Cheap vegetarian meals for college students

40 recipes

Vegetarian dinners for a student budget: $2.50 or less a serving, eight things to buy or fewer, done in 45 minutes. Beans, lentils, eggs, cheese and tofu keep you going through a late night of studying. The cheapest is Crispy black bean burgers at $1.03 a serving, and the average here is $1.83.

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  Crispy black bean burgers

  $1.03 a serving

  40 min

• 

  Greek spinach rice (spanakorizo)

  $1.10 a serving

  40 min

• 

  Kung pao chickpeas

  $1.22 a serving

  35 min

• 

  Mexican red rice with black beans

  $1.29 a serving

  40 min

• 

  West African–style peanut stew with sweet potatoes

  $1.30 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Cabbage yakisoba noodles

  $1.32 a serving

  25 min

• 

  Butter soy rice with crispy fried eggs

  $1.37 a serving

  30 min

• 

  Sopa de fideo (Mexican noodle soup)

  $1.43 a serving

  25 min

• 

  Stovetop mac and cheese

  $1.43 a serving

  25 min

• 

  Red beans and rice

  $1.51 a serving

  45 min

• 

  One-pot chili mac

  $1.57 a serving

  35 min

• 

  Pasta e ceci

  $1.59 a serving

  35 min

• 

  Pasta e patate (pasta and potatoes)

  $1.61 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Black bean and sweet potato tacos

  $1.63 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Spinach and cheddar frittata

  $1.64 a serving

  35 min

• 

  Moroccan-spiced couscous with chickpeas and carrots

  $1.65 a serving

  25 min

• 

  Cheesy bean and rice burritos

  $1.65 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Soft scrambled eggs on buttery toast

  $1.65 a serving

  12 min

• 

  Red lentil soup with lemon

  $1.70 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Cheesy broccoli orzo

  $1.77 a serving

  25 min

• 

  Proper beans on toast

  $1.80 a serving

  20 min

• 

  Garlicky white bean and spinach pasta

  $1.81 a serving

  30 min

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  Pesto pasta with peas and spinach

  $1.83 a serving

  25 min

• 

  Crispy potato hash with fried eggs

  $2.02 a serving

  40 min

• 

  Huevos rancheros

  $2.05 a serving

  30 min

• 

  Smashed black bean quesadillas

  $2.11 a serving

  20 min

• 

  Crispy potato tacos

  $2.13 a serving

  40 min

• 

  Sheet-pan chickpea shawarma wraps

  $2.16 a serving

  35 min

• 

  Roasted cauliflower tacos with lime slaw

  $2.16 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Garlicky spaghetti with peas and parmesan

  $2.19 a serving

  20 min

• 

  Smoky black bean soup

  $2.20 a serving

  40 min

• 

  Crispy black bean tacos

  $2.26 a serving

  20 min

• 

  Creamy cheddar potato soup

  $2.26 a serving

  40 min

• 

  Sizzling veggie fajitas

  $2.28 a serving

  35 min

• 

  Tomato and egg over rice

  $2.33 a serving

  35 min

• 

  One-pot tomato basil pasta

  $2.36 a serving

  30 min

• 

  White bean and cabbage soup

  $2.38 a serving

  45 min

• 

  Creamy tomato penne

  $2.39 a serving

  30 min

• 

  Turkish eggs on garlicky yogurt

  $2.45 a serving

  25 min

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  Garlic soy noodles with jammy eggs

  $2.47 a serving

  35 min

Costs and nutrition are estimates for one serving, worked out from typical US grocery prices and standard nutrition values for what each recipe uses.

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