Easy Recipes for College Students

by Beth - Budget Bytes
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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!

Collage of images of recipes for college students with title text in the center.

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

spicy sriracha noodles in a skillet with tongs
These sweet, tangy, and spicy sriracha noodles take only a few minutes to make and are an inexpensive alternative to take out.
4.89 from 319 votes
$2.50 recipe / $1.25 serving Get the Recipe

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

Overhead view of a bowl of cheesy pinto beans over rice.
Cheesy Pinto Beans are a quick and satisfying meal made with simple pantry staple ingredients, like canned beans.
4.91 from 70 votes
$2.96 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

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

A close up view of dumpling soup in a white bowl topped with white sesame seeds and chili crisp.
Easy Dumpling Soup is the perfect quick dinner because it’s endlessly versatile, insanely budget-friendly, and can be made in 15 minutes.
4.93 from 28 votes
$2.98 RECIPE / $1.49 SERVING Get the Recipe

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

These super fast Curried Chickpeas with spinach are packed with flavor and nutrients, vegan, gluten-free, and filling! Plus they freeze great! BudgetBytes.com
These super fast Curried Chickpeas with spinach are packed with flavor and nutrients, vegan, gluten-free, and filling! Plus they freeze great!
4.68 from 156 votes
$4.68 recipe / $1.17 serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up side view of a bowl of creamy pesto mac with spinach
A simple creamy sauce infused with basil pesto makes this Creamy Pesto Mac and Cheese with spinach the ultimate comfort food WITH a dose of vegetables!
4.61 from 51 votes
$3.27 recipe / $0.55 serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up overhead view of a bowl of coconut curry ramen
You only need 5 simple ingredients and about 10 minutes to make this Coconut Curry Ramen, a vibrant bowl full of bold colors and flavors. 
5 from 25 votes
$1.34 recipe / $1.34 serving Get the Recipe

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

This fast and easy Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry is a filling low carb dinner with big flavor and endless possibilities for customization. 
4.84 from 387 votes
$7.14 recipe / $1.79 serving Get the Recipe

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

This insanely simple dinner "cheat" is ready in minutes and will keep you full for hours. Bowties and Broccoli is my go-to lazy weeknight dinner.
4.79 from 37 votes
$3.50 recipe / $0.58 serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up overhead shot of a poor man's burrito bowl with melted cheese
These easy no-frills burrito bowls are super fast and affordable. They're the perfect satisfying weeknight meal for times when money is tight!
4.84 from 66 votes
$7.07 recipe / $1.18 serving Get the Recipe

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

A stack of pizza melts, cut sides facing camera
Pizza melts are like a cross between your two favorite comfort foods: pizza and grilled cheese. They're fast, easy, and the perfect quick meal!
4.60 from 10 votes
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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

Sweet, salty, rich, and crunchy, these Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles hit all the bases. It’s fast, easy comfort food for busy nights! BudgetBytes.com
Sweet, salty, rich, and crunchy, these Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles hit all the bases. It’s fast, easy comfort food for busy nights! 
4.79 from 199 votes
$3.75 recipe / $1.25 serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up overhead view of a bowl full of vegan creamy mushroom ramen with chopsticks lifting some noodles
This incredibly simple Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen is a rich and flavorful 15 minute meal that only requires a handful of ingredients! 
4.84 from 153 votes
$2.75 per serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up overhead view of a bowl of pasta with bacon and peas.
Pasta with Bacon and Peas is a quick, satisfying, and inexpensive meal that you can make with ingredients that you can keep on hand.
5 from 3 votes
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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

Overhead view of a pot full of 15-Minute Vegetable Curry
Creamy coconut milk, flavorful vegetable broth, and curry powder come together to create a simple yet delicious vegetable curry.
4.73 from 33 votes
$5.93 recipe / $1.48 serving Get the Recipe

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

overhead view of a bowl full of savory oatmeal with ingredients on the sides
Savory oatmeal is a delicious, hearty, and inexpensive meal that can be customized to use ingredients you have on hand.
5 from 36 votes
$1.25 recipe Get the Recipe

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

Three glass containers of the peanut butter lunch box lined up in a row
This peanut butter lunch box is an easy no-cook lunch idea for school, work, picnics, or road trips! No reheating needed!
5 from 4 votes
$4.57 recipe / $1.14 per serving Get the Recipe

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

A stack of black bean quesadillas on a serving tray
These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!
4.90 from 237 votes
$6.61 recipe / $0.66 each Get the Recipe

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

Side view of a glass full of peanut butter banana smoothie with a yellow striped straw.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies are slightly sweet, super creamy, deliciously filling, and make a fast and easy snack or breakfast!
5 from 17 votes
$0.71 each Get the Recipe

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

A stack of spinach and feta grilled cheese sandwiches
Take your grilled cheese sandwich to the next level with this gourmet Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese! An easy and flavorful lunch idea.
5 from 39 votes
$3.40 recipe / $1.70 serving Get the Recipe

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

All the cheesy toppings of a pizza stuffed into a fast, easy, and crispy quesadilla. Perfect for dipping in pizza sauce!
5 from 14 votes
$9.22 recipe / $1.54 each Get the Recipe

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

Four cheese board lunch boxes lined up in a row
This easy no-cook lunch idea is perfect for the cheese lovers of the world! The Cheese Board Lunch Box makes a meal out of savory nibbles.
4.93 from 13 votes
$7.45 recipe / $1.86 per box Get the Recipe

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

Forget frozen pizza rolls! These Pizza Roll Ups are the perfect last minute appetizer or indulgent snack on busy days! BudgetBytes.com
Forget frozen pizza rolls! These Pizza Roll Ups are the perfect last minute appetizer or indulgent snack on busy days! 
5 from 6 votes
$3.71 recipe / $0.93 serving Get the Recipe

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 on plate, split down middle.
The secret to the crunchiest, gooiest, air-fryer grilled cheese EVER is first mixing softened butter with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese and then spreading it on the outside of your bread. You can't get results like these from a pan!
4.75 from 4 votes
$2.23 each Get the Recipe

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

A hand holding a stack of peanut butter banana quesadillas.
Peanut butter banana quesadillas are a quick and easy single-serving dessert that you can make in minutes with pantry staples!
4.75 from 20 votes
$0.86 each Get the Recipe

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 are an easy and inexpensive snack to keep stocked in your freezer. A homemade and healthy option compared to frozen pizza.
4.91 from 10 votes
$4.31 recipe / $0.36 each Get the Recipe

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

Slices of homemade garlic bread spread out on a surface.
Buttery homemade garlic bread is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients! It's freezer-friendly and is a great side dish for any dinner.
4.82 from 43 votes
$4.63 recipe / $0.39 serving Get the Recipe

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

Overhead close up view of a bowl full of trail mix.
Making homemade trail mix is a quick and easy way to make a delicious snack AND use up leftover ingredients in your pantry.
5 from 1 vote
$2.81 recipe / $0.70 serving Get the Recipe

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

Three rectangular glass meal prep containers with Ground Turkey Stir Fry and Brown Rice
This super easy Ground Turkey Stir Fry is a delicious and versatile answer to busy weeknight dinners. Try the suggested variations to make it your own! 
4.79 from 46 votes
$7.41 recipe / $1.48 serving Get the Recipe

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

Overhead view of a Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl with a black fork in the side
This Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl is the perfect light, fresh, and filling lunch for summer. It also meal preps well, so pack a few to take to work for lunch! 
4.92 from 24 votes
$1.21 each Get the Recipe

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

A hand grabbing a stack of two halves of a Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad sandwich on wheat bread.
Light, bright, and full of spring flavors, this Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad will keep you full all afternoon. Serve as a sandwich, wrap, or salad! 
4.82 from 53 votes
$2.46 recipe / $1.23 serving Get the Recipe

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

Overhead view of a bowl of apple pie overnight oats.
These Apple Pie Overnight Oats are an easy and delicious make-ahead breakfast with no added sugar that you can enjoy either hot or cold.
4.74 from 34 votes
$2.26 recipe / $0.57 serving Get the Recipe

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

A tuna salad lunch box with tuna in a pepper and a cracker tipping into the salad
This Tuna Salad Lunch Box is an easy make-ahead lunch idea with plenty of vegetables and protein to keep you full.
$7.68 recipe / $1.92 serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up side view of a bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad
This chunky chopped Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad is a great fresh salad that can be eaten on its own or turned into several different easy lunch ideas!
4.91 from 33 votes
$4.84 recipe / $1.61 serving Get the Recipe

