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 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!

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.

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!

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).

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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 😀

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.

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.

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!