36 budget vegetarian recipes

Vegetarian budget recipes

Chilli, cheese and garlic mushroom omelette

A comforting and low-cost meal which helps clear the fridge of leftovers, check out our chilli, cheese and garlic mushroom omelette. It’s super easy, vegetarian and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Butternut squash and chickpea curry

If you're looking for a healthy, filling midweek meal, this easy curry features classic Indian spices as well as plenty of storecupboard staples.

Vegetarian carbonara

You’ll likely have most of the ingredients for this veggie carbonara already, with the addition of crunchy asparagus and frozen peas. It will be ready in just 20 minutes.

Carrot and orange soup

Blitz six simple ingredients together to make this vibrant carrot and orange soup.

Vegetarian lasagne

Try our low-cost veggie lasagne for a plant-based alternative to a classic family dish. You can swap the fresh pesto for a jar, if you like, to make it even more budget-friendly.

Vegetarian mushroom chilli

Check out this simple, healthy twist on chilli con carne with mushroom and lime soured cream. This version keep costs – and calories – low and it’s gluten free, too.

Mushroom and cheese omelette

Clear out the fridge with this quick and simple grilled omelette, topped with garlicky mushrooms and soft melted taleggio.

Baked tortellini with spinach and chilli

You can cut corners here with a pack of filled tortellini tossed into a baking dish with spinach and a simple tomato sauce spooned over. Then bake!

Kale pasta sauce

If you’re looking for a restaurant-quality meal on a budget, look no further than this kale pasta from Italian restaurant, Manteca. The earthy kale sauce is made from just three cheap ingredients.

Vegetable stew

Make this easy vegetarian stew with cheap everyday ingredients: three beans, chopped tomato and spinach. Perfect for a warming family dinner, it’s also high in protein and low in calories.

Easy macaroni cheese

A comforting bake which makes the most of kitchen cupboard staples. Mac ’n’ cheese is always a winner and this one with its crispy top is number one of on our list. Simply omit the ham to make it veggie.

Vegan aubergine curry

A handful of spices, tinned tomatoes and aubergine come together to make this hearty yet healthy aubergine dhansak to feed the whole family. Enjoy with pilau rice.

Cheese and onion quiche

A handful of cheap everyday ingredients, such as spring onion and ready-made pastry, cuts down the cooking time so you could bake this classic vegetarian tart midweek.

Quick courgette lasagne

Mix courgettes, garlic and chilli with ricotta, add a shop-bought tomato sauce and lasagne sheets. Dinner will be on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Sweet potato and miso soup

Velvety, wholesome and packed with plenty of umami flavour, this simple soup is made of cheap, easy-to-find ingredients.

Baked feta pasta

Put your jar of black olives to good use with this cheap-to-make pasta bake, packed with creamy feta and tomatoes.

Vegetarian burritos

Give these baked veggie bean burritos a try. The filling is a mix of beans and rice in a spicy tomato sauce and the burritos are served with a homemade fresh tomato, coriander and lime juice salsa (you can use ready-made salsa, if you like).

Creamy tomato pasta bake

Check out this creamy pasta bake which heroes storecupboard ingredients and everyday spices. Filled with tomatoes and mozzarella, it’s an easy mid-week filler for all the family.

Thai green tofu curry

This vegan Thai green curry is ready in just 25 minutes, perfect for a speedy weeknight meal packing plenty of veg. It calls for just a few cheap everyday ingredients.

California scramble

Try this California scramble for a quick and easy veggie brunch or midweek meal for one. Leave out the avocado to keep costs down, if you like.

Vegetarian shepherd’s pie

Our veggie shepherd’s pie serves up to six people, so the cost-per-meal is great value.

Vegan burrito bowl

You only need a handful of cheap ingredients to throw together this meat-free burrito bowl, delivering all the big flavours you’d want without using the oven.

Vegetable risotto

Our versatile green vegetable risotto is packed with peas, baby spinach and asparagus but remains cheap to make. You can forgo the chives or mint if they don’t fit your budget, or make it vegan by leaving out the pecorino.

Spanish omelette

The ultimate budget comfort meal which clears out the fridge, too. Try our best Spanish omelette recipe with red onion, red pepper and new potatoes.

Broccoli pasta

Ideal for an easy midweek meal on a budget, this broccoli pasta requires just five simple ingredients.

Veggie fajitas

Fajita night doesn’t have to cost a lot with this speedy veggie recipe. You can swap the homemade avocado salsa for regular shop-bought salsa, if you like.

Mutter paneer

Chances are you’ll have most of these ingredients already to hand. This filling curry is ready in just 30 minutes – simply serve with naan or rice.

Vegetarian lentil bolognese

This puy lentil bolognese calls for cheap, healthy ingredients. It makes for a great meat-free option that’s easy to cook.

Quinoa and black bean chilli

Once you have your spices – ground cumin and smoked paprika – this black bean chilli makes an inexpensive midweek meal to feed a crowd. You can leave out the avocado to keep costs down.

Sweet potato and lentil curry

If you already have cumin, ground coriander and turmeric in your cupboard, this vibrant vegan curry becomes a brilliant budget dish.

Vegan Thai red curry

This vegan curry cuts corners using shop-bought vegan curry paste mixed with ginger, mangetout, red pepper and vegan Quorn.

Spinach, chickpea and potato curry

Make the most of the cheap ingredients lurking in your cupboard. Potatoes, chickpeas and chopped tomatoes are the stars of this lightly spiced vegan curry.

Singapore noodles

This speedy vegan dinner features cheap everyday ingredients, including ginger, garlic, chilli and soy sauce, while frozen stir-fry veggies keep prep to a minimum.

Red Thai butternut squash soup

If you like punchy Thai curry flavours, check out this easy winter warmer which doesn’t break the bank.

Vegetable omelette

An omelette is a staple budget meal, and we’ve jazzed it up with plenty of grated courgette, kale, frozen peas and chilli flakes. Serve alongside cherry tomatoes simply dressed with white wine vinegar.

Curried celeriac

Celeriac, like all root veg, is cheap, robust and versatile. Use it in a number of delicious dishes, like this vegan curry – the roasted cubes soak up the spicy, fragrant flavours.