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

Three glass containers filled with hummus lunch box ingredients
This Hummus Lunch Box is a cold lunch classic. With almost zero prep work, this is the fastest, easiest no-cook lunch around.
5 from 5 votes
$8.04 recipe / $2.01 serving Get the Recipe

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

The Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep that you can put together in about 30 minutes with minimal cooking, chopping, and nothing to pack on the side. Lunch can be easy and tasty! BudgetBytes.com
The Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep that you can put together in about 30 minutes with minimal cooking, chopping, and nothing to pack on the side. Lunch can be easy and tasty! 
4.78 from 18 votes
$9.05 recipe / $2.26 serving Get the Recipe

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

This Tuna and White Bean salad is mayo-free, but big on flavor. Whip up this salad in minutes to satisfy your hunger and tastebuds. BudgetBytes.com
This Tuna and White Bean salad is mayo-free, but big on flavor. Whip up this salad in minutes to satisfy your hunger and tastebuds. 
4.87 from 46 votes
$2.21 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

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

This cold, refreshing, and highly flavored Curried Tofu Salad is the perfect quick fix for summer or cold-pack lunch. Budgetbytes.com
This cold, refreshing, and highly flavored Curried Tofu Salad is the perfect quick fix for summer or cold-pack lunch. 
4.81 from 52 votes
$3.47 recipe / $0.87 serving Get the Recipe

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

Close up side view of Mediterranean Tuna Salad in a bowl
This simple, fresh, and filling Mediterranean Tuna Salad makes an easy protein-packed make-ahead lunch for your workweek.
4.79 from 28 votes
$7.89 recipe / $1.32 serving Get the Recipe

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 scattered on a surface
These dairy-free flourless peanut butter cookies are soft, rich, and have the perfect salty-sweet balance. 
4.74 from 19 votes
$1.65 recipe / $0.14 each Get the Recipe

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 cake being lifted out of the mug with a spoon.
In just two minutes you can have this perfect single serving chocolate mug cake to quiet that sweet tooth. 
4.58 from 166 votes
$0.30 each Get the Recipe

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

Stacked rice krispie treats
Sweet and fluffy marshmallows, creamy butter, and crispy rice cereal make these homemade rice krispie treats melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
4.85 from 13 votes
$2.30 recipe / $0.26 serving Get the Recipe

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

A fast and easy treat, these microwave blueberry mug muffins are perfect when you just need a small bite of something sweet. 
4.47 from 127 votes
$0.37 each Get the Recipe

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

Overhead shot of three cheese danish on a cooling rack.
This buttery, flaky, and budget-friendly Cheese Danish recipe is ridiculously easy to make and can be on your table in under a half hour.
4.70 from 20 votes
$6.07 recipe / $1.01 serving Get the Recipe

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

a spoon lifting a bite of the funfetti mug cake out of the mug
This super cute Funfetti Mug Cake is the perfect single-serving dessert for when you need something sweet and fast!
3.90 from 20 votes
$0.41 each Get the Recipe

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

front view of no bake pretzel peanut butter bars lined up in a grid
These no-bake pretzel peanut butter bars are a ridiculously simple homemade version of your favorite peanut butter cups!
4.93 from 27 votes
$3.94 recipe / 0.16 per square Get the Recipe

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

A hand dipping a fresh strawberry into the fruit dip on a fruit platter
Cottage cheese is whipped up into a silky smooth texture, sweetened with honey, and flavored with vanilla in this deliciously sensible dessert fruit dip. 
5 from 1 vote
$0.94 recipe / $0.24 serving Get the Recipe

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

Overhead view of a spoon dug into a Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake
This Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake is the perfect way to get a single serving cinnamon roll fix without any kneading, rising, rolling, or baking! 
4.82 from 58 votes
Get the Recipe

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!

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  1. Love this?! Do u have a printable for these? My daughter is going away to college and that would be so handy for her. . .

    1. 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!

  2. Can’t wait to try some of these meals!! Do you have a cookbook with these recipes?

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

    1. 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 :)