10 High Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes (On A Budget) (2024)

Written by: Alexis Schroeder

Publish Date: January 11, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no cost to you.

One common question I have been asked often since following a vegan diet is, “Where do you get your protein?”

My name is Lisa. I am the creator and writer of2sharemyjoy.com, and today I’d like to share some high protein recipes that are budget-friendly and vegan.

With these 10 high-protein vegan dinner recipes, you can eat on a budget and eat a satisfying meal.

There aremany myths out there about the plant-based diet, even though enjoying a whole food vegan diet comes with numerous benefits.

All high protein vegan dinner recipes below contain between 19g and 33g ofplant-based protein.If you enjoy meal prep, you can freeze all meals in your meal prep containers. I also don’t use any added oil or sugar in the recipes.

These high protein plant-based recipes are also great if you:

  • work out/build muscle
  • enjoy easy weeknight dinners
  • are on a budget
  • are new to the vegan diet
  • enjoy freezer meals and meal prep

Wondering how to add even more plant-based protein to your diet? Check out myhigh protein vegan meal plan with up to 90g of protein per day.

Budget-FriendlyHigh Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes

#1 Vegan Fajita Rice Bowl

This recipe is oil-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

The plant-based dinner can be preparedin 30 minutes, contains 460 calories and 21 g of protein per serving, and is about $1.70 per serving.

Get the recipe here.

10 High Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes (On A Budget) (1)

#2 Detox Power Bowl

This healthy detox buddha bowl is easy to prepare, has no added oil, is gluten-free, and contains 28g of protein per serving.

Get the recipe here.

10 High Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes (On A Budget) (2)

#3 Vegan Meatballs (Beanballs) with Marinara Sauce

1 serving (2.5 large meatballs) equals 435 calories and 22.54g protein.

You can top your pasta, bun, or even rice with these beanballs.

Get the recipe here.

10 High Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes (On A Budget) (3)

#4 One Pot Taco Elbow Pasta

Easy, frugal one-pot meal that contains 500 calories and 21g of protein per serving.

Get the recipe here.

#5 Curried Chickpeas with Fried Potatoes

A healthy, gluten-free, vegan, oil-free recipe for only $1.50 per serving and donein 25minutes (28g protein per serving).

Get the recipe here.

#6 Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta

This frugal plant-based pesto recipe is done in under 20 minutes and contains 23g of protein per serving.

Get the recipe here.

#7 One-Pot Lentil Quinoa Curry

One serving of this one-pot curry costs about $1.30, contains 560 calories, 33g protein, and is high in iron (10.8 mg), zinc (7 mg), and magnesium (220 mg).

Get the recipe here.

#8 Vegan One Pot Pasta with Zucchini and Beans

This 565 calorie meal isdonein 30 minutesand provides 30g of protein at only $1.40 per serving.

Get the recipe here.

#9 Healthy and Easy Lentil Soup

Lentil soup can be done in under 25 minutes, but make sure to double up on the recipe and serving size to get 500 calories and 30g of protein.

Get the recipe here.

#10 One-Pot Mexican Rice Bowl

The one-pot Mexican rice bowl recipe contains 30 grams of protein per serving and can be found inthis vegan meal prep post.

10 High Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes (On A Budget) (4)

About Lisa

My name is Lisa Goodwin and I moved to the States from Germany in March 2016.

When my family moved to the US I was overwhelmed by all the fast-food opportunities and gained one pound after another.

After a while, I thought, “I can’t keep doing this.” So I started to lose weight (10 poundsin 30 days) before the weight gain could get out of hand.

I achieved this with a clean eating plan, portion control system, and exercise (3-5 times per week). After the diet, I had to focus hard so I wouldn’t gain the weight back.

Once I started a (healthy) vegan diet, I lost five more pounds without trying.

I didn’t have to count calories or portions anymore. I felt all around healthier with more energy, and I can say now that it is very easy for me to keep additional pounds off.

This change was more of a lifestyle change, and my family’s health is better than ever (for example: my toddler’s eczema reduced by 90%).

Based on all the positive results gained through my fitness and health experiences, I am passionate about sharing fitness tips and healthy plant-based recipes that nourish your body without breaking the bank.

You can also follow me onPinterestorInstagram.

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Alexis Schroeder

Alexis Schroeder is the CEO and founder of FITnancials.

With budgeting and side hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made over $100,000 in side hustles in college.

Since starting this website over 10 years ago, Fitnancials has reached over 3,000,000 readers. We’ve been featured on sites like Forbes, Yahoo, Side Hustle School, GOBankingRates, Mint, and many more.

If you want to contact Alexis, please send an email to alexis@fitnancials.com.

10 High Protein Vegan Dinner Recipes (On A Budget) (2024)

FAQs

What vegan food has the highest amount of protein? ›

20 best vegan protein sources chart
FoodServing (g)Protein (g)
1. Tempeh10020.3
2. Seitan10017.9
3. Edamame12017.2
4. Tofu160 (half block)16.3
16 more rows

How can vegans get 120g of protein a day? ›

The easy way for vegans to get enough protein every day
  1. Adding protein powder to your smoothie. ...
  2. Eating a whole-wheat bagel with peanut or almond butter for a snack. ...
  3. Including beans in your pasta dishes (you'll find plenty at our vegan recipes page). ...
  4. Lots of lentils. ...
  5. Hummus on a whole wheat pita for a snack.

How do vegans on a tight budget? ›

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

How to get 20g of protein per meal vegan? ›

Tofu, tempeh, and edamame

Tofu , tempeh , and edamame all contain iron, calcium, and 12–20 g of protein per 3.5 oz (100 g) serving.

How can vegans get 150g protein a day? ›

The reality is that it's fairly simple to get plenty of protein on a vegan diet with all the plant-based protein options out there like tofu, beans, lentils and high-protein whole grains, like quinoa.

How to hit 100g protein as a vegan? ›

100 grams of vegan protein
  1. ¼ cup of protein granola (10 grams of protein)
  2. One scoop of plant-based protein powder (20 grams)
  3. 1 ounce of nuts (5 grams)
  4. Two tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams)
  5. Two tablespoons of chia seeds (about 10 grams)
  6. One tablespoon of hemp seeds (4 grams)
  7. Two slices of rye bread (10 grams)
7 days ago

What does 200g of protein look like? ›

Did you know what 200g of protein looks like? Let's find out. One steak, that's about 60g 200g of chicken breast, another 60g 2 scoops of protein, that's 50g and 5 eggs, which is 30g of protein. Steak, chicken, protein powder, eggs, all of this, 200g of protein.

How much protein per day to lose weight? ›

If you want to lose weight, aim for a daily protein intake between 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (. 73 and 1 grams per pound). Athletes and heavy exercisers should consume 2.2-3.4 grams of protein per kilogram (1-1.5 grams per pound) if aiming for weight loss.

What does 30g of protein look like vegan? ›

Tofu can often be a staple source of protein for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet: 1 1/2 cups of cooked tofu can provide 30 grams of protein along with some healthy fat. Because tofu is made from soybeans, it's considered a complete protein even though it's from plants.

What do vegans struggle with the most? ›

10 Vegan deficiencies to be aware of - and how to nix them
  • Iron. ...
  • Vitamin B12. ...
  • Omega-3. ...
  • Zinc. ...
  • Choline. ...
  • Iodine. ...
  • Vitamin D. Who isn't a little bit deficient in the 'Sunshine Vitamin'? ...
  • Protein. 'This nutrient is not an issue in most people's diets especially those who eat meat, fish and eggs,' says Hobson.
Dec 22, 2022

Why is it so expensive to be vegan? ›

There's a widespread perception that going vegan is as expensive or even more costly than eating meat. And while this can be true, it's likely only the case if you eat a lot of pricy convenience foods, like vegan schnitzel and other meat substitutes.

How to bulk on a budget vegan? ›

Whole Grains: Brown rice and quinoa are less processed than typical grain products making them great sources of protein. Legumes: Lentils, beans and peas are easy to prepare and very cost effective sources of protein. Dried fruits: Dried fruits contain the same number of calories but in a smaller, on the go form.

What to eat instead of meat for protein? ›

Whole soy foods, such as edamame, tofu, tempeh, soy milk and soy nuts, are great sources of lean protein. Unlike most vegetarian proteins, soy is a complete protein, providing all the essential amino acids for optimal use by your body.

How do vegans get B12? ›

B-12 foods for vegans

Because vegans avoid all animal-derived products, they may rely on vitamin B-12 fortified foods, such as certain breakfast cereals and nutritional yeast. Plant foods do not produce vitamin B-12, so it is vital that vegans find alternative sources of vitamin B12 to remain in the best health.

What are the top 10 protein foods? ›

Top 10 Protein Foods
  • Fish.
  • Seafood.
  • Skinless, white-meat poultry.
  • Lean beef (including tenderloin, sirloin, eye of round)
  • Skim or low-fat milk.
  • Skim or low-fat yogurt.
  • Fat-free or low-fat cheese.
  • Eggs.
Mar 6, 2022

What vegan food has more protein than meat? ›

LENTILS.

Much like beans, lentils check some important boxes for herbivores. One cup of cooked lentils has nearly 18g of protein — more than the amount in a hamburger — and also contains a lot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

How can vegans get 200g of protein a day? ›

Vegan Substitutes to Consume 200g Protein a Day
  1. Tofu.
  2. Quinoa.
  3. Chickpeas.
  4. Lentils.
  5. Tempeh.
  6. Seitan.
  7. Beans such as black beans and kidney beans.
  8. Plant-based protein powders such as pea protein and soy protein powders.
Dec 6, 2023

How to get 40g protein a day vegan? ›

If you follow a plant-based lifestyle, you can reach this recommended amount by adding some of these vegan protein sources into your diet:
  1. Beans.
  2. Lentils.
  3. Nuts.
  4. Seeds.
  5. Quinoa.
  6. Oats.
  7. Tofu.
  8. Tempeh.
Apr 28, 2023

What vegan foods are highest in protein per 100g? ›

Vegan sources of protein
  • Tempeh - 19g of protein per 100g.
  • Edamame - 11g of protein per 100g.
  • Oats - 11g of protein per 100g.
  • Tofu - 8g of protein per 100g.
  • Red lentils - 7g of protein per 100g.
  • Chickpeas - 6.7g of protein per 100g.
  • Peas - 5g of protein per 100g.
  • Quinoa - 4.3g of protein per 100g.
Nov 22, 2023

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