Say "so long" to mystery meats in the dining hall with these 33 easy (and delicious!) recipes.
A lot of these dishes are quick and easy to make, meaning they're perfect for whipping up in between classes or for late-night study breaks. They're colorful *and* delicious, and perfect for sharing with a roommate, BFF, or class crush. Ace these college recipes, from ramen hacks to meals in a mug, this semester!
What can I cook in a dorm?
The dorm room recipes you can make will depend on what your dorm offers. If you have a kitchen with a stove and oven, then that means you can do more baking and cooking than if you don't have either.
What food do most college students eat?
Trust us on this: college students right now eat a lot of pizza, sandwiches, and mac and cheese.
What are cheap dorm room recipes?
Unfortunately, there's a good chance that the cheapest dorm room recipes won't be very healthy (like pizza, pasta, and stovetop mac and cheese). But if you strategize your meal plan to include recipes that use the same ingredients, you'll save money! Great examples? Buying groceries to make sandwiches, buddha bowls, and salads all in the same week.
Sweetgreen Copycat Recipe
Salads will always be a super easy dorm room recipe to make because you just get to throw together your favorite ingredients! This particular salad features chicken, rice, and potatoes, but you can also leave those off if you don't have time to cook. (image and recipe via Rachel Mansfield/Brit + Co)
10 Minute Risotto Cups
Forget standing over a stove for an hour, these delicious dinners are made in the microwave in less time than it takes to agree on what to watch on Netflix tonight. We tried a couple different flavor combos like butternut squash + sage and bacon + kale. (via Brit + Co)
Feta Fried Eggs
This recipe is so easy, it's a no brainer! All you need is five ingredients: 1 egg, feta cheese, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and a tortilla. Boom, feta eggs. (image and recipe via Grace Elkus/Brit + Co)
Cinnamon Apple and Banana Oatmeal
Add fresh (easy) or frozen fruit (EASIER!) to your oatmeal to give it an extra boost. Plus, nothing is more warming than cinnamon oatmeal when that walk across the quad start to get chillier. (via Brit + Co)
Oatmeal Latte
Image via Feel Good Foodie
This recipe is very versatile and very delicious. It combines combine oats, steamed milk, and coffee to fuel you. Sip it on your commute or with your breakfast for a tasty start to your morning. Here are some of our favorites! (via Brit + Co)
Eggs in a Nest
This healthy breakfast can literally be made in 30 seconds! You’ll be getting protein and some fiber if you use whole wheat bread, making this breakfast better than most of the greasy things available in the cafeteria. (via Brit + Co)
Taco Bell Vegan Crunchwrap
If you have access to a stove and want to try your hand at something a little more challenging, make your own Taco Bell Crunchwrap! It's got all your favorites like cheese, beef, lettuce, and tomatoes, but since you're making it at home, you get to choose what ingredients you skip — and which you add in. (recipe and image via The Edgy Veg/Brit + Co)
Cocoa Mocha
If you don’t have a coffee maker, but you do have a microwave, then you can make this frothy, delicious coffee with instant coffee and hot chocolate. Naturally we topped our beverage with marshmallows. (via Brit + Co)
PB&J Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are such an easy and delicious way to wake up in the morning. Plus, you can make these in bulk for a nutritious breakfast every day. (via )
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Our stomachs are grumbling just thinking about this colorful salad. (via Live Eat Learn)
Protein Packed Cookie Dough Bites
These are the *perfect* snacks for when you’re on-the-go. (via Chef Bai)
15 Minute Buddha Bowls
We love Buddha bowls. They are such an amazing way to incorporate whatever’s in your fridge into a fabulous meal, and are a perfect staple for busy college students. (via Live Eat Learn)
Vegetable Ramen
Okay, we’re not sure you can ever call those $1 packets of ramen a real meal, but adding a bunch of fresh vegetables to them sure helps their case! Fresh spinach, sliced cabbage and frozen peas are quick-cooking produce and can go in as soon as you stop boiling the noodles. (via Serious Eats)
Frozen Blueberry Bites
These are basically DIY Tru-Frus for a whole lot less, so you know we’ll be munching on these come dinnertime. (via Live Eat Learn)
Mac in a Mug
