15 Frugal Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes (2024)

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Hello, money-savers and hello, taste buds! If you guys are looking for vegan recipes or just for a way to cut back on meat, we have 15 recipes worth a shot! We’ve also added a YouTube tutorial to guide you through the entire process so that anyone can make them, no matter their experience in the kitchen.

NOTE: This article has been updated with more recipes and video tutorials following our readers’ suggestions. Thank you for reading us, we are in the business of saving you money!

Here are our 15 frugal vegan and vegetarian recipes:

Vegan Recipes

1. Vegan Crepes

Ingredients: two bananas, a cup of organic flour, 1-2 cups of organic oat milk, a teaspoon of coconut oil, fruit or jelly for topping.

If you have a blender, put the first three ingredients in it and let it mix until you obtain a nice and smooth paste. If you are armed with a whisk and a bowl, start by mashing your bananas, then add your flour and oat milk and whisk it away.

Place your pan on the stove, add a very small amount of coconut oil and start pouring in your first crepe. You can use any kind of topping you want, so this is a great idea for a vegan breakfast.

2. Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients: 1 pound of mushrooms, 1 large onion, 1-2 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, vegan cheese and some fresh thyme.

Start by cleaning your mushrooms and removing the stems. Put some parchment paper on a tray and place your mushrooms on top.

Now, start chopping the stems, add the herbs, some salt and pepper, your vegan cheese and give it a good stir. Add a tiny bit of this composition inside every mushroom and send everything to the oven. Now, decorate with fresh thyme, let the mushrooms cool off and you can finally enjoy them! Here’s the tutorial:

3. Vegan Roast Potatoes

Ingredients: 3-4 big gold potatoes (with the skin on), 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, salt, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, herbs.

Dice your potatoes and add a tablespoon of coconut oil and toss everything around, then add your favorite herbs and keeps stirring with your hands.

When you are done, lay everything on some parchment paper and spread your potato pieces around so that they are not sitting on top of each other. Then, send everything to the oven for 30 minutes. If it’s not enough, send them back for 5 more minutes. Don’t forget to check out the tutorial:

4. Roasted Vegetable Soup

Ingredients: 2-3 parsnips, 2-13 turnip, 1 sweet potato (these need to be peeled), 2 big carrots, 2 large potatoes, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and herbs, plus salt.

Dice everything and spread the dices on a parchment paper. Send everything to the oven for 15-20 minutes. Take your vegetables out of the oven, flip them over and send them to the oven for another 15-20 minutes.

Then, slice some spring onions and take your vegetables out of the oven. In a pan, sauté your onions for 5 minutes until they are soft, toss in your roasted vegetables and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Stir thoroughly, add veggie stock and bring your soup to a boil and you are done! Enjoy!

5. Asian Style Fried Rice

Ingredients: ginger, 2.5 red bell pepper, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 spring onions, 2 cups of cooked basmati rice, jalapeno to taste, some granulated sugar, tamari soy sauce.

Slice and chop the ginger (a very small amount), do the same thing with your bell pepper and garlic. Then, move on to the spring onions and jalapeno and slice them finely.

Fry all the vegetables in a pan with some salt, add water after 5 minutes and then the soy sauce. Now you can toss in your cooked rice. Turn off the heat before the rice gets burnt and serve your rice with a drizzle of finely chopped spring onions on top. Enjoy it!

6. Vegan Tzatziki

Ingredients: 1 cup of Greek soy yogurt, 1 large cucumber, a small garlic clove, a tablespoon of cider vinegar, salt, dill and black pepper.

Put some soy yogurt in a bowl and stir it around until it gets smooth and even, and then strain it through a piece of clean muslin. Cover your bowl with plastic foil and place it in the fridge for 4 hours to thicken.

Grate the cucumber, strain it in a muslin cloth, chop and smash your garlic. Now, take your yogurt out of the fridge, incorporate your cucumber, then your garlic. Add vinegar, black pepper and any other ingredient you want to use. Here’s the tutorial to help you out:

7. Vegan Cheese Sauce

Ingredients: 2-3 diced carrots, 3-4 tablespoons of diced silken tofu, potatoes, 1 white onion, 1 roasted bell pepper, a handful of roasted almonds, jalapeno, dark miso paste, garlic, cumin powder, sweet paprika, black pepper, cider vinegar, 1 cup of vegan milk and salt.

Boil the carrots for 20 minutes, strain them and fry all the ingredients in a large pan, including the carrots.

Stir everything together and let the mixture boil for at least 20 minutes. When they are done, use a blender to chop everything together and let your vegan sauce cool down because it’s best served at room temperature. What do you think about this recipe?

8. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients: granulated brown sugar, soy milk, peanut butter, flour, and baking soda, chocolate.

Preheat your oven, chop your chocolate and put the milk and the sugar into a bowl. Whisk the two ingredients together until the sugar dissolves completely.

Now, add the peanut butter and stir it in, add the flour and the chocolate chips. Scoop your cookies out and place them on a parchment paper and tray, then send everything to the oven for 12-14 minutes and you are all done! Enjoy your cookies!

9. Vegan Nutella

Ingredients: cane sugar, firm tofu, hazelnut butter, vanilla extract, cocoa powder. Use your coffee grinder; turn your granulated sugar into powder sugar.

Now place the tofu, the hazelnut butter, and the vanilla extract in a blender and blend at medium speed until you get a smooth paste.

Gradually add your powdered sugar and the cocoa powder and blend it away until your Nutella comes into shape. Voila, it’s all ready now! And here’s the full tutorial for you to enjoy:

10. Gluten-Free Buns

Ingredients: lukewarm water, granulated sugar, salt, instant yeast, TVC gluten-free mix No 1, psyllium husk powder.

Place the sugar, yeast, and salt into the water and stir until the yeast is dissolved. Now, in a bowl, whisk the gluten-free flour and the psyllium together, pour the yeast mixture in and whisk everything together.

Let your dough rise until it thickens, rub some oil on it and shape it into a bread bun. Let it rise for an hour and then place it on your working surface and divide it in 4 and roll every piece between your palms and place on a tray. Bake for 20 minutes for every side and that’s all!

Vegetarian Recipes

11. Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients: 2 bell peppers, 1 cup of rice, a few olives, a handful of mozzarella, dried tomatoes, onions, spices.

Cook your rice in some water for a few minutes and then take care of your bell peppers: remove the top carefully, because you might have to use it later for décor and take out the seeds.

Slice your peppers in half, drizzle some olive oil on them and send them to the oven for a few minutes. Slice and dice your dried tomatoes, your olives, and your onion. Then, do the same thing to your mozzarella. Add some finely chopped parsley and mix all the ingredients in a bowl, then add your spice (Cajun spice, if you have some at home), then add in the rice.

Take your peppers out of the oven and fill them with this rice mixture and place a slice of mozzarella on top of each bell pepper half. Send everything back to the oven for another 5-6 minutes, take them out and you can dig in!

12. Stuffed Potato Skins

Ingredients: baked potatoes (in skins), parsley, bell peppers, vegan ham, onion, mushroom, cheese, herbs.

Slice and dice the bell pepper, the onion and mushroom, fry everything in a pan and cut your potatoes in half. Scoop out their flesh to make room for the filling, slice the vegan ham and add it to the pan, the pulp from your potatoes, some cream cheese and all the other ingredients.

Let everything simmer together and then stuff your potato skins with this composition. Drizzle cheese on top, place your potatoes on the tray and send them to the oven for a few minutes. That’s all, you can enjoy it now!

13. Minestrone Soup

Ingredients: 1 bell pepper, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 celery stick, basil leav1-2 es, zucchini, 1 cup tomato puree, tomato ketchup, Tabasco, 2 cups vegetable stock, salt, a handful boiled vegetables of your choice, some boiled pasta, a tablespoon of corn flour, oregano.

Pre-boil your vegetables and pasta before you begin, then take a pan, pour in a tablespoon of olive oil and add all the ingredients.

Bring it to a boil and then let it simmer. In a cup, mix half a cup of water with a tablespoon of cornflour until it’s nice and smooth. Pour this thickening agent over your boiling soup and stir for a few minutes. In the end, add your cooked pasta and decorate with basil leaves and black pepper. Bon appétit!

14. Meatless Meatballs

Ingredients: chopped mushrooms, olive oil, salt- put everything in a pan and wait until the mushrooms turn brown.

You can add butter if you want. Add some minced onions and stir for about 5 minutes and add the minced garlic. Add some oatmeal and stir together.

Turn off the heat and drizzle some parmesan on top of your composition, then use your favorite meatball spices, plus an egg or two. Send everything to the fridge overnight and in the morning you can form your meatballs.

Scoop them out on a baking sheet and give them a roll between your palms and then send them to the preheated oven until they become nice and crusty. After you take them out of the oven, dump them in a tomato sauce pan and boil them for a few minutes. Voila, they are ready!

15. Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients: 1 minced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, diced celery, 2 chopped bell peppers, chopped jalapenos to taste, olive oil.

In a pot, fry your onion, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, salt for 5 minutes, then add in the celery, the peppers and jalapenos, plus 2 cans of chili peppers and some vegetarian burger crumbles.

Mix in a can of whole peeled tomatoes and boil everything together. Add some chili powder, ground black pepper, canned kidney beans and any other kind of beans you like. Also, pour in a handful of canned corn and bring everything to a boil, then let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Easy and healthy!

Which one of these recipes do you like best? Are you a vegetarian or a vegan? How do you like your food to be on a regular basis? Let us know in a comment down below.

