Now that the fall semester is in full swing, it’s time to settle in and really hit the books. But don’t let food take a back seat! You need to keep yourself nourished and full of energy to make it through those classes, study sessions, and that part-time job, too. So, I’ve put together this list of the best Easy Recipes for College Students to help you get through the semester in one piece!
I know it’s easier to just stop and grab some fast food, but taking a few minutes to prepare a homemade meal can be both nutritious and therapeutic. Take the time to take care of yourself this semester!
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
And just as a side note, these are easy meals for college students who have access to a kitchen, even if a very limited kitchen. With all the restrictions on equipment allowed in dorm rooms, dorm room cooking is a whole different beast.
What Makes a Recipe Good for College Students?
I was a broke college student when I started this blog, so this is a category that I am very familiar with. To make the cut for this list of Easy Recipes for College Students, the recipes had to be simple (not many ingredients, no fancy equipment, and a simple preparation method). They had to strike a good balance between comfort and healthy (because let’s face it, when you’re stressed you want comfort but eating bad can make you feel worse), and they needed to make good leftovers.
I’ve divided this list of student meals into four categories: Easy Dinners, Quick Snacks, Meal Prep Ideas (including breakfast options), and Easy Dessert Recipes .
Easy Dinners
Spicy Sriracha Noodles
Spicy Sriracha Noodles I have to start this list with the recipe that got ME through college, Sriracha Noodles. They’re faster than take-out, super delicious, and completely customizable. Throw in any vegetables you might have in the fridge, or try changing up the sauce with a little peanut butter or lime. Browse through the comments to discover all the variations readers have made over the years!
Cheesy Pinto Beans
Cheesy Pinto Beans
Cheesy Pinto Beans – This super simple recipe starts with a humble can of beans and turns into one of the most satisfying and comforting meals ever. It’s perfect for those late-night study seshes!
Easy Dumpling Soup
Easy Dumpling Soup
Easy Dumpling Soup – Grab a bag of frozen dumplings the next time you’re at the store because you don’t want to miss this super easy and comforting soup! It’s going to save you a TON on take-out. ;)
Curried Chickpeas with Spinach
Curried Chickpeas with Spinach
Curried Chickpeas with Spinach – When the autumn nights start to get a chilly bite, warm up with a hot bowl of these hearty curried chickpeas with spinach. Packed with flavor, this vegan dish is delicious and filling enough to finally bring vegetarians and carnivores together over one meal.
Creamy Pesto Mac with Spinach
Creamy Pesto Mac and Cheese with Spinach
Creamy Pesto Mac with Spinach – Get your daily dose of vegetables right along with your cheesy comfort food. And the best part is that it uses frozen spinach, so you can keep it on hand to make whenever you need, without it going bad in the back of your fridge.
Coconut Curry Ramen
Coconut Curry Ramen
Coconut Curry Ramen – When all you have is 10 minutes and a BIG appetite, upgrade a simple pack of instant ramen to this hearty and flavorful curry ramen bowl. No vegetable chopping required!
Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry – Grab a bag of coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots), and this meal is insanely fast and easy to make. Better yet, it’s full of fiber and protein, so you can help curb that freshman 15. ;) (Feel free to use ground pork, turkey, or chicken in place of the Beef, if preferred.)
Bowties and Broccoli
Bowties and Broccoli
Bowties and Broccoli – This has been my go-to “emergency meal” for decades. Literally. There’s nothing more satisfying than pasta with a little butter and Parmesan, and I add broccoli florets to balance things out, plus a little pepper and red pepper flakes for kicks. Insanely easy and all of the ingredients can be kept on hand pretty much indefinitely, so it’s ready to go whenever you need something FAST.
Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls
Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls
Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls – We all know burrito bowls are life (thanks, Chipotle!), but they don’t have to be fancy to be super delicious or satisfying. This is my pared down, no frills, as-simple-as-it-gets version of a burrito bowl because when you’re in college, ain’t nobody got time or money for all those fancy toppings! Bonus: you can meal prep these!
Pizza Melts
Pizza Melt
Pizza Melts – Instead of ordering delivery, make an easy Pizza Melt to cure your pizza craving. You’ll get all that pizza flavor for a fraction of the price and with an easy single-serving portion size.
Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles
Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles
Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles – The next time you’re tempted to grab take out, try this incredibly simple noodle stir fry. It will satisfy those take out cravings, but you’ll have complete control over the ingredients. Add some simple steamed greens to round out the meal!
Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen
Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen
Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen – You only need about 15 minutes and a few leftover vegetables from your fridge to make this insanely creamy and delicious ramen.
Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Pasta with Bacon and Peas – A little bacon makes everything better! This super simple pasta dish is incredibly satisfying and surprisingly high in protein. The perfect quick meal to fuel your busy days!
15-Minute Vegetable Curry
15-Minute Vegetable Curry
15-Minute Vegetable Curry – Yes, that’s right, it only takes 15 minutes to make this delicious pot of vegetable curry! No Chopping required! Serve over rice for a satisfying and comforting meal.
Savory Oatmeal
Savory Oatmeal
Savory Oatmeal – Oats aren’t just for breakfast! They make for a quick and filling meal any time of day. Add any leftovers from your fridge or top with a fried egg for an even more delicious bowl of oats.
Quick Snacks
The Peanut Butter Lunch Box
The Peanut Butter Lunch Box
The Peanut Butter Lunch Box – Pack up a few of these snack boxes to nibble on between classes, or for a quick meal between work and school.
Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas
Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas
Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas – Quesadillas are the perfect snack (just ask Taco Bell). This spicy vegetarian mix of black beans, corn, onion, and cheese is 100x better than anything you’ll get at the drive-through. More flavor, more fiber, more filling, and still extremely easy. Promise.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie – When you need a quick pick me up between classes or as you’re running out the door in the morning, this quick peanut butter banana smoothie is sure to energize!
Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese
Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese
Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese – Grilled cheese is the ultimate study/comfort food. Take it up a level with some frozen spinach, a little garlic, red pepper flakes, and feta. You now have a super fancy grilled cheese AND a good dose of vegetables. WIN.
Pizzadillas
Pizzadillas
Pizzadillas – When you have a pizza craving (when do you not have a pizza craving??) but don’t have the time or energy to make a homemade pizza yourself, pizzadillas are you quick and easy answer! Plus, no delivery fee for the win!!
The Cheese Board Lunch Box
The Cheese Board Lunch Box
The Cheese Board Lunch Box – You might miss the lunchables your mom used to pack you, but you’re an adult now, so let’s do it the grown-up way! A box full of crackers, cheese, meat, and a little fruit is a light meal that no one would turn down.
Pizza Roll Ups
Pizza Roll Ups
Pizza Roll Ups – Make your pizza in roll-up form. It’s way faster and easier than making traditional pizza, and a LOT less expensive than ordering delivery. These are great for football parties, too!
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese – This isn’t your momma’s grilled cheese, it’s a grilled cheese for the 21st century! A super flavorful butter-herb-Parmesan spread and the crisping action of an air fryer makes the most epic grilled cheese you’ve ever had!
Peanut Butter Banana Quesadillas
Peanut Butter Banana Quesadillas
Peanut Butter Banana Quesadillas – When you want a quick treat, these toasty, melty, sweet-and-savory “quesadillas” are perfect! You might even be able to get away with calling them breakfast.
Freezer Ready Mini Pizzas
Freezer Ready Mini Pizzas
Freezer Ready Mini Pizzas – Keep a batch of these little pizza cuties in the freezer so you can have a quick pizza snack whenever you want!
Homemade Garlic Bread
Homemade Garlic Bread
Homemade Freezer Garlic Bread – Put down that box of frozen garlic bread! It’s far too easy and inexpensive to make your own! Keep this garlic bread in your freezer for whenever you get a craving. They also make a pretty killer grilled cheese sandwich, too. Talk about study fuel!
Trail Mix
Trail Mix
Trail Mix – The ultimate on-the-go snack! Don’t underestimate the power and convenience of a good trail mix. We’ve got four different flavor combos to try, plus plenty of other ingredient ideas so you can make your own mix!
Easy Meal Prep Ideas
Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Ground Turkey Stir Fry – This super simple stir fry was made for meal prep! You can add as many or as little vegetables as you want and serve it over rice, noodles, or sans-carb. It’s very flexible!
Cottage Cheese Crab Bowls
Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl
Cottage Cheese Crab Bowls – These no-cook bowls are light, fresh, and kind of like a California roll, but bowl style! Plus there are plenty of ways to customize this bowl to make it fit your taste buds.
Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad
Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad
Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad – This super easy and creamy chickpea salad is great as a sandwich or wrap, scooped up with crackers, or as a topper to a green salad, so you can eat it a different way every day of the week!
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Apple Pie Overnight Oats – This is another great make-ahead breakfast option that can easily be made vegan by using almond or soy milk. You won’t believe how much this tastes like apple pie, even without ANY added sugar!!
Tuna Salad Lunch Box
The Tuna Salad Lunch Box
The Tuna Salad Lunch Box – Here’s another great no-cook make-ahead lunch for your busy weekdays!
