All of these vegetarian meals are under £1 a head
These are the best budget-friendly vegetarian recipes that you can use to fill up your meal plans. We’ve included vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes that you can use over and over again to keep your food bill down.
By changing your shopping habits a little and how you cook at home, could help save you and your family money. Saving money really is this simple!
If you are looking for more ways to save your family money then make sure you have a look at:
The Ultimate Guide to Food Shopping on a Budget – This walks you through how exactly you can shop on a budget. It goes through meal planning and how to save money.
Store Cupboard Meals: 41 Store Cupboard Recipes To Try – If you are short of money then these store cupboard meals can help you to use the food that you have.
The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List – This is the biggest list of £1 a head family meals. We’ve included everything for all meals.
Free Money Saving Printables
If you are looking for ways to save your family money then come join our resource Vault. We have shopping lists and meal plans that you can use again and again.
Come join our free Resource Vault here
(By joining giving us your email address you are consenting to us emailing you about our other travel, home and lifestyle ideas. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email.)
Budget friendly meals
It’s hard to start cooking from scratch if you’ve never down it before.
If you do feel out of your depth then have a look at Spicentice. They send you packets of spices that can help liven up your mealtimes. What we love the best about Spicentice though is that the packets include an exact shopping list and easy to follow instructions. You can then use them over and over again.
Spicentice are Slimming World and Weight Watchers friendly, offer gluten-free spices and dairy-free.
They are great to use if you are new to cooking from scratch or if you are looking to get your family eating new budget-friendly meals and have no clue where to start.
Using Spicentice we have cooked:
Beginner Chilli Con Carne Recipe for Just 95p a Head
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie For Just 82p Per Portion
Spaghetti Meatball Recipe For 73p a Head
Easy Chicken Fajita Recipe: A Family Meal for 94p a Person
Chinese Chicken Curry For Just £1.54 For 4
Really Easy Homemade Beef Burgers For Under £1 a Head
The Best Southern Fried Chicken Recipe For Under £1 a Head
Chicken Tikka Masala Curry For Under £4 a Head
The Best Katsu Curry Recipe For Under £1 a Head
The Best Turkey Curry For Under £1 a Head
The Best Firecracker Chicken For Just 99p a Head
33 vegetarian meals on a budget
Going vegetarian doesn’t mean that your food bill should go up. You can still have very tasty and family friendly meals on a budget. The below vegetarian meals all come in at under £1 a head for four people.
We use mainly tin or frozen vegetables as they are cheap and pre-cut, which saves loads of time.
Remember to meal plan before you shop. Look through your cupboards, fridge and freezer and use what you have already. Meal planning doesn’t have to be boring! Spice it up with a few slow cooker meals or fakeaway recipes like the ones below. Fore more ideas on meal planning or saving money on food in general, read our post here.
Vegetarian breakfast recipes
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day and these all come in at under £1 a head for four people. Have a look at more breakfast ideas here.
1.Pancakes
These pancakes are really tasty and are great when you have extra eggs to use up.
Use our Cheap and Easy Pancakes For Just 86p here.
2 eggs 16p
300 ml milk 60p
100g plain flour 10p
Total: 86p that’s 21p per person.
2. Eggy cheese crumpets
These eggy cheese crumpets can be grilled once submerged in the egg mixture. They make a great treat breakfast for the whole family.
3 eggs 24p
50ml milk 10p
6 crumpets 25p
250g cherry tomatoes £1
drizzle of vegetable oil 5p
40g cheddar 35p
Total: £1.99 that’s 49p per person.
3. Overnight oats
This is a yummy breakfast for the whole family. You make it the night before and add it to the fridge before you go to bed.
¼ tsp ground cinnamon 5p
50g rolled porridge oats 8p
2 tbsp natural yogurt 10p
50g mixed berries 25p
drizzle of honey 5p
Total: 53p that’s 13p per person.
4. Eggy bread
This is a quick and easy breakfast for the whole family. We griddle pan ours on high heat once the egg is mixture is on the bread.
Bread 14p
4 eggs 32p
Total: 46p that’s 11p per person.
5. Waffles
These are great for a waffle maker and make a great weekend treat. We have them with frozen fruit or with chocolate spread.
4 large eggs 32p
300g plain flour 30p
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 5p
2 tbsp golden caster sugar 5p
50g butter 25p
600ml semi-skimmed milk £1.20
Total: £2.17 that’s 54p a person.
6. Cooked breakfast
We love a classic cooked breakfast. This is really easy to make and is cheap on the wallet too.
4 hash browns 60p
400g tin of baked beans 30p
4 scrambled eggs 32p
Total: £1.22 that’s 30p per person for four people.
7. Omelette
You can add loads to this basic omelette recipe. You can add cheese, herbs, and mushrooms.
3 eggs 24p
1 tsp sunflower oil 5p
1 tsp butter 5p
Total: 34p that’s 8p per person.
8. Breakfast egg wraps
These are great for four people and make a great breakfast on the go. You can add anything to these but our favourite is below:
500g pack closed cup mushrooms £1.50
4 tsp sunflower oil 5p
320g cherry tomatoes 90p
2tbsp parsley 5p
40g porridge oats 10p
10 eggs 80p
4 tsp English mustard powder 7p
Total: £3.92 that’s 98p a person for 4 people.
9. Breakfast smoothie
This is a quick breakfast that is great for the whole family. You can whizz it up and add whatever fruit you like.
1 banana 13p
40g porridge oats 10p
80g frozen soft fruit 75p
150ml milk 30p
1 tsp honey 5p
1 tsp vanilla extract 5p
Total: £1.38 that’s 34p for 4 people.
10. Hashbrown Frittata
We love this Hashbrown Frittata as it’s really easy to make a you can chuck in whatever you have left in the fridge or freezer. We tend to use frozen vegetables but you can use fresh as well.
6 eggs
250g white potato
100g frozen onion
100g frozen peppers
50g spinach
Start by whisking the eggs in a bowl. Then add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. In a deep frying pan, spray the bottom with some low cal spray then add. Fry for a few minutes until the eggs are all cooked through.
11. Baked eggs
This is a really easy breakfast recipe that is very filling. You can add pretty much anything to this to make it yummy. It does take about 25 minutes to cook but is worth it. This recipe makes two.
100g frozen onion
6 tomatoes
1 tsp tomato paste
1 clove of garlic
50g spinach
100g vegetable stock
2 eggs
Start by pre-heating your oven to 180 degrees. Add the garlic, tomatoes and onions to a pan and fry lightly. Add the tomato paste and boil until it looks like a sauce. Stir in the spinach for a minute or two. Using two small deep dishes, add the sauce then crack an egg in the middle. Add to the oven and cook for around 15 minutes if you are looking for a soft runny yolk.
12. Pan Oat Pancakes
This is a really easy no flipping pancake recipe that you can make and chuck in the oven while you get ready. You can add any fruit to this at all. Our kids favourites are bananas and frozen mixed berries.
100g rolled porridge oats
2 tsp baking powder
150g plain fat free yogurt
2 eggs
5g cinnamon
1 tsp of vanilla extract
200g frozen berries
100g banana
Start by pre-heating your oven to 180 degrees. Blend the porridge oats till they are small, as this gives you soft no lump pancakes. Add the baking powder, salt and cinnamon to the mix. Then add the egg, vanilla and yoghurt and put this with the oat mixture. Leave it all to sit together for about 15 minutes as this lets the oats suck it all in. In a small baking tray, add some baking paper, and put the mixture in. Add your fruit at this point by sprinkling it on the top. Add to the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown on the top. Let it sit for a few minutes before you cut as it’s very hot.
Vegetarian lunch ideas
Lunch can be a pretty hard meal, especially if you need to take it on the go. These are all great budget lunch ideas but you can also look at 71 Slimming World Packed Lunch Ideas.
13. Eggless Pancakes
This eggless recipe makes 10 pancakes which can be frozen then grilled back to warm. They take about 5 minutes to make and about 2 minutes to cook.
Read how we make The Best Eggless Pancakes Recipe Ever here.
150g self-raising flour 10p
1 tablespoon baking powder 2p
1/2 teaspoon salt 2p
2 spoonfuls of maple syrup, or granulated sugar 10p
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 15p
250ml soya milk 17p
Total: 56p that’s 14p per person.
14. Sweet Potato Carrot Soup
This sweet potato carrot soup recipe is really easy to make and is great for weekend lunches. Everything you need should be in your cupboard or freezer.
Read how we make our Sweet Potato Carrot Soup Recipe here.
The roasted sweet potatoes taste really nice in this soup.
500g chopped and cubed sweet potatoes 55p
400g tin carrots 49p
3 tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onion 16p
2 garlic cloves 5p
1L vegetable stock 5p
100ml tin coconut milk 82p
10g pinch chilli flakes 10p
Total: £2.27 that’s 56p a person.
15. Smoky beans on toast
This is such a easy recipe that is great for the whole family. We like ours spicy but you can easily tone down the spices and mustard if you prefer.
