Save Big with These 12 Budget Vegetarian Main Course Recipes

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Trying to keep up with inflation? Check out these budget-friendly vegetarian main courses featuring inexpensive ingredients. Each recipe is delicious and affordable, and you may already have some ingredients at home.

Baby Bok Choy and Tofu Stir-Fry

tofu pieces, yellow peppers, and baby bok choy with sesame seeds.
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

Baby bok choy and tofu stir-fry is an easy, plant-based meal perfect for weeknights or any time. If you’re unsure how to prepare tofu, this recipe guides you through pressing and marinating it for a chewy texture and great flavor. You can even grow your own bok choy to save money!

Get the Recipe: Baby Bok Choy and Tofu Stir-Fry

Easy Four Cheese Stuffed Shells

A skillet with pasta shells.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Easy Four Cheese Stuffed Shells features jumbo shells filled with rich, cheesy goodness and topped with a creamy white sauce infused with fresh herbs. No need for spaghetti sauce with all of this flavor!

Get the Recipe: Easy Four Cheese Stuffed Shells

Cheesy Vegan Pizza with 00 Flour

Pizza with yellow peppers and basil leaves with slice cut,
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

This cheesy vegan pizza made with 00 flour is easy to make at home, even on a weeknight. Making your own pizza lets you customize flavors and toppings to your liking. Plus, it’s a great way to save money!

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Vegan Pizza with 00 Flour

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

Bean chili in bowls with slice of lime,
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

Canned beans and tomatoes are a budget-friendly start to a meal: this slow cooker vegan chili is easily made. A nutritious choice with the protein and fiber in beans.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

Easy Vegan Mexican Pizza

Mexican pizza topped with cheddar cheese, olives, and cilantro.
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

Easy Vegan Mexican Pizza is a double-layered delight that’s fun to make PLUS healthier than the fast food version. Made with corn tortillas and adjustable for beans and veggies you have on hand.

Get the Recipe: Easy Vegan Mexican Pizza

One-Pan Pasta with Chickpeas and Tomatoes

One-pan pasta with chickpeas and tomatoes on bowl with lemon, rosemary sprig, and cherry tomato garnish and a fork.
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

One-pan pasta with chickpeas and tomatoes is a straightforward Mediterranean-style dish. Perfect for busy days, this meal combines pantry staples with fresh asparagus, eliminating the need for extra pots and pans.

Get the Recipe: One-Pan Pasta with Chickpeas and Tomatoes

Thai Peanut Tempeh with Rice

Thai peanut tempeh on plate with chopsticks on bamboo mat.
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

Enjoy this quick and flavorful Thai peanut tempeh with rice, perfect for lunch or dinner with a touch of spice. This high-protein, high-fiber vegan recipe is ideal for a speedy weeknight meal.

Get the Recipe: Thai Peanut Tempeh with Rice

Sesame Ginger Noodles with Tofu and Vegetables

sesame ginger tofu with broccoli and noodles on plate with chopsticks.
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

Sesame Ginger Noodles with Tofu and Vegetables is a fast and flavorful Asian-inspired vegan dish. Featuring fresh ginger, garlic, wheat noodles, and broccoli, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Save money on costly and high-sodium sauces my making it from scratch.

Get the Recipe: Sesame Ginger Noodles with Tofu and Vegetables

Easy Spicy Lentil Chili Instant Pot Recipe

2 bowls of lentil chili on wooden cutting board.
Image credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

Dried lentils are the ultimate budget staple. This Instant Pot lentil chili is a breeze to prepare and on the spicy side. Rich in fiber from lentils, pinto beans, and vegetables, it’s a hearty and satisfying meal.

Get the Recipe: Easy Spicy Lentil Chili Instant Pot Recipe

15-Minute Pumpkin and Black Bean Tacos

Two blue corn tortilla shells topped with black beans, pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, and chopped peanuts.
Image Credit: Melissa Altman-Traub for Melissa Traub Plant-Based Nutrition

These vegan pumpkin and black bean tacos are a quick, savory meal perfect for a busy day, offering a delightful crunch and a hint of spice. Pumpkin puree not only enhances the flavor but also keeps everything together.

Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Pumpkin and Black Bean Tacos

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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