Budget Vegetarian Meals: 12 Cheap, Filling Dinners from Pantry Staples
Eating well on a tight budget is one of the things vegetarian cooking does best. Some of the most satisfying dinners in the world, from Indian dal to Italian pasta e fagioli to a big pot of chili, are built on cheap pantry staples like beans, lentils, rice and canned tomatoes.
This guide shows you which staples to keep on hand, how to shop smarter, and 12 filling dinners you can make from them. There’s also a sample week to show how it all fits together.
The Cheapest Vegetarian Pantry Staples
A well-stocked pantry means you can always pull together a meal without a special trip to the store. These are the workhorses:
- Dried beans and lentils. Dollar for dollar, they’re among the best-value foods you can buy, and a good source of plant protein and fiber. Lentils need no soaking and cook in 15–30 minutes.
- Canned beans. A little pricier than dried but incredibly convenient. Rinse them before using.
- Rice, pasta and oats. Cheap, filling and endlessly versatile.
- Canned tomatoes. The base for sauces, soups, curries and chili.
- Eggs. An affordable protein for quick dinners if you eat them.
- Frozen vegetables. Peas, spinach, corn and mixed vegetables are picked and frozen at their best and won’t go bad before you use them.
- Onions, carrots, cabbage and potatoes. Long-keeping, low-cost vegetables that add bulk and flavor.
- Flavor builders. Garlic, stock cubes, soy sauce, cumin, chili powder, curry powder and dried oregano.
If you’re new to cooking beans from scratch, the Colorado State University Extension guide to cooking dry beans covers soaking, simmering and storing them step by step.
Shopping Tips That Save Money
- Plan before you shop. Decide on your week’s dinners first and write a list. It’s the single best way to avoid impulse buys and waste.
- Buy produce in season. In-season fruit and vegetables are usually cheaper and taste better. In winter, lean on cabbage, carrots, squash and frozen vegetables.
- Compare unit prices. The shelf tag usually shows the price per ounce or pound. Larger bags of rice, oats and dried beans are often much cheaper per serving.
- Choose store brands. For basics like canned tomatoes, beans and pasta, the store brand is usually just as good.
- Check the bulk bins. Spices from bulk bins can cost a fraction of the jarred versions, and you can buy just what you need.
12 Budget Vegetarian Dinners
Each of these serves about four and relies mostly on pantry staples.
- Three-bean chili. Onion, garlic, chili powder, canned tomatoes and three kinds of beans, simmered for 30 minutes. Our vegetarian chili recipe is a great place to start.
- Red lentil dal. Simmer 1 cup red lentils with 3 cups water and ½ teaspoon turmeric for about 20 minutes, then stir in onion, garlic and cumin fried in oil. Serve with rice.
- Black bean tacos. Warm two cans of black beans with cumin, chili powder and a squeeze of lime, then pile into tortillas with shredded cabbage and salsa.
- Veggie fried rice. Day-old cold rice works best. Stir-fry it in a hot pan with frozen peas and carrots, scrambled eggs, garlic and soy sauce.
- Pasta e fagioli. Sauté onion, carrot and celery, add canned tomatoes, a can of white beans and 4 cups stock, simmer for 15 minutes, then cook 1 cup small pasta right in the pot until tender.
- Shakshuka. Simmer a can of tomatoes with sautéed onion, peppers, cumin and paprika until thick, make little wells, crack in 4–6 eggs, cover and cook until set. Serve with bread.
- Homemade bean burgers. Mashed beans, breadcrumbs, an egg and spices make burgers for a fraction of the price of store-bought. Try our homemade veggie burger.
- Minestrone. A pot of vegetable soup with beans, pasta and whatever vegetables need using up. For more ideas, A Beautiful Bowl of Soup by Paulette Mitchell is a lovely source of inspiration.
- Loaded baked potatoes. Bake large potatoes at 400°F for about an hour, then top with leftover chili, beans and cheese, or broccoli and cheese sauce.
- Chickpea and spinach curry. Fry onion, garlic, ginger and curry powder, add a can of tomatoes, two cans of chickpeas and a few handfuls of frozen spinach, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Vegetable frittata. Whisk 8 eggs, pour over sautéed leftover vegetables and cheese in an ovenproof skillet, cook on the stovetop until the edges set, then finish under the broiler.
- Peanut noodles with cabbage. Toss cooked spaghetti or ramen noodles with a sauce of peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, a little vinegar and hot water, plus thinly sliced cabbage and carrot.
Cook Once, Eat Twice: Using Leftovers
The cheapest meal is the one you’ve already cooked. Make a bigger batch on purpose and turn it into something different the next day. This “cook once, eat twice” idea is a favorite money saver, and Utah State University Extension’s guide to using leftovers has more tips on doing it safely.
- Leftover chili becomes baked potato topping or burrito filling.
- Extra rice becomes fried rice.
- Spare dal thins out into a lentil soup with extra stock and vegetables.
- Roasted or sautéed vegetables go into a frittata or pasta.
Refrigerate leftovers within two hours, eat them within 3–4 days, and freeze anything you won’t get to in time.
A Sample One-Week Budget Meal Plan
This plan uses overlapping ingredients so nothing goes to waste.
- Monday: Three-bean chili with rice (make a double batch)
- Tuesday: Loaded baked potatoes with leftover chili
- Wednesday: Red lentil dal with rice (cook extra rice)
- Thursday: Veggie fried rice with eggs and frozen peas
- Friday: Black bean tacos with cabbage slaw
- Saturday: Pasta e fagioli
- Sunday: Vegetable frittata using up the week’s odds and ends
For lunches, eat dinner leftovers or simple sandwiches, and keep oatmeal on hand for breakfasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cheapest vegetarian foods?
Dried beans, lentils, rice, oats, pasta, canned tomatoes and eggs are among the cheapest staples for vegetarian cooking. Long-keeping vegetables like cabbage, carrots, onions and potatoes also cost little and add bulk to meals. Frozen vegetables are another low-cost option that reduces waste.
Is eating vegetarian cheaper than eating meat?
It often can be, especially when meals are built around beans, lentils, grains and seasonal vegetables rather than specialty products. Costs still depend on where you shop and what you buy. Meat substitutes and out-of-season produce can be pricey, so plan around pantry staples.
Are dried beans cheaper than canned beans?
Yes, dried beans usually cost less per serving than canned. The trade-off is time, since they need soaking and simmering. Lentils are the exception because they need no soaking and cook in 15–30 minutes.
How can I make cheap vegetarian meals taste good?
Use flavor builders such as garlic, onions, cumin, chili powder, curry powder, soy sauce and dried herbs, and season with salt as you go. A squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar at the end brightens simple dishes. Spices from bulk bins are an inexpensive way to stock up.
Cooking on a budget doesn’t mean eating dull food. With a pantry full of beans, grains and spices and a handful of reliable recipes, you can put warm, filling dinners on the table every night of the week. Start with two or three of these, and add more as you go.