Eating more vegetarian dinners is a great way to save money at the grocery store. These cheap vegetarian meals are an easy, healthy addition to your meal plan. Each recipe costs less than $1 per serving!
One of the easiest ways to save money on groceries is to limit the amount of meat you consume. High quality meat is expensive compared to other sources of protein. Including more beans, legumes, eggs, grains, and vegetables instead of meat in your meals will help your grocery bills to come down. In my house, when we do eat meat it tends to be a small portion compared to the other food on our plates.
There are so many different types of cheap vegetarian meals that your family can enjoy. Here are some of my favorite hearty vegan and vegetarian dinners. They all cost less than a dollar per serving, and they’re all very satisfying meals full of flavor. Many of these recipes are gluten-free and vegan. When veggies are the centerpiece of a meal, you can often substitute different vegetables and spices according to your family’s tastes, so there’s a lot of flexibility here.
Vegetarian Dinners that Aren’t Pasta
I’m always looking for budget-friendly vegetarian recipes that aren’t pasta to keep up the variety in our meals. There are many casseroles, soups, chilis, tacos, and bowls that fit the bill. Tortillas and rice noodles are other types of carbs that I like to mix into our rotation. Vegetables are the star ingredients in these healthy meals.
Peanut Ramen Noodle Salad
This peanut ramen noodle salad is a healthy, delicious recipe full of veggies for lunch or dinner. It's simple to make this flavorful dish.
This cauliflower chickpea curry is such a delicious, healthy recipe for lunch or dinner. It features cauliflower, chickpeas, red pepper, and curry tomato sauce.
This healthy Crockpot chili is such an easy vegan dinner recipe for a busy night. It's full of beans and veggies, and it's finished with lemon juice, chili powder, and cumin for a delicious combination of flavors. ($.69 per serving)Â
These rice noodles with peanut sauce are perfect for a light vegan meal. This whole grain recipe features brown rice noodles, veggies, and a delicious peanut sauce.
This vegetarian enchilada casserole is an easy, flavorful recipe for a busy night. It's a delicious combination of beans, bell peppers, onion, enchilada sauce, cheese, and tortillas baked in the oven. Great alternative to tacos!
This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is an easy, healthy recipe full of carrots, celery, onions, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, and tomatoes. It's perfect for a light lunch or dinner. ($.86 per serving)
This Instant Pot pinto beans and rice recipe is such an easy one to make for a quick meal. Top with avocados, fresh herbs, sour cream, and an extra sprinkle of cumin and chili powder for a delicious meal. ($.80 per serving)
This lentil sweet potato casserole is such a flavorful vegan dinner! It's full of tender sweet potatoes, red peppers, green beans, ginger, garlic, and lentils, which are a great plant-based protein.
This vegan butternut squash chili is one of the best cozy dinner recipes for fall and winter. It features squash, beans, tomatoes, onions, and a flavorful chili sauce. ($.58 per serving)
Some nights when we’re looking for comfort food, we turn to these easy vegetarian dinners that have a pasta base. Some have a quick homemade sauce, and others are baked in the oven. Sometimes I even substitute zucchini or butternut squash for the pasta. Vegetables take center stage in these vegetarian pasta dinners.
Baked Pasta Casserole
This baked pasta casserole is a delicious, flavorful, frugal dinner recipe. It comes together with just five ingredients – pasta, egg, ricotta, marinara sauce, and cheese. ($.74 per serving)
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Vegetarian Recipes
How do vegetarians eat on a budget?
Meal planning is essential if you want to save money on food while eating a vegetarian diet. It’s also a good idea to center your meals around vegetables that are on sale at your grocery store. Beans, lentils, and pasta are all affordable bases for vegetarian dishes.
What should I eat for dinner as a vegetarian?
It’s a good idea to eat a wide variety of foods. Bean-based dishes like chili and cassoulet are great to have some nights, and noodle bowls, hearty salads, or pasta can headline the menu on other nights. There’s such a wide variety of cheap vegetarian meals, so there’s no need to eat the same thing over and over. Consult your doctor or registered dietician to address your specific health needs.
Is vegetarian food cheap?
Vegetarian proteins tend to be cheaper than meat. Fresh produce can get expensive, but if you shop the sales and stock your freezer, healthy vegetarian food can be very affordable. All the recipes in this post cost less than $1 per serving.
Are Farmers Markets Cheaper?
Produce can sometimes be expensive at a farmers market, but at many markets, the pricing tends to be similar to the grocery store. You can definitely find some good bargains, especially if you go to the market at the end of the day. I like to stock up on things like fresh spinach, garlic, onion, and bell peppers when I see them at my farmers market. Check out my farmers market shopping tips for more tips on how to optimize your experience.
Visit this collection of cheap vegan meals for more great ideas about how to save money on a vegetarian diet.
Note: This post was originally published in 2013, and it was updated in 2022.
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