One of the most awesome things about a plant based diet is that you can eat frugally if you’re on a budget and still have amazing meals. I’ll admit I get caught up in all the fancy recipes with a ton of ingredients sometimes, but it is so easy to make delicious food without spending a fortune. I’ve put together some of my favorite cheap plant based dinner recipes when you’re broke or want to save money.
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Is eating plant based expensive?
Eating a plant based diet is actually really cheap if you choose the right foods. There are plenty of plant based foods that you can eat on a tight budget and still have amazing meals. If you make the right choices you could actually eat a plant based diet for $50 a week or less.
If you have a store like Sprouts near you where you can buy foods in bulk, you’ll save even more money on your grocery bill. The great thing about buying this way is that you can buy the amount you need so you don’t have to spend extra money on a whole package of something if you only need a little.
Cheapest Plant Based Foods
There are so many cheap plant based foods that you can incorporate into your meals. Try making these the main part of your meal and add seasonings and veggies or fruit.
- Rice
- Oatmeal
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Lentils
- Pasta
- Flour
- Tofu
- Tortillas
- Corn
- Bananas
7 Cheap Plant Based Dinner Recipes For When You’re Broke
These are some of my favorite budget friendly plant based dinner recipes when I need to save money on groceries.
The key to finding inexpensive plant based recipes is to look for ones that don’t have too many extra ingredients like unusual seasonings that you don’t already have or added store bought sauces. These things can really add up. If you do choose a recipe with a fancy seasoning that you don’t normally use, try to find other recipes with that same seasoning so you can be sure to use it up and not waste it.
VEGAN PASTA FAGIOLI by The Clean Eating Couple
This plant based dinner recipe is cheap to make and packed with flavor. I love making recipes that go a long way so you can stretch your dollars or feed a family on a budget and this one fits the bill.
15 MINUTE GARLIC FRIED NOODLES by Served From Scratch
This plant based noodle dish makes the perfect dinner on a budget if you add some broccoli or another veggie with it. This is one of my all time favorite vegan recipes. The texture of the rice noodles and the perfectly delicious sauce makes me feel like I’m eating take out. This recipe has only a few ingredients and is so simple to make.
GRILLED VEGGIE KABOBS by Simple Fit Vegan
I love making these vegetable skewers with a side of rice for a cheap and delicious plant based dinner on a budget. I use whatever veggies are on sale for the week to save some extra money on this meal.
MEXICAN HASHBROWN SLIDERS by Great Grub Delicious Treats
Oh my goodness! This cheap plant based dinner recipe is perfect for when you’re broke. It’s only a few simple ingredients and yummy! I like it with refried beans instead of pinto beans too. So good!
GARLIC TOFU BROCCOLI SKILLET by Build Your Bite
This cheap plant based dinner recipe is so easy to make and so good! I love using tofu because it is so inexpensive and adds protein to your dish. It’s also awesome because it absorbs the flavors of whatever seasonings or sauce you put on it so it can be really flavorful. I love the tip that she gives in this recipe to make the tofu crispy.
FRESH TOMATO AND ARTICHOKE PASTA by Another Music In A Different Kitchen
I love that this plant based dinner recipe only has 7 ingredients which makes it an excellent option when you’re trying to eat plant based on a budget. The basil, tomatoes and artichokes pack this dish with flavor and texture and it’s great to feed a family.
VEGAN MASHED POTATO BOWLS by Rabbit and Wolves
This recipe has a few more ingredients than most on this list, but most of them you probably have in your pantry already. This is plant based comfort food at its finest! I love mashed potatoes and they’re so great for eating plant based on a budget because they go with so many things and stretch a long way. These plant based mashed potato bowls have potatoes, veggies and tofu for a complete meal that’s super delicious.
Now you have an entire week’s worth of plant based dinner ideas to make if you’re on a budget or trying to save money. You won’t be disappointed with these recipes! You’ll have a variety of different foods and still be able to make dinner on the cheap.
If you haven’t seen this cookbook of frugal vegan recipes
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