Want to save a little money? This collection of 45+ Cheap Vegan Meals has you covered! All made from budget-friendly, high-protein, and delicious ingredients, it’s proof that you can eat the best vegan food while keeping your wallet (and family) happy.
Table of contents
Despite what your carnivore uncle may have told you, it actually is possible to eat vegan on a budget. A little meal planning and a well-stocked pantry go a long way!
Personally, I find that some of my most satisfying budget vegan recipes are made with cheap pantry staples, like potatoes, canned beans, and frozen veggies. And the proof is in this list of 45+ cheap vegan meals. It’s packed with budget-friendly and flavorful recipes that will stretch your grocery budget and make the most of what’s already in your kitchen.
Scroll down to find everything from freezer meals to easy one-pot dishes to quick weeknight dinners and so much more.
How to eat vegan on a budget (without sacrificing flavor)
- Stick with big-batch, one-pot dishes made with cheap ingredients, like chili, soup, bolognese, curry, etc.
- …And freeze the leftovers for later. They usually last for months and are a great way to save a few bucks.
- Save the kitchen scraps! Most veggie scraps can be frozen and later simmered in water for a zero-waste homemade vegetable broth.
- Swap fresh veggies for frozen. Frozen vegetables are harvested and flash-frozen at peak ripeness, making them just as nutritious and delicious as fresh veggies.
- Pack your meals with plant protein and fiber from beans, lentils, tofu, vegetables, etc. These affordable ingredients will make your cheap vegan meals extra filling.
- Shop with a meal plan. Before you even think about putting your grocery list together, come up with a budget-friendly meal plan. It’ll keep you in check once you get to the store.
My favorite affordable vegan ingredients
These are the staples I prioritize on my vegan grocery list when I want to make nourishing meals for just a few dollars per serving:
- Dried or canned beans, like chickpeas, black beans, cannellini beans, and kidney beans
- Dried or canned lentils (I always have red lentils on hand for my Red Lentil Dahl!)
- Oats
- Rice
- Pasta
- Canned staples, like tomatoes
- Chickpea flour
- Frozen vegetables
- Seasonal produce
- Potatoes
The best cheap vegan meals
Breakfast
Sheet Pan Pancakes
Cooking breakfast for a crowd is easy with these vegan Sheet Pan Pancakes! They’re fluffy, fuss-free, and fun to customize with toppings. No standing over a hot griddle included.
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Chickpea Omelette
Chickpea flour, simple seasonings, and water are transformed into this easy Chickpea Omelette! It’s an eggy, fiber-packed, budget-friendly vegan breakfast filled with sautéed veggies and vegan cheese.
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Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Make these Peanut Butter Overnight Oats for an easy, make-ahead, and protein-rich breakfast! They’re incredibly satisfying and stay super creamy for days.
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Pumpkin Oatmeal
Start your day with a bowl of warm and cozy Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal! It’s a quick, easy, and healthy breakfast made with 7 ingredients, like real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.
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Soups and Stews
White Bean Soup
This White Bean Soup is incredibly creamy, nourishing and so easy to to make. It’s a simple one-pot meal you can throw together in about 30 minutes. Naturally dairy and gluten free!
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Vegan Minestrone Soup
Celebrate soup season with this one-pot, 30-minute Vegan Minestrone Soup. Jam-packed with veggies, beans, pasta, and a rich broth, it’s a healthy comfort food you can feel good about.
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Cabbage Soup
Treat yourself to this comforting Cabbage Soup, chock full of green cabbage, fresh veggies, white beans, and a seasoned broth. It’s a vibrant 30-minute meal that’s good for you!
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Creamy Carrot and Lentil Soup
This Creamy Carrot and Lentil Soup is so luxurious that you’ll be craving it all year long! It’s easy to make with budget-friendly ingredients but is packed with plant-based protein and features layers of warm and comforting flavors.Â
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Lemon Lentil Soup
This creamy and comforting Lemon Red Lentil Soup is easy to make with red lentils, lemon juice, kale, and carrots. Its bright lemon flavors are over-the-top delicious!
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Creamy Vegetable Soup
This Creamy Vegetable Soup is a one-pot, feel-good comfort food made with a medley of vegetables and a dairy-free cream base. Easy to make with fresh or frozen veggies!
