15 Plant Based Recipes Under $5!

Trying to save money while also eating healthy? Luckily for you, we have a list of 15 plant-based recipes that are all under $5 a serving!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Budget Friendly Archives!

1. Simple Mexican Rice

Image Source: Simple Mexican Rice

Throw out the packaged Mexican rice that’s filled with preservatives! You can now have a delicious, homemade Simple Mexican Rice by Sabrina Estafo that’s made with all natural ingredients! It’s quick and easy to prepare and makes the perfect side dish to Mexican night. With just the right amount of spiciness and ample Mexican flavors, this gluten-free, vegan, clean-eating, and guilt-free rice will be your new go-to!

2. Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup

Image Source: Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup

This Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup by Tara Sunshine is a wonderfully creamy, flavorful and nourishing vegan soup made with red lentils, tomatoes, coconut milk, ginger, turmeric, and other Indian spices. Lentils have a slightly nutty, earthy flavour and are rich in protein as well as soluble and insoluble fibre.  They are a great source of essential minerals including magnesium, folate and iron. Studies suggest that lentil consumption can help to stabilize blood sugar, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve digestive and possibly even cardiovascular health. Try making this lentil tomato soup to get all of these amazing benefits and more!

3. Whole Wheat Sourdough Pizza Crust

Image Source: Whole Wheat Sourdough Pizza Crust

We all know that a good crust makes or breaks a pie. This Whole Wheat Sourdough Pizza Crust by Travis Piper will not disappoint because it tastes just like the sourdough bread we all know and love! Top it with whatever toppings you enjoy and dig in. It’s so worth it.

4. Potato Cakes

Image Source: Potato Cakes 

These Potato Cakes from Melissa Tedesco are the perfect way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes, or to just make on their own! You can make this dish by simply boiling some potatoes until soft and giving them a mash. These potato cakes are perfect as a starter or a savory breakfast. They taste great with a dollop of vegan sour cream, or simply garnished with chives.

5. Broccolini Mushroom Stir Fry 

Image Source: Broccolini and Mushroom Stir Fry

Raymund Macaalay‘s Broccolini and Mushroom Stir Fry is a simple dish of stir fried broccolini and shiitake mushrooms in garlic and shallots seasoned with soy sauce. It may sound simple, but this packs a lot of flavor, from the nutty broccolini, earthy shiitake and savory soy sauce it has the most important taste covered: the umami. It’s great as a side dish and also great on its own.

6. Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Image Source: Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

If you love roasted red pepper and tomato soup you will LOVE this Roasted Red Pepper Pasta by Andrea Telatovich!

7. Mexican Pizza

Image Source: Mexican Pizza

Celebrate pizza night with this Mexican Pizza by Anett Velsberg. They’re a delicious combination of everything you would put in a taco, only on pizza dough. Starting with the tomato salsa pizza base, this pizza tastes like a dream. Charred corn, endless avocado, gooey vegan cheese, and fresh coriander … could it get any better?

8. Chickpea and Kale Asian Rice

Image Source: Chickpea and Kale Asian Rice

The great thing about grain recipes is you can substitute them so easily with whatever you have in the pantry. This Chickpea and Kale Asian Rice by Ashley Smyczek is great, but feel free to mix it up.

9. Ultimate Teriyaki Stir-Fry

Image Source: Ultimate Teriyaki Stir-Fry

Readers often say that this Ultimate Teriyaki Stir-Fry recipe by Dreena Burton, originally from Eat, Drink & Be Vegan, is better than any take-out! It’s also super easy to make! Just blend the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce together, saute the tofu and veggies, and toss everything together! Skip the take out and whip up something that the entire family will thank you for (their health will thank you too!) A simple, healthy meal that is perfect for lazy nights. This teriyaki vegetable stir fry recipe is so full of flavor, you won’t want to get take-out!

10. Baked Pasta with Broccoli

Image Source: Baked Pasta with Broccoli

This Baked Pasta with Broccoli by Lenia Patsi a plate full of flavor that will impress your guests!

11. Super Simple Potato Curry

Image Source: Super Simple Potato Curry

It takes about 5 minutes to prepare this Super Simple Potato Curry by Jennifer Harmon! All you have to do is cut the potatoes and then dump everything in a large sauce pan and simmer. Then, you just have to wait 20 minutes for it to get hot and the potatoes to get soft. Not quite as simple as throwing a pizza in the oven, but pretty damn close. This recipe for vegan potato curry is also extremely cheap to make and can feed the masses. Everyone will love – you might even have to double the recipe!

11. Classic Vegetable Soup

Image Source: Classic Vegetable Soup

This Classic Vegetable Soup by Jennifer Harmon just like the classic you grew up with – hot, soothing, and familiar. It is savory from the broth, crunchy from the corn, and just delicious from the rest of the brew. This one is as classic as it gets!

12. Thai Tofu Vegetable Wrap

Image Source: Thai Tofu Vegetable Wrap

Filled with baked tofu strips, crisp fresh vegetables, and a creamy, zesty sauce these Thai Tofu Vegetable Wrap by Robin Robertson make a yummy lunch or a light supper. You can add more vegetables, if you like. For an even quicker version, you can use a package of ready-made baked marinated tofu, although making it yourself is more economical. In place of tofu, you can substitute seitan or soy curls. To make them gluten-free, use gluten-free flatbreads.

13. Chickpea Tuna Salad

Image Source: Chickpea Tuna Salad

What we love about this Chickpea Tuna Salad by Gabrielle St. Claire, is everything! It’s quick easy, contains staple ingredients, can easily be made in bulk, perf for meal prep, affordable, packs flavor, packs texture, protein, fiber, and is non vegan approved to boot! (trying to watch your carbs? its good even without the bread!)

14. 5 Bean Salad

Image Source: 5 Bean Salad

So incredibly simple but so incredibly tasty and flavorful. This 5 Bean Salad by Kristen Genton is probably one of the simplest salads and recipes you will ever make but it is full of protein and so much flavor!

15. Penne in Creamy Carrot Sauce

Image Source: Penne in Creamy Carrot Sauce

Gunjan Dudani‘s Penne in Creamy Carrot Sauce is creamy without cream, it’s rich without oil – it’s pretty much amazing. The sauce is so simple, it’s incredible it tastes so good. Plus, with only seven ingredients required to make this entire dish, it will become an easy dinner favorite.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!