Feeding a large, hungry family is no joke. Sure, you can double or even triple your favorite recipes — but who has time for that every night? These cheap dinner recipes for large families each make a whopping six servings (or more). Plus, they're pretty easy on the wallet. You'll come back to this budget-friendly dinner collection again and again.
01of 26
Hungarian Goulash
View Recipe
"This Hungarian goulash recipe is a spicy way to dress up stew beef. My mom made this when we were kids, and we loved it. It is spicy but not mouth-burning! It can be made with cheaper cuts of beef and will still turn out very tender." —ENVIRO2
02of 26
Simple Chicken and Noodles
View Recipe
"This is a recipe my grandmother used. She lived on a chicken farm, so it is as basic and simple as it can get. Usually all we have to accompany this recipe is mashed potatoes. It's really nice on cold days and extremely cheap to make." —Clara
03of 26
Easy Taco Casserole
View Recipe
"Love it! Easy to make and the whole family likes it, which is unusual." —Roni
04of 26
Winter Lentil Vegetable Soup
View Recipe
"This soup has very little fat, is cheap and easy to make, and delicious. Our family practically lives on it in the winter and I usually double the recipe." —Cecile Leverman
05of 26
Salisbury Steak
View Recipe
"This recipe has been in my family for years. It's easy to cook, but tastes like it took hours to make! I usually make enough extra sauce to pour over mashed potatoes." —Kelly Berenger
06of 26
Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs
View Recipe
"Crispy chicken thighs are baked in the oven with a flavorful, homemade spice rub. The bone-in chicken thighs stay moist and juicy while the skin crisps up beautifully. Serve this budget-friendly main dish alongside any side dish for a dinner the whole family will love." —Nicole Burdett
07of 26
Black Beans and Rice
View Recipe
"Black beans and rice make a great 30-minute vegetarian meal that's filling, delicious, and cheap! Great as a side dish or in a burrito bowl, too." —Eileen Mintz
08of 26
Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup
View Recipe
"This easy chicken tortilla soup is a delicious, zesty soup recipe with only 6 canned ingredients!" —Terryn
09of 26
Slow Cooker Taco Soup
View Recipe
"This is a quick, throw together slow cooker soup packed with all the flavors you'd expect in a Tex-Mex chili." —Janeen Barlow
10of 26
Nicole's Best Baked Ziti
View Recipe
"Perfectly baked pasta absorbs flavor from the tangy tomato sauce, contrasting beautifully with the creamy ricotta mixture. This budget-friendly meal tastes like you spent all day making it!" —Nicole McLaughlin
11of 26
Easy Cheap and Yummy Casserole
View Recipe
"Cheap, quick, easy, and the kids love it, how can you go wrong?" —Ms. Chef Esh
12of 26
Best Tuna Noodle Casserole
View Recipe
"This tuna noodle casserole is the best with a classic creamy taste from my childhood. The sauce is rich and creamy but not overwhelmingly heavy. The crunch from the topping and fresh bite from the parsley create the perfect balance. Let's not forget that this is a great budget-friendly meal to feed a crowd!" —Nicole McLaughlin
13of 26
Ground Beef and Cabbage
View Recipe
"This ground beef and cabbage recipe was my mother's. She was a country cook, plain and simple. But as I have traveled and worked and experienced foods from around the world, I look back and realize that many of the dishes she prepared, while simple, were perfect for that moment." —mtgraham2
14of 26
Quick Fix Tortellini Soup
View Recipe
"Creamy Italian-style soup that is filling and budget-friendly. My wonderful friend Janet shared this recipe with me and my family loves it. I usually have all the items in my pantry for a last minute supper or surprise guests!" —shasty
15of 26
Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole
View Recipe
"I grew up with this chicken and rice casserole recipe. My Grandmother got it from a lady from church at a pot luck a long time ago! She passed it down to my mom and it's always been a family favorite. Quick and easy for school nights, and the leftovers are just as good!" —katiefbenham
16of 26
Hamburger Kidney Casserole
View Recipe
"My mom used to make this when I was a child. It was a meal that was budget friendly for a family of six. Plus, it is full of protein!" —thedailygourmet
17of 26
Grandma's Hamburger Casserole
View Recipe
"My grandmother's hamburger casserole is classic comfort food! Featuring ground beef, noodles, and a creamy cheese sauce, this simple recipe dates back to the 1940s." —LaDonna Langwell
18of 26
Mostaccioli
View Recipe
"Mostaccioli (or penne) pasta is tossed in my own spaghetti sauce in this versatile, delicious, and budget-friendly dish. You can make the sauce ahead to save time." —Luv2cook
19of 26
Cilantro-Lime Grilled Chicken
View Recipe
"This marinated grilled chicken is not only fast and easy, it's also budget-friendly and kid-approved! Serve with lime wedges and pico de gallo." —muchemwa
20of 26
Easy Sesame Chicken
View Recipe
"This sweet and savory dish is simple to make and budget-friendly. Add broccoli and serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal." —CookingWithSheila
21of 26
Hamburger Potato Casserole
View Recipe
"I followed the recipe exactly and I’ve made it about 3-4 times. It is SO good. Stick to your ribs comfort food. Tasty, easy, inexpensive and with a side salad, is just perfect! Love it!!” —Elizabeth Russell Lindsey
22of 26
Adobo Chicken with Ginger
View Recipe
"Chicken adobo is considered the national dish of the Philippines. The combination of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and peppercorns is delicious and actually preserves the chicken! My mother taught me how to cook this using her variation on the original recipe. It's a delicious, cheap, and easy dish." —Liz Cranis
23of 26
Sloppy Joes
View Recipe
"I wanted a Sloppy Joe recipe that was quick and easy, a little sweet, but not unbearably sweet. This was AWESOME! I make it once every 2 weeks. Quick and easy, especially on a day when we have soccer practices!" —momof2ingeorgia
24of 26
Simple Hamburger Stroganoff
View Recipe
"Quick and easy last minute dinner...tastes delicious too!" —Antonia Frasier
25of 26
Million Dollar Spaghetti
View Recipe
"Million dollar spaghetti is the perfect combination of noodles, lean ground beef sauce, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream. It's unbelievably good!" —Coqui30
26of 26
More Inspiration
- 35 Cheap Chicken Recipes for Weeknight Dinners
- 15 Budget-Friendly Dinners Using Pantry Ingredients
- 15 Cheap Casseroles to Make on a Budget