Download your FREE 7-Day Vegetarian High Protein

Weight Loss Meal Plan

Invalid email address
Start Today

21 Cheap Family Meals – Healthy Vegetarian Budget Food

HurryTheFoodUp is reader-powered. If you click through using links on our site we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

21 Cheap Family Meals – Healthy Vegetarian Budget Food | hurrythefoodup.com

 21 Cheap Family Meals – Healthy Vegetarian Budget Food

It’s not always easy to cook for families, especially as a vegan or vegetarian. It often gets expensive, too.

To help out, we’ve compiled a collection of our favourite cheap family meals. As well as being budget and wallet-friendly, each of these recipes does something else to assist at dinner time.

They’re either some or all of the following:

  • Use simple ingredients that are easy to get hold of
  • Liked by kids and teenagers
  • Are easy to make big batches of
  • Are full of nutritional benefits – high-protein, fiber and vitamins
  • Suitable for freezing and/or reheating to save time and effort
  • Use just one or two pots and pans to save on dreaded washing up!

Ready? Let’s get started!

Irish Bombay Potatoes

Check out the recipe here
4.68 from 53 votes
Protein: 7g
Calories: 288kcal
Ready in:35 minutes
Recipe by: Ciaran & HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: cheap ingredients, easy to cook a large family batch
We guarantee you’ve never eaten curried potatoes this good – they’re the perfect fusion of Indian curry and Irish ingenuity. They will not be beaten.

Easy Vegan High Protein Black Bean Salad with Corn

Check out the recipe here
4.80 from 43 votes
Protein: 21g
Calories: 495kcal
Ready in:10 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: cheap ingredients, quick to make, can be stored for a while in the fridge
Simple recipe ready in just 10 minutes, bursting with summery flavours, protein, fiber and iron. One of the quickest cheap family meals!

Potato Farls

Check out the recipe here
4.94 from 15 votes
Protein: 20g
Calories: 438kcal
Ready in:35 minutes
Recipe by: Ciaran & HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: super simple and cheap ingredients, uses just a pan to cook, kids like it 😉
Potato Farls (also known as potato bread) – an authentic Irish recipe that’s great for breakfast and perfect with any Ulster fry (we’ve got other vegetarian brekkie ideas if you’re into this).

Easy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

Check out the recipe here
4.59 from 117 votes
Protein: 15g
Calories: 258kcal
Ready in:25 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: simple ingredients, quick and easy, can be frozen and reheated
Make the most out of your veg with this Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup – tasty, easy, healthy, full of vitamins and only five mins to prep! This is vegan, or can be topped with cheese.

Noodle Omelette

Check out the recipe here
4.91 from 10 votes
Protein: 22g
Calories: 636kcal
Ready in:10 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: super-quick and easy to make, cheap ingredients, perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner, liked by kids
Noodle omelettes made with ramen and eggs – cheap, nourishing, and inexpensive. Cut the complicated cooking steps and get food to plate, fast! Definitely another one for the cheap family meals scrapbook!

Spanish Beans with Tomatoes - 21 Cheap & Healthy Family Meals | hurrythefoodup.com

Spanish Beans with Tomatoes

Check out the recipe here

Ready in: 25 minutes (prep time just 5 minutes)
Recipe by:  VeggieDesserts
Family bonus: 7 simple ingredients, easy to make a big pot, can be stored for a while in the fridge, needs just a saucepan for cooking

These vegan gluten-free Spanish beans are packed with flavour, but are so easy to make in less than 20 minutes with just 7 ingredients! Perfect served with rice or fresh bread and only 125 calories per serving.

The Ultimate Avocado Sandwich

Check out the recipe here
4.84 from 25 votes
Protein: 16g
Calories: 432kcal
Ready in:5 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: quick to make, perfect for breakfast or lunch boxes!
A healthy and nutritious sandwich filled with avocado, cheese, tomatoes and rocket for a juicy and unbeatable taste!

Red Pesto Pasta

Check out the recipe here
5 from 7 votes
Protein: 18g
Calories: 467kcal
Ready in:20 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: quick preparation, cheap and simple ingredients, super-yummy
Red Pesto Pasta – The natural evolution of a classic dish. The pesto is all vegan and has received so much praise already you won’t believe it!

Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Check out the recipe here
5 from 6 votes
Protein: 5.6g
Calories: 310kcal
Ready in:30 minutes
Recipe by: Cristina Parés & HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: quick preparation, cheap ingredients, easy to make a big pot, absolutely liked by kids
The simple yet incredibly effective aromatised oil makes these vegan mashed potatoes better than any of their contemporaries. Creamy without the cream.

African Peanut Soup

Check out the recipe here
4.69 from 38 votes
Protein: 21g
Calories: 517kcal
Ready in:25 minutes

Family bonus: simple ingredients, use just a pot to cook, super nutritious meal
Healthy African peanut soup with rice. High in vitamin C, fiber and potassium. High in vitamin A, C, fiber and iron. Vegetarian and even vegan. Cheap family recipes at their best – and healthy, too!