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad – This incredibly simple and filling salad holds up for days in the fridge and can be eaten alone, in a wrap, or toasted in a tortilla for a quick quesadilla!
The Hummus Lunch Box
The Hummus Lunch Box
The Hummus Lunch Box – These little no-cook Mediterranean-style snack boxes are perfect for a make-ahead lunch or a light afternoon study snack. They’re customizable, too, so make sure you click through to see all of the alternate ingredient ideas!
Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep
Burrito Bowl Meal Prep
Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep – I never get tired of burrito bowls, and thankfully they are just made for meal prepping. You can make a few for the week ahead, or stash them in the freezer for longer storage. Either way, it’s just a quick reheat to total burrito bowl bliss.
Tuna and White Bean Salad
Tuna & White Bean Salad
Tuna and White Bean Salad – Tons of protein and fiber to keep you full and fueled through a long day of classes! Pack it up with some crackers for dipping, or stuff it into a tortilla to make a wrap, and you’re set. Oh, and NO MAYO. ;)
Curried Tofu Salad
Curried Tofu Salad
Curried Tofu Salad – Super simple prep, and it holds up in the fridge for days! You can serve it over a bed of greens as a salad, or make it a wrap by stuffing it into a tortilla. So fresh and light, it won’t make you groggy in those afternoon classes. ;)
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Mediterranean Tuna Salad – This light, fresh, and protein-filled salad is an easy no-cook option for your busy week or when the weather starts to heat up outside. No reheating necessary!
Also check out our Meal Prep archives for plenty of ideas for packed lunches!
Easy Dessert Recipes
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies – Cookies don’t get any easier than this! Just six simple ingredients and you’ve got the richest, most delicious cookies ever. Bonus: they’re gluten-free and dairy-free!
The BEST Chocolate Mug Cake
“The One” Chocolate Mug Cake
Chocolate Mug Cake – This is the one and only chocolate mug cake you’ll ever need. Soft, tender, not too-too sweet (but you can make it sweeter if you want), and no egg required!
Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie Treats – The ultimate no-bake treat! They’re gooey, sweet, crispy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Plus, they keep at room temperature, which is important when you’re on the go!
Blueberry Mug Muffin
blueberry mug muffin
Blueberry Mug Muffin – Mug cakes and mug muffins were critical to my survival in college. When I needed just a little bite of something sweet to get me through, a mug cake is the answer! So fast, so easy, so good.
Cheese Danishes
Cheese Danish
Cheese Danishes – They may look fancy, but thanks to frozen puff pastry dough, they’re a breeze to make! This one is sure to impress your friends.
Funfetti Mug Cake
Funfetti Mug Cake
Funfetti Mug Cake – When you need a cupcake but don’t want to make a batch, this funfetti mug cake is the answer!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
No Bake Pretzel Peanut Butter Bars
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars – They’re like a Reese’s cup in bar form! …And incredibly easy to make. Just be warned, they’re addictive!!
Honey Vanilla Cottage Cheese Fruit Dip
Honey Vanilla Cottage Cheese Fruit Dip
Honey Vanilla Cottage Cheese Fruit Dip – If you’re trying to keep dessert time light, you’ve got to try this dip! It tastes like cheesecake but is super high in protein and doesn’t have tons of added sugar. It’s the perfect light treat!
Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake
Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake
Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake – One more microwave mug cake for good measure! This one is like a cinnamon roll in a cup, except WAY easier to make. It’s a must try for breakfast or dessert!
So there you have it, over 40 of our favorite Easy Recipes for College Students. What are your favorite student meals to help you get through the semester? Share in the comments below!
Love this?! Do u have a printable for these? My daughter is going away to college and that would be so handy for her. . .
That is such a great idea! I’d love for us to work on getting these in a printable but I don’t have that for you at this exact moment. Thanks for the input!
Can’t wait to try some of these meals!! Do you have a cookbook with these recipes?
Not with this particular selection of recipes, no. :)
Thank you for this. Sharing this with my college child.
I love this collective post and really make use of this type of grouping. It’s so fun when you repost old recipes because delving into the archives doesn’t yield ideas as easily as this list/post. Way to go!
Thank you, Judy!
Your Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry was one of the first meals my college kid made this year. It was a real hit with his friends too!
These are beyond amazing! Thank you so much for sharing them!
I hate clicking each one for the recipe, don’t you have them all in one spot?
Hi, Rea! Sorry you find that frustrating. If we made one blog post with 30 full recipes, it would take you an eon to scroll all the way through them — and likewise, difficult to re-locate the ones you like within that post. I would suggest opening each recipe you like in a new tab as you scroll through the post. That way, you don’t lose your place in the original article. Best of luck! – Marion :)
These seem like fast easy meals. I am definately going to try them.
