Cheapism / Domino's / McDonald's
With people feeling thriftier, many fast-food and fast-casual restaurants have created cheap family meal deals. They're an easy way to feed everyone without much thought and provide a nice break from cooking. Take advantage of these crowd-pleasing, family-sized meal deals while they're available.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Who doesn't love a bunch of McNuggets? Check your McDonald's app this month, because you can order a family pack of 40 McNuggets and two large fries for $20. It'll feed two really hungry adults or a small pack of ravenous kids. You may also see a 40-piece McNuggets (without fries) for just $15.
Taco Bell just announced that many discontinued menu items are back, but none are meant for crowds. Luckily, there's still a meal-for-four deal that's $25. You get two Crunchwrap Supremes, two chicken quesadillas, four soft tacos, and two orders of chips and nacho cheese sauce.
For around 20 bucks you can nab a Taco and Burrito Cravings Pack, which includes four crunchy or soft tacos and four Beefy 5-Layer Burritos, making it an ideal family meal. There are also Taco Party Packs with a dozen tacos of your choice.
The best long-running meal deal at Domino's is the $7 Mix and Match. You need to order at least two items, but you can get as many as you want from choices such as medium two-topping pizzas, salads, and stuffed cheesy bread, so it's endlessly customizable. You can get the deal whether you pick up your pizzas or get them delivered.
There's also the Perfect Combo for $20, which includes two medium one-topping pizzas, 16-piece parmesan bread bites, 8-piece cinnamon twists, and a 2-liter of soda. Plus you can also get an "emergency pizza" right now, which is a free pizza on a future order.
The $12 mix-and-match deal is gone at Burger King, but you can still get a pretty good deal on a family-sized meal. Head to BK's offers page and snag a $30 Ultimate Bundle with two Whoppers, two original chicken sandwiches, 16 chicken nuggets, two small fries, and two small drinks. There's also a $22 bundle that omits the fries and drinks.
Like Domino's, Pizza Hut also has a build-your-own-combo deal. Items are $7 each, and you need to order two or more, including medium one-topping pizzas, melt sandwiches, boneless wings, cheese sticks, baked pastas, and desserts.
If that's not enticing, you can always try a Big Dinner Box. The combination possibilities include: three medium one-topping pizzas, or two medium one-topping pizzas with five breadsticks and either pasta or boneless wings. Depending on location and choice, the price is around $30.
Wingstop can handle all your buffalo wings cravings if you've got a group of three or four to feed. The $17 boneless meal deal comes with 20 boneless wings in up to four sauces (so everyone will be happy!), plus a large fry and two dips. For a few bucks more, try the all-in bundle with 16 boneless wings, six tenders, a large fry, and three dips.
Fried chicken joints all have great family meal deals, and Popeyes is no exception. Right now you can get a $25 bundle with 12 chicken tenders, four sides, four biscuits, and dipping sauces. If bone-in wings are more your style, you can also get a bundle with 24 wings, three sides, and four dips for the same price. Check the offers page on the website for deals like a $25 10-piece bone-in chicken or a wings and tenders family bundle.
Feeding a bunch of people is easy at KFC with big buckets of chicken. If you have some family members who prefer bone-in and some who prefer boneless chicken, the digital-exclusive deal 8-and-8 Fill-Up is perfect. It comes with eight pieces of regular chicken, eight chicken tenders, large fries, large mashed potatoes and gravy, large coleslaw, and four biscuits. Just make sure you order your meal on the website or through the app since it's only available online. Plus, right now you can get 50chicken nuggets for $25, if nuggies are all you're after.
Designed to serve four or more, Panera's family feast includes four half-sandwiches, one whole salad, one group soup, and one whole baguette. You can also get variations that include kids' sandwiches, such as grilled cheese, premium versions of Panera sandwiches and salads, or chocolate chip cookies.
Just like the other big pizza chains, Papa Johns also has a cheap takeout mix-and-match deal. Just order two or more items from options like Papadias, chicken wings, one-topping medium pizzas, breadsticks, cheese sticks, and desserts — and they're only $7 each.
