These and budget-friendly and delicious
Finding family-friendly easy vegan lunch ideas can be really hard if you are on a budget. We have over 50 healthy vegan recipes that you can make for lunch that won’t blow your food shopping budget.
All of these are kid-friendly and can be made in advance ready for school or work. You can use frozen vegetables to save you prep time as well.
If you are looking for more vegan food ideas then have a look at:
51 Quick Vegan Meals for Kids – These are the best and tasty vegan meals for your whole family. They come in at under £1 a head.
71 Budget Vegan Slimming World Recipes for the Whole Family – Vegan meals are really easy to make and can be prepped before hand.
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Vegan lunch recipes for beginners
If you are a beginner cook and are not sure how to meal prep then these tips below we help.
When it comes to our plant based lunch ideas you do need to do a bit of meal preparation before hand. We make sure that we make a meal plan at the start of every week and list everything we need for every single meal.
Getting the kids involved is a great way to make sure that they are happy to eat everything too. Using the below vegan lunch ideas with our vegan dinner ideas post can help you fill up your meal plan easily.
Then make a shopping list from your meal plan.
We then make anything that can be frozen over the weekend. So for example, the eggless pancakes freeze great and we defrost them in the morning for the lunch box. The same goes for the scones or any sauces that we make.
The soups and smoothies are normally made the night before and put into the fridge. They are great vegan lunch ideas on the go, especially for teenagers that may not have much time at lunchtime.
The burgers and risotto are all made the night before too.
Make sure that you have good plastic, air-tight containers to put the food it so it’s nice and fresh when you come to eat it. We use these KICHLY Plastic Airtight Food Storage Containers* as they come in all different shapes and sizes.
If you are looking for a bit of spice or for meals that you’ve never tried before then have a look at Spicentice.
They send you out these little packets of spice with the exact instructions and method on that you can use over and over again.
We use them when we are stuck in a food rut and don’t really know what to cook. What we love the most about them is that you can keep the card to make the recipe all over again.
Try Spicentice here using our code LASAVE20 and save 20% off every purchase*.
They are Slimming World friendly, vegan, and perfect if you want to spice up your family meals.
We have cooked loads of budget family meals with Spicentice that includes many of the recipes below.
51 vegan lunch ideas
We’ve included everything you need for the best delicious vegan lunches that you can eat on the go or at the office.
We’ve included everything from one pot curries to bean salads and pasta salads.
1. The Best Eggless Pancakes Recipe Ever
We make these in advance and freeze them. You can defrost them easily under the grill for a few minutes and add them to the lunch box. Read how we make these Eggless Pancakes recipe here.
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.
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.
2. Sweet Potato Carrot Soup
We make this at the weekend and freeze it in containers. This is a healthy soup recipe that is really smooth and warms up quickly in the microwave. This is how we make our Sweet Potato Carrot Soup recipe here.
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. 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.
3. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
This is a great leftover recipe. We make extra and take leftovers for lunch the next day. This comes in at under 82p a head for four people. This how we make our Vegan Shepherd’s Pie here.
400g tin chickpeas 33p,
400g tin lentils 55p,
2 large potatoes 20p,
3 sweet potatoes 47p,
125g frozen onion 8p,
4 sun-dried tomatoes 20p,
2 carrots 14p,
5 mushrooms 40p,
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.
4. Vegan Mushroom Bolognese
Just like a meaty bolognese, this vegan one makes the best comfort food dish for a weekend. We use mushrooms to get that amazing flavor. You can also use Quorn mince like the picture above.
1 onion chopped 22p
1 tbsp tomato puree 9p
2 tins chopped tomato 58p
1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p
1 celery stick chopped 10p
1 carrot chopped 7p
2 cloves garlic chopped 4p
1 tsp oregano 2p
2 large mushrooms chopped 75p
1 vegetable stock cubes 6p
210g spaghetti 25p
Total: £1.94 that’s 48p per person.
5. Fake cheese scones
The yeast extract gives these that cheesy flavour. We freeze these and defrost them overnight when we need them. The kids love them as in their lunch boxes for school.
350g self-raising flour 30p
¼ tsp salt 5p
1 tsp baking powder 2p
3 tbsp caster sugar 7p
95g vegan vegetable spread 25p
150ml soy milk 20p
Total: 89p that’s 22p for 4 people.
6. Homemade vegan bagels
These bagels are everything you’d expect. They come out fluffy with the soft bubbles. We freeze them and defrost as and when we want them. The kids love them toasted with vegan chocolate spread. The perfect treat school lunch!
This makes about 10 homemade bagels. You can even freeze them and defrost them when you need them.
7g sachet dried yeast 16p
4 tbsp sugar 5p
2 tsp salt 2p
450g bread flour 45p.
Total: 68p that’s 17p for four people.
These bagels are really easy to make. Start by adding the yeast with 4 tbsp sugar into a large bowl, and pour in 100ml warm water. Leave for 10 minutes as the mixture needs to bubble.
In the same bowl, add 200ml warm water, flour and kneed. The mixture might be sticky, so you may need extra flour. Separate the dough into little balls and leave to raise. They need about an hour or longer if possible. Heat your oven to 200 fan.
Weight the dough and try and get them the same size. Use a teaspoon to put a hole in the middle. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add one bagel and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Then add to the oven for 25 minutes or until full cooked through.
7. Chickpea curry jacket potatoes
We make the chickpea curry the night before for dinner and use up for leftovers. Bake the potato in the microwave while making breakfast then add the curry on top. We then cover ours in foil before adding it to the lunchbox as it’s normally still warm by lunch.
8. Carrot & lentil soup
This is a great winter recipe that we all love. This is great slow cooker soup recipe that can be made in the morning and ready for when you get home.
2 tsp cumin seeds 5p
1 pinch chilli flakes 5p
2 tbsp olive oil 8p
600g carrots 55p
140g split red lentils 28p
1l hot vegetable stock 5p
125ml soya milk 85p
Total: £1.91 that’s 47p for four people.
9. Falafel burgers
We make these the night before and add them to fridge. The kids like their burger buns soft so we just add the falafel in and wrap. For the adults, we toast the burger buns.
They do take time to make and fry but they are full of flavor.
400g can chickpeas 55p
50g red onion 21p
5g garlic clove 10p
5g dried parsley 5p
5g ground cumin 5p
5g ground coriander 5p
5g dried chilli powder 5p
10g plain flour 20p
2 tbsp sunflower oil 5p
4 rolls 50p
200g tub tomato salsa 60p
Total: £2.41 that’s 60p per person.
10. Mushroom risotto
We make this in advance and freeze. It makes a great on the go lunch idea as you can eat it straight out of the plastic pot.
This cheap vegan mushroom risotto does take 25 minutes to cook but it’s worth the wait.
1 vegetable stock cube 5p
2 tbsp olive oil 5p
100g onion 10p
10g garlic cloves 5p
250g pack chestnut mushrooms £1
300g risotto rice 87p
25g vegan butter 15p
5g dried parsley 5p
Total: £2.32 that’s 58p per person.
11. Penne Arrabbiata
This is one of our favourite. We boil the pasta in the morning and defrost the simple sauce. We try and add as many grated vegetables as possible and whizz it up to make a smooth sauce.
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 chilli flakes in at the end for myself and my husband. It takes 20 minutes to boil down but is so worth it.
Wholemeal penne (500g) 55p
Onion 22p Chillies (60g)
55p Smartprice Passata (500g) 35p
Asda Vegetable stock (12x10g) 50p
Total: £2.17 that’s 54p for four people.
12. Stuffed sweet potato skins
These are made in the morning. Turn the oven on to 180 fan and prick the potatoes. Put them into the microwave for around 4 minutes a potato. Scoop out all the inside and add in your spring onions and frozen peppers. We add vegan cheese too. Bake for 15 minutes. We then wrap them up to keep the heat in ready for lunch.
13. Homemade spinach and mushroom pizza
A great takeaway alternative. We make the base first with flour, dried yeast and water. Roll it out and add your passata, mushrooms and spinach. We sprinkle ours with vegan cheese. We make this the night before and put it in the fridge once it’s cooled down.
