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Home » Recipe Type » Dinner

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families Under $10

By: Pamela Reed
Posted:6/3/19
Updated:4/23/25

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Cheap Meals for Large Families

Feeding your large family doesn’t need to be expensive, in fact you can feed your family of 6+ for less than $10 a night.    All the recipes below do that, and many of them are actually 8-12 servings! 

That means that not only does $10 run enough for dinner, but you also get a few leftover meals for lunch in there too!  That means double savings!

Need more budget recipes?  Check out Cheap Dinner Recipes for $5 and Cheap Chicken Recipes for more budget saving meals!

Feeding a Family on a Budget Tips

Here’s the best foods to buy to feed a family on a budget.  These items are usually bought in bulk for multiple dinner servings.

  • Pasta, especially look for 5 boxes for $5 savings that stores often do
  • Rice, skip the 32 ounce bags and look for 5 or 10 pound bags
  • Dried beans,  skip the canned beans and stock up on dried beans
  • Meat, always buy family packs which are less per pound.  If you have a large freezer you can stock up on good sales!

My family invested in a food vacuum sealer and it’s really helped with keeping costs down.  With this machine, we can freeze so many different types of foods without worrying that they might get freezer burn.  I use this machine for everything including meat, vegetables, bread and even pantry items like nuts.  

We grow a lot of vegetables in our garden, many of which we freeze for later usage.  This helps us save money so we can avoid buying expensive vegetables in the Winter when they’re out of season.  

How to Preserve Vegetables to Save Money

Cheap Dinner Ideas

Here’s 25 meals for your family, all under $10. I separated them into category for easy viewing.

Instant Pot Meals

Instant Pot Tacos
Use chicken, cherry tomatoes, green peppers and onion to make delicious shredded chicken tacos in the Instant Pot! So easy, so good! (Servings: 6)

Instant Pot Vegetable Lo Mein (Servings: 8)
“Better than takeout Instant Pot Vegetable Chow Mein. Easy to make in the Instant Pot!”

Instant Pot Budget Meals

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili (Servings: 6)
“This White Chicken Chili is easy and full of flavor. With only real-food, gluten-free ingredients, it’s a healthy comforting meal that can be made either in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.”

Instant Pot Soup Recipe

Instant Pot Tomato Soup (Servings: 8)
“Creamy Instant Pot Tomato Soup is thick, hearty and so comforting. This delicious pressure cooker tomato soup is a healthy dump and start recipe that is made absolutely no oil at all. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Budget Crockpot Meals

Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Cabbage (Servings: 6)
“EASY SLOW COOKER Kielbasa and Cabbage recipe! Throw Beef Kielbasa, Cabbage, Onions and Potatoes in a crockpot and dinner will be ready in 6 hours!”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Green Bean and Broccoli Casserole (Servings: 6)
“This comforting Green Bean Broccoli Casserole (With Frozen Vegetables) comes together quickly with the help of frozen vegetables, canned mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, and crunchy Ritz crackers. “

Creamy Crockpot Italian Chicken (Servings: 6)
“Creamy Italian Chicken – Made In The Crockpot With Just 4 Simple Ingredients. A Family Favorite Meal That’s Perfect For Busy Weeknights.”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Healthy Crockpot Chili (Servings: 12)
“This healthy Crockpot chili is such an easy vegan dinner recipe for a busy night. It’s a cozy combination of beans and vegetables in a flavorful sauce.”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Crockpot Layered Bean Burritos (Servings: 8)
Layered bean burritos made in the crockpot including spices, onion, beans, tomato sauce, chilies, and cheese!

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Budget Pasta Meals

Italian Pasta Salad (Servings: 6)
“EASY Italian Pasta Salad recipe!  This vegetarian recipe uses Italian dressing, tri color pasta, fresh cherry tomatoes, celery and arugula! It’s the perfect garden Summer salad!”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

MiMi’s Baked Ziti (Servings: 12)
“Warm and hearty baked ziti is sure to fill up your heart and your stomach.  A family friendly dinner that is sure to leave them all happy and satisfied!”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Chicken Parmesan Casserole (Servings: 8)
“Chicken Parmesan casserole that calls for linguine pasta, olive oil, chicken breasts, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and seasonings.”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

5 Ingredient Stuffed Shells (Servings: 6)
“These 5-ingredient spinach and ricotta stuffed shells is a quick and simple vegetarian pasta dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight or a special occasion. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Chicken Spaghetti (Servings: 8)
“Do you need a recipe that will feed a crowd yet is delicious and inexpensive? This is a family favorite. It can be prepared the day before and refrigerated until you need to bake it. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Cheesy Taco Penne (Servings: 6)
“Ground beef pasta recipes are my go to recipe when I need an easy dinner. Especially after we cook tacos for our family and have extra leftover taco meat. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Spaghetti Casserole (Servings: 8)
“This Spaghetti Casserole is easy and perfect for your weeknight dinner! Spaghetti Casserole is a perfect use up for letover turkey or ham!”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Parsley Parmesan Pasta (Servings: 6)
“Parsley Parmesan Pasta recipe that takes 15 minutes to make and costs less than $4.   Blend the parsley with other simple ingredients to make a nut free pesto sauce and then pour on top of pasta! “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Budget Soup Recipes

Creamy Polish Dill Pickle Soup (Servings: 8)

Polish Dill Pickle Soup made with dill pickles and pickle juice in a creamy chicken broth.  Filled with hearty vegetables and not overly pickle tasting, everybody will like this at the dinner table!

