25 Cheap Plant-Based Meal Ideas

With these cheap plant-based meal ideas, you’ll never be stuck wondering what to eat! Find tons of easy recipe ideas that fit your budget.

Eating a plant-based diet doesn’t need to break the bank! In fact, going plant-based can help you save money on meals.

Research shows that in middle- to high-income countries, eating a healthy and sustainable diet can be up to 34 percent less expensive than a traditional diet.

I’m sharing 25 cheap plant-based meals and recipes to help you save cash while following a plant-based diet.

How to make affordable plant-based meals

You can use multiple strategies to make your plant-based meals more affordable. The cost of ingredients is only one part of making a lower-cost meal.

Other factors like utilizing leftovers and learning how to stretch more expensive ingredients across multiple servings can have a significant impact on the cost per serving.

Additionally, repurposing leftovers and cutting back on food waste are two great ways to save.

Buy smart

Choose lower-cost ingredients when shopping to cut back on the total price per serving. This is a great move for preparing cheap plant-based meals.

Buy seasonal produce and avoid purchasing pre-cut fruits and vegetables, as they’re often more expensive.

Canned and frozen produce is a nutritious choice that’s typically lower in cost, especially when the fruit or vegetable is out of season. They can be helpful for putting together budget plant-based meals.

man sitting on a kitchen floor looking at two cans of beans

Other ingredients like canned beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables are budget-friendly choices as are shelf-stable grains, peas, and lentils.

Stretch your dollar

When it comes to preparing cheap plant-based meals, extended dishes like casseroles, pastas, and soups are typically lower in cost per serving than ones that concentrate on single, high-cost ingredients.

For example, by mixing beans or rice with a higher-cost ingredient like avocado, you can lower the cost per serving.

Cut back on food waste

Cutting back on food waste is very helpful for putting together plant-based meals on a budget.

Repurpose leftovers and be sure to utilize all the ingredients you buy to cut back on food waste. This practice is both sustainable and budget-friendly.  

Choose from the following list of cheap plant-based recipes to help you save on your next grocery trip.

Breakfasts

1. High Protein Overnight Oats from my own kitchen
Oats are a pantry staple that are versatile and inexpensive.
Check out this recipe
chocolate-strawberry-high-protein-overnight-oats-recipe
2. Best Vegan Flapjacks by Baked By Clo
“With only four simple ingredients, these vegan flapjacks are great for mid-morning snacking,” says Chloe, owner of Baked By Clo. “They can be prepped in advance and stored for the week, and they are super easy to make.”
Check out this recipe
Vegan Flapjacks - Baked By Clo
3. Easy Vegan Apple Muffins by Rainbow Nourishments
“Here are easy vegan apple muffins which use only seven key ingredients and one bowl!” says Anthea Cheng, owner of Rainbow Nourishments. “These muffins are fluffy, moist, and just like those from your local bakery.”
Check out this recipe
vegan apple muffins in muffin papers
4. Tofu Scramble by Audreythena: Food Goddess
“Add a variety of low-cost vegetables to spice it up, including potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, or seasonal vegetables,” says Audrey Sommer, owner of Audreythena: Food Goddess.
Check out this recipe
tofu vegan scramble on a plate
5. 3 Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies by Very Veganish
“These three-ingredient banana oatmeal breakfast cookies can be made for just pennies using ripe bananas, oats and cinnamon,” says Abi Cowell, owner of Very Veganish.
Check out this recipe
6. Vegan Protein Oatmeal by The Heart Dietitian
“This is a balanced breakfast dish made with dried red lentils, a low-cost protein source that requires no pre-soaking or preplanning!” says Veronica Rouse, MAN, RD, CDE, owner of The Heart Dietitian.
Check out this recipe
top down view of vegan protein oatmeal in a bowl
aubergine curry in a bowl with naan bread