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Sweet Potato Red Lentil Stew
This super cozy Sweet Potato Red Lentil Stew is chock-full of tender sweet potatoes, soft red lentils, kale, and warm spices. It’s an easy, one-pot comfort food designed to keep you warm all winter long!
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Easy Vegan Potato Soup
This Vegan Potato Soup is ultra creamy, comforting and ready in 30 minutes! It's best loaded with all the toppings: vegan sour cream, green onions, vegan cheese and vegan bacon bits.
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Vegan Black Bean Soup
This easy Vegan Black Bean Soup is a creamy, protein-packed, 30-minute dinner made in one pot. Top it with avocado, tortilla chips, and vegan sour cream for a customizable meal the whole family will love!
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The Best Lentil Soup
It’s true – this really is The Best Lentil Soup you’ll ever make! It’s all whipped up in one pot with simple and inexpensive ingredients like fresh veggies, bold spices, and of course plenty of lentils.
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Salads and Sides
Dense Bean Salad (Mediterranean-Style)
This Mediterranean-inspired Dense Bean Salad tosses chickpeas and white beans with crisp veggies, fresh herbs, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. It’s protein-packed, perfect for meal prep, and genuinely tastes better after sitting in the fridge!
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Mexican Rice and Beans
These easy Mexican Rice and Beans cook rice, black beans, salsa, and savory spices together in one pot for a flavorful and budget-friendly side or main dish! Stovetop and Instant Pot instructions included.
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One Pan Cannellini Beans with Kale
One Pan Cannellini Beans with Kale braises white beans and leafy greens in a savory, aromatic broth for the ultimate quick and convenient comfort food. Serve them hot with crusty bread for a cozy, high-protein weeknight dinner!
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Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These zesty Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes pack tons of flavor into each bite. Filled with black beans, corn, and a tangy green sauce, they can easily be made ahead of time or enjoyed fresh for dinner.
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Cabbage Steaks
This roasted Cabbage Steaks recipe takes regular cabbage and turns it into a rich, tender, and caramelized vegetable side dish! It’s a simple 5-ingredient recipe that’s easy to make again and again.
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Black Eyed Peas Recipe
Southern style black eyed peas can be served year round but are said to bring luck for the New Year. Creamy, flavorful and best served with collard greens and cornbread!
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Main Dishes
Sticky Teriyaki Chickpeas
Sticky Teriyaki Chickpeas are flavor-packed and easy to make in 20 minutes or less! Teriyaki glazed chickpeas are served over rice with the fresh toppings of your choice for a budget-friendly meal.
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The Best Vegan Meatloaf
A classic style vegan meatloaf recipe made with a base of chickpeas. Unlike some vegan loaf recipes, this one is not mushy. It has a slight smoky flavor and makes for a beautiful centerpiece dish for any holiday or Sunday family dinner.
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Biscuit Topped Chickpea Pot Pie
Comfort food never tasted so good with this Biscuit Topped Chickpea Pot Pie! It features a vegan cheddar biscuit topping and is full of vegetables and chickpeas.
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Vegetarian Fajitas
Sautéed peppers, onions, and mushrooms make up these Vegetarian Fajitas. Load them into tortillas with vegan sour cream for an easy and flavorful family dinner!
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Lentil Shepherd’s Pie with Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
The best vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie has a savory and herby lentil filling with soft and cheesy mashed potatoes on top. Kid friendly!
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Quick & Easy Red Lentil Dahl
Made in one pot in just 30 minutes, this is guaranteed to be the easiest lentil dahl recipe you ever try! It’s rich and creamy, made with budget-friendly ingredients, and packed with plant protein and fiber.
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Vegan Burritos
The filling for these vegan burritos is ULTRA flavorful, satisfying and easy to make. The mixture can be made on the stove top or using an Instant Pot. No one will miss the meat and dairy!
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Chickpea Tikka Masala
Drowning in a creamy and fragrant sauce, this Chickpea Tikka Masala is easy to make on the stove or in the Instant Pot. Serve it with rice and naan for a comforting Indian-inspired meal.
