The act of cooking dinner from scratch rather than turning to takeout or microwave meals is a money-saving strategy in itself, so if you're reading this, you're already off to a great start! Beyond that, consider making vegetarian meals out of staples like beans and other legumes, rice, quinoa, pasta, and eggs. (While less meat-centric recipes are typically more affordable, inexpensive cuts like ground beef and turkey, chicken thighs, and bacon have a place in budget-friendly meal planning, especially when they're not the main event.) To make things easier, we curated more than 75 recipes that won't break the bank; keep reading for inspiration.
Get the recipe: vegan pumpkin-chickpea soup
Get the recipe: ginger fried rice with poached egg
Get the recipe: roasted Italian sausage, peppers, potatoes, and onion
Get the recipe: cheddar, bacon, and leek frittata
Get the recipe: pasta carbonara with leeks and sundried tomatoes
Get the recipe: balsamic mushrooms, chickpeas, and kale with caramelized onions
Get the recipe: black pepper stir-fried noodles with spinach and tofu
Get the recipe: chicken parmesan and roasted zucchini
Get the recipe: eggy pasta with spinach and bacon
Get the recipe: Korean tofu with spicy garlic sauce
Get the recipe: Tex-Mex ground beef tacos
Get the recipe: chickpea, garlic, and rosemary soup
Get the recipe: creamy cauliflower fettucine alfredo with bacon
Get the recipe: kale, white bean, and meatball soup
Get the recipe: vegetarian japchae (Korean stir-fried sweet potato noodles)
Get the recipe: Greek chicken with green beans and potatoes
Get the recipe: baked sweet potatoes with cannellini beans and spinach
Get the recipe: pasta with vegan pink sauce
Get the recipe: chicken parmesan meatballs with spaghetti
Get the recipe: chicken and broccoli shells and cheese
Get the recipe: sautéed mushrooms with poached egg
Get the recipe: peanut soba noodles with broccoli rabe
Get the recipe: cream of tomato soup with crunchy lemon chickpeas
Get the recipe: black bean and butternut squash quesadilla
Get the recipe: vegan Korean nourish bowl with barley
Get the recipe: cilantro-lime chicken with rice and black beans
Get the recipe: vegetarian pasta carbonara
Get the recipe: grain bowl with teriyaki sauce, greens, and soft-boiled egg
Get the recipe: vegan miso soup with soba, mushrooms, and bok choy
Get the recipe: black bean, corn, and radish salad
Get the recipe: cauliflower macaroni and cheese
Get the recipe: shells with red pepper tomato sauce
Get the recipe: spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and pepper flakes
Get the recipe: Tuscan chickpea soup with kale and bacon
Get the recipe: spicy sausage, kale, and orecchiette soup
Get the recipe: microwave chicken noodle soup
Get the recipe: spicy, citrus-dressed black bean quinoa salad
Get the recipe: linguine with kale and chickpeas