5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (2024)

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These Vegan Comfort Food Recipes are easy to make, delicious, and budget-friendly! Each one costs less than 2 dollars to make per serving.

Well, folks, we’re at it again! We’ve already tackled some budget-friendly Italian and Mexican inspired recipes, so this time we’re going the comfort food route.

If this is your first time seeing my “5 Under 5” series, here’s how it works: I go to the grocery store, spend around $25 on ingredients, and come up with 5 tasty recipes for you all. This time, we went with Comfort Food! If you’d like to see the entire process and how I made each recipe, please watch my YouTube video below:

Now, keep scrolling for the printable recipes! As always, if you re-create these and decide to share them on either Instagram or Facebook, please tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl. I love seeing your delicious (and budget-friendly!) recreations 🙂

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (1)

Recipe 1: Vegan Mac and Cheese

Cost per serving = $0.89

To make this recipe, simply follow my , but leave out the crumb topping! If you’d like, reserve some of the Cheese Sauce so you can make the Baked Cheesy Fries, below.

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (2)

Recipe 2: Baked Cheesy Fries

Cost per serving = $1.02

To make this recipe, follow my Perfect Oil-Free Fries technique, and top your fries with leftover cheese sauce from my Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese.

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (3)
Recipe 3: Minestrone Soup

Cost per serving = $1.31

Print

Minestrone Soup

★★★★★4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 people 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1/2 Yellow Onion, diced
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 cup Frozen Peas, thawed
  • 1/2 cup Frozen Corn, thawed
  • 1 Carrot, diced
  • 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
  • 1 can Fire Roasted Tomatoes (can sub regular, but this adds a lot of flavor!)
  • 2 cup Vegetable Broth
  • 1 cup Water (or more Veggie Broth)
  • 1/2 cup Dry Pasta, cooked according to package instructions

Instructions

  1. Add the Diced Onion, Italian Seasoning, and a splash of water to a large pot over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the Onion is translucent.
  2. Add all remaining ingredients, except for the Cooked Pasta, to the pot. Stir well to dissolve the Tomato Paste. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 8-10 minutes.
  3. Stir in the Cooked Pasta, and add any Salt to taste, if necessary. Serve warm and enjoy.
5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (5)
Recipe 4: Potato Broccoli Soup

Cost per serving = $1.74

Print

Potato Broccoli Soup

★★★★★4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Prep Time: 7 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 3 people 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 Potatoes, peeled if desired*
  • 1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast
  • 1 Small Yellow Onion, diced
  • 4 cup Vegetable Broth
  • 2 cup Unsweetened Plant Milk
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • Salt, to taste
  • 4 cup Frozen Broccoli, thawed.

Instructions

  1. Peel your Potatoes if desired, and chop into 1/2″ pieces. Finely dice your Onion, and chop the Broccoli into bite-sized pieces as well.
  2. Add the Onion, Italian Seasoning, and Garlic Powder to a large pot with a splash of water, over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the Onion is translucent.
  3. Add in all remaining ingredients, except for the Broccoli, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then cook for 6-8 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  4. Keep the heat on low, and transfer half of the soup mixture into a blender and process until smooth and creamy. Return to the pan, and stir until well-incorporated. (Alternatively, you can also use an immersion blender for this step!) Add any Salt to taste, if necessary (I used around 1/2 tsp).
  5. Add the chopped Broccoli to the pot, and stir well. Once the Broccoli has warmed up with the soup, serve and enjoy.

Notes

*I would suggest Russet or Gold Potatoes for this recipe.

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (7)
Recipe 5: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Cost per serving =$1.18

Print

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (8)

Print Recipe
★★★★★4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 1 person 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 Medium to Large Potatoes, peeled if desired
  • 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt, plus more to taste
  • 3/41 cup Unsweetened Plant Based Milk

Instructions

  1. Peel your Potatoes if desired, and chop into 1/2″ pieces. Place into a medium pot with water and bring to a boil.
  2. Simmer for 8-9 minutes, or until the Potatoes are fork-tender. Drain, turn the heat off, and return to the pot.
  3. Add in the Nutritional Yeast, Garlic Powder, Salt, and 1/2 cup of Plant Milk. Use an electric mixer or hand-press to mash your Potatoes. Add additional Plant Milk in 1/4 cup increments, until your Potatoes reach the consistency that you desire.
  4. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

*I prefer to use Russet or Gold Potatoes for my Mashed Potatoes!

