7 Dinners for Large Families for less than $100 with free printables

Often, large families have to be creative with their budgets and even more creative with their meal planning. We are currently a multi-generational family of 9 (10 when my husband comes home from working out of state) and pinching every penny we can to redo our basement.  During the day, it's just my mom, my four kids, and me, but dinner means everyone sits down and eats together. This week, we put together a dinner menu for under $100.

Menu:

	Monday		Pasta & Red Sauce w/ Caesar Salad
	Tuesday		Soft Tacos w/ Dirty Rice or Mexican/Taco Rice
	Wednesday		Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Corn
	Thursday		Chicken & Rice
	Friday		Hamburger Helper (we make our own hamburger helper)
	Saturday		Pancakes, Eggs, & Breakfast Potatoes
	Sunday		Red Beans & Rice w/ Cornbread

Shopping List:

*Prices compiled from Wal-Mart Online Price Checker or Product Standard Price Estimate. Prices do not reflect current sales!

	2 Cans		Hunts Pasta Sauce (Red)		$2.00
	1 Can		Hunts Meatloaf Starter Sauce		$1.60
	1 Box/ 2 Bags		Zatarans Dirty Rice/ Knorr Taco Rice		$2.00
	2 Box		Dried Pasta (Penne)		$2.50
	2		Twin Packages Hamburger Helper		$5.00
	32oz		Dried Red Beans		$2.50
	160z		White Rice		$1.50
	32 oz		Vigo Yellow Rice		$3.00
	4 Box		Jiffy Cornbread Mix		$2.25
	1 Box		Pancake Mix		$2.00
	5 lbs		Ground Beef		$14.00
	1 lb		Ground Pork or Ground Italian Sausage		$3.00
	5+lbs		Large Whole Chicken		$6.00
	18 oz		Smoked Sausage		$4.00
	4		Tomatoes		$2.00
	1		Bell Pepper		$0.75
	1 Bag/Head		Romaine Lettuce or Iceberg Lettuce (for tacos)		$2.00
	1 Lg or 2 Bag		Romaine Lettuce or Caesar Salad Kit(s)		$4.00
	2		Vidalia Onions		$2.00
	10 lbs		Potatoes		$4.00
	8 Ears/2 lbs		Fresh Corn/ Frozen Corn		$2.00
	2 lbs		Snap Beans/ Frozen Green Beans		$2.00
	16 oz		Shredded Mexican/ Taco Cheese		$3.50
	8 oz		Shredded Mozarella Cheese		$1.75
	16 oz		Sour Cream / Greek Yogurt		$1.25
	16 oz		Caesar Salad Dressing (Optional w/Kit Purchase)		$2.00
	1 Bag		Croutons (Optional w/Kit Purchase)		$1.00
	8 oz		Parmesan Cheese		$2.00
	15 oz		Italian Bread Crumbs		$1.50
	24 oz		Syrup		$1.75
	1 Jar		Salsa		$1.75
	2 Pks		Soft Tacos (10 Quantity+ Ea.)		$3.00
	1 Gal		Milk		$4.00
	3 Doz		Large Eggs		$6.00
			TOTAL		$99.60

Monday:

Monday is an easy day, as all Meatless Monday meals should be. Tonight's meal is your favorite pasta with red sauce and Caesar salad.

While waiting for your pasta water to boil, prepare a quick Caesar salad. (*Kits are great, and rarely cost more than purchasing the necessary supplies separately!) Cook pasta according to the box directions. After the pasta is drained, return to the pot and add two cans of red sauce. Stir, top with mozzarella cheese, and it is ready to serve!

Did you save big this week by shopping the sales? Splurge by adding garlic bread to your meal!

Tuesday:

Tuesday's dinner is a family favorite, Taco Tuesday!

Begin your meal prep by starting your rice. Depending on the rice side you chose, cooking time will vary between seven and twenty-five minutes. While your rice is cooking, brown your meat and slice your taco fixings (tomato, onion,etc.).

