cheapest vegetarian alternative to chicken

[panfries]

Anyone talented at hosting on a budget?

I'm cooking for 38 people. I need a protein to go with sides. For meat eaters I am doing chicken thighs. What can I do for vegetarians? Falafel is too expensive. It also needs to be easy to make. Stick in the oven preferably

Roast beans. The recipe for 4 is - tin of mixed beans, teaspoon of harissa, teaspoon of tomato paste, bit of paprika, plenty of olive olive. Mix it all up and roast in a flat metal tin at 180 for 30-40 mins. Should scale up easily and be cheap.

Chickpeas or lentils, cheaper than chicken

Veggie sausages?

Halloumi

Veg and chick pea / lentil curry

Quorn nuggets.

How are you cooking the chicken thighs? Is there any sauce or marinade with them? If so I agree with the PPs who suggested beans, perhaps with chunks of roasted squash or similar too (not protein but tasty!) same marinade. Could put in some halloumi for last 10-15 mins of roasting.

Just get some nice veggie sausages. Squash isn't a protein, roasted beans sound ok but sausages are easier. Veg curry isn't going to go with the rest of the meal, halloumi will be ruined if it's not eaten as soon as it's grilles.

Halloumi or mozzarella sticks. Not fake meat.

Fake meat is revolting. Agree with pp on halloumi or nice veggie sausages. Personally I don't think you can beat a good old school bean burger

By mozzarella sticks do you mean the ones covered in breadcrumbs? They are fair enough as part of a buffet with other choices but I wouldn’t be happy with greasy breadcrumbed cheese as my main.