These easy meals for large families are so easy that you’ll want them on your meal plan all month long! Simple, easy recipes to feed a crowd.
Trying to keep up with all the eating demands of a large family is exhausting!
You know meal planning would make it all easier… but feeding a large family on a tight budget seems intimidating.
Well, worry no more. I’ve compiled a list of easy meals for large families that our family of 8 loves!
And you’ll love them, too.
Here’s why:
Meal time is tough enough. The kids are fussy during that transition part of the day.
You’re tired of making decisions.
And you can’t help but wonder why you have to feed all of these people every.single.day. (You’re halfway kidding, of course!)
Well. This list of cheap meals for large families has some rules that make it all easier.
These recipes are all easy, affordable, and taste good so the kids don’t refuse to come to the table.
(Foods that most of them like, because pleasing everyone all the time is impossible. Not to mention that I have no desire to cater to every whim of my children.)
These recipes are a must for your large family home!
Your budget will thank you for putting these meals on the table!
50 Easiest Meals for Large Families That Will Make Everyone Happy
Keep track of it all with your free grocery list template:
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Breakfast
Generally my breakfasts are things I make ahead of time. I’m not a morning person, so you won’t often catch me getting up with the sun to make bacon and eggs.
So I either make these recipes ahead of time, or I at least have them made and in the fridge. All I need to do the next morning is pop them in the oven. No reading before coffee required!
Breakfast Casseroles & Recipes They’ll Beg For
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Cranberry Apple Casserole (I like to grab cranberries on the cheap at Thanksgiving and throw them in the freezer for later.)
Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
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Oatmeal
Scrappy Baked Oatmeal This is a favorite way to use up leftover fruit that’s past the eating stage but not yet bad.
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars Just the recipe for that child who can barely grab breakfast on his way out the door.
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Icing I adore this recipe! Both for taste and for another grab and go option.
Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake
Banana Bread
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Lunch Recipes For Large Families
I love putting together a giant batch of muffins. You can grab them and go for an easy lunch (or breakfast!). Here are some recipes we love.
I like to whip up a batch of Money Saving Mom’s cornbread. Then I put it in muffin tins and drop a piece of cut up hot dog into each tin. We call them corn dog muffins. I hate hot dogs, but I love these little treats!
Apple Muffins (So good, makes a nice big batch!)
Hard boiled eggs
Quesadillas For days at home, I bought a quesadilla maker. Even my first grader can use this to make her own cheese quesadilla with some training and guidance!
Great Dinner Ideas for Family
We love having a freezer filled with meat. It’s cheaper to buy in bulk, and it usually tastes better, too.
Casseroles
Casseroles and soups will give you the most bang for your buck. The best recipes let you dump the ingredients and get on with your life. If a recipe requires extra steps for cooking on the stove top, it’s got to be easy and taste good enough for the extra effort.
Hamburger Noodle Bake Think lasagna without all the fuss.
Black Bean Enchilada Casserole
Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole No wrapping required!
Chili (My Hubby makes it. You probably have your own favorite recipe.)
Lazy Lasagna (Just 3 ingredients!)
Dump and Bake Chicken Parmesan
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Simple Stove Top/One Pot Meals
Spaghetti (You always make enough to feed 20 people anyway, right?)
Chili Mac I double this recipe
Tacos. We eat tacos every single week, and we aren’t picky about the filling. Use burger and beans, fish, chicken, or pork. If you like the traditional ground beef with a packet of taco seasoning (or use your own seasonings), you can dump beans right in with the browned beef to get all the flavor at a much smaller price.
Crock Pot
Chicken Slop: You might want to use a different title, but that’s what I call it! Put chicken breasts in the crock pot. Top with a couple packs of stuffing. Then pour on two cans of cream of chicken soup with a small carton of sour cream (however much you like). Easy and filling on a busy day. (No, we don’t eat like this every day.)
Pork Roast: Add potatoes and carrots with plenty of your favorite spices and herbs. Pour in an inch of water before you cook on low all day.
Chicken Tortilla Soup by Simply Stacie
Meat
My hubby likes to grill meat whenever possible. And I love to let him! Less dishes and mess in the kitchen is always great. Otherwise, here are some cheap meals for large groups.
Baked Tilapia with Lots of Spice I find tilapia one of the more affordable fish options.
Roast Beef This recipe would make even cheaper cuts of beef taste tender and delicious.
Pork Tenderloin I can often find this for $1.88 per pound or less. Mine is never done in the 45 minutes they suggest, so plan to at least double that cooking time. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t dry out. Or just throw this recipe into the crock pot!
Pleasant Pork Chops Another tasty way to turn cheap meat into a tender, delicious meal.
Favorite Ways to Use Up Leftovers
One of my top tips for saving money on groceries is to start with what you already have. What’s hanging out in the fridge? Catch it before it turns into a science experiment! Aside from the above mentioned soups and casseroles, our favorite ways to use up leftovers include:
Salad bar Use leftover meats and cheeses as toppings
Pulled pork Delicious way to use up leftover pork roast
Baked potato bar Top with chili, salsa, or (if you’re boring like my kids) just butter and sour cream
Leftover Mashed Potato Puffs I haven’t made this exact recipe yet, but I’m excited to give it a try soon!
Easy Homemade Pizza Dough This pizza dough recipe is delicious, and ready to go in 10 minutes. We even love homemade pizza on weeknights! Top with sauce (I make my own from cheap cans of tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and a little oil). Sprinkle on your cheese and top with whatever meats or veggies you have in the fridge or freezer.
Desserts
Bread Pudding This is a Paula Deen recipe. You have been warned.
Lemon Bars Perfect on a hot day, though I usually just sprinkle powdered sugar over the top.
Pumpkin Dump Cake by Cincy Shopper
Keep these inexpensive recipes for large families handy!
What will you do now that you don’t have to make one more decision during the toughest time of the day?
Oh, you know. The other 500 things we large family moms have to worry about. 😉
For even more recipes, be sure to check out these large family dinner ideas!!
What are your favorite easy meals for large families?
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I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. 
Thanks, for the great collection! This will be very useful.