Budget-Friendly Family Dining: Meal Bundles to the Rescue

Dining out with the family can be a double-edged sword. While it offers a break from kitchen duties and a chance to enjoy quality time together, the cost can soar, especially with kids in tow. Fortunately, many national restaurant chains are catering to families with meal bundles, allowing you to enjoy nutritious and varied meals without breaking the bank. These bundles often come with appetizers, sides, and desserts, making them the ultimate value options. Let’s explore some top choices that will satisfy your family’s cravings while keeping your budget intact.

The Appeal of Meal Bundles

Meal bundles make dining out convenient and economical for families. Instead of ordering individual dishes—each with its separate price tag—bundles offer comprehensive meals at a discounted rate. Not only do they typically serve four to six people, but they also include a variety of delicious options, from salads and sides to desserts, ensuring there’s something for everyone. This helps elevate dinner time into a special occasion, promoting family bonding where kids can practice their manners and indulge in new flavors in a fun, restaurant setting.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Family Meal Deal Bundle

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse offers remarkable value with 10 different family-style meals, each providing at least a 30% discount off regular prices. Their bundles are available exclusively for takeout or delivery, featuring hearty options that will impress.

For just $50, the Cheeseburger Bundle boasts four cheeseburgers, a family-sized salad, and shareable fries. Pasta lovers can opt for the Pasta Feast, which comes with gourmet offerings like Grilled Chicken Alfredo, a large pizza, and six garlic parmesan breadsticks for the same price.

For a more indulgent experience, consider the Chicken & Ribs Bundle for $65, featuring tender chicken breasts and baby back ribs, alongside family-sized sides. With extras like pizzas and desserts available for additional purchase, BJ’s strikes a balance between quality and value.

Habit Burger & Grill: Family CharBox

If burgers are calling your name, Habit Burger & Grill won’t disappoint. Their Family CharBox meals come in three enticing variants — Classic, Variety, and Build Your Own. Pricing ranges from $35 to $40, offering a cost-effective solution for a burger night.

The Classic Family CharBox includes four Charburgers with cheese, crispy fries, and sauces for only $35. If you wish for a mix of burger types, the Variety Family CharBox allows customization for just $5 more, optimizing flavor for the whole family.

Olive Garden: Family-Style Meals

Olive Garden remains an enduring favorite for many families, and their family-style meals are perfect for hearty Italian fare at an attractive price. For just under $64, you can grab a Family-Style Lasagna Bundle, which features lasagna, a dozen breadsticks, and their iconic house salad—ideal for filling appetites at a reasonable price.

Beyond the lasagna, consider their array of family-sized entrees like Chicken Alfredo or Five Cheese Ziti, each serving four to six people, with the option to add soups and extra breadsticks for a nominal fee.

Texas Roadhouse: Hearty Family Packs

Texas Roadhouse prides itself on comfort food favorites that appeal to families. For takeout only, their family packs offer dishes like BBQ Chicken and Pork Chops, paired with salads and shareable sides. Pricing varies by protein, but one great example is the BBQ Chicken meal for approximately $45, which includes two sides and a salad.

Families can customize their meals, choosing sides from a delightful variety like mashed potatoes, green beans, and signature rolls with honey cinnamon butter, ensuring everyone’s preferences are satisfied.

Buca di Beppo: Italian Feast

For fans of Italian cuisine, Buca di Beppo presents a fantastic deal with their Buca Bundle, available for $40. This meal feeds four and includes garlic bread, a mixed green or Caesar salad, and a choice of either Fettuccine Alfredo or spaghetti with signature meat sauce. The value here is significant, especially when considering the kids’ menu portions tend to be much pricier when ordered separately.

The authentic flavors and family-style portions make this perfect for sharing, creating a cozy atmosphere at home.

Cracker Barrel: Breakfast for Dinner

Cracker Barrel is well-known for its comforting dishes, and its family meal bundles allow you to enjoy that experience at home. Starting from around $38, these bundles range from breakfast favourites like pancakes to comforting lunch and dinner options like pot roast.

Families can easily feed a group with hearty choices and sides, turning any time of day into a delicious opportunity for family bonding over warm, home-cooked meals.

Outback Steakhouse: Bloomin’ Bundles

For those craving steakhouse quality, Outback Steakhouse offers its popular Bloomin’ Bundles that serve four to six people. The most wallet-friendly option is the Grilled Chicken Bundle starting at $55, featuring grilled chicken breasts with a choice of sides and salad, bringing a delightful steakhouse experience right to your dining table at home.

El Pollo Loco: Mexican Family Meals

El Pollo Loco’s family meals celebrate fresh ingredients with their succulent fire-grilled chicken. Starting at approximately $29.99 for an 8-piece meal, each includes sides and tortillas, making it easy to please everyone at the table. For larger gatherings, the 12 or 16-piece meal expands on the offerings, offering even more delicious choices.

With these meal bundles, families can easily enjoy a restaurant experience at home without straining the budget. Enjoy the convenience, savor the flavors, and embrace the shared moments around the table that meal bundles provide!