Affordable Vegan Recipes for Busy UK Shoppers

Quick, healthy dishes that cost less when you know which store to buy from.

When life gets busy, cooking healthy plant-based meals can feel like just another item on an already overflowing to-do list. Add to that the rising cost of groceries in the UK, and it’s easy to see why so many people think eating well is expensive or time-consuming.

The truth is, you don’t need hours in the kitchen or a huge budget to eat delicious vegan food. In fact, with the right approach, you can whip up cheap veggie dishes in under 30 minutes—and save money while doing it.

The secret? Shop smart. Knowing which supermarket has the best deal on each ingredient can knock pounds off your grocery bill every week. And that’s exactly what Cheapify.app is designed to help you do.

Why Store Choice Matters for Budget Cooking

Most people shop at one supermarket out of habit. But prices for the exact same product can vary massively between stores. For example:

• Chickpeas (400g tin) – 39p at Aldi, 75p at Tesco
• Bananas (per kg) – 69p at Lidl, £1.05 at Sainsbury’s
• Oats (1kg) – £1.20 at Morrisons, £1.65 at Tesco

If you’re buying 20–30 items for the week, those small differences add up fast. Cheapify.app takes your grocery list, checks prices across UK supermarkets, and tells you exactly where to buy each item for the lowest cost.

That means you can make your favourite cheap veggie dishes for even less—without having to manually compare prices or guess where to shop.

How Cheapify.app Works in 4 Simple Steps

1. Add Your Grocery List – Enter what you need or select from popular vegan staples.
2. Compare Prices Instantly – Cheapify scans major UK supermarkets, including Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and more.
3. Get the Cheapest Store Mix – See which shop offers the best deal for each item.
4. Optimise for Savings – Swap brands or adjust quantities for even lower prices.

Using this method, many shoppers save £15–£20 a week on groceries—without changing what they eat.

Quick & Affordable Vegan Recipes

Here are six cheap veggie dishes that are fast to prepare, packed with flavour, and budget-friendly—especially when you use Cheapify.app to source ingredients at the lowest cost.

1. One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Cost: ~£1.00 per portion

Ingredients:

• Red lentils
• Onion, carrot, celery
• Garlic, dried herbs
• Canned tomatoes
• Spinach (fresh or frozen)

Why It’s Affordable: Lentils are protein-rich and incredibly cheap, while seasonal veg keeps costs low.

Cheapify Tip: Compare bulk lentil prices—Asda often undercuts other supermarkets.

2. Chickpea & Spinach Curry

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Cost: ~£1.20 per portion

Ingredients:

• Tinned chickpeas
• Onion, garlic, ginger
• Curry powder or garam masala
• Canned tomatoes
• Spinach

Why It’s Affordable: Chickpeas are filling, nutrient-dense, and far cheaper than meat alternatives.

Cheapify Tip: Aldi’s chickpeas can be 40% cheaper than branded options at bigger chains.

3. Sweet Potato & Black Bean Wraps

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Cost: ~£1.50 per portion

Ingredients:

• Sweet potatoes
• Black beans (tinned)
• Tortilla wraps
• Salsa
• Lime

Why It’s Affordable: Black beans and sweet potatoes are budget-friendly and store well.

Cheapify Tip: Compare tortilla prices—Aldi and Lidl often have multi-packs for under £1.

4. Veggie Stir-Fry with Rice Noodles

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Cost: ~£1.30 per portion

Ingredients:

• Mixed vegetables (fresh or frozen)
• Soy sauce, garlic, ginger
• Rice noodles

Why It’s Affordable: Frozen mixed veg offers great variety at a low price and reduces waste.

Cheapify Tip: Lidl’s soy sauce is often the cheapest per 100ml.

5. Oatmeal with Peanut Butter & Banana

• Prep Time: 3 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Cost: ~50p per portion

Ingredients:

• Rolled oats
• Plant milk or water
• Peanut butter
• Banana

Why It’s Affordable: Oats are one of the cheapest breakfasts available, and peanut butter adds protein.

Cheapify Tip: Morrisons often beats competitors on oats by up to 40p per kilo.

6. Spaghetti with Tomato & Lentil Sauce

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Cost: ~£1.10 per portion

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti
• Canned tomatoes
• Red or green lentils
• Onion, garlic, herbs

Why It’s Affordable: Simple pantry staples make this a go-to budget meal.

Cheapify Tip: Look for supermarket “value” pasta—it’s often identical to branded versions but half the price.

Saving Time While Saving Money

If you’re busy, the idea of visiting multiple stores might feel like too much effort. But Cheapify makes it easy to plan efficiently:

• Batch your trips: Pick two stores close to each other and split your list.
• Shop once a week: Saves time and reduces impulse buys.
• Meal prep: Make double portions and store extras for quick lunches.

Even if you can’t hit every cheapest option, just switching 5–6 items to their lowest-price store can save £10 or more per week.

Example of a Cheapify-Optimised Weekly Shop

Here’s what a week of cheap veggie dishes might cost when optimised through Cheapify:

Without Cheapify (Tesco only): £47.80 With Cheapify (multi-store mix): £29.90

Savings: £17.90

Sample items:

• Chickpeas: 39p (Aldi) instead of 75p (Tesco)
• Red lentils: £1.59 (Asda) instead of £2.10 (Tesco)
• Tortillas: 85p (Lidl) instead of £1.25 (Sainsbury’s)
• Bananas: 69p/kg (Lidl) instead of £1.05/kg (Tesco)
• Oats: £1.20 (Morrisons) instead of £1.65 (Tesco)

Long-Term Impact

Saving £15–£20 per week means putting £780–£1,040 back in your pocket every year. That’s money you can put towards debt repayment, holidays, or even upgrading your kitchen equipment.

Better still, the recipes above are nutritionally balanced, so you’re not trading health for savings—you’re getting both.

Final Thoughts

Eating vegan on a budget is possible—even when life is hectic. By combining quick, healthy recipes with smart store selection via Cheapify.app, you can enjoy a week’s worth of cheap veggie dishes without overspending or spending hours cooking.

The result? More money in your wallet, less stress in your day, and the satisfaction of eating well.