20 Meatless Meal Recipes For When You’re On A Budget

Since meat is the most of the time one of the more expensive items for any recipe, it’s a good idea to sometimes go with some meatless meal recipes instead. Meatless Monday anyone?

20 Meatless Meal Recipes For A Tight Budget

Adding some meatless meals to your diet every now and then can not only save you some money, but can also be quite fun. You’d be surprised at all of the meatless options out there.

Below we’ve rounded up some of our favorite meatless meal recipes, including 10 meatless dinner recipes and 10 meatless lunch recipes. Don’t worry about whether it’s listed as a lunch or dinner recipe though, you can definitely have any of these whenever you want!

10 Meatless Dinner Recipes

First up, some of our favorite meatless dinner recipes.

1. Instant Pot Mushroom Tetrazzini

Simple Creamy Comforting Pasta dinner with simple pantry ingredients. Ready within minutes! The sauce is like bechamel sauce with a roux.

Meatless meal recipes: Instant Pot Mushroom Tetrazzini

From: veganricha.com

2. Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Tacos with Creamy Chipotle Sauce

You’re going to love this vegetarian lentil tacos recipe. Roasted cauliflower, seasoned lentils and creamy chipotle sauce combine to make a delicious taco!

Meatless meal recipes: Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Tacos with Creamy Chipotle Sauce

From: cookieandkate.com

3. Vegetarian Fried Rice

Everybody should know how to make veggie fried rice. Hands down one of the most delicious and easiest ways to use up leftovers. Ready in max. 12 minutes!

Meatless meal recipes: Vegetarian Fried Rice

From: hurrythefoodup.com

4. Spinach Artichoke Lasagna

This healthy vegetarian spinach lasagna includes lots of fresh spinach, jarred artichokes and the simplest homemade tomato sauce. This lasagna tastes even better the next day!

Meatless meal recipes: Spinach Artichoke Lasagna

From: cookieandkate.com

5. Slow Cooker Potato And Corn Chowder

The easiest chowder you will ever make. Throw everything in the crockpot and you’re set! Easy peasy!

Meatless meal recipes: Slow Cooker Potato And Corn Chowder

From: damndelicious.net

6. One Pan Mexican Quinoa

Wonderfully light, healthy and nutritious. And it’s so easy to make – even the quinoa is cooked right in the pan!

Meatless meal recipes: One Pan Mexican Quinoa

From: damndelicious.net

7. Vegetable Stir Fry With Noodles

This colorful vegetable stir fry with noodles is packed with vegetables and drenched in a salty sweet sauce. Fast, easy, and customizable.

Meatless meal recipes: Vegetable Stir Fry With Noodles

From: budgetbytes.com

8. Tofu Parmigiana

Instead of having a greasy, battered coating, the tofu “steaks” in this revamped Parmigiana are breaded and lightly pan-fried in just a small amount of oil then topped with part-skim mozzarella, fresh basil and your favorite marinara sauce.

This Italian classic will please even those who are tofu-phobic.

Meatless meal recipes: Tofu Parmigiana

From: eatingwell.com

9. Easy Lo Mein

The easiest lo mein you will ever make in 15 minutes from start to finish. It is so much quicker, tastier and healthier than take-out!

Meatless meal recipes: Easy Lo Mein

From: damndelicious.net

10. 5 Ingredient Spanish Rice

This quick and easy restaurant-style Spanish Rice is made with only 5 ingredients, and it’s quick, simple and delicious.

Meatless meal recipes: 5 Ingredient Spanish Rice

From: foodlove.com

Meatless Lunch Recipes

Next, we’ll look at our favorite meatless recipes that are perfect for lunch!

11. Grilled Squash Garlic Bread

Ricotta, garlic, and grilled veggies give this garlic bread a summer refresh.

Meatless meal recipes: Grilled Squash Garlic Bread

From: womansday.com

12. Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Panini

This lovely medley of flavors makes a perfect summer meal, especially when garden-fresh tomatoes are at their peak.

Meatless meal recipes: Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Panini

From: skinnyms.com

13. Black Bean Croquettes

Staples like canned black beans and frozen corn transform into spicy croquettes in mere minutes. Serve with warm corn tortillas, coleslaw and lime wedges.

Meatless meal recipes: Black Bean Croquettes

From: eatingwell.com

14. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Thai-style sweet and spicy pineapple fried rice with red bell pepper, cashews and cilantro. This is a healthy and quick vegetarian meal!

Meatless meal recipes: Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

From: cookieandkate.com

15. Spiced Tomato Soup with Flatbread

Flatbreads smothered in an herbed butter and coconut spread are perfect for dunking into this creamy tomato soup.

Meatless meal recipes: Spiced Tomato Soup with Flatbread

From: womansday.com

16. Italian Vegetable Hoagies

This delightfully easy, and somewhat messy, sandwich packs a punch with sweet balsamic vinegar, artichoke hearts, red onion, provolone cheese and zesty pepperoncini. We love it for dinner as well as lunch.

Meatless meal recipes: Italian Vegetable Hoagies

From: eatingwell.com

17. Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

This Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad is the traditional Caprese salad in pasta form! Pasta, tomatoes, basil, and tomatoes! This is so fresh and the perfect side dish for BBQs and potlucks!

Meatless meal recipes: Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

From: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

18. Vegan Sloppy Joes

This vegan Sloppy Joes recipe has a tangy lentil filling that’s full of flavor and nutrients! It’s a plant based dinner everyone will love.

Meatless meal recipes: Vegan Sloppy Joes

From: acouplecooks.com

19. Sweet Potato Burrito

Sweet potato burritos with black beans, smothered in a simple but flavorful avocado salsa verde sauce.

Meatless meal recipes: Sweet Potato Burrito

From: cookieandkate.com

20. Avocado Grilled Cheese

Who knew guac and grilled cheese were meant to be together? A very simple yet easy meal!

Meatless meal recipes: Avocado Grilled Cheese

From: delish.com

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20 Meatless Meal Recipes

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