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.
Vegan cheese (approx 100g) 85p,
Onion 10p,
Chopped tomatoes (400g) 31p,
Loose closed cup mushrooms 20p,
Total: £2.34 that’s 58p for four people.
14. 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 chilli sauce 30p
100g vegan cheese 49p
Total: £2.92 that’s 73p for 4 people.
15. Parship soup
We love this easy parship soup as it can be eaten chunky or smooth. It is really easy to make and tastes great the next day as well. This makes enough for four people but you can double it to make extras for leftovers.
2 tbsp vegan butter 5p,
50g frozen onion 4p,
1 crush garlic clove 5p,
500g parsnips 60p,
500ml vegetable stock 5p,
225ml soya milk 25p.
Total: £1.04 that’s 26p for four people.
16. Pulled Mushrooms with BBQ Sauce
This is a great fakeaway recipe that tastes so much like pulled pork it’s unreal! This serves four people and makes a perfect Friday night treat.
500g of king oyster mushrooms
1 tsp olive oil
120ml vegetable stock
2 spring onions
Barbecue sauce:
180ml passata
2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dark soy sauce
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
Cut the mushrooms into really small pieces or pull them with two forks like you would pork. Heat the pan in some oil, and add the mushrooms. Add some salt and pepper while cooking. Add some stock slowly as the mushrooms are reducing down. In a separate sauce pan, add all the sauce ingredients and simmer until the sauce is thicker. When ready, pour the sauce across the mushrooms and make sure they are all covered. Serve with your choice of sides.
17. Cauliflower buffalo wings
We use hot sauce for these. We make these in the morning as it’s just cauliflower florets, paprika, pepper and salt then bake.
Cauliflower buffalo wings These buffalo wings are lightly spicy and make a great snack or lunch idea. They come in at under £1 a head and make a great healthy meal.
10g dried smoked paprika 5p
10g ground cumin 5p
5g garlic powder 5p
100g plain flour 6p
200ml coconut milk 37p
500g cauliflower £1.75
80g hot sauce 60p
1½ tbsp maple syrup 5p
1 tbsp vegan butter 10p
100g celery sticks 37p
Total: £3.45 that’s 86p for 4 people.
18. Butternut squash risotto
We use frozen squash for this. This is made the night before as it can take an hour to shimmer down.
This makes a great lunch box snack. It goes take 20 minutes to make but it’s worth the time.
1kg butternut squash £1
3 tbsp olive oil 5p
5g dried sage 5p
1½l vegetable stock 5p
50g vegan butter 16p
50g frozen onion 10p
300g risotto rice 50p
50g vegan cheese 62p
Total: £2.53 that’s 63p for 4 people.
19. Tomato & lentil soup
We love this soup as you can make it spicy if you prefer and the lentils in the soup help yo keep you filled up till dinner. This recipe makes enough soup for four people but you can double it to make leftovers for the next day if you prefer.
1 tbsp oil 5p,
400g tin carrots 28p,
50g frozen onion 4p,
100 ml vegetable stock 10p,
400g tin tomatoes 38p,
200g red lentils 50p.
Total: £1.35 that’s 33p for four people.
Start by frying the onions in the pan, then add the carrots. Add the stock, tomatoes and lentils. Bring it all to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. When ready, blend the soup to your chosen consistency. We like ours smooth.
20. Tomatoes and White Beans
This is a super easy recipe that can be a main meal or a side dish. It takes about 25 minutes to cook but only takes 5 minutes to prep.
100g frozen onion
100g cloves of garlic
1 tsp paprika
1 chilli
400g chopped tomatoes
400g haricot beans
1 tbsp tomato paste
240ml vegetable stock
10g fresh parsley
10g fresh basil
Fry the onion and garlic together in a pan. Add in the peppers and paprika. After a few minutes, add the tin tomatoes, beans, paste and stir. You can add a spoonful of sugar to counter the tomatoes if needed. Bring to the boil and shimmer for about 15 minutes. Season and then add the fresh parsley and basil then serve.