Want to save these Vegan Comfort Food recipes for later? Pin them to your Pinterest boards using the following images:

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (9) 5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (10)

5 Budget-Friendly Vegan Comfort Food Recipes Under $2 - From My Bowl (2024)

FAQs

What foods are cheap for vegans? ›

Vegan on a budget
  • tinned beans and dried pulses of various kinds.
  • vegetables (particularly seasonal ones)
  • potatoes.
  • egg-free pasta and noodles.
  • rice.
  • bread (wholemeal is ideal from a health point of view)
  • dried herbs and spices.
  • seasonal fruit.

How to make vegan food satisfying? ›

I highly recommend having a mixture of grains, protein, and vegetables — it provides a great balance not only with flavor/bulk but also texture. Grains and legumes help keep the meal filling while the vegetables bring everything together.

What food is surprisingly vegan? ›

18 Snacks and Foods You Didn't Know Were Vegan
  • Sriracha Mayo. I'm just as surprised as you are that Flying Goose's brilliant sriracha mayo is completely plant-based. ...
  • Hackney Gelato Dark Chocolate Sorbetto. ...
  • Lotus Biscoff Spread. ...
  • Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate. ...
  • Ritz Crackers. ...
  • Jacob's Cream Crackers. ...
  • Oreos. ...
  • Twiglets.
Jan 11, 2023

How to be vegan while poor? ›

Staple vegan foods such as oats, lentils, pasta, rice and chickpeas are among the cheapest foods and are in *a lot* of vegan recipes, so should definitely make an appearance on your list. Oh, and avoid shopping whilst hungry.

What snack foods can vegans eat? ›

Try These Popular Vegan Snacks (Chips, Cookies, and More)
  • Vegan Rob's Chips.
  • Rivalz Extra Chedda' Mac.
  • Outstanding Foods PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds.
  • Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars—Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate.
  • Trader Joe's Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets.

What do vegans struggle with the most? ›

Numerous studies have shown that vegans consume insufficient calcium and vitamin D, not only owing to the absence of dairy products but also due to calcium bioavailability problems in plant-based diets [28]. Vitamin D insufficiency exacerbates calcium shortage further owing to impaired intestinal absorption.

What foods do vegans love? ›

Protein from beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh and seitan, along with healthy fats from avocado, nuts, seeds, and coconut and olive oils, can also keep your blood sugar stable. High-protein vegan diet: Protein is one of the nutrients often lacking in a vegan diet.

Can you be vegan on a low budget? ›

Eating healthy and vegan is simple on a budget, and over time, the money you save with each trip to the grocery store by swapping out cruelly obtained (and expensive) foods for cheap vegan ones will add up. There are plenty of delicious, healthy, and cheap vegan foods that you can find at most grocery stores.

Can a vegan diet be cheap? ›

A vegan diet can be healthy and cheap, as long as you pay attention to a few key factors. Here are some tips to get started: Learn the basics: Before you go vegan, it's important to learn which nutrients and minerals you absolutely need.

How to save money on food vegan? ›

Vegan on a budget: 10 money-saving tips
  1. Make a list. Aim to sit down every week and create a shopping list. ...
  2. Steer clear of vegan eating trends. ...
  3. Get herb plants for your home. ...
  4. Avoid the flashy vegan alternatives. ...
  5. Bulk buy and discover your 'lazy day dish' ...
  6. Eat before you shop. ...
  7. Make too much dinner. ...
  8. Embrace frozen peas!
Nov 1, 2023

What foods do most vegans eat? ›

A vegan diet is based on plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits) and foods made from plants. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

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