Lunches

7. Easy Roasted Aubergine Curry by Vegan Punks
“Aubergine (or eggplant) curry is so easy and cheap to make,” says Jessica Saunders, co-owner of Vegan Punks. “With just a few stored cupboard ingredients, it's a cheap and filling meal!”
Check out this recipe
aubergine curry in a bowl with naan bread
8. Quick N Easy Vegan Burger by Joyful Dumplings
“Made from pantry staples, this vegan black bean burger is not just quick and easy but also budget friendly, you can make this in under 30 minutes,” says June Chuang, owner of Joyful Dumplings.
Check out this recipe
side view of a burger in a bun with fries on a plate
9. Old Fashioned Vegan Potato Soup by Strength and Sunshine
“This homemade cozy rustic soup is perfect for lunch or dinner and completely customizable!” says Rebecca Pytell, owner of Strength and Sunshine.
Check out this recipe
10. Easy Roast Pumpkin Soup by Mrs. Jones’s Kitchen
“This easy five-ingredient roast pumpkin soup is super cheap to make when pumpkins are in season!” says Robyn Jones, owner of Mrs. Jones’s Kitchen.
Check out this recipe
roast pumpkin soup in a bowl with toasted bread
11. Seitan Vegan Chicken Breasts by My Plantiful Cooking
“These seitan vegan chicken breast are super meaty, chewy, and versatile!” says Meesha Jim, owner of My Plantiful Cooking. “They taste better and is way cheaper than store-bought seitan.”
Check out this recipe
vegan chicken breasts on a wooden board
12. Vegetarian White Chili from my own kitchen
Canned beans and the option to use frozen produce cuts back on the cost per serving in this yummy chili that’s perfect for cooler weather.
Check out this recipe
top down view of white bean chili
13. Creamy Vegan Rice Pilaf from my own kitchen
This recipe combines parsnips and rice to make a creamy pilaf.
Check out this recipe

Dinners

14. Easy Instant Pot Mujadara (Lentils and Rice) by The Noshtalgic Life
“This Lebanese lentils and rice recipe uses these simple pantry staples combined with onions and seasonings to create a one-pot delicious meal that is also budget-friendly,” says Heather Kasvinsky, owner of The Noshtalgic Life. “You will love how easy and inexpensive this comfort food is to make!”
Check out this recipe
15. Basic but Brilliant Vegan Lentil Bolognese by The Vegan Larder
“Lentils are not only delicious, they're cheap, filling, full of protein and incredibly versatile,” says Louise-Claire Cayzer, owner of The Vegan Larder. “This recipe can be a key component for all kinds of other meals such as vegan shepherd's pie or as the filling for a lasagna.”
Check out this recipe
lentil bolognese in small bowls
16. Potato and Lentil Dahl with Spinach by Vegan on Board
“This nourishing one-pot meal is based on two budget-friendly vegan staples: red lentils and potatoes,” says Sophie Collins, owner of Vegan on Board. “It's simple and quick to make.”
Check out this recipe
top down view of potato lentil dahl in bowls
17. Vegan Pot Pie Casserole by Plant Power Couple
“This is made with tremendously simple and easily found ingredients like store-bought puff pastry and frozen mixed vegetables,” says Terrence Roche, co-owner of Plant Power Couple. “The hardest part of this vegan chicken pot pie recipe is waiting for it to finish cooking.”
Check out this recipe
vegan pot pie cut into squares
18. Vegan Sloppy Joes Recipe (with Lentil “Meat”) by Lettuce Veg Out
“These tasty lentil sloppy joes are made with canned tomato and lentils for a cheap but nutritious alternative to traditional sloppy joe sandwiches,” says Nicole Stevens, MScFN, RD, owner of Lettuce Veg Out.
Check out this recipe
vegan sloppy joe in a bun
19. Vegan Slow Cooker Chili by Dietitian Debbie
“A pantry stocked with budget-friendly canned goods like beans and tomatoes makes it easy to create meals like this vegan slow cooker chili,” says Deborah Murphy, MS, RDN, owner of Dietitian Debbie. “Just chop a couple veggies and then dump all the rest of the ingredients into the crockpot and it does all the work!”
Check out this recipe
vegan slow cooker chili in bowls
vegan apple crumble in a casserole dish