This was seriously what I needed. Every other site gives you these fancy meals that involve too much work. Once I saw the snack items I knew you understood the life of young college aged kids. No time for meal cooking we are all too busy grinding! Thank you for your help!!
this is gr8
These were super helpful! I’m currently a junior in college, and I needed some new recipe inspiration.
One of my recommendations to kids heading off to school is to build dinner into study groups. Rotate cooking duties and everyone helps the cook of the day with the material. Even if this is only one or two days a week it is a big help.
Great tips! Thank you.
These are great recipes! My Son will be going to college soon and he thought most of the recipes looked doable and delicious…can’t beat that! Thank you so much!
Best of luck to your son Anita!
Thank you for this! A lot of similar lists for college students are written by homemakers in their 40s, and require unrealistic things (ie a grill). This list is great!
This is good
I tried Spinach, Chickpea and Quinoa Salad … it’s incredible! Thanks for the recipe!
WOw!
This is all great recipe for college students… I think i can apply this in my office works Its seems very delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Being a college student it was helpful
Great roundup of your recipes, thanks! My fiancé and I are both in college, and these quick meals and snacks will be keeping us from spending too much on unhealthy fast food.
I’ve had an extremely busy summer working two part-time jobs and taking a full course load while still trying to stay physically fit and active.
Your Easy Burrito Bowl Meal Prep has been my staple – hell, my lifeline – for breakfast/lunch for awhile now. Originally I couldn’t even afford the meal prep containers and literally just mixed it all in a giant bowl that I stuck in my fridge for the week. I called it my “ghetto burrito bowl”. It’s filling, super delicious, easy to make, and my coworkers still let out the occasional “ohgodwhatsthatsmellitsDELICIOUS” when I’m heating up my lunch. I’m so glad a friend recommended this website to me when he heard I was moving out on my own for the first time, because I can’t even imagine what a dietary disaster I’d be right now without it.
Haha, that is the best story EVER. :D I’ve totally been there, so I love hearing that what I’m doing is helping other people who are in the same place. :) Thank you!
Totally saving this for some great weeknight meal options this week!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Chickpeas with spinach over rice will get me every time ;-)
After seeing all the negativity from my peers, I felt the need to comment for the first time. As a poor grad student, this blog has been so helpful with keeping my grocery budget reasonable (under 250 a month to feed my boyfriend and I) and always providing a variety of dishes. I save so much money compared to my peers by hardly eating out and shopping the sales for pricier items like meat. My trick has been to make 2 different meals at the beginning of the week and eat the leftovers throughout the week for lunch and dinner. I’m currently eating my last portion of sesame chicken (SO good and way better than takeout). If people can’t prioritize cooking at home in college, they’re in for a rude awakening when they get real jobs and families. Making meals at home is so much better for your health and wallet, it’s worth making a priority.
I love how a lot of these comments are from peers in college making excuses to not do something just because it looks tedious. Part of the college experience is learning how to prioritize and gain new skills.
Your recipes saved me so much money thank you! Especially here in NYC every penny counts! You’re the best!
Nice post.
Wow, thank you very much for the recipes, for me as a student it’s very useful information :)
Yesterday I cooked a couple of dishes according to your recipe, it turned out very tasty, I want to say that for a long time I have not tasted anything tastier.
I want to do something similar to a blog for students, where students could find something useful for themselves, such as life hacks, food recipes, how to do homework. But here’s the irony, I can not do this blog because of a lot of homework and because I need to write a lot of essays. But fortunately yesterday classmates advised me online service on writing essays. Now I will have free time to make this dream real :)
Hey, Beth, I wanted to thank you for the recipes that you have shared. Tonight I tried the spinach and feta, which was delicious. Although you’ve received some distasteful comments, I would like to encourage you: I am a student with a social life, a part-time job, messy roommates after whom I clean up literally every day, and I do some volunteer work. Half of the time, I can’t make all my bills quite on time, but I’ve found that it’s not what I make that helps, it’s what I save. For example, my phone bill is literally less than $50 a month and it still does all of the things that any other provider does. Sharing bills with others and keeping my own portion low where I can is great, but I still had a lot of trouble affording to eat until I started looking at websites like this. We buy what we can on sale, use coupons, and look online to price-shop. Putting in that literally ten extra minutes a week can bring your food bills down to half. Also, when we eat healthily, we began to need to eat less often or in number than when we starve for half of the week. Posting things like this gives me variety and ideas, helping me to figure out what I want this week and how to afford it. Thank you again.