21. Chipotle tofu burrito bowl
This is really easy as you can add whatever you want. We add carrot, spinach and lettuce with grilled tofu and a bit of lemon.
21. Vegan brunch muffins
These take about 30 minutes to cook but they freeze really well when you need a lunch treat on the go.
150g muesli mix 30p
50g light brown soft sugar 14p
160g plain flour 10p
1 tsp baking powder 5p
250ml sweetened soy milk 17p
1 apple 54p
2 tbsp grape-seed oil 5p
50g almond butter 10p
40g demerara sugar 10p
50g pecans 50p
Total: £2.05 that’s 51p per person.
22. Tomato bruschetta
This is a perfect lunchtime delicious vegan recipe that is easy to make and great for the whole family. Mix up the vegetables and leave for an hour to marinate. Then lightly toast the bread and spread.
50g red onion 21p
500g tomatoes £1
10g garlic cloves 15p
5g dried basil 5p
30ml balsamic vinegar 20p
60-80ml extra virgin olive oil 34p
400g loaf crusty bread 80p
Total: £2.75 that’s 68p for 4 people.
23. Tofu scramble
This budget meal is great for the whole family. It’s easy to make and will keep you full for ages.
1 tbsp olive oil 5p
50g frozen onion 10p
1 garlic clove 10p
5g turmeric 5p
5g ground cumin 5p
5g sweet smoked paprika 5p
280g extra firm tofu £2
100g cherry tomatoes 45p
5g dried parsley 5p
Total: £2.90 that’s 72p for 4 people.
24. Thai Quorn lettuce wraps
These are great for making the night before. You can wrap the Quorn fillings in the lettuce. It can be a little messy to eat though.
25. Lentil and quinoa soup
This is an easy vegan soup that you can make on a cold day.
2 tbsp olive oil 7p
200g onions 20p
2 garlic cloves, 10p
5g hot chilli powder 5p
5g ras el hanout 5p
1kg butternut squash £1
100g red lentils 22p
1l hot vegetable stock 7p
5g dried coriander 5p
10g soya yogurt 15p
Total: £1.96 that’s 49p a person.
26. Pesto pasta
All these vegetables can be grilled can be quickly grilled and mixed in with the green pesto and spaghetti. This makes a great and easy family dinner when you are in a rush.
210g spaghetti 25p
2 corn on the cob 95p
100g frozen squash 50p
165g tomatoes 42p
100g spring onions 37p
75g green pesto 37p
Total: £2.86 that’s 71p for 4 people.
27. Grilled Ratatouille Linguine
This is an easy ratatouille recipe that is really quick to make. You can grill all these vegetables and mix them when ready with the vegetables.
210g linguine 10p
80g courgette, cut into chunks 40p
100g red or yellow peppers, cut into chunks 40p
100g onion 30p
Total: £1.20 that’s 30p per person.
28. Chilli quorn nachos
These make a great Friday lunchtime treat. We put the nachos in a plastic pot and add vegan yogurt with the cooked Quorn mince.
29. Vegan pasta bake
For the topping 125g cashews (not roasted) 3 tbsp nutritional yeast 1 tsp vegetable bouillon powder 150g cherry tomatoes chopped 4 handfuls of rocket
For the bottom:
2 tsp rapeseed oil
200g frozen onions
3 garlic cloves chopped
140g dried lentilles vertes
500g tomato passata
200g wholemeal penne
375g courgettes, quartered lengthways and sliced
15g dried basil
2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder.
Fry the onion, garlic and lentils. Poor in 500ml water and bring to the boil. Add in the passata and bring back to the boil.
Add the penne, courgettes, handful of basil and the bouillon powder. Bring to the boil again. It may need some extra water at this point. Heat the oven to 180 degree fan. Add the nutritional yeast and bouillon powder into a bowl and blitz until really small like a paste. Pour the cashew sauce over the top and add the tomatoes on the top. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and serve with the rocket.
30. Thai Vegetable Soup
This is a simple soup recipe that you can eat on the move. It is full of vegetables and perfect for cold water nights.
