25 Cheap and Easy Meals for Families of 4 or more! (2024)

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These yummy 25 cheap and easy healthy meals are perfect for families of 4 or more. Save money by eating at home instead of going out to eat. Several of these recipes cost less than $5 to make.

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Vegan Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole - Dump and Bake!

Photo Credit:keytomylime.com

This is the BEST healthy broccoli cheese casserole with rice! It’s so savory and creamy. It makes the perfect easy weeknight recipe that's also budget-friendly!

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Rotisserie Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers

Photo Credit:keytomylime.com

Rotisserie Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers make the perfect easy, healthy, and low carb weeknight meal! With only 10 minutes of hands-on time and 30 minutes in the oven, you’ll have dinner ready in no time! Since it only needs 4 ingredients, it's also very budget-friendly!

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Instant Pot Lentils & Rice (Mujadara)

Photo Credit:pipingpotcurry.com

Lentils and rice cooked with fragrant spices and topped with caramelized onions. You will love this one-pot version where you don’t have to cook lentils and rice separately. This vegan and gluten free dish is also budget friendly and nutritious.

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One Pan Cheeseburger Pasta

Photo Credit:jenaroundtheworld.com

This one pan cheeseburger pasta can be made for around $7 and can feed a family of 6! It’s a copycat version of hamburger helper but tastes so much better and the best part? It only takes 15 minutes to make.

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Low Carb Spanakopita Recipe (Low Carb Spinach Quiche)

Photo Credit:mindbodyandspiritwellbeing.com

This quick keto dinner recipe is the perfect keto snack that supplies us with healthy fats, essential minerals and vitamins, and works perfectly as a fast and easy low carb dinner recipe!

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Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Copycat

Photo Credit:drivemehungry.com

Tender pan-seared chicken stir-fried with mushrooms and zucchini in a delicious Asian soy ginger garlic sauce! Cheaper and faster than getting take out!

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Keto Spaghetti Squash Recipe With Chicken

Photo Credit:anyreasonlife.com

This affordable spaghetti squash recipe with chicken thighs is crazy delicious. Crockpot recipes are always so flavorful. Additionally, the slow cooker really makes the squash noodles taste like regular pasta.

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Crescent Roll Cheeseburger Pie Cups - Any Reason Life

Photo Credit:anyreasonlife.com

This easy Crescent Roll Cheeseburger Pie Cups recipe is the perfect simple family meal. This recipe requires minimal effort and tastes so delicious. Cheeseburger ground beef biscuit cups are cheap to make and less messy than regular burgers.

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Kielbasa and Potatoes Recipe

Photo Credit:momfoodie.com

Kielbasa and Potatoes is a popular and delicious budget dinner. Polish comfort food is filling and easy to make.

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Vegetable Barley Soup

Photo Credit:theclevermeal.com

You need just a few basic ingredients like barley, carrots, celery, onion, and frozen peas, and you can throw together this pot of delicious barley soup with less than $1 per serving!

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Potato Pasta (pasta e patate)

Photo Credit:theclevermeal.com

This creamy and utterly delicious potato pasta is your go-to recipe. It calls for a few humble and budget-friendly ingredients, it takes less than 20 minutes of prep time and $1 per serving.

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Neapolitan Layered Pasta Bake

Photo Credit:creativecynchronicity.com

This simple pasta casserole is a much-requested family favorite! It's a quick and easy take on lasagna that can be made as-is (meatless) or can be a fantastic way of using up leftover meats and vegetables. It's even made with basic ingredients that most people have on hand. Win-win!

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One Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

Photo Credit:tastesofhomemade.com

This chicken pot pie is quick and easy. Using left over chicken, a few veggies and refrigerated biscuits, it is budget-friendly and delicious!

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Instant Pot Greek Lemon Butter Fettuccine Pasta + Video

Photo Credit:thisoldgal.com

Instant Pot Greek Lemon Butter Fettuccine Pasta with a simple, fresh creamy lemon yogurt sauce; a Mediterranean dish easily made in your pressure cooker.

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Cheesy Mexican Lasagna Recipe

Photo Credit:www.restlesschipotle.com

Mexican lasagna recipe made with tortillas is gooey and cheesy – the perfect mixture of Italian and Tex-Mex. Corn tortillas are layered with cheese, refried beans, and spiced ground beef to create an easy, make-ahead meal the whole family will love.

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Hamburger Soup With Macaroni

Photo Credit:recipepocket.com

An easy versatile soup that can be customized to suit your taste and budget. This hamburger soup with macaroni is a complete meal in one bowl.

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Easy Meat Lasagna Recipe for hungry families

Photo Credit:www.thecuriousfrugal.com

Lasagna is a super frugal dish which will feed a crowd (or just a hungry family!) This recipe will show you a couple of time-saving tips to get the lasagna on your table faster!

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Three-Cheese Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe

Photo Credit:www.powered-by-mom.com

Three-Cheese Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe Make ahead and freeze for a rainy day. Easy make and oh so delicious.

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20-Minute Bow Tie Pasta Alfredo

Photo Credit:momswhosave.com

Here’s a recipe for pasta alfredo your family will love. It takes just 20 minutes to make this delicious dinner! This recipe is vegetarian, but you can add chicken or shrimp if you’d like.

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Healthy Chicken Strips Recipe - Gluten Free Almond Flour Chicken

Photo Credit:mranimalfarm.com

These easy, healthy chicken strips can be served over salad for a complete meal. They are about $2.50/serving.

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Creamy Ham and Potato Soup

Photo Credit:mariasmixingbowl.com

This rich and hearty soup is total comfort food. A loaf a crusty bread and dinner is done.

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Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

Photo Credit:mariasmixingbowl.com

Creamy chicken spaghetti is a favorite and can be made in a matter of minutes. An easy delicious dinner in no time!

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BBQ Chicken Braid

Photo Credit:easybudgetrecipes.com

This BBQ Chicken Braid recipe makes 2 large braids, feeds a crowd, and costs just $9.54 to make and $1.20 per serving!

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Instant Pot Bagels Lox and Cream Cheese Pasta + Video

Photo Credit:thisoldgal.com

Instant Pot Bagels Lox and Cream Cheese Pasta is perfect for Sunday brunch. ‘Bagels, Lox and Cream Cheese’ reimagined into a wagon wheel pasta meal, in about 20 minutes!

Related Posts:

  • 27 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes to Make Dinner Easy
  • 31 Scrumptious Chicken Crock-Pot Recipes for Busy Moms
  • 13 Best Hacks for Healthy Grocery Budgeting – Save tons of money!

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25 Cheap and Easy Meals for Families of 4 or more! (2024)

FAQs

How to feed a family of 4 for $5? ›

Feed the Family for Under $5
  1. Chicken Pot Pie Soup. ...
  2. Pesto Pasta Bake. ...
  3. Mushroom and Leek Pie. ...
  4. Pasta Al Forno. ...
  5. Swiss Chicken. ...
  6. Red Lentil Egg Bake. ...
  7. Air Fryer Biscuit Pizzas. ...
  8. Cheesy Broccoli Chickpea Rice.

How do you feed a family of 4 on a budget? ›

How to feed your family for less - Experts tips for shopping and cooking on a budget
  1. Don't feel pressured to always buy fresh. ...
  2. Eat seasonally. ...
  3. Substitute pricey lettuce. ...
  4. Meal plan with the catalogue in hand. ...
  5. Top trick to find the lowest priced groceries. ...
  6. Learn how to stretch your food further. ...
  7. Shop the 'dodgy' bin.

What is the cheapest food that can feed a lot of people? ›

Pasta is one of the cheapest and most filling pantry staples you can buy, and that's exactly why it's the perfect food to feed to a crowd! Plus, everyone loves a good pasta dish. Grab yourself a buffet server warming tray so you can pop your cooked pasta inside and keep it warm all evening long!

What cheap food makes you full? ›

Bananas, apples, oranges, and kiwi are not only cheap but filling. Bananas and apples we recommend adding a heavy dollop of your favorite nut butter or peanut butter for an even more filling treat or snack. Oranges and kiwi are juicy, and not only will the fruit fill you, but the juice will quench any thirst as well!