Thank you!! Your encouragement is very much appreciated. :) I’m happy I can help. <3
Here is another great recipe your college kid can make or you can make for them. They reheat very easily and are also good cold right out of the fridge. I double the recipe and make 48 each time for my son and his suite mates.
http://www.emilybites.com/2011/07/lasagna-cupcakes.html
These recipes look amazing!!! Cheap and easy to make. It may seem like a lot in the beginning, but once you buy the spices once, they’ll last for awhile. Thank you so much!!!
For those writing negative comments about how this is expensive, I don’t think you’ve done the math or planned efficiently.
Love these! I found your blog when I was a poor graduate student! You have some great recipes! My groceries would include eggs, tortillas, onions, peppers, shredded cheese, sweet potatoes, canned beans, pasta, quick oats, whatever extra fruit and veggies were on sale…possibilities were endless with condiments like sour cream, salsa…..my budget was $25 a week for food and your blog helped me figure out how to cook efficiently and NOT be hungry!
Thank you so much for this!!! These recipes look delicious, healthy and easy, which is perfect because I’ll be living independently for the first time this summer. I’m definitely gonna try these, thanks again!
This is pretty unrealistic. Your “broke” college student budget is vastly different from mine. I live with 4 other girls and I cant remember the last time we had the money to buy meat. Sausage? Feta? Mushrooms? These are all expensive ingredients. I wish this had recipes with ingredients college students ACTUALLY have in their kitchens. Rice, potatoes, sliced bread, canned beans and vegetables. The things college kids can actually afford.
Hi Nova
Spend some time looking over the budget bytes website, Beth gives alot of really great suggestions on how to eat healthy within your budget, so that your not just relying on the typical college kid food. I think you will find you can afford most of these recipes, when you shop smart and “bundle” your recipes for the week:)
So, let’s see. 6 out of 10 recipes don’t use meat, sausage, etc. The recipes that use sausage use a small amount for flavour. All the recipes have a price breakdown and are under $2 per serving. If the prices in your area are higher, then substitute for what is affordable. When I come across something unexpected, I stop, read what is being proposed and analyse the numbers, to see if they hold up. Try it – it is a good skill for a college student.
All of my local supermarkets sell fresh bulk sausage at the butcher counter for about $4 per lb–you can buy as little as 1/4 lb. Ground chuck is on sale at a local high end store every Tuesday for under $3. Aldi’s sells fresh mushrooms for $1 per 8 oz package nearly every week and has tons of bargains for the budget challenged–like me. The supermarket salad bar is another friend to the financially strapped. I use it for baby greens–a small amount for about $7 per lb instead of a 3 oz package for $3.50 meaning that 2 salads worth costs me about $1-1.50 (if I forget to use them up before they wilt, I can add them to soup or stir fry). It’s also the place to pick up Feta cheese crumbles cheaper than packaged–just don’t buy stuff like carrots (usually $.79 a lb), onions ($.99 per lb), croutons (stale bread to make your own)–use it for small amounts of high end products like bacon bits, olives, expensive cheeses, seeds, nuts, dried fruits.
And eggs, nature’s perfect protein–1 doz large this week at the closest market where I do most of my shopping cost $1.69, and they weren’t even on sale.
I don’t have time or gas money to go lots of places every week, but judicious shopping can pay off.
Before this round-up, these were some of my go-to meals feeding an apartment of college students. We still make the quesadillas and chickpea curry regularly, even after graduation. Love these recipes and you hit the nail on the head when it comes to which recipes on your site are appealing to a college crowd.
I love how the world has this unrealistic idea that students have a lot of time on their hands. To have time to cook gourmet meals like this, lead a social life, keep a part time job, all A’s, get 10 hours of sleep every night showing up to class fully rested and awake ready to learn, and be involved in things that prepare for the future. Internships, getting involved around the campus to get awesome bullets for your resume, oh and dating, just having a love life. And that if we plan and schedule right we should have time to set our lives in order and still have time left over…
Lovely display but I was aiming for something cheap, easy, quick, but still delicious, this may have all that but I’m still poor. Might have to try this on a weekend though. Early in the semester though, before projects and mayhem.
I’m a junior in an engineering program and am also always at a loss for time. The way I make it work is that I only cook one day a week, and eat leftovers of that all week. Takes me maybe 2 hours on a Sunday or in the evening after classes (mine end at 4) once a week to have quality food to eat all week.
I’ve -never- had much difficulty cooking myself dinner from Beth’s recipes, including several of the ones listed here. Honestly, I usually spend more time going to Meijer (across the street!) and buying my groceries than I spend cooking these.
