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    Home » Dinner

    Published: Jul 5, 2022 · Modified: Nov 21, 2022 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 8 Comments

    Cheap Vegan Meals

    cheap vegan meals

    Need some cheap vegan meals that will help keep your wallet full and tastebuds happy? I've got you covered with these budget-friendly vegan recipes! 

    cheap vegan meals

    Are you struggling to put cheap vegan meals on the table, or worried that if you start eating a plant-based or vegan diet it will become too expensive?

    Feeding a family on a tight budget isn't easy no matter which dietary preferences you have, but luckily vegan staples like beans, legumes, grains, potatoes, root vegetables, pasta, rice, oats, flour, and seasonal fruits are some of the most budget-friendly foods available at the grocery store. By building your meals around vegan food like this, you can create satisfying, tasty meals on a budget much more easily.

    In this post: Everything you need for budget-friendly vegan meals:
    Use this menu to jump to the section you are interested in:

    • Tips For Saving Money On Groceries
    • Make Veggie Scrap Stock
    • Budget-Friendly Vegan Recipes

    Tips For Saving Money On Groceries

    Here are some tips for saving money on your groceries:

    • Shop seasonally.
    • Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry.
    • Meal plan and make a list so you don’t buy more food than you actually need.
    • Buy foods that last a long time (like pasta, dried beans, root vegetables, etc) in bulk or when they are on sale.
    • Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh veggies and tend to be cheaper, so incorporate them into your meals more.
    • Buy dried beans and cook them yourself rather than buying canned beans. An Instant Pot is really handy for this. You don't even need to soak them and it cooks so fast.
    • Bake your own bread and treats instead of buying them. I have so many recipes for vegan baked goods!
    • Don’t shop when you are hungry.
    • Batch cook things like soups, stews, and chili and freeze leftovers for another day or have them for lunch.
    • Buy less packaged convenience foods.
    • Check grocery store flyers, ads, and online to see what’s on sale and where before you go shopping.
    • Check the marked-down/reduced items in the produce department. Slightly past their best vegetables are still great for stews and soups and overripe bananas are perfect for freezing to make Healthy Banana Bread or Easy Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream Bars. Other overripe fruits are great for making smoothies, and adding to cakes, muffins, crisps, and crumbles, and veggies that are a little old, battered, or bruised are great for soups.
    • Make vegetable broth/stock from your veggie scraps (see below).

    Make Veggie Scrap Stock

    As well as shopping and cooking smart, you can recycle veggie scraps that might otherwise get thrown out or composted.

    I keep all of my veggie scraps like peel and offcuts in a container in the freezer. When it's full I tip it into a large pan, add enough water to cover it along with some salt and pepper and whatever dried herbs I've got, then bring it to a boil and simmer for an hour or two.

    Drain and you've got loads of practically free vegetable stock. Pour into freezer-safe containers and freeze. I've got some old yogurt pots that I reuse again and again.

    Defrost overnight in the fridge, or pop it in the microwave to defrost in a hurry and use it in your favourite recipes. Now you can get even better value out of your vegetables and make extra cheap vegan meals. It's especially good for soups and stews.

    Budget-Friendly Vegan Recipes

    Here are some easy, cheap vegan meal ideas with something to suit all tastes. Because a satisfyingly good vegan meal doesn't have to break the bank!

    Vegan Vegetable Soup

    2 bowls of vegetable soup
    Vegan Vegetable Soup is my favourite cheap vegan meal. It's great tasting, basic, budget-friendly, quic and great for cleaning out the fridge. Use my base recipe just as it is, or add extra fresh, frozen, or canned veggies if you have them. Just about anything goes and it makes lots of leftovers for lunches etc!
    make this recipe

    Lentil Shepherd's Pie

    The ultimate Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie featuring rich, flavourful, saucy lentils topped with fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes & baked until deliciously golden brown & crispy. The lentils do a fantastic job of replacing meat in this vegan Shepherd's Pie recipe, making it a really budget-friendly recipe. It's also easy, healthy, comforting and filling!
    make this recipe

    Cherry Tomato Sauce

    cherry tomato sauce
    With a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes and some basic store-cupboard ingredients you can be tucking into this fantastic cherry tomato sauce. Toss it through some pasta or spaghetti and dinner is done!
    make this recipe