Low Carb Breakfast Egg Muffins (25 Minutes, Vegetarian)

Check out the recipe here
4.60 from 146 votes
Protein: 17g
Calories: 219kcal
Ready in:25 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: simple ingredients, suitable for freezing and reheating, liked by kids, good for lunch boxes
Delicious and Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffins. Simple recipe, great taste. Low carb and high in protein. Perfect as a full meal or filling snack.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad - 21 Cheap & Healthy Family Meals | hurrythefoodup.com

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Check out the recipe here

Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: HauteAndHealthyLiving
Family bonus: quick and easy to make, cheap ingredients, can be stored for a while in the fridge

This healthy Mediterranean Chickpea salad is one of my top vegetarian recipe picks (and definitely one of my fave vegetarian mediterranean recipes!)! It’s simple to prepare, packed full of nutrients and bursting with flavour!

Comforting Leek Risotto with Cream Cheese

Check out the recipe here
5 from 13 votes
Protein: 14g
Calories: 579kcal
Ready in:35 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: can be stored for a while in the fridge, quick preparation, creamy and yummy
This creamy leek risotto is easy to make, filling and oh-so comforting. We show you how to speed it up, too – good food shouldn’t be slow!

Vegetarian Toad in the Hole

Check out the recipe here
4.75 from 16 votes
Protein: 32.1g
Calories: 502kcal
Ready in:50 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: suitable for freezing and reheating, liked by kids, awesome holiday family dish 🙂
Vegetarian toad in the hole paves the way for a meat-free future – why eat meat when you can have this instead? One of our favourite cheap family meals.

Vegetarian Baked Beans

Check out the recipe here
4.77 from 13 votes
Protein: 20g
Calories: 355kcal
Ready in:15 minutes

Family bonus: quick recipe, cheap ingredients, easy to make a big pot, can be stored for a while in the fridge
Thick and full flavoured with a moreish tang. Low in calories, ready in 15 minutes and just as good as the ‘original’ from Heinz!

Vegan Vegetable Lo Mein

Check out the recipe here
4.75 from 28 votes
Protein: 19g
Calories: 466kcal
Ready in:20 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: just 5 minutes to prepare, suitable for reheating, easy to surprise your family 🙂
You’ll find all ingredients in a regular supermarket. Just as delicious as the original and ready in only 20 minutes. Definitely a good cheap family meal choice!

Grilled Veggie Quesadilla With Black Beans - 21 Cheap & Healthy Family Meals | hurrythefoodup.com

Grilled Veggie Quesadilla With Black Beans

Check out the recipe here

Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: VegetarianGastronomy
Family bonus: quick recipe, can be stored for a while in the fridge, family favourite

This Grilled Veggie Quesadilla with Black Beans takes only 25 minutes, is gluten-free, vegan, quick and easy to make, and a family-favorite (if you like this, you need to try some of these lazy plant-based recipes)! With cheap family meals like this, you know life as a vegetarian is good.

Easy Baked Feta with Veggies

Check out the recipe here
4.74 from 42 votes
Protein: 23g
Calories: 505kcal
Ready in:40 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: quick preparation, suitable for reheating, perfect warm family dinner
Easy and quick. 10 minutes prep time, then for 20 minutes in the oven. High in vitamins A, C and B6, protein and fiber. Cheesy cheap family meals 😀

Quick Spanish Omelette perfect for breakfast!

Check out the recipe here
4.50 from 12 votes
Protein: 10.4g
Calories: 299kcal
Ready in:25 minutes
Recipe by: Cristina & HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: absolutely cheap and simple ingredients, family favourite
A modern update to a Spanish classic with less time, less oil and same great taste. Clear and easy instructions mean you’ll nail this Spanish wonder in no time.

Chickpea Wraps

Check out the recipe here
4.85 from 33 votes
Protein: 19g
Calories: 436kcal
Ready in:30 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: easy to impress the family, liked by kids, amazingly tasty!
Chickpea Wraps – these firm faves are really easy to make, super tasty and oh-so satisfying (and if you like these, be sure to check out some of our favorite easy veggie chickpea recipes too). We’ll even show you how to roll them properly! A great cheap family recipe.

Quick and Creamy Avocado Pasta

Check out the recipe here
4.74 from 82 votes
Protein: 18g
Calories: 493kcal
Ready in:15 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Family bonus: cheap and simple ingredients, easy to make a big batch, liked by kids
Quick and creamy Avocado Pasta that’s healthy and vegan. High in fiber, vitamin C, iron and good fats. Easy to make in under 15 minutes.

We hope you enjoy our compilation of healthy and cheap family meals (if you liked these, you need to check out our cheap vegetarian meals round-up too!). We would also like to thank the others who contributed to this set of recipes, there are some great budget recipes out there. And most of all – enjoy your vegetarian family meals together!

Comments

Leave a comment below

Your comments make our day. Thank you! If you have a question, please skim the comments section – you might find an immediate answer there. If you made the recipe, please choose a star rating, too.

4 comments
  1. Thank you all for the effort you put in making us healthy – and the world too.

    1. We’re here to help :). Thanks for your support, too!

  2. Delicious, All the 21 meal looks healthy. As a health conscious I thought Red Pesto Pasta is best and cheapest family meals. One of the best thing that I love about this meal is quick and easy to cook. Thanks for the sharing amazing post with us.

    1. You’re welcome, Melissa! Glad you like the look of them. Yes, the red pesto is really good!