150g rashers streaky bacon 95p
100g frozen onion 16p
400g can baked beans 29p
1 teaspoon brown sugar 6p
1 teaspoon English mustard 5p
1 teaspoon smoked paprika 5p
1 teaspoon ground cumin 5p
10g chopped chillis 5p
250g ciabatta bread £1
Total: £2.66 that’s 66p per person.
16. Spicy mixed bean tortillas
These Spicy mixed bean tortillas are great for weekend days when you want something quick and easy. All of these ingredients come from tins or the freezer.
8 tortilla wraps 85p
200g onion 10p
1 tin of carrots 49p
400g can chopped tomatoes 39p
400g can kidney beans 30p
400g can of mixed beans in a mild chili sauce 30p
100g mature cheddar cheese, grated 49p
Total: £2.92 that’s 73p for 4 people.
17. Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This is one of those “chuck in whatever you have” recipes. It’s mega easy and even grilling the tomatoes only takes minutes.
500g wholemeal penne 55p
250g cherry tomatoes 53p
14g Dried basil 69p
Total: £1.77 that’s 44p a person.
18. Vegan tacos
These vegan tacos are really easy to make. They aren’t spicy at all, and the homemade salsa is really fruity.
Read how to make our vegan tacos here.
175g pack baby corn £1.20
190g frozen red onion 25p
100g frozen peppers 20p
½ tsp cumin seeds 5p
2 tsp olive oil 5p
110g kiwi 11p
400g tin tomato 42p
100g wholemeal flour 20p
1 large garlic clove 5p
5g dried coriander 5p
1 tsp vegan bouillon powder 5p
½ tsp smoked paprika 5p
85g red cabbage 20p
Total: £2.88 that’s 72p a person.
19. Vegetarian quesadillas
This is a really quick and easy vegetarian lunch recipe that works well in a lunch box. They are great for the whole family to enjoy as a cheap snack too.
2 x 400g cans mixed bean salad £1.20
3 tbsp chipotle sauce 6p
1tbsp dried coriander 5p
140g red Leicester cheese £1.50
8 flour tortillas £1
Total: £3.81 that’s 95p a person.
20. Egg muffins
These egg muffins are really easy to make and are great for lunch boxes. They are super cheap and you can add anything to them. All you do is mix the ingredients up and then oven cook them for 20 minutes on 180 degrees.
3 eggs 24p
40g red Leicester cheese 75p
Total: 99p that’s 24 a person.
21. Mexican egg roll
This is a quick and easy lunch idea that the kids will love. You can even make these the night before and wrap them in foil and keep in the fridge.
1 large egg 8p
1tbp sunflower oil 5p
2 tbsp tomato salsa 10p
Total: 23p that’s just 5p a person.
22. Omelette in a bun
The kids love this omelette recipe. It goes into lunch boxes quickly and is healthy too.
1 tbsp olive oil 5p
1 medium potato 25p
1 spring onion 37p
4 eggs 32p
9 small cherry tomatoes 20p
10g grated cheddar 25p
3 rolls 35p
Total: £1.79 that’s 44p each.
Vegetarian dinner recipes
There are so many amazing vegetarian meals that the whole family can enjoy. All these came in at under £1 a head and are great, even if you have a fussy eater. Have a look at our post on 7 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That are Under £1 a Head if you are looking for more quick meals.
23. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
This is a great recipe if you need to feed a lot of people quickly. Make this in the morning and just chuck it in the oven when you need it.
Read how to make our vegan shepherd’s pie here.
1 tin chickpeas 33p
1 tin lentils 55p
2 large tin potatoes 20p
1 frozen onion 8p
4 tin tomatoes 20p
5 mushrooms 40p
2 carrots 14p
2 celery sticks 60p
2 garlic cloves 5p
300ml vegan stock 3p
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 6p
2 tbsp tomato puree 10p
2 tbsp low cal spray 10p.
Total: £3.31 that’s 82p for four people.
24. Mango and Tomato Curry
Who needs a takeaway when you can cook this mango and tomato curry for less at home. This is so simple and is a hit with the whole family.
Frozen red onion 17p
10g ground chilli flakes 10p
400g tin tomatoes 60p
Small mango £1.15
150g 2% Fat natural yogurt 49p
500g Basics long-grain rice 40p
Total: £3.46 that’s 86p for four people.
25. Homemade pizza
This is an easy quick Friday night dinner. You can make the dough in the morning or straight away as it doesn’t need to sit. We use plain flour, dried yeast, and some water to make the dough.