You probably noticed that I didn't tell you to buy taco seasoning on your shopping list. Taco seasoning can be easily prepared using ingredients you probably already have. Following Rachael Ray's taco seasoning recipe, combine 1 T chili powder, 1 T ground cumin, 1 T garlic powder, 1 T onion powder, 1/4–½ T crushed red pepper and shake!

After you beef is browned, drain and return to your pan. Add your taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. Cook and stir on medium heat until thickened. Reduce heat to low and cover until ready to serve.

Heat tortillas according to package directions or preference (microwave, skillet, or oven). Set your dinner table and gather chopped toppings, sour cream or greek yogurt, salsa, and cheese. Bring your family and hot items to the table, and you are ready to enjoy Taco Tuesday!

Wednesday:

You've taken it easy while you settled into your week, now you need a great mid-week pick me up with a hearty family meal. If you have a meat and potatoes kind-of-family, they will be especially pleased with tonight's meal: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn.

Preheat oven according to Hunts Meatloaf Starter Directions.

In a large bowl, add one pound of ground beef, one pound ground pork (or ground Italian sausage) with one-half can of Hunts Meatloaf Starter and set aside (don't mix yet). If desired, chop and saute one-half Vidalia onion and one-half large bell pepper – add to raw meat bowl. Add two beaten eggs and one cup of bread crumbs to the raw meat bowl… now you can mix, but don't overdo it!

Add mixture to loaf pan (or shape into a loaf and place on a baking sheet). Top with remaining can of Hunts Meatloaf Starter and bake according to their directions.

Since the meatloaf will take, roughly, one hour, you can now take a break in a chair to peel your potatoes. Prepare your mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn according to your family's preference.

Save even more on your bill this week by making Meatless Monday continue through Tuesday – use black beans in your tacos instead of ground beef!

Thursday:

Another hearty meal is on the menu for today! Chicken & Rice is easier than you think. Boil your chicken, remove from the pot (reserving the liquid), allow it to cool in a large bowl, and tear it away from the bone!

Sometimes I rush the cooling method by packing my bird with ice and sticking it in the freezer. This speeds the process up very quickly!

While pulling your chicken away from the bone and shredding, be sure to skip anything unpleasant (small bones, fat, and skin). After you are done, return the chicken to the pot with the reserved liquid and add your yellow rice. Return to a boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for twenty-five minutes WITHOUT opening the lid! ~ Viola! You're ready to eat! Easy peasy meal that your family will devour!

Friday:

It is time to get ready for the weekend with a meal even your kids can make! It's Hamburger Helper night! Give your kids a large pot, 2 lbs of ground beef, and the boxes of Hamburger Helper. Let them know you will be on the couch if they need you!

Saturday:

Since you slept in this morning (ha, ha) grab a box of your favorite Pancake mix and give the kids a treat – Breakfast for Dinner! Pancakes, eggs, and breakfast potatoes will fill everyone up while you enjoy a family movie together.

Sunday:

It is time for a big meal again, it's Sunday, big meals are a must! Today's Sunday meal is Red Beans & Rice with cornbread. Yummies!

Rinse and blanch your red beans according to the package directions. This takes a little over one hour to complete. Drain, rinse, and set aside the beans.

Chop and saute' one-half Vidalia onion and one-half large bell pepper. Return beans to your pot with eight cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium. Simmer for two hours, stirring periodically and checking the pot to be sure the liquid doesn't simmer away. Add water if necessary.

After the beans have simmered for two hours, cube smoked sausage and add to the beans. Simmer for an additional thirty minutes.

During the final thirty minutes the beans are simmering with the sausage, prepare the cornbread and white rice according to package directions.

Chop one large onion, set aside in a serving bowl.

Serve beans over rice and cornbread (or place cornbread on side). Top with a generous portion of raw chopped onion.

Need to make a change to this week's meal plan?  Print a blank version & fill out based on your favorite meals!

Need more meal ideas?  Check out all of our Meal Plan Monday posts & our delicious recipes, like this easy freezer meal: Beef Stew!