It doesn’t come out of a box or use mysterious cheese powder, but it does taste amazing! Bonus: It makes only one serving, so the eating-all-five-servings temptation is eliminated. (via The Better Martha)
Ramen Stir Fry
Skip the flavor packet this time around and turn your attention to that super cheap, pre-measured serving of quick-cooking noodles that you can do anything with! The twirly ramen noodles are fun to eat, and you can throw all kinds of veggies and spices into them. (via Soup Addict)
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Granola bars are an absolute lifesaver when you’re in a rush, but why are those little bars so expensive? For the college student on a budget, try these super delicious bars that are healthy for you and made in the microwave! (via Bakerita)
Waffle Maker Hash Browns
We had no idea there were so many uses for the waffle iron! Making hash browns in a waffle maker gives them the perfect amount of brown crispy goodness. (via Macheesmo)
Chocolate Muffin
If it’s called a muffin, we can eat it for breakfast, right? Right? (via Dessert With Benefits)
Microwave Salmon
Don’t hate it until you’ve tried it! We think you’ll be amazed by how good this salmon dinner turns out even in a microwave. (via Savory Sweet Life)
5-Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake
Grab a bowl and some over-ripe bananas (plus a few staple baking ingredients) for this champion breakfast, after-class snack, or late-night munchie. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Waffle Pizza
Don’t order in again. Pull out that waffle iron and try making a pizza crust! You could even have a mini pizza party with the roommates where everyone gets to pick a topping. (via Waffleizer)
Ramen Pad Thai
Get crazy with some Asian fusion and make pad Thai out of those old ramen noodles. Just add fish sauce, fresh lime and a handful of peanuts to the spice packet, and you’ve done some impressive ramen hacking. (via Serious Eats)
Falafel Waffles
These falafel-filled pita wedges are made in the waffle iron and make a great grab-and-go lunch for long days of classes. You can fill them with falafel and Greek yogurt and not worry about them dripping on your cute outfit like a traditional falafel wrap. (via Serious Eats)
Blueberry Muffin With Streusel Topping
Keep that summer lovin’ going just a little bit longer and make these glorious blueberry muffins in a mug. They’ll make your dorm room smell amazing, but that means you might have to share one with your roomie. And that cutie down the hall. (via Kirbie’s Cravings)
Chocolate Chip Cake
This delicious dessert is dangerously close to being classified as healthy, which means you might be tempted to make it often. (via Chocolate Covered Katie)
Cold Peanut and Coconut Ramen Salad
This noodle dish is somewhere between a Thai-style peanut dipping sauce and a cold sesame noodle salad. Just add peanut butter, chili sauce, garlic, cilantro and some coconut milk for a creamy, delicious noodle dish. (via Serious Eats)
Microwave Cherry Crisp
These individual crumbles only take 90 seconds to make in the microwave so you won’t have to take a super long study break! The cherries get nice and juicy, and there’s a buttery, sugary, oat topping that is just perfect. (via The Pretty Bee)
Mug Omelet
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and with a tasty omelette this easy to make, we think we might finally have time to enjoy that meal! Have fun experimenting with different flavor combos and add all kinds of meats and veggies for extra protein. (viaJust Putzing)
Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese
Who needs a panini maker when you can make delicious grilled sandwiches in your waffle iron! And trust us; eating a sandwich with little finger grooves is a lot of fun. (via Fifteen Spatulas)
Coffee Cup Quiche
A cute coffee cup is the perfect vessel for a quick meal like quiche. It takes only any ingredients you have on hand and a couple minutes of cooking time. (via St. Louis Today)
Microwave Berry Cobbler
Breakfast or dessert? You get to decide with this tasty cobbler that you can make in a couple minutes. Use fresh berries if you want, but frozen berries work just as well for those wintery cravings. (via Domestic Fits)
Minestrone Soup
Surprise! This soup was not made on a stove but was created in 10 minutes with the microwave. This hearty, fresh version of the Italian soup is packed with vegetables, beans and flavor for a meal that will get you through those math notes. (via Martha Stewart)
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This article was originally posted on August 9, 2022 but has been updated with additional recipes.
Header Image Courtesy of Luisa Brimble / Unsplash
