You may think living in a college dorm means the end of good cooking and a constant diet of bad cafeteria food and Pop Tarts, but if you’ve got a waffle maker, a microwave and a mug, you can turn into a pretty incredible home cook with the right recipes — and we have 25 of ’em for you! Most of these dishes are ready within 10 minutes, making them perfect for whipping up in between classes or for late-night study breaks. From ramen hacks to meals in a mug, you’ll be blown away by the gourmet meals you can make right from your dorm room.
1. 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)
2. 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)
3. 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)
4. 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)
5. 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)
6. Chocolate Muffin: If it’s called a muffin, we can eat it for breakfast, right? Right? (via Dessert With Benefits)
7. 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)
8. Mexican Corn in a Cup: Mexican corn is a fabulous combo of corn, a dash of cream, some cayenne pepper and lots of salty queso fresca. You could eat this on its own or nuke some quesadillas for a mini Mexican fiesta! (via Little Inspiration)
9. 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)
10. 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)
11. 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)
12. Taco in a Bag: You can only eat at Taco Bell so many times before you start craving some homemade Mexican food. Try this easy “taco” that won’t even get any dishes dirty, making clean up a breeze. (via Betty Crocker)
13. 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)
14. 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)
15. 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)
16. 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)
17. 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)
18. 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)
19. 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)
20. 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)
21. 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. (via Just Putzing)
22. 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)
23. 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)
24. 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)
25. 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)
How adventurous do you get when you’re cooking for one? Would you try a microwave meal in your dorm room? Let us know in the comments below!