16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (2024)

If your pantry is well-stocked, you probably already have most of the ingredients for these meatless burgers on hand. Since you'll be picking up sweet potatoes anyway, serve up these crispy roasted fries on the side.

Get the recipe: sweet potato, chickpea, and quinoa veggie burger

This cauliflower-crusted pizza is super budget-friendly because you can top it any way you like. Stalk the sale ads, and choose your toppings based on the best prices you find.

Get the recipe: vegan cauliflower pizza crust

Next time you see collards on sale, stock up! You can serve these spicy greens with toast for breakfast or pasta for dinner.

Get the recipe: quick collard greens

If you're looking to save money on healthy produce, canned is where it's at. These flavorful burrito bowls use canned corn and black beans, and you could even sub a jar of salsa for the fresh pico if you're really pinching your pennies.

Get the recipe: vegan burrito bowl

This pasta dish may look extravagant, but it is actually made with mostly easy-to-find ingredients. OK, the wine may be a bit of a splurge, but at least you'll have something to drink with dinner.

Get the recipe: vegan pasta bake with white wine sauce

These spicy tacos rely heavily on seasonings that you probably already have in your spice rack. Add in some tempeh for protein, and you've got a hearty, low-cost meal.

Get the recipe: tempeh tacos

Cheap meals do not have to be boring, and this Asian-inspired salad is proof. We recommend making a double or triple batch so you aren't wasting any of your fresh veggies, and you'll have a week's worth of lunches.

Get the recipe: sesame ginger quinoa salad

This basic vegan pancake recipe can be dressed up any number of ways. You can save money by topping these tasty cakes with any sweetener, vegan yogurt, or fruit (fresh or frozen) that you have on hand.

Get the recipe: vegan pancakes

A head of cauliflower is versatile and inexpensive — so versatile, in fact, that it can replace chicken in this tikka masala recipe. Serve it with rice or naan.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot cauliflower tikka masala

This stir-fry checks the low-carb, vegan, and money-saving boxes. Broccoli slaw stands in for rice, and the dish is made with a simple sauce and veggies you can find at any grocery store.

Get the recipe: broccoli slaw stir-fry

If you have cans upon cans of beans in your pantry, this smoky vegan chili is the perfect way to use them up. The best part? If you're short on time, you can whip it up in a hurry using your trusty Instant Pot.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot vegan quinoa chili

Don't worry, we didn't forget the snacks! These little carrot cake bites are made with a base of oats, coconut, and almond butter — all of which you can buy in bulk to save a bit of cash.

Get the recipe: raw vegan carrot cake bites

To save money on this veggie-based curry, try using frozen butternut squash and canned tomatoes in place of fresh. You'll also save precious time because you can make it in one-pot or in your slow cooker.

Get the recipe: red lentil dhal curry

This creamy carrot soup is one of the best bargain meals you can make! You can stretch a few ingredients a long way, but the variety of garnishes make it look elegant.

Get the recipe: spiced carrot soup with crispy chickpeas and tahini

This plant-based Buddha bowl recipe will quickly become one of your money-saving staples. You can make the recipe as written, or sub in any combination of beans and vegetables you have in your kitchen.

Get the recipe: vegan Buddha bowls

This vegan potato salad recipe is simple, but it's definitely not lacking in flavor. If you have fresh herbs leftover, freeze them in ice cube trays with olive oil to use in future recipes.

Get the recipe: vegan potato salad