Besides, think of it like this: You will almost always spend less money making food this way then whatever it is you are doing currently (unless living with parents) AND you will be practicing a more important skill than what you probably learn in 50%+ of those classes. I eat every day, three times a day. I use differential equations maybe twice a week.
PS: I wouldn’t expect more time in the day to fall out of the sky after graduation unless you fail to find a job. Learn how to balance and prioritize now so you don’t set up to fail later.
It also takes time to go somewhere for a meal–travel, sitting and waiting for the food to come to the table, waiting for the bill, or just hanging out in the drive through line for something that probably isn’t very good for you. Add up those minutes and you will see that you waste at least as much time per week as Mike below spends cooking. Some of these recipes take longer than others, but things like the delicious and filling Tuna and white bean salad are beyond fast to throw together.
Worried about cost? Soups and salads are cheap, and even in a dorm room, since most now have tiny refrigerators and microwaves, you can manage some salad greens, a hunk of cheese, a dab of butter or oil, and a few cans of beans, tuna, etc. A hot plate and skillet will expand your repertoire to stir fries, egg dishes (eggs cost about $.15 each), grilled sandwiches and quesadillas. An infamous big box store sells commonly used spices at less than $1 per container. You obviously read Beth’s blog–I’ve been relying on her ideas for years, and she never fails to surprise me with new revelations. I forwarded this link to my 19 yr old grandson, a college sophomore. Check out the archives–it’s a treasure beyond price.
PS: the recipe for brown rice orange salad says 1 cup of almonds, then instructs to slice them. (what?!), so ya, just buy sliced almonds – one cup from the bulk bins if you can. (who slices almonds?) The picture shows slivered almonds, which is fine, too. I dry-toast on the stovetop – I’d burn them if I put them in an oven. I hope someone tries this, cuz it’s totally that good! http://cookingmatters.org/recipes/brown-rice-and-orange-salad
Hello Beth – and everyone! I’m so happy I found this recipe online to cut-and-share. I discovered it when I volunteered for Cooking Matters and it is now my favorite thing ever: Brown Rice and Orange salad. Perfect for busy college students and moms and SO healthy! Take note: this makes 12, 1/2-cup servings. It’s a lot! But if you need to eat out of the fridge, this is an explosion of flavor and texture, ready-to-eat. Beth – I bet you could riff on this like crazy! Enjoy: http://cookingmatters.org/recipes/brown-rice-and-orange-salad
Oooh, I definitely want to make this! Thanks for sharing!! :D
These are awesome recipes. I’m sure everybody’s going to love these.
Theses food looks superb. me, I always make potato tacos thats very delicious too. I just cut potatoes into thinly slice and fried it until it gets crispy then i put ground beef, tomatoes, cucumber and cheese on top (any cheese will do) then dress up mayo and hot sauce and you’re done. Im sure you’re gonna love it too.
These are yummy looking recipes. Most of which you can already find in school canteen. It’s great that our schools are opting to provide the best foods for them students and are quite strict about it. It’s awesome! You have an awesome website by the way. Love these dishes.
Mason jar salads are the bomb. My favorite is a few cherry tomatoes and a few mozzarella balls with some pesto dressing at the bottom. Then add salad greens at the top. They’re above the dressing so they don’t get mushy. When you’re ready to eat just turn the jar upside down a couple times – and poof! you have a super tasty salad. Totally portable and super healthy and good!
My second favorite “lunchable” is to make a bunch of scrambled eggs with sauteed peppers, mushrooms and onions … divide into multiple meals and reheat with sprinkled cheese on top. Lasts a long time in the frig too – filling and quick to microwave.
I just started college again. If I didn’t have my wife to help cook meals man I would probably crash and burn. Both of us work full-time and I go to school full-time. I know emergency rice, beans, and salsa is amazing in a pinch. I know it’s not much but peanut butter and banana sandwiches are actually really good too, the potassium helps keep my muscle cramps down. I really go to make and freeze the quesadillas again. Maybe if you add rice you can get that little extra protein kick? What sucks though is I am allergic to spinach. That means several of these I’d have to get rid of them which I think would pretty much defeat the recipe.
Honestly the hardest part is I am away from home for almost 14 hours every week day, so everything I eat has to either be cold or microwavable. And with so little time to do that, it does get hard.
A list that would be really cool is a top # of recipes for the “on-the-go” Things that reheat well, or that are good/made cold. Maybe include a few that also freeze well so you can batch make them on a night off.
