Cheap Chicken Recipes for a Large Family
Chicken is a staple that we keep a stock pile of in the freezer. We eat at lot of breasts but I also like to buy thighs. From time to time I will even buy a whole chicken.
Cheap chicken recipes for a large family is something I constantly seem to be searching for when I mean plan for my crowd of boys each week.
If you know me you know that I don’t like to babysit meals, and I LOVE easy! Getting dinner on the table can be such a chore sometimes and feeding a crowd only makes things even more complicated especially when you are trying to stick to a budget.
Here is some inspiration to make dinner happen easy at your house for feeding a crowd! And your grocery budget will thank you!
Holiday Recipe Ideas
Once of my favorite ways to cook chicken recipes is in the Crockpot. Here are some of our favorite slow cooker recipes that are also great for large families and I think you will love them!
USE GROUND CHICKEN TO MAKE TACO SOUP
Chicken Recipes on a Budget
Cheap Chicken Recipes for a Large Family
This one pan chicken and summer squash recipe is easy to make, healthy, and delicious. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a hearty meal on the table in no time.
Crockpot Chicken and Noodles is the ultimate comfort food and it uses chicken breasts!
This one pot meal is budget friendly and feeds a large family easily. Add some bread and a side salad to stretch it even further.
This recipe uses pantry staples like canned corn, black beans and salsa. It's a crowd pleaser you can stretch!
Want quick and easy? Check out this version of Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole. Oh so good!
If you have chicken, rice and some frozen or fresh broccoli, this will be a hit!
Easy Aloha Chicken is a great sweet twist that is better than takeout!
Nothing beats easy cheesy Chicken and Rice!
Fix up your own Rotisserie Chicken with this simple crockpot how-to. It also pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes.
With just a little prep your family will LOVE this recipe for French Onion Chicken Casserole.
Chicken Potato Casserole is a tasty and super thrifty meal certain to please a crowd!
Your family will want this Cracked out Chicken Tater Tot Casserole all the time!
Try out this Chicken & Sweet Potatoes in the crockpot that has amazing flavors! We love easy recipes like this!
So mouthwateringly good, this recipe for Shredded Chicken Street Tacos stretches your chicken to the MAX!
Loaded Chicken Potato Casserole is seriously delicious and filled with flavor.
Whip up some Honey Garlic Chicken that is easy to assemble and better than take out! Use chicken thighs or breasts for this recipe.
Use up all the summer veggies with this Chicken and Summer Squash that is wonderful. Perfect for large families.
Chicken Pot Pie is a classic family dish that will feed a crowd! We double this at our house and it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken and veggies.
Warm up to some Chicken Enchilada Soup packed with Tex-Mex flavors and done up in the crockpot!
These scrumptious Smothered Chicken Burritos are restaurant style without the added calories.
Make Crockpot Creamy Chicken Tacos that has an awesome twist on Taco Tuesday!
Loaded with fresh veggies and spice this Chicken Fajita Casserole is drool worthy.
This Chicken Tetrazzini is one creamy dish with rave reviews!
Don’t call out for takeout, make this Sesame Chicken that is totally crowd pleasing!
Baked White Spaghetti with chicken will take you back to childhood. So creamy and delicious!
Throw this Crockpot BBQ Chicken on a bun, salad, or potato for a simple dish with a punch!
Check out this Chicken Parmesan Casserole that is a quick Italian dish and you can freeze it for later too!
Make Chicken and Dressing Casserole that will make you think of Thanksgiving.
Whip up Black Bean Chicken Bowls in no time with this tasty recipe done up in the Instant Pot. It’s a family favorite at our house.
You just can’t go wrong with Chicken Black Bean Enchiladas that have perfect Mexican flair!
This recipe for Chicken Alfredo is a thrifty meal that you can add veggies to too! Love budget friendly meals like this.
Chicken Quesadilla Recipe for a Crowd (Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas!)
These Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas are just right for a crowd!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is absolutely divine and stretches a long way.
Can I Use Canned Chicken
Yes! For any of the recipes that call for cooked chicken, you certainly can use canned chicken. Do drain your chicken before adding it to the dish.
Canned chicken is a great way to always have chicken on hand, it keeps in your pantry for a long time and it is inexpensive.
Using canned chicken is also a great way to get dinner done fast because it is already cooked- just open, toss and you’re done!
How Can I make Chicken Taste Better?
It’s all about the seasoning. I buy seasoning in bulk at Sams so I always have it on hand. Salt and pepper go a long way, but other seasonings like Taco, Ranch and Italian seasoning can really change a dish!
I also love cooking with olive oil, garlic and onion. I essentially use this combo as a base for any dinner recipe I am making.
How Do You Keep Chicken Tender?
Nothing is worse than tough and dry chicken. The key is to not cook it too fast, so low and slow no matter if you’re using the slow cooker, stove top, oven or grill.
You also don’t want to cook your chicken for too long. Over cooking it will keep it from being tender.
Dark meat is generally easier to keep tender and juicy. I love cooking chicken thighs, personally.
What’s the Cheapest Meal to Make
When I need to make dinner on a budget these are some of the top things I like to make
- Chicken Stir Fry
- Chicken and Rice
- Chicken over Salad
- Chicken with Potatoes
- Chicken with Pasta in a Casserole
- Chicken Quesadillas
- Chicken Tacos
- Chicken in Soup
What is your favorite way to cook chicken when you’re on a budget?
No matter the size of your family, if you need help getting dinner on the table join our Facebook group where we share our dinner ideas and hold each other accountable.
Whole 30 Instant Pot Recipes
Are you looking for fast (but healthy) dinner ideas for your busy family?
Check out our instant downloadable cookbook that has Instant Pot Whole 30 recipes your family will love.
Make Ahead Meals
Have you ever given freezer meal planning a try? It has changed my life in the kitchen! Check out our six weeks of freezer meals. You get the recipes, assembly instructions and grocery lists all broken down week by week. I think you will love them!
These all sound wonderful! We have a chicken, broccoli and rice casserole that the whole family loves and also a chicken noodle soup but other than that we haven’t stumbled on many great recipes that the whole family loves. Pinned.
Crystal,
This is a fantastic collection of Chicken Recipes for our big families! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen