Budget-Friendly, High-Protein Recipes

1 Eggs: Veggie Frittata

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lauren Hendrickson

Feel free to use whatever produce you have in your fridge to make this versatile frittata fit your dietary needs and your budget.

Get the recipe: veggie frittata

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2 Eggs: Paleo Baked Egg in Avocado

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

For a low-sugar and fiber-filled meal that's budget friendly, try this recipe for baked eggs in avocado that's delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Get the recipe: baked eggs in avocado

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3 Legumes: Goop's Mustard Lentils

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

Naturally gluten-free and full of fiber, these tiny legumes are a healthy pantry staple you should always have on hand — and they're absolutely delicious in this lentil salad from Goop. Tangy and clean, this recipe makes for a light yet filling meal and even better leftovers; the longer this salad sits in the fridge, the better it tastes.

Get the recipe: lentil salad

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4 Eggs: Quinoa and Spinach Scramble

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

A satisfying, vitamin-packed quinoa and egg scramble offers a whopping 19.6 grams of protein per serving with little effort.

Get the recipe: quinoa egg scramble

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5 Eggs: Roasted Veggies With Easy Fried Egg

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

Whether you're cooking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this veggie and egg recipe is delicious any time of day. It's another recipe that makes delicious use of whatever is leftover in your crisper!

Get the recipe: roasted veggie and egg recipe

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6 Legumes: Vegan Bean Salad

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

After a hard workout, this vegan bean salad is the perfect protein-packed, refreshing dinner. It has more than 13 grams of fiber and nearly 17 grams of protein to fill you up and help your muscles recover.

Get the recipe: mango and mint bean salad

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7 Nuts: Raw Walnut Tacos

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

Beyond their smoky and surprisingly meaty flavor, the combination of walnuts and avocado packs this budget-friendly, low-carb vegan taco recipe with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that have been linked to burning away belly fat. Plus, the recipe is a favorite recipe of Beyoncé.

Get the recipe: vegan taco recipe

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8 Legumes: Simple Black Bean Soup

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lauren Hendrickson

All you need is a can of protein-packed black beans, broth, and common spices you already have in your cupboard for this low-calorie black bean soup.

Get the recipe: black bean soup

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9 Legumes: Easy Pinto Burger

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

Most veggie- and bean-burger recipes require a ton of ingredients, but just a few items go into these really simple pinto-bean burgers. And don't worry — the lack of ingredients doesn't come at the price of flavor.

Get the recipe: pinto-bean burgers

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10 Legumes: Enchilada-Stuffed Peppers

Image Source: Hummusapien

Rather than opting for a meaty filling, go for these tasty enchilada-stuffed peppers that add veggies, beans, and Mexican flavors to the mix.

Get the recipe: enchilada-stuffed peppers

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11 Legumes: Tomato Lentil Soup

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jaime Young

Satisfying tomato lentil soup uses red lentils to bulk up the recipe and up the protein content.

Get the recipe: tomato lentil soup

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12 Nuts: Raw Gorilla Wraps

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Leta Shy

When you need something quick, light, and satisfying, these fresh, raw, and fast wraps with a spiced walnut filling come together quick.

Get the recipe: raw veggie wraps

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13 Seafood: Panko-Crusted Tilapia

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

Forget more expensive pieces of fish like halibut and bake budget-friendly tilapia instead. This panko-crusted tilapia requires fresh fish and curly kale, but everything else is already in your healthy pantry or fridge.

Get the recipe: panko-crusted tilapia

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14 Seafood: Lemon-Dressed Tuna

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Michelle Bell

Tuna is one of the best healthy and budget-friendly lean protein sources you can have ready in your pantry. This recipe for mayo-free lemon tuna salad refuses to cover things up with unnecessary ingredients, but keeps calories and fat counts low.

Get the recipe: tuna salad

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15 Seafood: Loaded Avocado Tuna Salad

Image Source: Hummusapien

If you constantly throw out veggies, you need this quick loaded avocado tuna salad in your arsenal. You can toss any produce you have hiding into the mix for a filling and delicious supper.

Get the recipe: avocado tuna salad

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16 Seafood: Asian Salmon Slaw

Image Source: Eat Spin Run Repeat

Forget expensive pieces of salmon and use the canned version that's just as healthy and only a fraction of the cost. This Asian salmon slaw uses produce and a few common kitchen staples to make this healthy recipe sing.

Get the recipe: Asian salmon slaw

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17 Seafood: Roasted Shrimp Over Spaghetti Squash

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr

High in protein but low in calories, shrimp is a healthful and relatively inexpensive option for a seafood-loving bunch. This play on shrimp scampi, roasted shrimp over spaghetti squash, cuts out the butter, oil, and carbs.

Get the recipe: roasted shrimp over spaghetti squash

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18 Tofu: Cumin- and Honey-Baked Tofu

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jenny Sugar

One block of firm tofu costs less than $4 and creates enough cumin- and honey-baked tofu for four people! Toss this tofu into salads, a stir-fry, and scrambles all week long.

Get the recipe: cumin- and honey-baked tofu

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19 Tofu: Smoky Chili

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Michele Foley

This smoky tofu chili keeps the fat content, calories, and price lower than the classic meat-filled recipes.

Get the recipe: tofu chili

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20 Tofu: Watermelon-Bowl Salad

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jenny Sugar

Could anything be more refreshing than serving up a tasty salad in its very own watermelon bowl? Highly doubtful. This vegan-friendly recipe is packed with tons of fresh produce and plenty of protein to fill you up.

Get the recipe: tofu watermelon salad

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21 Tofu: Crispy Baked Tofu Fingers

Image Source: Hummusapien

Instead of traditional chicken tenders, bake up a batch of crispy baked tofu fingers. Eat them up on their own, or serve them on top of a bed of greens and Summer veggies.

Get the recipe: baked tofu fingers

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Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lizzie Fuhr / Jenny Sugar

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