I am going back to school in the fall, so I am excited to have these recipes. In addition, I really like the Spicy Tuna Guacamole bowls. That is on this website. You can have lunch prepared and ready to go for a few days. Or supper. It is healthy and cheap and keeps well in the fridge.
My three personal recommendations are: mini-fritatas, amped-up tomato soup, and Martha’s mini-meatballs.
The mini-fritata recipe is from yumsugar: http://www.fitsugar.com/Healthy-Breakfast-Mini-Veggie-Frittata-1790585 . I can make a batch of these on Sunday and have great breakfasts for three days. Just microwave one of these every morning. The goat cheese is expensive, but a nice taste. You could do without it, no prob.
Amped-up tomato soup is an idea I got from an old boyfriend of mine. Take a basic canned tomato soup, throw in curry powder, put some sliced cheese at the bottom of the bowl, then pour the soup on top. Top it with cracked pepper, and dip some toasted bread. It’s not the most balanced meal in the world, but it is tasty and cheap.
Martha’s mini-meatballs: here is the link: http://www.marthastewart.com/315827/mini-meatballs
These meatballs are great in pasta, or as a late night snack. I like having a batch in the freezer, it keeps me from getting fast food. Throw some in the oven, then dip in Sriracha, it is a great treat.
I can’t wait to try all of Beth’s recipes as I go back to school. Ever since I discovered this site, I am ignoring other sites. It simplifies things! No snobbery, just basic daily living. Eating well, and eating cheap. Keep up the great work, Beth!
A really tasty and easy recipe I made in college was lemon caper chicken with couscous. You coat the chicken tenderloins (or thin sliced chicken breasts) in a mixture of flour and chili powder then cook in a skillet with olive oil. Add the leftover flour/chili powder mixture to the skillet and add chicken stock to make a roux like sauce. Stir and allow it to simmer and thicken. Add lemon juice and capers once the roux has thickened. I would put the chicken and a bit of roux on top of the couscous. Delicious. You could use rice instead of the couscous or if you’re into low carb I imagine cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, green beans, etc. would go well with it. I’m terrible with exact amounts as I just eye everything and adjustments have to be made depending on how thick the chicken is and how much sauce you want to make.
I have been making your Baked Oatmeals on Sunday every week–They last me all week! They are so deicious, customizable, and filling. Much better than picking up breakfast or sugary cereals. Also, my apartment smells divine.
I’m in love with your roasted vegetable ratatouille! I’m not the biggest fan of eggplant, so I sub in an extra zucchini, and toss in a chopped bell pepper and mushrooms in the middle of the casserole dish – SO delicious! It’s earned a regular spot in my menu rotation — it makes a ton and is so easy on nights when I have zero desire to cook.
I just made your spinach and feta grilled cheese (and I made it on your no knead focaccia bread to boot!) and I thought at best, it would be good, because everything on here is always *at least* good. (If this is poorly worded and not clear, this is meant to be a compliment about the quality of everything you post!)
But that spinach and feta grilled cheese was so unbelievably incredible, I can’t even come up with the words to describe it. My boyfriend, who sort of balks when we don’t eat much meat and isn’t a big fan of vegetables in a typical meat and potatoes man sort of way, specifically asked me to make it again because it was SO good.
Plus, I loved your suggestion with the weighted pot to make basically a redneck sandwich/panini press (I don’t think I would use one enough to make it worth my while).
Great recipe roundup, even for moms of three as the kids go back to school and afterschool activities. We have very little time and are really trying to avoid take out right now for budget reasons. I’ve loved your blog for quite some time for that help!
Easy Southwest Mac and Cheese!
https://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/03/easy-southwest-mac-n-cheese/
Love love love the dragon noodles! They’ve become a staple meal in our household. Just made them last night with a small pack of canned salmon mixed in and was awesome!
I actually just made your creamy tomato and spinach pasta yesterday and am making your slow cooker chicken and dumplings right now! Your meals are among my favorite to make and then portion out and freeze – I’m a double major and spend all day, almost literally every day, on campus and I finally figured out that making four or five meals on my few-and-far-between days off makes for a much less stress free, and healthier, Kathryn.
I have made almost all of these. SO GOOD. I want to try the dragon noodles but my family isn’t a fan of spicy.
I’m not a fan of spicy, but I love the dragon noodles! I just cut back the sriracha to maybe a teaspoon (instead of tablespoon) and it’s fabulous! When I’m sharing with others, I leave out the bottle and those who like spice can add another dash or two to their bowls while wimps like me can enjoy the flavor without the burning. :)
Also, my favorite noodles to use for this are egg noodles. Easy to find, cheap and they make the tastiest dragon noodles (compared to the other pastas in my pantry)!