    Vegan Potato Soup

    a bowl of potato soup
    Thick, hearty and creamy Vegan Potato Soup. It's really simple to make and very budget friendly. You can enjoy it just as it is or make it a bit more special by adding some toppings like crispy roasted potato cubes, shredded vegan cheese, or green onions if you can spare them.
    make this recipe

    Bubble & Squeak

    bubble and squeak in a terracotta dish
    You can use any leftover vegetables in this Bubble & Squeak recipe or cook them fresh, and just about anything goes, although it's particularly good with green leafy vegetables like cabbage and Brussels sprouts. I like serving this with a side of canned baked beans which helps it go down well with kiddos!
    make this recipe

    Oven-Baked Garlic Mushroom Rice

    oven-baked garlic mushroom rice
    One-pot, Oven Baked Garlic Mushroom Rice. A simple, comforting, no frills kind of meal that is really easy to throw together with minimal prep.
    make this recipe

    Vegan Chicken Breasts

    vegan chicken breasts in a pan with lemon slices
    Store-bought vegan chicken is expensive but making your own from vital wheat gluten and chickpeas is much cheaper. Make a bulk batch and store them in the fridge or freezer. This seitan chicken breast recipe is super high in protein, easy to make, freezer friendly, and a great vegan substitute for chicken in any recipe. Serve whole, slice, dice or make vegan shredded chicken.
    make this recipe

    Vegan Leek & Potato Soup

    a bowl of vegan leek and potato soup with croutons
    Cozy and comforting, this creamy Vegan Leek and Potato Soup combines just a handful of ingredients for a simple, quick, homemade vegan soup the whole family will love. Make a big pot, enjoy for dinner, then use the leftovers up for lunch all week!
    make this recipe

    Slow Cooker Black Beans

    a bowl of sloe cooker black beans over rice
    Foolproof and delicious Slow Cooker Black Beans! Beans are so budget-friendly and really nutritious. These black beans are great served over rice but are also great in burritos, tacos, grain bowls, and quesadillas and they can also be blended up with some stock to make a tasty soup. If you don't have a slow cooker, stovetop instructions are included and I also have an Instant Pot version here, and a Meal Prep version here.
    make this recipe

    Chickpea Curry Soup

    2 bowls of chickpea curry soup
    Simple and super delicious Chickpea Curry Soup. It's easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes. Serve with fresh, crusty bread, rice or warm naan bread! This is a really hearty and filling soup that makes great leftovers.
    make this recipe

    Kidney Bean Burgers

    a kidney bean burger patty in a bun with green sauce, sprouts and tomato
    Kidney Bean Burgers with loads of flavour and texture. They are quick and easy and made almost entirely from store cupboard ingredients. Skip the parsley if you don't have any or add a little dried instead. Parsley grows like a weed in the garden though so it's well worth planting some if you have the room!
    make this recipe

    Easy Individual Mushroom Pies

    easy vegan mushroom pies
    Tender, juicy, meaty portobello mushroom, stuffed with sweet caramelized onions, a sprinkling of thyme, all topped with a super easy to make buttery, crisp pastry. So easy and so good!!! Skip the thyme if you don't have any, or use any other herb you like, fresh or dried.
    make this recipe

    Vegan Pea Soup

    a bowl of green pea soup with croutons in a black bowl
    Easy Vegan Pea Soup made with a bag of frozen peas in less than 20 minutes! Just 5 ingredients, plus some optional fresh mint if you have it. It's quick, easy, and such a cheap vegan meal. Add some vegan croutons to make it more substantial and to use up your stale bread.
    make this recipe

    Easy Cheese Sauce

    easy vegan cheese sauce
    A silky smooth, lusciously creamy, Vegan Cheese Sauce that is nut-free, gluten-free, low in fat, high in protein and can be whipped up in your blender in minutes! It's one of my favourite super quick and easy dinners. Toss it through cooked pasta and serve alongside some veggies or a salad. Dinner done fast!
    make this recipe

