakes have already become the synonym of breakfast – because who doesn’t like to have something sweet in the morning? There can be nothing better than waking up on a Sunday morning to a stack of fluffy pancakes with crispy edges, topped up with maple syrup or honey. Find out how to get them right every time, whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning or a hurried weekday.

Recipe: Martha Stewart – Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

Easy Oven-Baked Fajitas

We all know the famous Mexican fajitas. They are a perfect dish if you want to make something new for dinner and make it in a Tex-Mex style. Fajitas are very fun to make and eat. You just have to fill your omelet with the ingredients you want, fold it and eat it. The best thing is that they can be filled with any meat you like – pork, beef or chicken, and it can also be accompanied by several types of sauces, guacamole, cheese or tomato sauce. So make these inexpensive and easy-to-make fajitas at home and save your family budget.

Recipe: Betty Crocker – Easy Oven-Baked Fajitas

Chicken Wings

chicken wings
Pixabay / Chicken wings

Chicken wings dressed with a slightly sweet and sour spicy sauce is a pretty common dish of American cuisine. Who doesn’t like to eat some wings as an aperitif while watching a game of basketball, football or baseball? Even though they are pretty “fattening” due to the high-calorie sauce, sometimes we can allow ourselves to have a little cheat day once in a while! Just try making these inexpensive chicken wings for your next gathering with friends. They’re gonna love it!

Recipe: Epicurious – Chicken Wings

Chickpeas and Rice

Chickpeas with rice is a healthy and nutritious dish. They also don’t have too many calories: only 200 per 100 grams, so it’s perfect for everyone who is on a diet. This dish is rich in carbohydrates, so it’s probably the best meal idea to have in the middle of the day to feel energized. And what’s more important it’s totally cheap!

Recipe: The Curious Chickpea – Chickpeas and Rice

Classic French Toast

Classic French Toast
Flickr / French toast

This Classic French toast is very quick and easy to make even on a weekday morning. Plus, it can be made with the most simple ingredients which you probably already have at your hand. Of course, you can get out and buy some fancy bread from the bakery but it’s not important. You can simply use a slice of bread you have at home, and still manage to make the best french toast in the world. Top it with anything you like – honey, jam, marmalade, maple syrup or fresh berries. Classic French toast is not just a quick and tasty breakfast treat but also one of those super cheap meals under $10 to make for your family in the morning.

Recipe: The Wholesome Dish – Classic French Toast

Indoor S’mores

S’mores are a traditional campfire treat that usually is made outside. But you can make them indoors, as well. And they can taste even better than the traditional ones. Firstly, these s’mores aren’t that messy. Secondly, you can prep them much earlier and scoop them up with crunchy graham crackers. This is something that lots of children would like to have at their party. But you can also make it for adults, because who doesn’t love s’mores?

Recipe: Food Network – Indoor S’mores

Guacamole with Tuna

Guacamole with Tuna
Flickr / Guacamole with tuna

Want to add some color to your everyday meal? This guacamole with tuna is just what you need! This is nutritious and very healthy appetizer is full of color and flavor. Plus, it is so easy to make that no one can resist! You will definitely want to share it with your family or friends, and be sure they will enjoy it!

Recipe: Bite of Health Nutrition – Guacamole with Tuna

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars bars are what is known as a healthy candy. They are ideal for those times you have sweet cravings and you can not decide whether to eat a piece of chocolate cake with chocolate coating or one of these delicious chocolate bars with peanut butter. They are very creamy and with an incomparable peanut flavor. No matter what day it is, if you love chocolate, candies, and peanuts, you will definitely love these Peanut Butter Bars!

Recipe: Tasty – No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Sweet N’ Spicy Chicken Bowl

Sweet N’ Spicy Chicken Bowl
Flickr / Chicken bowl

This Sweet N’ Spicy Chicken Bowl is the perfect example of a healthy and filling meal. Chicken is always one of the cheapest options when it comes to meat. So if you came here for the best cheap meals on a budget ideas, this is the one! This bowl is full of incredible flavor thanks to yummy dressing and all the healthy veggies that also come in a bowl is what makes this dish so fresh and healthy. Try making this super easy chicken bowl at home and you will have yourself a killer dinner.

Recipe: Budget Bytes – Sweet N’ Spicy Chicken Bowl

Chicken & Spinach Burger

A delicious recipe of one of the healthiest burgers you’ve ever tried! Hamburgers do not have a very good reputation. That’s because they are usually associated with fast food and junk food. But those ones that are cooked at home can be healthy. This time, we will make it healthier by adding some vegetables. If you want a healthy and flavorful recipe, prepare a chicken and spinach burger at home. But be prepared that your family may like this burger much more than a regular one from fast food.

