If you’ve been in a grocery store lately, you’ve likely noticed some sticker shock when it comes to food prices (thanks, inflation!). Meat, eggs, oils, and seafood have seen the biggest increases (source), but your overall grocery bill has likely taken a hit, too. To help ease the strain on your wallet, we’ve compiled our top budget-friendly tips and easy recipes including breakfasts, snacks, sides, dinners, and desserts.
Budget-Friendly Menu Tips
Buy fruits and veggies that are in season, and include frozen as needed
Opt for plant-based sources of protein like tofu, lentils, and other beans/legumes
Shop in the bulk section for lower prices on items like grains, beans, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, and spices
Prepare more meals at home instead of eating out
Plan ahead so ingredients get used in multiple meals each week and don’t go to waste (pro tip: you can sort by ingredient in our recipe index)
Now, let’s put these tips into action with some delicious plant-based recipes!
(Note: Dietary symbols listed throughout for easy navigation!)
Simple 7-ingredient, plant-based shake made with protein-rich whole food ingredients and NO protein powder. Creamy, chocolaty, naturally sweetened, and just 1 blender and 5 minutes to prepare.
A dreamy, creamy smoothie infused with the flavors of carrot cake! Just 7 wholesome ingredients required, including banana, carrot, plant milk, and spices.
A creamy, sweet vegan green smoothie with banana, peanut butter, spinach, flaxseed, berries, and almond milk. The perfect healthy breakfast or afternoon snack.
Vegan pancakes made with whole-wheat flour, carrots, coconut, and walnuts. Light, fluffy, and flavorful. Perfect with walnuts, coconut, and hot maple syrup.
Fluffy cinnamon-scented pancakes that are both dairy- and egg-free. Topped with cinnamon-sugar, butter, and a little honey or maple syrup, these taste JUST like a sopapilla, only no frying required.
A hearty chickpea scramble in 30 minutes with a secret ingredient that binds the chickpeas and makes them fluffy! A delicious, nutritious (10-ingredient), plant-based meal.
30-minute Vegan Chilaquiles with 5-ingredient chipotle sauce, DIY baked chips, and a hearty tofu scramble on top! Flavorful, fast, and seriously satisfying.
Super seedy sunflower butter with chia, hemp, flax, and pumpkin seeds — perfect for toast, baked goods, oats, and more! Creamy with a slight crunch, six ingredients, and vitamin- and mineral-rich!
These one-bowl pumpkin apple muffins include plenty of pumpkin purée and sautéed cinnamon apples. Plus, they're vegan, ridiculously moist, and positively scrumptious.
6-ingredient hummus that comes together in 5 minutes and is magically transformed into the best hummus thanks to the MICROWAVE! Trust me. It’s the best hummus I’ve ever made at home!
Easy to make, crispy chickpeas roasted until golden brown and tossed in smoky BBQ spices! Just 8 ingredients required, naturally vegan, and gluten-free!
A quick and easy tutorial for making PERFECT roasted cabbage every time! Crispy, delicious, and versatile. Just 3 ingredients, 1 pan, and 25 minutes required.
Classic patatas bravas, only healthier! Baked crispy potato wedges topped with a spicy tomato sauce. Keep vegan by omitting aioli and cheese. Fresh herbs make a bright, earthy finish. 10 ingredients. Perfect for a crowd.
Perfect roasted carrots that are tender with caramelized, crispy edges. Simple ingredients and methods required, plus options for adding flavor with spices or herbs!
Easy-to-make, fluffy, perfectly sweet vegan cornbread made with 10 ingredients. The perfect comforting side for soups and chilis, or to bake into croutons for salads or stuffing.
Fluffy, tender, vegan naan made with 7 simple ingredients! The perfect snack or side for Indian dishes like curry, lentil soup, or chutney. Also makes a delicious wrap!
An inspired take on Japanese miso soup with tofu, green onion, and loads of greens. Just 15 minutes from start to finish, and so flavorful and comforting.
Easy, 10-ingredient vegan fried rice that’s loaded with vegetables, crispy baked tofu, and tons of flavor! A healthy, satisfying plant-based side dish or entrée.
Hearty, flavorful Vegan Sloppy Joes made with fresh, simple ingredients, naturally sweetened, and they require just 30 minutes! Savory, smoky, perfectly sweet — a delicious plant-based meal!
A hearty 1-pot winter soup that's brothy and tomato-infused and chock-full of hearty veggies like squash, kale, and potatoes. White beans provide extra protein and a buttery finish. The perfect healthy lunch or dinner for colder months.
Perfect arrabbiata sauce made in 1 pot with 8 pantry staples. Incredibly spicy, garlicky, vibrant tomato flavor. Gluten-free friendly and naturally vegan.
Creamy Yellow Split Pea Soup (Instant Pot Friendly!)
Creamy, Ethiopian-inspired yellow split pea soup made in the Instant Pot. A delicious, comforting plant-based side or main. Just 1 pot and 9 ingredients required!
Simple, 30-minute baked sweet potatoes topped with roasted chickpeas, a simple garlic-herb sauce, and a parsley-tomato salad. Delicious, fresh, healthy, and naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Warming Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup (Instant Pot!)
Creamy sweet potato and red lentil soup infused with coconut milk and warming spices. The ultimate fall and winter dish. Made in the Instant Pot and perfect for meal prep!
30-minute Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich with smashed chickpeas and roasted sunflower seeds in a simple dressing. Sandwiched between two slices of bread and topped with my secret garlic sauce, this is healthy lunch perfection.
Hearty red lentil chili made in 1 pot with simple ingredients! A smoky, flavorful, protein- and fiber-rich plant-based meal perfect for cold nights and feeding a crowd.
Easy, 1-pot vegan and gluten-free Minestrone! Simple, wholesome ingredients, 30 minutes to prepare. SO delicious and perfect for late summer, fall, and winter!
Super delicious and hearty mushroom lentil stew gravy over mashed potatoes! Entirely vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free. A delicious and easy-to-make 10-ingredient meal or side!
Hearty, comforting curry lentil soup with potatoes and kale! Big curry flavor in this 1-pot soup that comes together in less than 45 minutes. The perfect satisfying, healthy, plant-based meal.
Easy-to-make, comforting black bean soup made with simple ingredients in 1 pot! A 30-minute meal or side that’s customizable and incredibly satisfying.
An easy, everyday recipe for lentil soup with potatoes, carrots, kale, and simple herbs and seasonings. The perfect plant-based main or side that requires just 10 ingredients, 1 pot, and about 30 minutes to make.
The perfect classic vegan chocolate chip cookie made in 1 bowl! Salty-sweet, buttery, slightly crisp edges, tender center, and gooey chocolate chips. Just 9 ingredients and simple methods required!
Easy, 5-ingredient chocolate peanut butter banana shake with a thick, creamy texture and tons of chocolate-peanut butter flavor! A perfectly healthy vegan breakfast, snack, or dessert.
1-bowl vegan chocolate cake made in less than 1 hour with simple ingredients. A 2-layer buttercream-frosted cake that’s moist, fluffy, and rich with chocolate flavor.
Easy cinnamon rolls with just 7 ingredients and no complicated steps. Just proof, roll out, and bake! Plus, they’re vegan and SO delicious, fluffy, and gooey!
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