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Crispy Cauliflower Tacos with Chipotle Cream
Cauliflower goes from ‘blah’ to ‘yum!’ in these Crispy Cauliflower Tacos! Panko-coated cauliflower is roasted until golden, then drizzled with chipotle cream to make this easy taco recipe a must-try for weeknight meals and Taco Tuesday.
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Vegan Lentil Loaf
No one will miss the meat in this savory, mouthwatering Vegan Lentil Loaf! Makes a wonderful main dish on a holiday, and is easy enough to make any day of the week.
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Easy Chana Masala with Raita
This quick and Easy Chana Masala recipe is loaded with hearty chickpeas and an Indian-spiced tomato onion sauce. A dollop of the refreshing vegan Raita (yogurt sauce) on top cools every bite and makes this Indian-inspired dish extra indulgent.
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Easy Vegan Biryani
If there’s one takeout-inspired recipe you have to try, it’s this Easy Vegan Biryani. It’s an ultra-flavorful rice dish made in one pot with vegetables and Indian spices. This simplified version substitutes the effort, but not the flavor!
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Spicy Potato Tacos
These copycat Taco Bell Spicy Potato Tacos put a vegan-friendly spin on the fast food favorite! Crispy baked potatoes are coated in smoky seasonings, then layered in tortillas with vegan chipotle sauce.
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Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry
Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry is a truly effortless meal that you’ll love making for dinner, lunch, and meal prep. Frozen vegetables and a homemade stir fry sauce come together in one pan and pack big and bold flavors into every bite.
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Curry
Easy Potato Curry
This one-pot Potato Curry is an easy weeknight dinner made with Indian spices, chunks of tender potatoes, and a rich tomato cream sauce. It’s comforting, packed with flavor, and oh-so hearty!
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Sweet Potato Curry with Chickpeas
Sweet Potato Curry with Chickpeas and Spinach is an easy one-pot meal you can make for weeknight dinners and meal prep! It’s comforting, flexible, and loaded with flavor.
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Lentil Curry
Lentil Curry is what comfort food dreams are made of! It’s a hearty one-pot meal that’s filled with protein-packed lentils, warm spices, and coconut milk. Instant Pot instructions included.
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Easy Chickpea Curry
This is the best and easiest Chickpea Curry, made in 20 minutes or less! Creamy, flavor packed and full of plant protein, this will become one of your go-to dinners when you barely have time to cook.
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Chili
Lentil Chili
Lentil Chili is an easy, hearty, and delicious 1-pot vegan meal. Made with hearty red lentils, black beans, walnuts, vegetables, and a handful of smoky spices.
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Veggie Chili
This Veggie Chili features a colorful combination of mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini and corn. It includes two kinds of beans and bulgur, which adds a meaty texture. The ultimate vegetarian chili for every kind of eater.
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Chili Cornbread Casserole (Vegan)
This Vegan Chili Cornbread Casserole is a comforting family dinner that bakes fluffy cornbread right on top of a thick, hearty chili. Make it for chilly evenings, game day, or an easy weeknight meal!
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Pasta and Noodles
One Pot Vegan Pasta
This Vegan One Pot Pasta is made with simple vegetables, seasonings, and vegan mascarpone. It’s a quick, easy, and lusciously creamy dinner you can throw together in 30 minutes!Â
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Thai Peanut Noodles
Make these Thai-inspired Vegan Peanut Noodles in just 15 minutes! It’s a comforting, crave-worthy meal that tosses vegetables and noodles in the best peanut sauce.
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Easy Vegan Ramen
This Easy Vegan Ramen recipe simmers noodles, simple vegetables, and a mushroom-enhanced veggie broth together in one pot. It’s a flavorful and umami-packed meal that’s ready in less than 20 minutes!
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Vegan Lo Mein
Vegan Lo Mein is a quick, easy, and flexible 20-minute meal! Slippery noodles and vegetables are tossed with a homemade vegan lo mein sauce, making each bite slurpalicious and crowd-pleasing.
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Vegan Bolognese
The BEST Vegan Bolognese sauce and it's super simple to make with only 8 ingredients. Savory, meaty and hearty, everyone will love this Italian classic made vegan!
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