Feeding a large family every day can quickly become expensive and stressful without a clear plan. This article shows you how to meal prep affordable, filling meals that are easy to scale, store, and reheat. You will learn how to use budget-friendly ingredients to prepare multiple portions at once while keeping meals simple, balanced, and family-approved.
Highlights
- Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: 8 family-size portions
- Difficulty: Easy
- Main equipment: Large stock pot, wide skillet, baking dish, meal prep containers
Ingredients and Ingredient Tips
Ingredients
- 3 lb chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
- 2 lb potatoes, diced
- 2 cups dry pinto beans
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 cups water or low-cost broth
Ingredient Tips
- Chicken thighs are cheaper than breasts and stay moist after reheating.
- Dry beans cost less than canned and stretch meals significantly.
- Potatoes are filling, affordable, and popular with kids.
- Cooking rice and beans in bulk reduces cost per serving.
Proceed to Page for the complete cooking and prep process.