Recipe: Family Food On The Table – Chicken & Spinach Burger

Raspberry & Strawberry Eton Mess

Raspberry & Strawberry Eton Mess
Flickr / Raspberry & strawberry eton mess

Raspberry & Strawberry Eton Mess is a traditional British dessert made with fresh raspberries and strawberries, meringues, and lots of whipped cream. Why “mess”? It perfectly describes the way it is made – berries, meringue, and cream messed together. This dessert is very handy if you have some leftover egg whites after making ice cream, custard, mayonnaise or spaghetti. Plus, the meringue can be kept in a box for at least a month. Even though it seems a little bit casual, it can be a wonderful holiday dessert as your cheap Valentine’s day idea. This dessert is just a dream! Try it, and you won’t regret making it!

Recipe: BBC Good Food – Raspberry & Strawberry Eton Mess

Tomatoes Filled with Tuna

These tomatoes stuffed with tuna is a very rich and simple first-course recipe. You just have to empty some tomatoes and mix the pulp with a few ingredients. This filling resembles a salad and is very easy to make. These tuna-filled tomatoes dish is a very good idea if you have a visit at home and want to surprise your guests. Take a look at how to make this delicious recipe in a few steps.

Recipe: Taste of Home – Tomatoes Filled with Tuna

3-Ingredient Lemon Cookies

3-Ingredient Lemon Cookies
Flickr / Lemon cookies

These lemon cookies are perfect to have in the afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee. They are light, soft and very fluffy. Besides, they a very quick and easy-to-make – you can mix up all the ingredients (there are only 3 of them!) in less than 5 minutes and in a blink of an eye you have them ready. But very often the smallest mistakes can affect the final result of cookies, that’s why you should read the recipe very attentively. Are you ready to bake these cheap 3-ingredient homemade lemon cookies?

Recipe: Somewhat Simple – 3-Ingredient Lemon Cookies

Vegetable and Chicken Saute

Vegetable and chicken saute is a very good idea if you want to make the main dish in just a few minutes. This saute is very easy to make. To make chicken (the main ingredient) even you could make it with some spices. To cook saute, you can use a normal pan or a wok, whatever you prefer the most. If you want to prepare a dish that everyone will like, make this vegetable and chicken saute. It’s very cheap and easy!

Recipe: Better Homes and Gardens – Vegetable and Chicken Saute

Chocolate Muffins

Chocolate Muffins
Flickr / Chocolate muffins

To make a tasty breakfast does not take much effort. Because preparing homemade chocolate muffins doesn’t require lots of work. Cooking them will be very easy if you know the recipe. Besides, as in almost all pastry, you do not need many ingredients but you will definitely need lots of cocoa powder since it’s the main ingredient of these muffins. The chocolate muffins are one of those traditional dessert recipes that lots of us receive from our mothers and grandmothers. But this recipe is just as good. If you have some chocoholics at home, they will definitely love it!

Recipe: AllRecipes – Chocolate Muffins

Rice with Milk

Rice pudding is a traditional dessert in most Latin American countries, it is prepared with rice, milk, cinnamon, sugar, raisins, and condensed milk. As expected, such a popular dessert like this has a lot of variations, and not only in Latin countries but also all over the world. There is an Asian style rice pudding with different spices such as cardamom and rose water, in Spain, they make it without raisins or cinnamon, but they put orange rind and orange blossom water. But no matter which recipe you’ll want to make, it will be still pretty cheap, tasty and very easy to cook, even for inexperienced chefs.

Recipe: Genius Kitchen – Rice with Milk

Avocado, Cheese and Egg Toast

Avocado, Cheese and Egg Toast
Flickr / Avocado, cheese and egg toast

Breakfast is what our bodies really need most every morning. It sets the right tone for the whole day, and there can be nothing better than having a good, healthy breakfast to start a brand new day. If you a fan of sandwiches for breakfast, so this avocado, cheese and egg toast is what you really should try! It can be ideal for any part of the day, not just breakfast. Also, to make it healthier you can choose whole grain bread instead of white bread. And it will keep you fool for much longer.

Recipe: Instructables – Avocado, Cheese and Egg Toast

Fish Meatballs

These fish meatballs recipe is a wonderful take on traditional meatballs and a great way to make your children eat more fish at home. It’s an easy-to-make and inexpensive appetizer recipe that you can pair with spicy rice. They can also be accompanied with the same sauces as the traditional meatballs. You can also make them for lunch and dinner because they are high in fiber and are loaded with proteins and full of incredible taste. Your family and guests will definitely love them!

Recipe: Times of India – Fish Meatballs

Oatmeal and Banana Cookies

Oatmeal and Banana Cookies
Flickr / Oatmeal and banana cookies

Make these super healthy oatmeal and banana cookies without a pinch of sugar (they are naturally sweetened). In fact, it is a very simple recipe. It is made with only 3 ingredients. Even though it does not carry an egg, it still gives a very good result and you get very moist banana cookies. They are cooked in the oven for less than 20 minutes. So if you want to drink a cup of tea or coffee with some healthy cookies, this recipe is a very good idea for you.

Recipe: Fit Foodie Finds – Oatmeal and Banana Cookies

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake
Pixabay / Carrot cake

And we’d like to finish our cheap food ideas list with a delightful dessert – a carrot cake for Easter or just for a family dinner. It’s sweet but without being too sweet. Plus, you won’t need any fancy equipment that is usually used for baking cakes. Cooking it will be as easy as putting together all the ingredients in a large bowl, pouring them into a mold and baking them. After it’s done you can top it up with an easy homemade cream cheese frosting. That is exactly how easy it is. In the end, you will get a perfectly moist and full of flavor carrot cake. Your family won’t stop at one piece!

Recipe: Tasty – Carrot Cake

Do not miss our selection of dinner ideas under $20 and homemade recipes, and follow our tips on how to make inexpensive meals for big family. If you want to receive more updates on the latest saving money tips as well as some ideas for making extra money for your family budget, subscribe to our mailing list!

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    Emily

    32 thoughts on “55 Cheap Meals for Large Families

    1. Tammy says:

      As a single person, I loved how simple a lot of these ideas are since I’m usually only cooking for myself. I really enjoy soup, but I tend to run out of ideas, so I’ll definitely be saving this list for inspiration. And all the egg-based meals! Great protein on a budget, and now I’ve got more ideas for how to cook them. Luvit.

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you 🙂

    2. Allen says:

      I’m going to bookmark this article right now! This is such a good list of budget friendly meals and all the options are balanced for a nice variety . I might have to try some chicken kebabs or courgette fritters this weekend before . I definitely think this will help my stick to my budget, especially as I’ve been eating out a lot this year.

      1. Emily says:

        Oh, thank you!
        Courgette fritters are very tasty 🙂

    3. Tori says:

      I loved this article! I loved how simple the ideas are, and how they can be prepared for either one or multiple people. Fantastic array of both meat and veggie dishes, and it seems like a lot of them will be really easy to prepare. As a foodie on a budget, I’m definitely saving this one for new ideas.

      1. Emily says:

        Everything is simple in cooking. You just need more free time 😉

    4. Eilidha says:

      Hi, very nice website, cheers!

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you 🙂

    5. Paolo says:

      An outstanding cheap meals list! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who had been doing a little homework on this. And he, in fact, bought me breakfast because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this….
      Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this matter here on your blog.

      1. Emily says:

        Oh, you’re so lucky! Free breakfast – awesome 🙂

    6. Opr says:

      Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead! Just wanted to tell you to keep up the fantastic job!

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you so much!

    7. Bibi says:

      A lot of thanks for all of the hard work on this website. My aunt really loves cooking on a tight budget. I know all concerning the powerful form you create helpful thoughts via your blog. You are always performing a fantastic job.

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you very much!

    8. Lisa says:

      Like it! Was looking for some list of inexpensive meal for dinner ideas to make before my next payday. I have recreated some of those for my family and they really liked it. Especially my husband when he found out how cheap it was 😀
      100% Going to recreate that Sausage and Beans Stew for our Thanksgiving dinner.
      Thanks a lot!

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you too, Lisa!

        Do you know that you can get a free turkey for Thanksgiving dinner? If not, just read: https://promoneysavings.com/free-turkey-for-thanksgiving/

        Bon appetite 🙂

    9. Trainer says:

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      1. Emily says:

        You’re always welcome 🙂

    10. Son says:

      I discovered your blog website on Yahoo and read a couple of your early posts. Interesting and useful. Continue writing! I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader.

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you, you’re amazing!

    11. mike says:

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      1. Emily says:

        From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

    12. Typical says:

      You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the greatest websites on the net. I’m going to highly recommend this blog!

      1. Emily says:

        Please accept my deepest thanks!

    13. Willy says:

      I simply had to thank you again. It truly was a real alarming issue in my position. I’ want to save money with cheap dinners. Now I’m happy for this assistance and even trust you are aware of an amazing job you are carrying out through a site.

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you too, Willy!

    14. monamo says:

      I wanna thank you very much over again for these amazing ideas you have discussed here. I am sure there are many more pleasant times in the future for people who take a look at your blog.

      1. Emily says:

        Thank you too!

    15. Spongebob5 says:

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      1. Emily says:

        My thanks and appreciation!

    16. Kevin says:

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      1. Emily says:

        Thank you very much, Kevin!

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