2 Super-Easy & Cheap Meals for Big Families of Up to 12

Cajun kielbasa and rice

Grocery list

$10.66 total/$0.89 a serving/serves 12

• Rice (6 cups) - $3.76
• Kielbasa - $3.28
• Pepper/onion seasoning blend (10oz) - $1.38
• 1 28 oz can cubed tomatoes in tomato juice - $1.36
• 10 oz can of Rotel - $0.88

Ingredients

• 1 thinly sliced kielbasa (cut with kitchen scissors if easier)
• 1 bag frozen seasoning blend (or pepper and onion blend, or 1 cubed onion and 2 cubed bell peppers)
• 3 tbsp oil
• 6 bouillon cubes
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp seasoned salt
• 1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes in tomato juice
• 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 tbsp creole seasoning (like Tony's)
• 1 tsp cajun seasoning
• 6 cups white rice
• 11 cups water

Directions

Slice the kielbasa. Turn the Instant Pot on the sauté mode. Add sliced kielbasa, oil, and pepper onion seasoning mix. Sauté stirring frequently until kielbasa is slightly browned.  

Fill the pot with ingredients. Add the remaining ingredients, including all the rice, and stir. The Instant Pot will be filled up!

Place the lid on and set it closed to seal it. Cook on pressure cook for six minutes with a natural release for 20 minutes. Quick release to ensure all pressure has been released, then take the lid off.

Stir and serve.

Alternatively, (for stovetop) heat the oil, then add sliced kielbasa and pepper and onion seasoning mix.  Stir frequently and sauté until the kielbasa is browned. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Keep on medium heat and cover.  

Once it has come to a boil, stir and uncover. Once most of the liquid has evaporated out, stir and cook on low for five minutes (or until rice is tender). Serve!  

Optionally, you can top it with cheese, but without the cheese, this is a dairy-free meal with the potential to be gluten-free as well if you use seasonings, kielbasa, and chicken bouillon that are gluten-free.

Loaded meatloaf and mashed potato casserole

Grocery list

$17.94 total/$1.50 per person/serves 12

• 1 box turkey stuffing - $0.88
• 3 lbs ground turkey - $7.62
• 6 pack of eggs - $1.44
• Ketchup - $1.18
• Bacon bits - $1.70
• 8 oz block cheddar cheese - $2.00
• 2 family packs of flavored mashed potatoes (the cheese or garlic ones go well with this) - $3.12

Ingredients for meatloaf layer: 

• 1 box turkey stuffing
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 and 1/2 cups boiling water
• 3 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp dried minced onions

Ingredients for toppings

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup bacon bits
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Ingredients for potato layer

• Make 2 family-size instant mashed potato packs according to the back of the packages OR...
• 8 medium peeled, sliced, and boiled potatoes
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp salt or salt to taste
• 1 tsp minced garlic

Directions

Make the meatloaf mixture. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Make the stuffing as directed (use the butter and boiling water with a stuffing packet). I chose turkey stuffing because I’m using ground turkey since it’s less greasy than ground beef, but feel free to use ground beef and a different flavor stuffing you prefer.

Then mix in the 3 lbs of ground turkey, minced onions, and 2 eggs.  

You can also adjust the recipe’s cost by adding in only 2 lbs of ground turkey and more stuffing if you prefer.

Add mix to the pan. Press and smooth the mixture into a 9x13 pan (or larger if you have it– I believe mine is an 11x16-inch pan). 

Add ketchup. Spread ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 30 minutes or until it is 160 degrees Fahrenheit internally.

While the meatloaf layer bakes, make your flavored mashed potatoes according to the package.

If you are making it from scratch, boil your potatoes until soft, drain the water, and use a mixer to mash them. I use packaged because the price of raw potatoes is high right now.

Add salt, 1/4 cup butter, minced garlic, and sour cream, and mix.  

Add potato layer. Spread the hot mashed potatoes over the cooked meatloaf in an even layer. 

Add toppings. Sprinkle a cup of shredded cheese and bacon bits on top. Put it back in the oven on broil until the cheese is melted (about 2 minutes). Serve. 

Cheap meals for big families

I hope you enjoyed the recipes for these two meals for big families. They are a hit at our house and our game night crowd always asks me to make these dishes again and again. Let us know what big, easy family meals you make to please a crowd!