Cheap Family Meals: 10 Dinners Under £5

Feeding a big family is no joke. You walk into the supermarket with £50 and leave wondering how a few yoghurts, pasta, and a bag of crisps cost so much. With five kids, if I didn’t budget our meals, we’d be living off air and vibes by midweek. But the truth is, cheap doesn’t have to mean boring. With a bit of planning (and some yellow-sticker hunting), I can get a week of dinners on the table for less than a fiver each. Here are 10 of our go-to family meals that save money without skimping on flavour.

1. Sausage & Veg Traybake

• Frozen sausages (we use chicken), mixed veg, a few potatoes.

• Throw it all on a tray, drizzle with oil, bake.

• Cheap, filling, and hardly any washing up.

2. Veggie Stir Fry

• Frozen broccoli, sweetcorn, peppers + noodles.

• Soy sauce or sweet chilli from the cupboard.

• Done in 15 minutes, costs pennies.

3. Jacket Potatoes with Toppings

• Big bag of spuds = £3 or less and lasts ages.

• Top with beans, cheese, or leftover chilli.

• Easy, filling, and the kids love “choosing” their toppings.

4. Spaghetti Bolognese

• 500g mince, onion, tin of chopped tomatoes, spaghetti.

• Stretch with lentils or grated carrots if you want extra portions.

5. Homemade Pizza Night

• Cheap pizza bases (or tortillas) + tomato puree + cheese.

• Kids add their own toppings = dinner and entertainment.

6. Omelette & Chips

• Eggs, frozen chips, whatever veg is lying around.

• Quick, cheap, and works for breakfast-for-dinner nights.

7. Chicken & Rice One-Pot

• Chicken thighs, rice, stock cube, frozen peas.

• Cook it all in one pan = less energy and less washing up.

8. Slow Cooker Stew

• Stewing beef (or chicken), potatoes, carrots, onion.

• Throw it all in the slow cooker in the morning – dinner makes itself.

9. Tuna Pasta Bake

• Pasta, tin of tuna, tin of sweetcorn, cheese sauce.

• Feeds a crowd and reheats well for lunchboxes.

10. Veggie Soup & Bread

• Random freezer veg + stock cube = soup.

• Add cheap crusty bread or homemade rolls.

• Cost = about £2, fills everyone up.

Final Thought

Budget meals don’t have to be boring. Honestly, my kids remember pizza night or soup with crusty bread more than they do a takeaway. It’s not about scrimping – it’s about making the most of what you’ve got. A little planning, some freezer hacks, and dinners under £5 are totally doable (even with a small army of kids).