16 Plant-Forward Recipes That Are Big on Flavor and Easy on Your Budget These healthy, sustainable, budget-conscious recipes have you covered for the new year. Close Credit: Kate Mathis January is a time for resolutions and new starts, and eating better is a goal for many of us every year. One of the best and easiest ways to improve your overall diet is to incorporate more plant-powered whole foods into your daily routine. There's a myth about introducing more plant-based options to your meals—that it will break the bank, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Staples such as canned and dried beans, legumes, and grains are reliably affordable, and opting for seasonal (or frozen) fruits and vegetables will always be budget-friendly. We've put together this nutritious collection of main dishes, sides, breakfasts, and desserts with plant-forward ingredients so you can create healthy meals to help ease into the new year. 26 Healthy One-Pot Meals You Can Feel Good About Making 01 of 16 Hearty Winter-Vegetable Soup Credit: Brie Goldman What better way to celebrate the winter season than by utilizing what winter does best—hearty vegetables. Bring the pot of brothy beans, greens, and vegetables back to life by adding a touch of fresh lemon juice and bright green herbs at the last minute. View Recipe 02 of 16 Red-Bean Burgers With Avocado and Lime Credit: Alpha Smoot These meatless burgers are made with creamy red kidney beans and carrots and are flavored to perfection with chili powder and dried oregano, two timeless spice cabinet staples. Serve them on hearty whole-grain buns and pile them high with crunchy lettuce, red onion rings, and sliced avocado. View Recipe 03 of 16 Vibrant-Green Broccoli Curry Credit: Frank Frances Stovetop curries are a cheap and quick way to get dinner on the table with minimal effort. This one embraces Thai flavors with green curry paste, ginger, and Thai chiles. Broccoli brings the fiber, tofu brings the protein, and both supply a good deal of calcium. View Recipe 04 of 16 Mushroom and Black Bean Tortilla Casserole Credit: Brie Goldman Just because we’re eating healthy doesn’t mean we have to skimp on the cheese. This Tex-Mex-inspired casserole is budget-friendly thanks to button mushrooms, tortillas, and canned black beans. The melty, golden layer of Monterey Jack on top makes it feel extra special, even on a weeknight. View Recipe 05 of 16 Split-Pea Soup With Spinach and Barley Credit: Kate Mathis Talk about a nutritious meal! This one-pot soup is loaded to the brim with fiber and plant-based protein, thanks to spinach, split peas, and barley. You’ll find yourself returning to this simple pot of soup all month long. View Recipe 06 of 16 Vegan Chocolate Pudding Credit: Nico Schinco A special little treat is sometimes needed to get through the day, and nothing hits the spot quite like a smooth bite of chocolate pudding. This one is made with raw cashews and is sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar. View Recipe 07 of 16 Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie Credit: Kate Mathis Just because something is hearty and considered comfort food doesn’t mean that it isn't also healthy and nutritious. The base of this shepherd’s pie is green lentils and cremini mushrooms, and it’s topped with a luscious layer of creamy mashed potatoes. If you want to increase your fiber intake, swap the white potatoes for sweet potatoes. View Recipe 08 of 16 Warm Lentil Salad With Poached Eggs Credit: Christopher Testani This warming winter salad is a meal in its own right. Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It has bits of vinaigrette-soaked lentils, aromatics, and Swiss chard in every bite and poached eggs bring more protein. Without them and the goat cheese, it makes a super flavorful vegan side dish. View Recipe 09 of 16 Vegan Blueberry Muffins Credit: Brie Goldman These fluffy, sweet muffins are completely vegan. Mashed bananas and almond milk provide the structure and moisture you would normally get from eggs. While it’s not strictly necessary, we can’t resist adding a generous sprinkle of coarse sugar on top before baking them. View Recipe 10 of 16 Swiss Chard Lasagna During the winter months, Swiss chard is practically falling off the produce shelves. Both the stems and frilly leaves are put to use in this vegetarian-friendly lasagna, complete with layers of noodles, tomatoes, and plenty of mozzarella cheese. View Recipe 11 of 16 Vegan Lentil Soup Credit: Justin Walker Like most vegetable-based soups, this one is entirely customizable and great for everyone—meat eaters and vegans alike will welcome it with open arms. Keep the mirepoix the same and swap the broccoli rabe for your favorite greens—regular broccoli works great, as do leafy greens like spinach, chard, or kale. View Recipe 12 of 16 Smoky Tofu Chili Credit: Con Poulos Plant-based proteins like tofu cost a fraction of the price of meat, so why not use them in a traditionally meaty dish like chili? This one has a smoky flair from canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes. A can of black beans amps up the protein. View Recipe 13 of 16 Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar Credit: Sidney Bensimon These are chocolate bars you can feel good about. They are rich and decadent and made with heart-healthy fats like walnuts and peanut butter. View Recipe 14 of 16 Quick Broccoli Frittata Credit: Frank Frances While you can find broccoli year-round, winter is when it’s at its peak (and therefore is even more affordable). We like to pack this popular vegetable into a brunch-worthy frittata and serve it with heart-healthy avocado on top. View Recipe 15 of 16 Golden Dal With Gingered Tomatoes Credit: Sidney Bensimon Lentils are truly one of the healthiest foods you can put in your body. We especially love red lentils because they cook down quickly. They are a delicious bed for a tasty sautéed tomato topping that comes together in just a few minutes. View Recipe Follow us to see more of our stories on Google. Follow Us On Google 16 of 16 Grapefruit, Carrot, and Ginger Juice Credit: Bryan Gardner Making juice at home definitely saves you money, especially when using in-season produce. In this recipe, winter citrus and root vegetables join forces to make a vibrant drinkable breakfast packed with essential vitamins and minerals. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes