Cheap Vegetarian Meals: 30 Meatless Dinners Under $2 Per Serving

If you think eating vegetarian means spending more money, think again. Going meatless is actually one of the smartest moves you can make for your grocery budget. When you skip the meat aisle and fill your cart with beans, lentils, rice, and seasonal vegetables, you can create satisfying dinners for $2 per serving or less.

The secret? Plant-based proteins like beans and lentils cost pennies per serving compared to chicken, beef, or pork. Plus, they're packed with fiber and nutrients that keep you full longer. Whether you're vegetarian, trying Meatless Mondays, or just looking to stretch your food budget, these 30 cheap vegetarian meals will prove that budget-friendly eating doesn't mean boring food.

Why Vegetarian Meals Save Money

Let's talk numbers. A pound of dried beans costs around $1.50 and makes about 6-7 servings. That's roughly 25 cents per serving of protein. Compare that to chicken breast at $3-5 per pound or ground beef at $4-6 per pound.

Vegetarian meals also rely on pantry staples that last for months. Rice, pasta, canned tomatoes, and dried lentils don't spoil quickly, which means less food waste and fewer emergency grocery runs. See our cheap protein sources guide for more budget protein options. When you build meals around these ingredients, you're setting yourself up for consistent savings week after week.

30 Cheap Vegetarian Meals Under $2 Per Serving

Here are 30 budget-friendly vegetarian dinners organized by protein source. Each one costs less than $2 per serving and delivers real satisfaction.

Bean-Based Meals

1. Black Bean Tacos Seasoned black beans, shredded cabbage, salsa, and corn tortillas. Protein: black beans.

2. White Bean and Kale Soup Cannellini beans simmered with kale, garlic, tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Protein: white beans.

3. Refried Bean Tostadas Crispy corn tortillas topped with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Protein: pinto beans.

4. Three Bean Chili Kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans in a tomato-based chili with spices. Protein: mixed beans.

5. Chickpea Curry Chickpeas cooked in coconut milk with curry spices, served over rice. Protein: chickpeas.

6. Bean and Cheese Burritos Flour tortillas filled with seasoned beans, rice, cheese, and salsa. Protein: pinto beans.

7. Tuscan White Bean Pasta Pasta tossed with white beans, spinach, garlic, and olive oil. Protein: cannellini beans.

8. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Hash Roasted sweet potatoes mixed with black beans, bell peppers, and spices. Protein: black beans.

Lentil-Based Meals

9. Lentil Bolognese Brown lentils simmered in marinara sauce, served over spaghetti. Protein: lentils.

10. Red Lentil Dal Red lentils cooked with onions, tomatoes, and Indian spices. Protein: red lentils.

11. Lentil Tacos Seasoned lentils with taco spices in soft tortillas with toppings. Protein: green lentils.

12. Lentil and Vegetable Soup Brown lentils with carrots, celery, and tomatoes in vegetable broth. Protein: lentils.

13. Lentil Sloppy Joes Lentils in a tangy tomato sauce served on hamburger buns. Protein: lentils.

14. Curried Lentils and Rice Lentils cooked with curry powder served alongside white rice. Protein: lentils.

Rice and Grain-Based Meals

15. Vegetable Fried Rice Day-old rice stir-fried with mixed vegetables, soy sauce, and scrambled eggs. Protein: eggs.

16. Spanish Rice and Beans Seasoned rice mixed with black beans, tomatoes, and peppers. Protein: black beans.

17. Mushroom Risotto Creamy arborio rice with mushrooms and Parmesan cheese. Protein: cheese and mushrooms.

18. Red Beans and Rice Classic Louisiana-style red beans served over white rice. Protein: kidney beans.

19. Veggie Burrito Bowl Rice topped with beans, corn, salsa, lettuce, and sour cream. Protein: beans.

20. Tomato and Basil Pasta Simple pasta with fresh tomato sauce, basil, and Parmesan. Protein: pasta and cheese.

Egg-Based Meals

21. Veggie Frittata Eggs baked with seasonal vegetables, cheese, and herbs. Protein: eggs.

22. Shakshuka Eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce with bell peppers. Protein: eggs.

23. Fried Rice with Scrambled Eggs Rice mixed with vegetables and scrambled eggs. Protein: eggs.

24. Breakfast for Dinner Scrambled eggs, toast, and roasted potatoes. Protein: eggs.

Pasta-Based Meals

25. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio Pasta with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan. Protein: pasta and cheese.

26. Penne Arrabbiata Pasta in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic and herbs. Protein: pasta.

27. Pasta e Fagioli Italian pasta and bean soup with tomatoes and vegetables. Protein: beans and pasta.

28. Mac and Cheese with Broccoli Homemade mac and cheese mixed with steamed broccoli. Protein: cheese.

Veggie-Forward Meals

29. Stuffed Bell Peppers Bell peppers filled with rice, beans, tomatoes, and cheese. Protein: beans and cheese.

30. Vegetable Stir-Fry Mixed vegetables stir-fried with tofu or cashews over rice. Protein: tofu or cashews.

Shopping Smart for Vegetarian Meals

The key to keeping these meals under $2 per serving is smart shopping. Buy dried beans instead of canned when possible - they're even cheaper and you control the sodium. Stock up on rice, pasta, and lentils when they go on sale. A 10-pound bag of rice might seem expensive upfront, but it makes dozens of meals.