Seriously, don’t let the “spicy” part keep you from trying them! The recipe itself isn’t even THAT spicy, I usually spice it up quite a bit (with more Sriracha, what else), but you could probably always replace the Sriracha with something less spicy. The noodles are so incredibly good, it’s worth trying out different ways of spicyness :)
I will have to give them a try then!
My daughter is going to love this list! In fact, all the recipes look perfect for our whole family. Thanks for the great list, Beth!
Being Italian myself, I’d have to go with the Italian Wonderpot. Not only is it comfort food for me that reminds me growing up and family, but it is easy, cheap, and fast to make…not to mention with a healthy dose of spinach and tomato!
P.S. I usually add a little bit of meatballs to it to up the protein and make it heartier. I just buy a pound of ground turkey for $3.49 and stretch it through 2-3 dishes…usually I can make it last an entire week!
You really got me smiling with this list! It consist almost completely of recipes I frequently make, you certainly do know what broke students eat!
My number one from this list is probably the Curried Chickpeas, but the Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili is a close second!
I’m torn between Dragon Noodles and Garlic Noodles.
I just want to say how much I appreciate you blogging! Posts like this remind me of that, even though I’m 5+ years out of college and no longer quite so starving. Even so, I think it’s amazing that you write posts like this. I just needed to come out of ex-Google Reader and now Feedly lurking to say that I am a big fan of your blog! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Joy!
I’m a grad student and I make your recipes ALL the time. Not only are they affordable and delicious, but your instructions are so clear and easy to follow that they’re great even for beginners (which I was, just a couple years ago). I owe you a lot of thanks!!
Other recipes that I have found really helpful as a student:
Crockpot bean & turkey chili, which is incredibly easy and makes lots of leftovers: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/01/crock-pot-3-bean-turkey-chili-3125-pts.html
Classic roasted broccoli, which is an easy and delicious way to get my daily veggies in: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-roasted-broccoli-recipe.html (I also now roast my cauliflower, carrots and asparagus using the same method. I’m a roasted vegetable convert.)
Your baked spaghetti with sausage, which is perfect comfort food when I’m stressed over exams: https://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/09/baked-spaghetti-with-sausage/
Roasted cauliflower and white cheddar soup – this made lots of leftovers and was so nice to come home to after a cold day: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/roasted-cauliflower-and-white-cheddar-soup/
Thanks again, Beth. Your recipes have really helped me out the past couple of years.
I make the grilled spinach feta grilled cheese with some tater tots. I keep all the ingredients in the freezer (minus the bread) so I always have it on hand for dinner emergencies. Best quick meal ever!
I start my full time internship tomorrow and was in need of this post! Thank you for rounding up these recipes : )
Thank you SO much for throwing this together! Classes start tomorrow, and I’m working full time AND taking 8 hours (Calculus and Physics… I am a crazy person..) so I’m definitely going to rely on some of these recipes! I already live on your hearty black bean quesadillas (or some variation thereof, I’m actually about to make a batch with some pulled pork!) You are my go to when I need something easy, cheap, and usually pretty quick to eat. What a wonderful resource!
Where do you get lo mein noodles? Is there an acceptable substitute?
If you have an Asian market nearby they should have some. I’m kind of lazy and often end up using fettuccine instead, which is thicker but still very tasty!
Sometimes larger grocery stores will have them in the Asian food section (that’s where I get mine). Although I haven’t tried it, I’ve read several reviews saying that people have used regular linguine and still enjoyed it!
I don’t know if it’s on your site but I’ve made about 30 frozen burritos for this semester. Microwave 2 minutes and eat during traffic.
I am a college student and have been using your recipes for the past three years! I cook once on the weekend and eat leftovers all week to save money and have quick meals for during the week. I love your recipes because they are cheap, delicious, make great leftovers, and you provide helpful step by step pictures and substitution ideas. I can’t thank you enough! I actually have the one pot sausage and mushroom pasta on my meal plan for tonight!
Other recipes I love are the apple dijon kale salad, because I could make it (dressing and all) on monday and enjoy for lunch or for dinner all week. I also love the polenta bowls, roasted corn and zucchini tacos, baked oatmeal (especially the autumn one from the cookbook), and the basic chili.
I wish I would have known about your blog when I was in college. Oh well, I’m still broke! I think I’ll be making the chorizo sweet potato chili this week.
Thanks for this recipe roundup! My brother just graduated from college and is now living on his own. These recipes will be great for a bachelor on a budget.
I most certainly have to agree with Dragon Noodles’ #1 spot on the list – that recipe got me through many a not-quite-at-my-next-paycheck-yet meals :)