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15 Frugal Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes (2024)

FAQs

How to be a frugal vegan? ›

Vegan on a budget
  1. tinned beans and dried pulses of various kinds.
  2. vegetables (particularly seasonal ones)
  3. potatoes.
  4. egg-free pasta and noodles.
  5. rice.
  6. bread (wholemeal is ideal from a health point of view)
  7. dried herbs and spices.
  8. seasonal fruit.

How to be a healthy vegetarian on a budget? ›

Think soups, lasagna, pot pies, and hearty lunch bowls (protein + whole grain + veggies). Check your local farmers' market, where you can usually be sure everything you see is seasonal. (And make friends with vegetables that are always cheap, regardless of the time of year: carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, broccoli.)

How to eat vegan without cooking? ›

Things like tofu and tempeh don't have to be cooked, which makes preparing them for a sandwich super easy.
  1. Marinated White Bean Salad.
  2. Caesar Salad.
  3. Mediterranean Salad.
  4. Cucumber and Avocado Salad.
  5. Peach White Bean Salad.
  6. Watermelon & Peach Salad.
  7. Bbq Collard Wraps. ...
  8. Chickpea Tuna.
Jul 15, 2022

How to make vegan food satisfying? ›

I highly recommend having a mixture of grains, protein, and vegetables — it provides a great balance not only with flavor/bulk but also texture. Grains and legumes help keep the meal filling while the vegetables bring everything together.

What do vegans struggle with the most? ›

10 Vegan deficiencies to be aware of - and how to nix them
  • Iron. ...
  • Vitamin B12. ...
  • Omega-3. ...
  • Zinc. ...
  • Choline. ...
  • Iodine. ...
  • Vitamin D. Who isn't a little bit deficient in the 'Sunshine Vitamin'? ...
  • Protein. 'This nutrient is not an issue in most people's diets especially those who eat meat, fish and eggs,' says Hobson.
Dec 22, 2022

How to go 100% vegan? ›

You could start by removing meat or dairy one day a week and go from there. Or you could try changing one meal at a time, having vegan breakfasts during your first week, adding a vegan lunch during week two and so on.

What is the 80 20 rule vegetarian? ›

Those who follow an 80/20 diet approach enjoy more nutrient-dense foods (think: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, dairy, etc.) 80% of the time while allowing 20% of their diet (or a few eating occasions) to include less nutrient-dense choices.

Is it cheaper to be a vegan or vegetarian? ›

A study by Oxford University discovered that plant-based eating is actually the most affordable diet. It also found that a vegan diet reduced food costs by up to one-third due to the use of whole foods over meat and meat replacements.

What do most vegetarians lack? ›

The nutrients of concern in the diet of vegetarians include vitamin B(12), vitamin D, ω-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and zinc. Although a vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients, the use of supplements and fortified foods provides a useful shield against deficiency.

What not to eat when going vegan? ›

Vegans don't eat any foods made from animals, including:
  • Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat.
  • Chicken, duck, and other poultry.
  • Fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.
  • Eggs.
  • Cheese.
  • Butter.
  • Milk, cream, ice cream, and other dairy products.
  • Mayonnaise (because it includes egg yolks)
Nov 3, 2023

What snack foods can vegans eat? ›

Try These Popular Vegan Snacks (Chips, Cookies, and More)
  • Vegan Rob's Chips.
  • Rivalz Extra Chedda' Mac.
  • Outstanding Foods PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds.
  • Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars—Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate.
  • Trader Joe's Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets.

What are the most filling plant foods? ›

Plant-based foods you can add to your meals to help improve satiety
  • Lentils. Lentils are an economical and readily available ingredient that are used as staples in most plant-forward meals. ...
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Walnuts or Almonds. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • Avocado.

Why do I feel weaker as a vegan? ›

Eating a Balanced Diet. One of the biggest reasons for feeling tired is if you are consuming significantly fewer animal products, you are missing out on key nutrients, such as B12 and iron.

How do vegans on a tight budget? ›

Build Your Diet Around Whole Foods

Luckily for vegans, most of the necessary staple items are cheap! Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, tofu, nuts and seeds are typically very affordable.

Is it cheaper to live vegan? ›

Is a vegan diet really expensive? Honestly, it doesn't have to be. A study by Oxford University discovered that plant-based eating is actually the most affordable diet. It also found that a vegan diet reduced food costs by up to one-third due to the use of whole foods over meat and meat replacements.

Does being vegan save you money? ›

An analysis the Physicians Committee published last year found that food costs decrease 16% on a low-fat vegan diet, a savings of more than $500 a year, compared to a diet that includes meat, dairy, and other animal products.

Will I live longer if I become vegan? ›

Want to live longer? Go vegan! In 2020, two studies found that following a mostly plant-based diet can improve longevity. One study by Harvard and Tehran University researchers found that people who consumed 3 per cent more protein from a plant-based diet reduced their risk of premature death by 5 per cent.

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