100g frozen onion
180g of aubergine
100g sweet potato
2 tsp Thai Red Curry Paste
120ml vegetable stock
1 tsp fish sauce
100g courgette
300g frozen mixed veg
120ml coconut milk
Peel the sweet potato and cut into chunks. Roast the chucks in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are soft. In the pan, fry off the aubergine and onion and add a little salt. Wait until the aubergine in soft. Add the sweet potato into the pan as well. Add the curry paste and fish sauce. Then add the stock and reduce down. Add the courgette and frozen veg to the pan about 10 minutes before the end. The coconut milk can go right in at the end and then you can serve.
31. Roast cauliflower salad
Roast the cauliflower in the oven the night before then add it to your choice of salad in the morning. This stops the salad from going slimy.
32. Quesadillas
This is a quick breakfast meal that you can take on the run if you are running late. You can add anything to these wraps including peppers, tomatoes, chicken or ham. Go crazy and use whatever you have leftover in the fridge.
8 wraps 85p,
100g vegan cheese 50p,
Total: £1.60 that’s 40p for 4 people.
33. Pumpkin pie smoothie
We love smoothies for quick lunches when you really don’t have time. We whizz these up in the morning while making breakfast. For this we use Almond milk and frozen pumpkin.
Mushroom hash
We mix mushroom with carrots, potatoes and peas. This makes a great recipe for times when you have loads of vegetables going off. Fry it off in the morning while you are making breakfast.
34. Linguine with chilli and tofu
The linguine does need to be cooked in the morning that you plan to eat it. The tofu can be grilled.
35. Baked oats
This may look like a cake but its a yummy and heathly breakfast recipe that you can make at the start of the week and store for the whole week ahead.
100g porridge oats 7p,
200g fat free yogurt 40p,
1 tbsp sugar 5p,
100g defrosted frozen fruit 46p,
3 eggs 16p.
Total: £1.14 that’s 28p for four people.
Preheat the oven at 180 degrees fan. Put the porridge oats, yogurt, sugar and frozen fruits in a bowl. Mix it all together. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs then add them to the other ingredients. Mix together in a bowl. Pour the mixture into a baking tray and cook for around 30 minutes. Like a cake, you will need to check if the middle is cooked. We use a toothpick. If it comes back clean then it is fully cooked inside.
36. Roasted vegetable couscous with basil
The couscous does need cooking in the morning but the vegetables could be done the night before.
37. Strawberry Oatmeal Waffles
This strawberry waffle recipe is really easy to make and you can use frozen strawberries if you prefer.
250g wheat flour £1.10
1 tablespoon baking powder 5p
1 teaspoon salt 2p
1 teaspoon ground allspice 5p
250g oats 20p
100g unsweetened applesauce 45p
100g unsweetened non-dairy milk 30p
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup 5p
2 tablespoons canola oil 7p
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 5p
150g frozen strawberries 71p
Total: £3.05 that’s 76p for 4 people.
Start by sifting the flour, baking powder, salt and allspice into a mixing bowl. Blitz the oats so they are small then add to the mixing bowl. Make a small well in the center of the flour mix and add the applesauce, milk, maple syrup, oil and vanilla.
Stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Let the batter rest for 5 minutes or so in the fridge, it will thicken a bit don’t worry. If it does look thin, add a little more flour and mix again, then wait. Keep doing this until you are happy. Add in the frozen strawberries. These van be defrosted or cut up smaller frozen. We cook our waffles in a waffle maker. Spray the inside first, then add about a tablespoon of batter. The first one, like a pancake might be a bit rubbish but don’t worry, the rest do get better.
38. Vegan banana bread
This is a great way to use up your brown bananas!
3 large ripe bananas 60p
75ml vegetable oil 85p
100g brown sugar 29p
225g plain flour 20p
3 heaped tsp baking powder 5p
3 tsp cinnamon or mixed spice 5p.
Total: £2.04 that’s 51p for four people.
