13 Cheap Dinners for Large Families

With just about $15 dollars, you can make any one of these filling and delicious meals.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published January 14, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
unstuffed cabbage rolls in a large pan at a table setting with a stack of plates, a small bowl of minced herbs, glasses of water, and a pepper cracker

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

I think it's fair to say that having a few cheap, filling, and delicious meals in your back pocket is never a bad thing, no matter your reason for it—saving money for a big vacation, paying off a new car, or simply needing to stick to a set budget. With that in mind, we pulled together the recipes below, which will cost about $15 to make and will feed four to six people.

Enjoy the diverse array, from pasta and noodles to rice and bean-based meals, and don't forget to read through all the helpful tips and tricks from our editors and contributors along the way.

  • One-Pot Mac and Cheese

    One pot mac and cheese in a dutch oven with a wooden spoon, and in the surroundings, a bowl with cracker topping and a mustard kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "You can swap cheeses in this recipe to suit your tastes, but don’t replace the cream cheese." —Kayla Hoang, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

    unstuffed cabbage rolls in a large pan at a table setting with a stack of plates, a small bowl of minced herbs, glasses of water, and a pepper cracker

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Replace the ground beef with pork sausage for extra flavor or your favorite plant-based meat replacement or canned chickpeas for a vegetarian option." —Jasmine Smith, Simply Recipes Recipe Developer

  • Sesame Peanut Noodles

    Bowl of Quick and Easy Sesame Peanut Noodles

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    "The noodles and sauce can be made ahead of time and stored separately in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 3 days. When you're ready to serve, add a tablespoon of warm water to the peanut sesame sauce to thin it out, then toss the noodles and sauce together." —Hannah Zimmerman, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Chili Beans with Rice

    Chili Beans and Rice on plate
    Elise Bauer

    "As is, this recipe makes a fairly mild batch of chili beans. If you'd like more heat, just add more chili powder to taste, or a little cayenne pepper. You can also add Tabasco or Crystal hot sauce, either to the pot or to each individual bowl." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

    Continue to 5 of 13 below

  • Pasta e Ceci

    Overhead view of a blue bowl of Pasta e Ceci and a spoon topped with parmesan cheese next to a bowl of parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

    "If you’d like to turn this recipe into an even more complete meal, consider stirring in chopped escarole or spinach, which will wilt in the broth, or very thinly sliced zucchini. Make sure to use water instead of wine to keep the cost low." —Marianne Williams, Simply Recipes Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    My Mom’s Famous Broccoli Cheese Casserole in a dish, one serving scooped out and added to a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    " I like to use aged cheddar for extra umami flavor but use whatever cheddar you prefer. I use the cheese two ways; in a simple mornay sauce as well as on top of the casserole to keep things extra cheesy." —Molly Adams, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake

    My family's 5-ingredient pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "If I don’t feel like meat, I’ll leave it out and add cooked vegetables. Add up to 2 cups of chopped, cooked vegetables to the sauce. Frozen vegetables can be used too, but thaw and drain before using." —Sara

  • 5-Ingredient Gingery Ground Beef

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    "This is a lightning-fast dinner that comes together in under 10 minutes, especially if you take my recommendation below for 90-second rice." —Myo Quinn, Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 9 of 13 below

  • Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

    Copycat Olive Garden alfredo in a bowl with a fork, and in the surroundings, a white table napkin, a small plate with minced herbs, a block of parmesan on a wooden board, and a glass with a drink

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    "If you don't have Parmesan cheese, use your favorite grated cheese instead (though it will taste less like the restaurant version). Also, note that Alfredo doesn’t reheat that gracefully but is great cold." —Amanda Holstein, Simply Recipes Test Kitchen Assistant

  • Martha Stewart’s Taco Casserole

    Martha Stewarts Taco Cassserole

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "Like tacos, the dish is easy to customize. This means my daughter can skip the sour cream topping but load up on guacamole, and I can cover my serving with a healthy handful of shredded romaine lettuce." —Sara Haas, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Bowl of Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Use any short pasta shape that you like—I would avoid using any long noodle or any “frilly” shape that might break from excessive stirring, like trumpets or cascatelli." —Sara Tane, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Easy Rice and Bean Burritos

    Easy Rice and Beans Freezer Burritos Stacked Together on a Plate With a Table Knife and Salsa

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "These burritos freeze really well, so you can make a bigger batch to take the pressure off a future weeknight dinner." —Thao Thai, Simply Recipes Contributor

    Continue to 13 of 13 below

  • 4-Ingredient Ravioli Lasagna

    4-ingredient ravioli lasagna lifted from a casserole dish using a spatula

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    "My family loves Rao’s basic marinara for this recipe but grab your favorite roasted garlic marinara or arrabbiata sauce. You could even shortcut this further with a jar of bolognese sauce." —Meghan Splawn, Simply Recipes Contributor

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