375g plain flour 20p
1 teaspoon salt 5p
1 tablespoon caster sugar 5p
7g dried active baking yeast 8p
225ml warm water 0p
100g Mature Cheddar 85p
400g chopped tomatoes 31p
400g tin mushrooms 20p
Total: £2.36 that’s 59p a person.
26. Burritos
I do these burritos when I know friends are coming over. I love the idea of everyone helping themselves and tucking straight in.
Frozen onion 10p
500g long-grain rice 40p
400g red kidney beans in water 21p
Tortilla wraps 92p
Little Gem lettuce 75p
1tbsp dried basil
300g Salsa 69p
Total: £3.87 that’s 96p for 4 people.
27. Stir Fry
We use loads of frozen vegetables for this so it’s great on shopping day. Dried noodles are great as they can sit in the cupboard for as long as you need them to.
600g Frozen peppers £1
250g Egg Noodles 92p
Frozen onions 22p
Spring onions 49p
4tbsp Soy Sauce 58p
Total: £3.21 that’s 80p per person.
28. Penne Pasta Arrabbiata
Now, this arrabbiata is my go to recipe if I fancy a bit of spice. I tame it down a bit for the kids, so might add some chili flakes in at the end for myself and my husband. It takes 20 minutes to boil down but is so worth it.
500g Wholemeal penne 55p
100g Frozen onion 22p
60g dried chilies 55p
400g Passata 35p
Vegetable stock 5p
Total: £2.17 that’s 54p a person.
29. Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Cheesy pasta is a family favourite in my house. Try it in the slow cooker for an extra easy weeknight dinner.
200g macaroni pasta 13p
200g cheese £1
100g plain flour 10p
Stock cube 6p
25g butter 3p.
Total: £1.32 that’s 33p a person for four people.
30. Vegetarian Chili
4 of your 5 a day, this Vegetarian Chilli only takes about 30 minutes and can be bunged into a pan and left to its own devices.
Courgette 30p
Frozen onion 7p
400g Frozen peppers 60p
400g tin tomatoes 34p
400g tin Kidney Beans 30p.
Total: £1.61 that’s 40p per person
31. Quorn spaghetti Bolognese
This easy Quorn bolognese recipe comes in at under £1 a head and is great if you are vegetarian or if you are trying to cut down on how much meat you buy.
Read how to cook our Quorn spaghetti Bolognese here.
1 onion chopped 22p
1 tbsp tomato puree 9.5p
2 tins chopped tomato 58p
1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p
1 celery stick chopped 10p
Quorn Mince Frozen £1.79
1 carrot chopped 7p
2 cloves garlic chopped 4p
1 tsp oregano 2p
2 large mushrooms chopped 75p
1 vegetable stock cubes 6p
1 hand full Parmesan for sprinkling 20p
Total: £3.87 that’s 96p a person.
32. Roasted aubergine & tomato curry
This vegetarian curry is really easy to make. You can grill or roast the aubergines which help make them sweet.
600g aubergines 70p
3 tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onions 22p
2 garlic cloves 4p
1 tsp garam masala 5p
1 tsp turmeric 2p
1 tsp ground coriander 2p
400ml can chopped tomatoes 42p
400ml can coconut milk 75p
Total: £2.27 that’s 56p a person.
Related Posts:
- £18 a Week Food Budget Shopping List UK
- The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List
- The Best Cheap Vegan Meals For The Whole Family
33. Roasted cauliflower with tomato & cashew sauce
This is an easy vegetarian dinner that is great for the whole family. It’s really quick to make and budget-friendly.
1 cauliflower £1.75
2 tsp nigella seeds 5p
2 tbsp vegetable oil 5p
3 tsp garam masala 5p
2 garlic cloves 4p
2cm piece ginger 5p
500g passata 32p
2 tbsp cashew nut butter 10p
50ml double cream 25p
Total: £2.66 that’s 66p
Laura x
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more family friendly budget recipes or meal plan ideas, then head over to the budget food section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 30 cheap posts dedicated to helping you cook and shop wiser for less. There’s enough tips to help you save over £300 a month! You could also pop over and follow my family food Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on how to eat well and spend less; Family Meal Plans on a Budget, Budget Family Meals & Budget Slimming World Recipes for Families.
Love this post? Then why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it later.
What the * means
If a link has an * by it, then this means it is an affiliate link and helps S4SM stay free for all. If you use the link, it may mean that we receive a very small payment. It will not cost you anymore that it would normally.
You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. The items we write about are NEVER dictated by these links. We aim to look at all products on the market. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link, then the link, or product is still included in the same way, just with a non-paying link.