I am looking for cheap dinner ideas for a big family.

Kim - posted on 01/17/2009

Here is a very filling recipe that can easily be changed by switching the veggies and ground meats you use. My family loves it.



Spinach Sausage Egg Bake



1 lb country sausage like Jimmy Dean in the 16 oz roll.

1 small onion chopped

cooking spray

1 (7 oz) jar of roasted red peppers, drained and chopped

1 (10 oz) package of frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained

1 cup flour

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp salt

8 large eggs

2 cups milk

1 cup shredded cheese of your choice



1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

2. Coat a 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.

3. In a skillet, cook the sausage (breaking it up into small bits) and the onion until the meat is no longer pink.

4. Put the sausage and onion in the bottom of the baking dish.

5. Sprinkle with half of the roasted red peppers and top with spinach.

6. In a large bowl, combine the flour, Parmesan, basil and salt.

7. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and milk, and then add the flour mixture until blended.

8. Pour over everything in the baking dish.

9. Bake, uncovered, until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean (20-30 minutes or so. It may need longer depending on the dish you choose).

10. Top with shredded cheese and the remaining roasted red peppers.

11. Bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.



Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving with a big salad and homemade hash brown potatoes. It's a great dinner idea.



You can swap out the sausage for any other ground meat. You can also change the veggies and cheese. Be creative. This is so good and really fills you up.

Kathleen - posted on 01/16/2009

When you make taco's if you sprinkle in some oatmeal it will stretch the meat to feed more people. Our family likes the texture of this better it is a creamy taco, you have to drain the fat add extra water then put some quick oats in, let it all cook down and you are done. Send me a note if you have questions, I have growing boys who also eat more than we do.

Heather - posted on 01/16/2009

I just wanted to thank everyone for your ideas. All ideas and recipes are welcome and appriciated!

Laurie - posted on 01/15/2009

Quoting Laurie:

Delete Are you sure? Yes | No

Started by You (Jan. 15, 2009 at 8:48 pm) (no moms have responded yet)

An easy inexpensive recipe that everyone will love in less than 10 steps.

2lbs your favorite brand of macaroni
1lb shredded cheese (I use cheddar/Monterey Jack/yellow American blend)
1 family size can of cream of chicken soup(I prefer campbell's but any brand will do.)
1lb of bacon or 1lb diced ham or both.
1/2 can of your choice of milk (whole or low-fat is fine)

1) Cook macaroni according to package directions.
2) Drain macaroni and set aside
3) In a medium size sauce pan add cream of chicken soup, cheese and milk, cook on medium heat stirring constantly until all cheese is melted and appears smooth.(there should be some lumpiness due to the chicken in the soup)
4) In a large roasting pan add the drained macaroni and the cheese sauce mixture blending well to make sure all the macaroni is covered with the sauce.
Adding Ham:
5) Add the diced ham if you choose to at this point, also blending well to evenly distribute the ham.
Adding Bacon:
6)you can lay the bacon strips piece by piece across the top making sure to cover all the macaroni (overlapping slightly is ok)
7) Bake in oven at 400 degrees (oven temps vary)

8) cool slightly and serve.

NOTE: Leftovers can be used as a side dish for another meal.

 

Sorry My post had the temp wrong!!!!!!400 degrees is the correct temp.

Laurie - posted on 01/15/2009

An easy inexpensive recipe that everyone will love in less than 10 steps.

2lbs your favorite brand of macaroni
1lb shredded cheese (I use cheddar/Monterey Jack/yellow American blend)
1 family size can of cream of chicken soup(I prefer campbell's but any brand will do.)
1lb of bacon or 1lb diced ham or both.
1/2 can of your choice of milk (whole or low-fat is fine)

1) Cook macaroni according to package directions.
2) Drain macaroni and set aside
3) In a medium size sauce pan add cream of chicken soup, cheese and milk, cook on medium heat stirring constantly until all cheese is melted and appears smooth.(there should be some lumpiness due to the chicken in the soup)
4) In a large roasting pan add the drained macaroni and the cheese sauce mixture blending well to make sure all the macaroni is covered with the sauce.
Adding Ham:
5) Add the diced ham if you choose to at this point, also blending well to evenly distribute the ham.
Adding Bacon:
6)you can lay the bacon strips piece by piece across the top making sure to cover all the macaroni (overlapping slightly is ok)
7) Bake in oven at 450 degrees until the bacon is browned.
8) cool slightly and serve.

NOTE: Leftovers can be used as a side dish for another meal.

Ty - posted on 01/15/2009

Oh, and freeze the gravy to use for another dinner! Gravy can spice up any starch. Add steamed or sauteed veggies with a meat and you're done. It beats hot dogs and beans :0)

Ty - posted on 01/15/2009

You can pretty much throw anything into a crockpot to make a meal. Meat and veggies with spices as your starting point. Rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes added to the plate as fillers. If there are any left overs, you can switch up the accompanying starch the next day to make it look different. Plus it can cook all day or all night while you do something else.

Jana - posted on 01/15/2009

I have a great crock pot meatballs recipe. I use the meatballs in a sub sandwich topped with swiss or mozzarella cheese. And then I freeze the leftovers for later. I sub ground turkey for the ground beef. Ground turkey is healthier, cooks up just like ground beef and is a lot CHEAPER!!! Here is a link to the recipe:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4581820_make-bbq...

Karen - posted on 01/15/2009

anyone have any crock pot recipes?

Michelle - posted on 01/15/2009

My family has always made hotdishes.  

My favorite is creamed corn hotdish

1lb ground beef

1 can creamed corn

1 package of noodles

1 can of cream of chicken soup

Brown meat, drain.  In a seperate pan boil noodles.  When noodles are done drain and stir in cream corn, beef,  cream of chicken soup over a low heat.  Serve.

Or tuna hotdish

Noodles

can of tuna

pees

cream of mushroom soup

Boil noodles, drain.  Drain tuna and peas and pour in with drained noodles and combine cream of mushroom soup over low heat.  Serve. 

Even if you were to double those hot dishes they are very cheap to make. 

Jessie - posted on 01/15/2009

One of my familys favorite is chicken and rice hot dish, minuit rice cut up cooked chicken,onions,  little bit of garlic , cream of mushroom soup, canned green beans, milk , make a huge hot dish and tweak to your familys taste and size

Lauren - posted on 01/14/2009

I was going to suggest Shepherd's pie too...



I find stir frys stretch the meat if you are using lots of veggies.



Pasta with meat sauce is good and cheap.



Breakfast for dinner is good too.

Joleen - posted on 01/14/2009

I too have 4 kids. And one of my cheapest meals that goes along ways is Meat loaf. I usually make 3-5 of hamburger. But if you put the right things in it they will all love it. I use bbq sauce,egg,oatmeal,shredded cheese, onions and spices. Try that

Heather - posted on 01/14/2009

Thanks Tracy, I will check out that website.

Tracy - posted on 01/14/2009

There are alot of meals you could make by using ground beef or turkey, carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes as a base.  Also I went to the Duggars (family of 18) website and they had a bunch of recipes that would most definently feed your family.  www.duggarsfamily.com  

Karen - posted on 01/14/2009

yes shepards pie