Cheapest Meals For Families: Low-Cost Recipes Everyone Will Love

Eggs are kitchen staples for a reason: there are so many ways to cook it. And perhaps one of the classic meals you make them with are omelets. What I love about omelets is that they can as simple as just plain eggs with cheese, or you could make elaborate ones with bell peppers, spinach, bacon, and leftover vegetables.

9. Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry

If you want something tasty and hearty for lunch, then beef and broccoli fit the bill. Get your greens and protein in a single dish and cook them in less than half an hour. Natasha’s Kitchen has a delectable beef and broccoli stir-fry recipe that costs $14, making it one of the cheapest meals for a family of 5.

10. Turkey Chili

Skip the ground beef and use ground turkey instead to enjoy this delicious yet cheap meal for the family. It’s super simple to make. Just saute some garlic, onions, and meats, and then add in tomato sauce, chili powder, and some salt and pepper to taste. In 30 minutes, you’ll have a crowd-pleaser chili!

11. Tuna and Egg Salad SandwichHearth & Vine.

12. Bean Burritos

Another hearty dish that’s bursting with flavors is the bean burrito. Cook black beans, vegetables, and taco seasoning, and then scoop them into tortilla shells or wraps. Finish each with a serving of salsa or guacamole for an added flavor. You can make eight of these delicious burritos at a little less than a dollar each, so it’s one of the perfect cheap meals for large families. Here’s an easy burrito recipe from A Mind Full Mom.

 13. One Pan Beef and Penne

Ground beef and penne pasta cooked in a single pan for 30 minutes tell us what comfort food on a weeknight should be like. If you’re looking to save more money, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken instead.

14. Vegetarian Burgers

These black bean burgers taste just as incredible as your regular burgers, but way healthier and cheaper. With only six ingredients needed, this has to be one of the cheapest meals for families perfect for lunches and dinners. Grab the recipe from Taste Better From Scratch.

15. Pizza Bagels

Pizzas are perfect for slow weekends when you just want to chill and enjoy the newest movies on Netflix. But if you think take-out pizza is a little expensive, then make them from scratch. Instead of pizza dough, layer your favorite toppings on sliced bagels then pop in the oven until cheese is melted.

16. Chicken and Rice

One of our favorite cheapest meals for families is rice with chicken! This dish combines your carbs and proteins in one delicious plate. You can further trim down the cost by using leftover vegetables and homemade stock.

17. Parmesan Chicken Wings

Nothing beats the irresistible combination of crispy baked chicken wings dipped with garlicky parmesan cheese sauce. This dish could serve as an appetizer or as a standalone meal. Don’t know how to make it? Fifteen Spatulas has a quick and easy recipe you can follow.

18. Frozen Banana Smoothie

Bananas are probably the most flexible, easy-to-source fruit in the supermarket, and they’re really healthy too. Make sure to slice and freeze the bananas overnight so they’re ready to go in your blender in the morning. You can add almond milk, a pinch of cinnamon, and a dollop of peanut butter for that creamier, richer texture.

19. Easy Pasta Bake

This dish can be as elaborate or as simple as it comes, but if you’re looking to save some money, you’ll only need four basic ingredients to make one: pasta, pasta sauce, cheese, and some pepperoni. You can follow the recipe from Two Healthy Kitchens here.

20. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed bell peppers are incredible in their simplicity and flexibility, and they’re one of my top cheap healthy meals for families. You can use whatever leftovers you have — chorizo, ground beef, vegetables, and stuff them into sliced bell peppers before topping with grated cheese. Here’s a cheap chorizo-stuffed bell peppers recipe from Budget Bytes that costs less than $10 and good for six servings.

21. Poor Man’s Soup

Ground meat and vegetable simmering in hot tomato broth is the perfect comfort food for weekend dinners. Just toss them into your slow cooker or instant pot and you’ll have a nutritious meal waiting for you after a few hours. Here’s a budget-friendly recipe from 5 Dollar Dinners you’d want to refer to.

22. Bacon and Egg Fried Rice

Another delicious yet cheap breakfast fare, this dish features leftover rice tossed with scrambled eggs and chopped bacon, then topped with a sunny side. This is easy to make and makes a perfect breakfast for lazy weekends. Serious Eats has an easy recipe you can follow.

23. Chicken Alfredo

The classic chicken alfredo has a few main ingredients: some pasta, chicken breast, alfredo sauce, and milk. Simply cook pasta, toss with cooked chicken and sauce and it’s dinner served in less than 30 minutes, costing less than $10.

 24. Breakfast Porridge

Turn your leftover rice into soupy goodness with this Breakfast Porridge recipe from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. This dish is one of the cheapest meals for the family, as it only requires rice cooked in water or broth, some leftover meat or vegetables, and topped with cilantro, fried garlic, and sesame oil.

25. Meatballs

Meatballs are one of the simplest yet most flavorful dishes you can make with any ground meat you have in your friends. They are also extremely flexible: drop them into tomato-based soups, mix them with pasta, or serve them with gravy. And as this recipe from Cooking With Clancy shows, meatballs can also be one of the cheap meals for a week as they freeze and reheat nicely.

26. Pulled Pork Sandwich

If you’re tired of your usual sandwich, it’s time to level up and make a pulled pork version. Cook meat in a slow cooker until very tender and then pull them apart. Add in some sauce and coleslaw, and voila, you have delicious lunch that doesn’t even cost $10 for a family of six.

27. Chicken and Rice Skillet

Chicken, rice, and cheese are star ingredients of this one-pot meal, and it’s extremely easy to make. This comfort dish is perfect for lazy weeknights when you can’t be bothered to make a sophisticated dinner but still want something that’s yummy, filling, and nutritious. Budget Bytes has a recipe that’s good for four people and costs only $7.

28. Potato Soup

Soups can be simple or complicated, but this slow cooker potato soup from Gimme Some Oven has got to be one of the easiest things to follow. And what’s great about this dish is that it’s great standalone comfort food, especially during the cold seasons. Plus, you can make a huge batch and freeze some for future consumption.

29. Broccoli Rice and Sausage Skillet

Most kitchens never go without rice, and it’s particularly beneficial for families who are watching their food budget. But if you’re tired of eating plain or fried rice, you can level it up and add broccoli and sausage then bake with cheese on top. This delicious fail-proof rice recipe from All Things Mama costs only $5.

30. Chicken and Dumpling Soup

Using some shredded chicken, dumplings, and a few kinds of vegetables, this soup recipe is one of the best and cheapest meals for the family. Its warmth and deliciousness will truly embrace you, especially during winter.

Making the cheapest meals for families is not always easy as you’ll always have to achieve a balance between budget and nutrition. But I’ve found that making cheap meal plans for families as one of the best ways to stretch your food budget and still serve delicious food to your brood.