This collection of over 40 easy college recipes all have some very important things in common. They have simple ingredients and are easy enough to prepare in a small dorm or off-campus apartment kitchen.
Lots of delicious, practical choices!
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If you are a college student looking for a little cooking inspiration, you’re in the right place! If you are the parent of a college student, give them a little nudge and share these easy college meals with them. College cooking should hopefully spark a life-long interest in preparing healthy food.
Most college kids will find that splitting meals between the campus dining halls and fast food joints won’t cut it. This will be very apparent on their visits home.
“What’s for dinner, Mom (or Dad!)” takes on a whole new meaning for them once they’ve had to fend for themselves for a few months. I guarantee they will return home for visits with a new level of appreciation for your efforts in the kitchen. They may start taking notice so they can attempt to duplicate some of those meals on their own.
Even if your kids have shown zero interest in cooking, the college experience will most likely bring them into the kitchen. And, these easy college recipes are the perfect place to start!
It’s easy for college kids to get in the habit of skipping breakfast as they rush off to class each day. Here are some healthy, hearty options to keep them on track.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Jelly Overnight Oats
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Jelly Overnight Oats are super easy to make, can be made in advance, and have a healthy twist on “jelly” with the raspberries. If your dorm room has a refrigerator, overnight oats are a great option!
This Fried Egg Avocado Toast is so easy to make with just a cooktop and skillet. In about 10 minutes you will have restaurant quality, picture perfect avocado toast ready to eat without the hefty price tag!
Overnight Oats are as simple as combining oats, milk, yogurt, and your favorite mix-ins and popping them in your dorm fridge overnight. An instant, no-cook, healthy, delicious breakfast!
Get a healthy and delicious start to your day with these Healthy Egg Muffin Cups. Only 50 calories per muffin, loaded with vegetables, and they can be made in advance!
These Nutella Stuffed French Toast Sticks are an awesome busy morning breakfast option. They cook beautifully in a microwave or toaster oven straight from the freezer for a quick breakfast on the go.
Ramen and college go hand in hand. These easy noodle and ramen recipes are a great way to ease into cooking in a small space. They are comforting and oh, so satisfying!
Quick and Easy Chinese Noodle Soup
This one-pot Quick & Easy Chinese Noodle Soup makes a super simple, aromatic broth that’s packed with noodles and Asian flavor. Authentic Chinese flavor in your own kitchen!
Ramen noodles and stir-fry veggies tossed in a quick & easy peanut sauce and topped with chopped peanuts and green onions. These Chicken Thai Noodle Bowls are a new spin on ramen noodles!
This assortment of easy pasta recipes for college students includes lots of familiar, comforting flavors. These recipes will reheat beautifully in the microwave or on the stove. Simple ingredients and no special kitchen equipment required!
Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
This fast-track recipe for Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese makes a meat sauce that’s bursting with Italian flavor and cooks in just 30 minutes!
This Lemon Garlic Pasta is fantastic as is. Or dress it up a bit with some roasted chicken, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, shrimp or fresh vegetables. This simple meal is so satisfying and loaded with flavor!
This Homemade Microwave Lasagna is the perfect recipe for college students with minimal kitchen supplies that are craving something that reminds them of home.
This small scale Tex-Mex Baked Tortellini recipe is perfect for cooking up in a small space. It makes just the right amount for two or just one with leftovers!
When a little comfort food is in order, this One-Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese will hit the spot! This recipe has a short ingredient list and requires just one pot.
You’ll find lots of no cook and one pot recipes in this collection of easy soups, sandwiches, and wraps. These are all easy dinner choices and leftovers are perfect for lunch the next day.
Chicken Vegetable Tortellini Soup
4.63 from 8 votes
This Chicken Vegetable Tortellini Soup is made easy with the help of a rotisserie chicken and store-bought cheese tortellini. A wholesome, satisfying meal in 30 minutes!
These easy California Club Wraps are loaded with smashed avocado, crispy bacon, tomatoes, and lettuce. This is a mostly no-cook recipe that utilizes rotisserie chicken.
Grilled Cheese Rollups with Tomato Soup Dipping Sauce
No more boring grilled cheese! Grilled Cheese Roll Ups with Tomato Soup Dipping Sauce takes the classic pairing and makes dinner fun. It’s also a great excuse to play with your food.
If you love the chicken salad at Panera this recipe is for you! This absolutely delicious Napa Almond Chicken Salad is easy to make and so much like the restaurant version!
This Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe is so much better (and healthier!) than the store-bought, canned variety. Super-simple, and you can even make it ahead.
A creamy lemon and dill mixture combines with canned salmon to create these easy Salmon Salad Sandwiches. A delicious, no-fuss meal that can be prepared in just 10 minutes!
This fun take on sloppy joes was inspired by all the wonderful things you love about pizza. Pizza Joes are a great small kitchen choice that college students will love!
You’ll flip over this quick, easy, and delicious Four-Cheese Broccoli Pizza recipe! Use your favorite crust recipe or grab some fluffy naan flatbread for the speediest of shortcuts.
There are some some fun, healthy options in this collection of salads and bowls. These delicious recipes make it easy to add a boost of fiber to your diet.
Easy Chicken Cobb Salad
5 from 1 vote
This Easy Chicken Cobb Salad is a restaurant quality salad you can easily make in a small kitchen in under 30 minutes. Use store-bought dressing to make it even easier!
This refreshing 20 Minute Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad is filled with fresh herbs, vegetables, hearty quinoa and lemon juice. This light and low calorie tabbouleh salad is a healthy and delicious gluten-free choice.
Ground beef cooked in a sweet and savory sauce and served over rice with veggies. These easy Korean Ground Beef Bowls are ready in less time than it takes to order takeout!
The flavors and textures of veggie sushi rolls, in the form of a satisfying grain bowl topped with a creamy wasabi dressing. A delicious vegetarian recipe for college students!
A party in a cookie! The dough for these Vanilla Sprinkles Cookies is really easy to work with and the flavor is reminiscent of Italian bakery cookies.
These easy cake mix cookies are called Party In Your Mouth Rocky Road Cookies for good reason. Chocolate, marshmallows and nuts create these irresistible cookies that are the perfect choice for dorm cooking.
This vintage recipe for Crispy Peanut Butter Clusters is easy and the flavors and crispy texture are impossible to resist. Totally crave-worthy little bites of goodness!
Hello and welcome to my online kitchen! My focus here is to provide simple, seasonal meal solutions for busy households. I hope you find some inspiration while you’re here and visit again soon!
Thank you very much for this article. While I am at home during quarantine, I have to cook a lot for my family. Your recipes are great!