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

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (1)

If your weekly grocery bill is eating up most of your paycheck, cutting back on meat is actually one of the easiest ways to save some cash. As far as protein goes, meat is typically more expensive than vegan-friendly protein sources like beans, lentils, and tofu. Possibly more important than the effect eating more plants can have on your wallet is the impact it can have on your health. Plant-based diets have been shown to promote weight loss and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Whether you are a lifelong vegan or you're just trying to add more healthy, plant-based meals to your diet, these 16 recipes definitely deserve a spot on next week's meal plan. Your wallet will thank you.

01

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (2)

Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Quinoa Veggie Burger

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

02

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (3)

Vegan Cauliflower Pizza Crust

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

03

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (4)

Quick Collard Greens

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

04

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (5)

Vegan Burrito Bowl

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

05

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (6)

Vegan Pasta Bake With White Wine Sauce

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

06

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (7)

Tempeh Tacos

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

07

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (8)

Sesame Ginger Quinoa Salad

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

08

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (9)

Vegan Pancakes

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

09

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (10)

Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala

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

10

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (11)

Broccoli Slaw Stir-Fry

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

11

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (12)

Instant Pot Vegan Quinoa Chili

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

12

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (13)

Raw Vegan Carrot Cake Bites

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

13

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (14)

Red Lentil Dhal Curry

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

14

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (15)

Spiced Carrot Soup With Crispy Chickpeas and Tahini

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

15

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

Vegan Buddha Bowls

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

16

16 Plant-Based Recipes That Will Make Your Wallet (and Your Taste Buds) Happy (17)

Vegan Potato Salad

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

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

FAQs

What are some good plant-based foods? ›

Fruits: berries, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, pineapple, bananas, etc. Vegetables: kale, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, peppers, etc. Starchy vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, etc. Whole grains: brown rice, rolled oats, farro, quinoa, brown rice pasta, barley, etc.

Can you eat eggs on a plant-based diet? ›

In other words, plants were paired with protein sources, like eggs, to make a nutritious and well rounded meal. Eggs can and should be part of a plant-based diet, and these five suggestions showcase how easy it is to incorporate the incredible egg into your plant-forward dishes.

What is plant-based food diet? ›

Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans. It doesn't mean that you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy.

Can you eat pasta on a plant-based diet? ›

Yes, pasta can be part of a vegan diet. Traditional pasta is typically made from wheat flour and water, and these ingredients are plant-based and considered vegan. However, when choosing pasta, it's essential to check the ingredients label to ensure there are no added non-vegan components, such as eggs.

What are 5 plant-based foods? ›

Leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers…the more, the merrier! Whole grains: many whole grains are a vital source of protein and fiber.

What is 100 plant-based food? ›

To describe a food item, meal or product that is made entirely from plants and is completely free of all animal products including dairy, egg, fish, meat, honey or any animal derived ingredients such as gelatin.

What foods not to eat on a plant-based diet? ›

You'll restrict grains and foods made with them, such as bread and pasta. You also limit starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn, as well as beans and legumes. And you'll cut high-sugar tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, and bananas, as well as fruit juices and sweets.

Can I eat cheese on a plant-based diet? ›

What is a plant-based diet? These vegan-like diets eliminate all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and honey. As the name suggests, everything you eat — including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds — is derived from plants.

Can you eat bananas on a plant-based diet? ›

Veggies though, veggies I eat a LOT of. So to answer, a lot of fruit isn't essential, as long as you eat a good amount of other healthy stuff. Yes, bananas are a vegetarian-friendly food as they do not contain any meat or animal products.

Can I eat bread on a plant-based diet? ›

The simplest form of bread is vegan — but this doesn't mean all bread is vegan. A few types of bread that are commonly vegan include pita, ciabatta, and focaccia. Veganism refers to a way of living that attempts to minimize animal exploitation and cruelty.

Do you lose weight on a plant-based diet? ›

In this study, the people who switched to a plant-based diet lost 5 pounds more than people who did not change their diet(4). Other studies have found similar results, wherein adopting an energy-restricted, plant-based diet for nine weeks resulted in 10 pounds more weight loss than in the control group (4,5).

Is popcorn OK on plant-based diet? ›

Popcorn itself is naturally vegan as it's 100% plant-based and simply one ingredient. However, it's when flavourings are added into the mix that the question becomes a little more complicated.

What is the best rice for plant-based diet? ›

First off, brown rice is similar to white rice except it still contains the bran and germ parts. This makes it consumable by raw vegans as well. Next, jasmine rice is a fragrant and kind of white rice, making it also vegan-friendly. Another kind of rice on the list is basmati rice.

Can you eat ketchup on a plant-based diet? ›

Yes, generally tomato ketchup is suitable for vegans. Its core ingredients are usually tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, herbs and spices, all of which are vegan friendly. But the ingredients list isn't the only thing we need to look at in order to get to the bottom of this question.

What are the Super 6 plant foods? ›

Spotlight the Super Six:

When it comes to the plants you eat, you want to eat from across the six different plant groups: vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes (beans and pulses), nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices.

What should I eat 30 plant-based foods a week? ›

Eating 30 different plants a week can boost the diversity and health of your gut microbiome. And in turn, it may affect many other aspects of your health. If 30 sounds like a lot, you'll be pleased to hear: It's not just fruits and veggies that count. You can include grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices, too.

What is the downside of a plant-based diet? ›

Some studies have shown that those on a plant-based diet are found to have lower plasma vitamin B12 levels and higher levels of vitamin B12 deficiency than those who consume animal products. Vitamin B12 is an important cofactor in DNA synthesis, and deficiency can lead to anemia and severe neurological dysfunction.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 6060

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.