Shop seasonal produce or buy frozen vegetables. Frozen veggies are just as nutritious as fresh, often cheaper, and they don't spoil. Canned tomatoes are a pantry essential for many of these recipes and cost under $1 per can.

Don't forget about myrecipe.app for organizing your favorite cheap vegetarian recipes. You can save recipes, scale ingredients based on how many people you're feeding, and build shopping lists automatically. It's especially helpful when you're meal planning on a tight budget because you can quickly see what ingredients you already have.

Building Balanced Vegetarian Meals

Just because a meal is cheap doesn't mean it should be nutritionally empty. Every meal on this list includes a protein source - whether it's beans, lentils, eggs, cheese, or a combination.

Pair your protein with whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, or quinoa when your budget allows. Add vegetables for vitamins and fiber. Even frozen mixed vegetables work great and cost less than $1 per serving.

If you're worried about getting enough iron on a vegetarian diet, lentils and beans are excellent sources. Pair them with vitamin C-rich foods like tomatoes or bell peppers to help your body absorb the iron better.

Meal Prep Tips for Budget Vegetarian Cooking

Cooking dried beans and lentils in bulk saves both time and money. On Sunday, cook a big pot of beans and a batch of rice. Store them in the fridge and you've got ready-to-go ingredients for quick weeknight meals.

Many of these dishes freeze beautifully. Make a double batch of chili, lentil soup, or bean burritos and freeze half for later. You'll thank yourself on those nights when you don't feel like cooking.

Vegetable scraps don't have to be trash. Save onion skins, carrot peels, and celery ends in a freezer bag. When the bag is full, simmer them with water to make free vegetable broth for soups and rice dishes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not seasoning properly. Beans and lentils are blank canvases that need good seasoning. Don't be shy with garlic, onions, cumin, paprika, and other spices. Bland food is the fastest way to get bored with budget cooking.

Forgetting to soak beans. While you can cook beans without soaking, pre-soaking cuts cooking time in half and makes them easier to digest. Quick soak method: boil beans for 2 minutes, turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour.

Buying everything organic. Organic is great if you can afford it, but it's not necessary for budget meals. Focus on getting a variety of vegetables rather than spending extra for organic labels.

Not using what you have. These recipes are flexible. Don't have black beans? Use pinto beans. Out of spinach? Use kale or frozen mixed vegetables. Work with what's in your pantry instead of buying all new ingredients.

Skipping meal planning. Flying blind at the grocery store leads to overspending. Plan 5-7 dinners before you shop, write a list, and stick to it. This prevents impulse purchases and ensures you use what you buy.

Making Cheap Meals Taste Expensive

Good cooking techniques make budget ingredients shine. Take time to properly saute your onions and garlic until they're golden and fragrant. Toast your spices for 30 seconds in a dry pan before adding them to dishes - it releases their essential oils and deepens the flavor.

Finish dishes with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to brighten flavors. A sprinkle of fresh herbs makes any plate look restaurant-worthy, and you can grow them on a windowsill for pennies.

Texture matters too. Add something crunchy to creamy dishes - tortilla strips on soup, roasted chickpeas on curry, or toasted breadcrumbs on pasta. These little touches make cheap meals feel special.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get enough protein on a cheap vegetarian diet? Beans, lentils, and eggs are excellent protein sources that cost very little. One cup of cooked lentils has 18 grams of protein for about 30 cents. Combine different plant proteins throughout the day (like beans and rice) to get all essential amino acids.

Are vegetarian meals really cheaper than meat-based meals? Yes, significantly cheaper when you focus on whole foods. Dried beans cost 25-30 cents per serving of protein compared to $1-2 per serving for chicken or beef. The savings add up quickly when you eat vegetarian several times per week.

Can I freeze these meals for later? Most bean-based soups, chilis, and lentil dishes freeze perfectly for 3-4 months. Cooked rice and beans also freeze well separately. Egg dishes and pasta with cream sauce don't freeze as well, but everything else on this list is freezer-friendly.

What if my family doesn't like vegetarian food? Start with familiar foods made vegetarian - tacos, chili, pasta, and stir-fries. Don't announce it's vegetarian, just serve a delicious meal. Most people won't miss the meat if the food is well-seasoned and satisfying.

How long do dried beans and lentils last? Properly stored in airtight containers in a cool, dry place, dried beans and lentils last 2-3 years. They may take longer to cook as they age, but they're still safe to eat and nutritious.

Final Thoughts

Eating vegetarian doesn't mean sacrificing flavor, satisfaction, or your budget. These 30 cheap vegetarian meals prove you can eat well for $2 per serving or less. The key is building meals around affordable protein sources like beans and lentils, using pantry staples, and adding vegetables for nutrition and flavor.

Start by trying Meatless Monday with one of these recipes. You might be surprised how much you save - and how good you feel. Before you know it, you'll have a rotation of budget-friendly vegetarian meals that your whole family enjoys.

Remember, every meatless meal is money back in your pocket and one more step toward your financial goals. Whether you use myrecipe.app to organize these recipes or keep them in a notebook, the important thing is to start cooking and start saving.