    Chili Soup

    chili soup
    Chili Soup that can be made quickly on the stove-top or more slowly in a slow cooker. Just 8 ingredients (plus water & salt), easy and budget-friendly. Eat as it is or top with vegan cheese, avocado, and sliced jalapeños if you have some.
    make this recipe

    Green Bean Potato Curry

    green bean potato curry
    A really super simple Green Bean & Potato Curry that is budget friendly, only has 8 ingredients & needs no fancy-schmancy spices. It's really simple and budget-friendly.
    make this recipe

    Vegan Shakshuka

    vegan shakshuka in a pan
    Silky, soft tofu rounds cooked gently in a fiery, garlicky and chunky tomato sauce. Typically a brunch dish, but Shakshuka also makes a hearty and cheap dinner with lots of bread to sop up that spicy sauce!
    make this recipe

    Tomato Pasta Bake

    tomato pasta bake
    This Tomato Pasta Bake with Garlicky Crumb topping is a really hearty, filling and cheap and is a fantastic way to use up stale bread. This one is really popular with kids! 
    make this recipe

    One-Pot Spicy Vegetable Rice

    a bowl of spicy rice
    One-Pot Spicy Vegetable Rice is a really tasty one-pot dinner that is ready in 30 minutes. It's full of sweet vegetables and spices and is amazing with a drizzle of hot sauce! It makes a lot and reheats really well too. 
    make this recipe

    Cauliflower Alfredo

    a bowl of cauliflower alfredo
    Quick and easy Cauliflower Alfredo that's rich, creamy, delicious, and really low in fat! It's a great, healthy and lightened-up alternative to traditional Alfredo sauce. Most vegan alfredo recipes use nuts which are expensive. By using cauliflower we can cut that cost. Skip the miso if you don't have any in your fridge. The rest of the ingredients are pretty pantry and budget-friendly!
    make this recipe

    Chard Stir Fry

    a bowl of swiss chard stir fry
    Chard Stir Fry is a delicious and easy recipe that can be made in just 15-minutes when you need dinner on the table fast. With a handful of simple ingredients you'll love how easy it is to make! Be sure to use the stalks of the chard as well as the leaves to get the most bang for your buck. They are great stir-fried. This recipe also works really well with beet leaves.
    make this recipe

    I hope this roundup of cheap vegan meals helps you to put a comforting, filling, and super delicious dinner on the table for your family with as little stress as possible. Remember, you got this!

    Hungry For More?

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Chris Whitesman says

      January 18, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      I’ve been using some of your recipes, since we used your meatloaf recipe for lunch on Christmas Day. Really impressed by the thoughtfulness of your notes and information. A huge thank you! I’m Australian, so can’t always find products others might, but your info about options and substitutes is most helpful.

      Reply
      • Melanie McDonald says

        January 19, 2022 at 10:42 am

        Thanks so much Chris. I'm really pleased you're finding the info helpful!

        Reply
    2. Lisa says

      February 12, 2020 at 10:48 am

      Thank you so much, I really appreciate this. I am so happy I found your website

      Reply
    3. Angie says

      February 06, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      I am so glad I found your site. I am very, very new to plant based cooking.... Around a week so far. I am doing this mainly for my health and needed some simple, inexpensive and tantalizing dishes to keep me on track. Plus, making food to entice my Hubby to join me in this journey is important! I am excited to try these recipes!

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        February 06, 2020 at 10:26 pm

        Glad you found me Angie. I hope you enjoy the recipes!

        Reply
    4. Jean says

      January 30, 2020 at 7:40 am

      I am building a list of dishes my family enjoys, thank you for your suggestions.

      Reply
    5. sam says

      January 22, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Hello Mel: Thank you very much for these easy to cook and delicious recipes. I'm going to start with cherry tomato sauce, then vegan potato soup, and then green bean potato curry per day for dinner. Sam from San Francisco

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        January 22, 2020 at 11:12 am

        You're welcome Sam. I hope you enjoy them!

        Reply

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    Melanie McDonald

    I'm Melanie McDonald (but you can call me Mel), best-selling cookbook author and creator of A Virtual Vegan. I share well-tested, flavour-packed vegan recipes with clear, step-by-step instructions. My goal is to give you the confidence to cook amazing vegan food from scratch.

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