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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!
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!
Table of contents
- Breakfast Recipes for College Students
- Easy Noodle and Ramen Recipes
- Easy Pasta Recipes
- Soups, Sandwiches and Wraps
- Shortcut Pizza Recipes
- Healthy Salads and Bowls
- Easy Dessert Recipes for College Students
Breakfast Recipes for College Students
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!
Skinny Fried Egg Avocado Toast
ThisFried Egg Avocado Toastis 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!
Tropical Green Smoothie
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Packed with nutrition and incredible flavor, this creamy Tropical Green Smoothie is a delicious way to start the day!
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Breakfast Nachos
When breakfast gets boring, it's time to whip up these Breakfast Nachos! A fun, gluten-free choice anytime of day or night.
Overnight Oats (3 Ways)
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!
Banana Pecan Protein Muffins
Super moist and easy to make, these gluten free Banana Pecan Protein Muffins are the perfect grab and go breakfast option.
Healthy Egg Muffin Cups
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!
Nutella French Toast Sticks
5 from 4 votes
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.
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Easy Noodle and Ramen Recipes
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 Soupmakesa super simple,aromatic broth that’s packed with noodles and Asian flavor. Authentic Chinese flavor in your own kitchen!
Instant Pot Ramen (Low Sodium)
This Instant Pot Ramen is not just delicious and made super quick, but it’s much lower in sodium too!
Chicken Thai Noodle Bowls
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!
Easy Pasta Recipes
This assortment of easy pasta recipes for college students includes lots offamiliar, 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!
Skillet Lasagna
5 from 1 vote
This easy Skillet Lasagna is made with FAR less work than traditional lasagna. It’s a delicious one pot pasta that’s ready in about 40 minutes!
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Spinach Parmesan Tortellini Bake
This easy Spinach Parmesan Tortellini Bake has only four ingredients and takes just minutes to put together in one dish!
Lemon Garlic Pasta
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!
Homemade Microwave Lasagna
This Homemade Microwave Lasagna is the perfect recipe for college students with minimal kitchensupplies that are craving something that reminds them of home.
One Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
5 from 31 votes
Dry pasta, frozen meatballs and store bought marinara cook together all in one pot in this easy One Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.
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Tex-Mex Baked Tortellini for Two
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!
One-Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese
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.
Skillet Sausage Pasta
4.93 from 99 votes
This flavorful Skillet Sausage Pasta is an easy one-pot meal that is ready from start to finish in 30 minutes.
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Soups, Sandwiches and Wraps
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!
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California Club Wraps
5 from 1 vote
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.
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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.
Napa Almond Chicken Salad (Panera Copycat)
4.94 from 128 votes
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!
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Best Ever Sloppy Joes
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.
Salmon Salad Sandwiches
5 from 42 votes
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!
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Chicken Enchilada Soup
This Chicken Enchilada Soup is so easy to make and it includes all of the ingredients you might find on an enchilada plate.
Pizza Joes
5 from 5 votes
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!
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Shortcut Pizza Recipes
Skip the expensive takeout and make your own pizza! These easy pizza recipes are creative choices perfect for a dorm or small apartment kitchen.
BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza
5 from 11 votes
This BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza is a fantastic has tons of flavor and is ready in under 30 minutes! Super satisfying and very easy.
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Four Cheese Broccoli Pizza
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.
English Muffin Pizzas
A super short ingredient list creates these fun English Muffin Pizzas. A perfect easy lunch or dinner for college students.
Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Pizza
4.25 from 4 votes
These incredibly flavorful little flatbread pizzas are ready, from start to finish, in 20 minutes.College student approved!
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Healthy Salads and Bowls
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!
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20 Minute Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
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.
Taco Salad
4.67 from 3 votes
This old school Taco Salad has never gone out of style! A quick and easy main dish salad for college students.
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Korean Ground Beef Bowls
5 from 3 votes
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!
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Easy Kale Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This healthy Kale Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette is loaded with fresh cherries and blueberries for some sweet and countered with salty bacon and feta.
Veggie Roll Sushi Bowl
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!
Easy Dessert Recipes for College Students
A selection of delectable but simple recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth. All of these recipes are easy to make in a small college kitchen.
One Bowl Brownies
To satisfy those chocolate cravings! These One-Bowl Brownies are so easy to make requiring just 10 minutes and 8 ingredients.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These Cookie Bars are quicker and easier to make than cookies but taste just as good. They are delicious served warm with a scoop of ice cream!
One Bowl Chocolate Cake
4.44 from 79 votes
This One Bowl Chocolate Cake is nearly as easy to make as a boxed mix. This simple, classic recipe results in a perfect chocolate cake every time!
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Vanilla Sprinkle Cookies
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.
Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
5 from 3 votes
These Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies soft and chewy and loaded with the best flavor combination ever – peanut butter and chocolate!
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Rocky Road 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.
Crispy Peanut Butter Clusters
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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!
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Single Serving Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie
When you don't need an entire batch of cookies, this easy eggless Single Serving Deep Dish Cookie baked in a ramekin is the perfect solution!
Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies
This easy Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies recipe produces small but thick cookies with a soft texture. Perfect with a big glass of cold milk!
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