If you prefer large pizzas with more toppings, get two large two-topping pies for $23 right now.
Right now Panda Express has a great deal on its family meal. You get to pick two large sides and three large entrees for only $30 when you order online and use the code "FAMFEAST". You think the employees would bat an eyelash if you ordered orange chicken for all three?
Bojangles has a new family special right now, and it's no-frills but inexpensive. You get eight pieces of dark meat (legs and thighs) and four biscuits for $20. If some people in your family prefer boneless chicken, there's also a $35 family meal with four pieces of bone-in chicken and eight chicken tenders for lots of variety. You'll also get four family-sized sides, four biscuits, and a half gallon of iced tea.
Del Taco offers Fiesta Packs that can feed four or more people easily. Each comes with a dozen items, and the prices range from $14 to $20 depending on the options you choose. The cheapest Fiesta Pack comes with six bean-and-cheese burritos and six value tacos, but you can swap the tacos for bigger Del Tacos or grilled chicken tacos.
If a chicken dinner sounds good but you'd rather not have it fried, El Pollo Loco's eight-piece Family Dinner comes with grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, three large sides, tortillas, and salsa. If you need to feed up to eight people, there are bigger meals featuring 12 and 16 pieces.
While the price of Little Caesars Hot 'n Ready and Extra Most Bestest pizzas have gone up a dollar in most places since the pandemic started, they're still one of the best deals in pizza. We think the extra buck for the Extra Most Bestest is worth the extra cheese and toppings.
There's a great deal on cheeseburger sliders at White Castle right now. You can get 10 of them for $8 — that's less than a dollar each. There's also a meal deal of 20 original sliders and four small fries for $30.
Though there's no family meal at Jersey Mike's, the giant subs feed three to four people. Depending which sub you choose, you're paying $15 to $18 for a massive sandwich, which makes for a pretty reasonably priced meal.
Like other fried chicken restaurants, Long John Silver's always has Family Meals available. They come in packs of eight, 12, and 16 pieces of fried pollock or chicken tenders, including family-size sides and, of course, hush puppies. Plus, there's a Lobster Bites Family Feast right now with fish, Lobster Bites, sides, and hush puppies for $40.
Jack in the Box has a party bundle meant to feed a bunch of people during a tailgate or similar event. Jack's Party Bundle includes three Jumbo Jack cheeseburgers, three chicken sandwiches, three medium curly fries, and six tacos for $23.
Everyone knows that dark meat is the juiciest, so why not save a little money and skip the white meat altogether? For $22, you'll get 10 fried chicken legs and thighs, plus two large sides, five biscuits, and five of the chain's signature jalapenos. It's also the same price if your family prefers 10 chicken tenders instead. Look for more meal deals on the coupon page of the website.
Moe's has developed a build-your-own taco kit as a fun way to feed a family that doesn't want to venture out. The kit comes with 12 soft flour tortillas, a choice of two proteins such as steak or chicken, and lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream for toppings. Plus, there are sides of rice and beans and chips and salsa for a full meal for up to six people. Nacho and fajita kits are also available.
Einstein Bros. has a meal kit for brunch-loving families. It includes a farmhouse egg sandwich, two bacon and cheddar egg sandwiches, four twice-baked hash browns, four blueberry muffins, six assorted bagels, and a tub of plain cream cheese.
Pollo Tropical is known for its citrus marinated- and Cuban-inspired food. For $22, you can get a whole marinated chicken family meal that also includes your choice of sides — like black beans or yellow rice and vegetables — and four rolls. If you'd only like rice, beans, and rolls with your chicken, it's $20.
The Fresh Tossed Family Meal at Fazoli's is an Italian feast. It comes with a large spaghetti and meat or marinara sauce, large fettuccine alfredo, and 8 garlic breadsticks. Double everything in it for the large 8-serving family meal for $46.
For more great fast-food tips and deals, please sign up for our free newsletters.