Tomato and Rice Soup (Servings: 6)
“This hearty tomato and rice soup is an easy and budget-friendly dinner idea! With just a few pantry staples, this recipe comes together quickly.”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Roasted Eggplant Soup (Servings: 6)
“Roasted Eggplant Soup recipe made with eggplant, carrots and garlic.  This creamy healthy soup is easy to make and only 222 calories a serving. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Cheap Dinners with Meat

Baked Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes (servings 4) are made in a 9×13 baking dish. This makes the most tender chicken breasts with sweet tomatoes! We love this recipe when we’re picking cherry tomatoes in the garden!

Easy pork fried rice (servings 6) made with cold rice, pork loin, frozen vegetables and eggs. This is such an easy meal and costs less than $7 to make.

Broccoli Beef Lo Mein (Servings: 8)
“This Broccoli Beef Lo Mein Sheet Pan Dinner is the perfect take out fake out meal that everyone will love. Perfectly cooked Lo Mein Noodles, thin tender Beef, Broccoli, Carrots, and Green Onions come together in the most flavorful gravy-like sauce. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Stuffed Pepper Casserole (Servings: 6)
“BAKED Easy Stuffed Pepper Casserole made with green peppers! This dinner dish uses my Mother’s famous stuffed pepper recipe but I turned it into a casserole to make it quicker and easier. “

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Homemade Sloppy Joes (Servings: 6)
You’ll never buy manwich again after tasting these homemade sloppy joes!

Swedish Meatballs (Servings: 6)
Easy gluten free swedish meatballs recipe!

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Leftover Tortilla Soup (Servings: 8)
“Chicken Tortilla Soup is a great way to stretch leftover chicken, easily feeding your family dinner for a second night!”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Bacon & Asparagus Tart (Servings: 8)
“This scrumptious spring tart sees seasonal British asparagus, purple-sprouting broccoli and spring onions layered onto a puff pastry tart…”

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Sloppy Joe Casserole (Servings: 6)
Sloppy Joe casserole calling for sloppy joe mix, ground beef, cheddar cheese, flaky biscuits and more!

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families! All meals feed 6 or more people for less than $10.   Recipes include Instant Pot, Crockpot, Soup, Meat and Pasta meals.  Bookmark this page for family meals! 

Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks (Servings: 12)
“Learn how to make barbecue chicken indoors with these Easy BBQ Baked Chicken Drumsticks. Smothered with a sweet and smoky thick barbecue sauce. “

 

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  1. Cheli says

    March 23, 2025 at 5:32 pm

    Love all the meal ideas! Looking forward to making them all😋

    Reply
  2. Jason Drummet says

    June 18, 2024 at 9:18 am

    Have tried a lot of these recipes and they turned out great and easily fed my family of 4 (just no leftovers with 2 teen boys in the house)! Only thing would be most of them cost over the $10 because of living in a rural part of the Midwest. Most of them were closer to the $15 (even buying the store brands of things).

    Reply
  3. Kacie Morgan says

    December 21, 2019 at 2:32 pm

    Thanks for mentioning my bacon and asparagus tart <3 Great round-up!

    Reply
  4. Rebecca Kaster says

    December 5, 2019 at 11:47 am

    Hi,
    You have shared a great list of cheap delicious meal for big family. Your shared 25 meal idea are awesome. Specially “Swedish Meatballs” is my most favorite. Thanks

    Reply
  5. Rosamonde Simone @ KetoBotyToneAvis says

    August 16, 2019 at 1:52 am

    Your all recipes of ‘cheap-meals-for-large-family’ look very delicious and yummy, I love it. Thank you for sharing it, I will try it soon.

    Reply
  6. Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says

    June 3, 2019 at 6:17 pm

    Yay for all these healthy and affordable meals! Thank you for including me.

    Reply
  7. Beth Neels says

    June 3, 2019 at 5:07 pm

    What a great list of affordable meals! I always cook a larger quantity for my family so that we can eat leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day! It saves me a ton of cooking!

    Reply
  8. Raia Todd says

    June 3, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    What a great round-up! Thanks so much for including my white chicken chili! 🙂

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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