How to cook for a lot of people cheap? ›

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families
  1. 01 of 26. Hungarian Goulash. View Recipe. ...
  2. 02 of 26. Simple Chicken and Noodles. ...
  3. 03 of 26. Easy Taco Casserole. ...
  4. 04 of 26. Winter Lentil Vegetable Soup. ...
  5. 05 of 26. Salisbury Steak. ...
  6. 06 of 26. Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs. ...
  7. 07 of 26. Black Beans and Rice. ...
  8. 08 of 26. Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Feb 22, 2024

What is a good grocery budget for family of 4? ›

Average Costs and Variations

The average cost of food at home for a family of four, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ranges from $567 to $1,296 per month, which comes out to approximately $130 to $300 per week.

What are some budget meals? ›

68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  • Buffalo Chickpea Wraps. ...
  • 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken. ...
  • Garlic Veggie Rotini Pasta. ...
  • Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. ...
  • Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With Avocado Crema. ...
  • Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. ...
  • Energy-Boosting Buddha Bowl. ...
  • Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto.
May 3, 2024

What is the average cost to feed a family of 4? ›

On average, a family of four can expect to spend anywhere between $500 to $1,000 per month on groceries, depending on factors such as dietary choices, quality of ingredients, and location.

How do you start a budget for a family of 4? ›

Build a budget that makes sense for your family with this simple step-by-step process.
  1. Set a financial goal.
  2. Determine exactly how much you make.
  3. Figure out exactly what you're spending.
  4. Create your budget.
  5. Use a budget tracking system.
  6. Trim unnecessary expenses.
  7. Allocate your savings.
  8. Keep adjusting your budget.

How to stretch $100 for groceries? ›

How to Stretch Dollars at the Grocery Store
  1. Stretch time between supermarket visits.
  2. Plan ahead.
  3. Buy produce on sale and in season.
  4. Buy foods whole.
  5. Schedule prep work.
  6. Buy in bulk when possible.
  7. Make meat the accent.
  8. Make soup.

How do you feed a family of 4 on 20 a week? ›

Here are her top eight pieces of advice that will help feed a family of four for £20 a week...
  1. Do batch cooking. ...
  2. Buy in bulk. ...
  3. Bulk out meat dishes. ...
  4. Learn to make basic sauces. ...
  5. Avoid buying the expensive jars of dried herbs. ...
  6. Learn how to store your food. ...
  7. Shop around. ...
  8. Bake your own treats.

What do low income people eat? ›

Lower-income households purchase more cereals, pasta, potatoes, legumes, and fatty meats. Their vegetables and fruits are often limited to iceberg lettuce, potatoes, canned corn, bananas, and frozen orange juice.

What is the cheapest meat to feed a crowd? ›

10 Budget-Friendly Cuts of Meat
  • Ribs (pork or beef)
  • Flat steak (flank, hanger or skirt)
  • Ground beef or ground turkey.
  • Beef brisket.
  • Pork shoulder.
  • Chuck eye steak.
  • Whole chicken.
  • Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) or drumsticks.

What is most people's least favorite food? ›

The most hated food title goes to the anchovy, with 50% of those polled saying they hated the fish. Of that number, 58% of anchovy haters were women and 43% were men. With Halloween coming up, it might be prudent to stock up on any candy other than black licorice.

What is the cheapest thing to make for dinner? ›

68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  • Black Bean Burgers. ...
  • Creamy Tomato Shells. ...
  • Zucchini Corn Quesadillas. ...
  • Super-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad. ...
  • Chicken and Mandarin Salad With Simple Sesame Dressing. ...
  • Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro With Shrimp. ...
  • Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers.
May 3, 2024

How do I make a food budget for a family of 5? ›

You can also look at the last three to six months of your family's grocery bills and calculate a monthly average. Divide that amount by the number of members of your family. Once you see how much you're actually spending per person each month, you can adjust your budget accordingly.

How to feed 12 people cheaply? ›

Create a “Bar” and feed everyone cafeteria-style

There are lots of bar ideas out there, such as the Nacho bar, Baked potato bar, Burrito bar, Hot dog bar, Root Beer float bar, Hawaiian Haystacks bar, Sandwich bar, etc. All of these can be done on the cheap, and links to all these ideas can be found below.

How to budget groceries for a family of 6? ›

How much should you budget for your family of six? USDA Thrifty Food Plan recommends allocating $1126 a month for families with young children and $1546 for those with older children. Check these stats to gauge how your family's food costs measure up. Looking for some cost-saving food options?

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