39. Peanut Butter Pods
Made with bltiz porridge oats, soya yogurt and cinnamon, this peanut butter cups are a great breakfast idea for the whole family. You can add whatever fruit you like here but our favourite is almost brown banana as it adds that sweetness that this sometimes needs.
300g porridge oats 25p
2 tsp cinnamon 5p
2 medium bananas 40p
500g soya yogurt £1.40
80g peanut butter 45p
Total: £2.55 that’s 63p for 4 people.
40. 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 soya yogurt 10p
50g mixed berries 25p
1 tbsp sweetner 5p
Total: 53p that’s 13p per person.
41. Banana French Toast
For a real American-style feel, decorate with fresh strawberries, a sprinkle of icing sugar, and drizzle of maple syrup.
4 ripe bananas 28p
8 slices white bread 17p
110ml soya milk 11p
1 tin of chickpea liquid (Aquafaba) 14p
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 20p
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 5p
Total = 95p that’s 23p a head for four people.
42. Banana Slow Cooker Oats
I make these overnight Banana Slow Cooker Oats once the kids have gone to bed, and by the time 6 am comes, they’re ready to eat. Both of them love them and can’t get enough! These Banana Slow Cooker Oats only have three ingredients too!
200g of rolled oats 15p
2L soya milk 87.2p
Maple syrup 4p
Banana 13p
Total = 89p that’s 22p a head for four people.
43. Chocolate Banana Smoothie
We love this Chocolate Banana Smoothie because it’s really easy to make and tastes like a real treat. It comes in under 19p a head for four people and puts a smile on all our faces.
1 cup soya milk 30p
2 bananas frozen 26p
1 tablespoon maple syrup 15p
1 tablespoon cocoa powder 5p
Total = 76p that’s 19p a head for four people.
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. Mexican Red Rice
A very simple dish that takes only 20 minutes to cook, this Mexican red rice dish is perfect for the whole family.
1 tbsp oil 5p,
2 garlic cloves 5p,
1tsp dried coriander 5p,
1 tbsp chilli powder 2p,
100g frozen onion 15p,
350g long-grain rice 40p,
1 veggie stock 15p,
3 tbsp puree 10p,
250g frozen vegetables 20p.
Total: £1.17 that’s 29p for four people.
Start by heating the oil and cook the garlic, dried herbs and onion. Add the rice to the pan with your 1 litre of stock and tomato puree. Add the mixed veg and reduce the stock down. The rice will take on the stock but it may take about 15 minutes. When you are done, remove from the heat and rest the dish for around 15 minutes to make sure that the rice has taken on all the liquid and flavour.
47. Grilled Ratatouille Linguine
This is an easy ratatouille recipe that is really quick to make. You can grill all these vegetables and mix them when ready with the vegetables.
210g linguine 10p
80g courgette, cut into chunks 40p
100g red or yellow peppers, cut into chunks 40p
100g onion 30p
Total: £1.20 that’s 30p per person.
48. Bean tacos with chilli salsa
Make the filling early and just add it to the tacos that morning. Make sure you wrap them tight as they can get messy in a lunch box.
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49. 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 Noodles 92p
Frozen onions 22p
Spring onions 49p
4tbsp Soy Sauce 58p
Total: £3.21 that’s 80p per person.
50. Napa cabbage
This is a perfect dish for a quick dinner when you are on the go. It only takes 10 minutes to cook and a few minutes to prep. 1 chopped Napa cabbage 3 cloves of garlic 4 spring onions 1 tsp chilli flakes 2 tsp of soy sauce 60ml water 2 tsp maple syrup 1 tsp sesame oil Chop the cabbage really small and fry the garlic in a pan. Put the soy sauce, chilli flakes, water and cabbage together and mix. Add it all to a frying pan then add the spring onions and maple syrup. Keep coating the cabbage with the liquid as this will turn into a lovely glossy sauce.
51. 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,
350g long-grain rice 40p,
400g tin Red kidney beans in water 21p,
8 Tortilla wraps 92p,
2 Little Gem lettuce 75p,
31g Fresh basil 80p,
300g Salsa 69p (Optional),
Total: £3.87 that’s 96p for four people.
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.
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