Snacks and desserts

20. Easy Vegan Apple Crumble by Addicted to Dates
“This easy vegan apple crumble comes together with just a few pantry-staple ingredients,” says Christina Leopold, owner of Addicted to Dates. “Comforting and nostalgic, it’s the perfect fall dessert.”
Check out this recipe
vegan apple crumble in a casserole dish
21. Crunchy Baked Sweet Potato Chips by Living Sweet Moments
“Just two ingredients are needed to make these amazing budget friendly sweet potato chips,” says Tiffany Bendayan, owner of Living Sweet Moments.
Check out this recipe
22. Vegan Chocolate Pretzel Bars by Gluten Free Stories
“These vegan chocolate pretzel bars require only handful of ingredients,” says Stefani Stefovska, owner of Gluten Free Stories.
Check out this recipe
top down view of Vegan Chocolate Pretzel Bars
23. 4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe by Fad Free Nutrition Blog
“Only four simple, inexpensive ingredients are needed for this tasty guacamole recipe,” says Melissa E. Nieves, MPH, RD, owner of Fad Free Nutrition Blog. “It’s also a great way to use up too ripe avocados, reducing food and money waste.”
Check out this recipe
guacamole in a grey bowl with chips and lime slices
24. Buffalo Chickpea Dip by A Grateful Meal
“This buffalo chickpea dip is the perfect budget-friendly swap for the traditional buffalo chicken dip,” says Melissa Macher, RDN, owner of A Grateful Meal. “Chickpeas are much more affordable than using the typical chicken as the star of the recipe.”
Check out this recipe
25. 5 Ingredient Vegan Banana Bread from my kitchen
Cut back on food waste by using overripe bananas in this simple homemade banana bread.
Check out this recipe
top down view of banana bread with bowls of berries

Final thoughts

Eating a plant-based diet can be both delicious and affordable. By choosing inexpensive ingredients and cheap plant-based recipes, you’ll save at the grocery store while also learning how to stretch every dollar for future meals.

This compilation of cheat plant-based meals should keep you going for awhile!

Sources

  • A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health
  • Chloe, owner of Baked By Clo
  • Anthea Cheng, owner of Rainbow Nourishments
  • Audrey Sommer, owner of Audreythena: Food Goddess
  • Abi Cowell, owner of Very Veganish
  • Veronica Rouse, MAN, RD, CDE, owner of The Heart Dietitian
  • Jessica Saunders, co-owner of Vegan Punks
  • June Chuang, owner of Joyful Dumplings
  • Rebecca Pytell, owner of Strength and Sunshine
  • Robyn Jones, owner of Mrs. Jones’s Kitchen
  • Meesha Jim, owner of My Plantiful Cooking
  • Heather Kasvinsky, owner of The Noshtalgic Life
  • Louise-Claire Cayzer, owner of The Vegan Larder
  • Sophie Collins, owner of Vegan on Board
  • Terrence Roche, co-owner of Plant Power Couple
  • Nicole Stevens, MScFN, RD, owner of Lettuce Veg Out
  • Deborah Murphy, MS, RDN, owner of Dietitian Debbie
  • Christina Leopold, owner of Addicted to Dates
  • Tiffany Bendayan, owner of Living Sweet Moment
  • Stefani Stefovska, owner of Gluten Free Stories
  • Melissa E. Nieves, MPH, RD, owner of Fad Free Nutrition Blog
  • Melissa Macher, RDN, owner of A Grateful Meal
With these cheap plant-based meal ideas, you’ll never be stuck wondering what to eat! Find tons of recipe ideas that are easy to make and fit your budget.
Plant-Based Eating |

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