50+ Easy College Meals Perfect for Poor College Students

College students don’t have time for intricate meals – here are 50+ easy college recipes students will actually want to make – breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert ideas!

College can be rough when it comes to eating.

I’ve heard countless stories of people who lived off of cream of wheat for weeks at a time, or hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.

Not exactly healthy, right?

I was fortunate enough to always have enough money for rent and food, and I loved to cook and bake, so I made it a priority to make good food (past roommates will say I was the reason they gained the infamous Freshman Fifteen). 

However, I know that my situation isn’t always typical.

You may have super demanding classes, a job, and an intense social life that could prevent you from making a gourmet meal every day.

So, for all you busy college students (or anyone else on the go), here are 50+ easy recipes to have on hand.

I’ve gathered together some delicious main dishes, desserts, snacks, and more. And, if you make enough, most of these would be great to eat as leftovers!

If you love this collection, pin the main photo above, but if you’d like to save an individual recipe, go to the website it is from and pin it from there.

Meal Planning

Although I share a great variety of recipes below…sometimes it can still feel really overwhelming to actually decide what to cook and what ingredients to get. 

So if you are someone who just wants to be told what to do (or you are a parent of a college student like this), I first want to suggest the Six Sisters’ Menu Plan service. 

This is something I personally use myself, and not only are the meals very budget-friendly, but they provide you with a grocery list each week. 

I combine that with using Shipt Grocery Delivery, and I save a ton of money. 

The meal plans are under $10 a month, and they have a traditional one, a gluten-free one, and a healthy one. The small meal plans would be perfect for any college student!

Click here to browse meal plans

originally posted in 2015; updated in 2019. 

Microwave Meals

Here are some AMAZING tools you can use in the microwave to make cooking even easier that every college student should have (some of these would work great with some of the college recipes below!):

• Ceramic Egg Cooker (great for mug cakes, too).
• Microwave Egg Cooker
• Micro-Cooker (I LOVE this for veggies)
• Microwave Popcorn Maker (my personal favorite!)
• Microwave Rice Maker
• Pasta Cooker
• Microwave Bacon Cooker

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Recipes for College Students

Main Dish Recipes

 Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches by Like Mother Like Daughter

Individual Baked Pasta

10 Minute Microwave Enchiladas

English Muffin Pizzas

One Pot Pizza Pasta Casserole by Clarks Condensed

Tuna Casserole by Like Mother Like Daughter

Beef and Broccoli Bowl by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks

Buffalo Macaroni Cheese by Chocolate Moosey

Buffalo Chicken Tacos by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks

 15 Minute Calzones by Wine & Glue

Skillet Enchiladas by Clarks Condensed

Buffalo Chicken Dip Quesadillas by Chocolate Moosey

Chicken Teriyaki Pork Chops by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks

Lazy Poutine by Cook the Story

Skillet Lasagna by Clarks Condensed

 Grilled Veggie Ciabatta by Farm Fresh Feasts

 Baked Swai with Pesto and Ricotta by Farm Fresh Feasts

French Dip Sandwich by Snappy Gourmet

Spinach Artichoke Pesto Pasta by Farm Fresh Feasts

Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes by Blueberries and Blessings

Salsa Roast Burritos by Java Cupcake

Carne Picata Burritos by Blueberries and Blessings

Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches by Home Cooking Memories

Easy Stromboli by Modern Christian Homemaker

Veg Potato Goulash by Masala Herb

 Healthier Santa Fe Pie by Shockingly Delicious

Easy Weeknight Ravioli Lasagna by Alida’s Kitchen

Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles) by Chocolate Moosey

Pan Fried Chicken Breast

Chicken Stir Fry Lettuce Wraps by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks

 Homemade Microwave Lasagna by the Noble Pig

One Pot Pasta by Modern Christian Homemaker

Pasta Pizza Pie by Alida’s Kitchen

Peanut Udon Noodles by Oh My Veggies

 Microwave Chile Relleno

Sweet and Crunchy Chicken Tenders by Home Cooking Memories

Teriyaki Kabobs by Modern Christian Housemaker

Brown Rice Edamame Pineapple Mug Meal

Tortellini Soup by Alida’s Kitchen

  Appetizers and Side Dishes

Roasted Potatoes with Fennel Pollen by The Tomato Tart

Cheesy Pepperoni Dip by Noble Pig

Lemon Pasta Sauce by Masala Herb

Armadillo Potatoes by Modern Christian Homemaker

Plum Caprese by The Tomato Tart

Wedge Salad by Shockingly Delicious

Blender Salsa

5 Minute Tomato Basil Soup

Poor Man’s Burrito by Shockingly Delicious

 Edamole by Cook the Story

 Sauteed Beat Greens and Spring Onions by Farm Fresh Feasts

Breakfast and Snacks

Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Muffins by Simply Southern Baking

1 Minute Cinnamon Apple Muffins

Microwave French Toast

Cinnamon Roll Waffles by Modern Christian Homemaker

3 Ingredient Crescent Sausage Bites by The Kitchen is My Playground

Single Serve Banana Bread

Banana Buttermilk Muffins by Alida’s Kitchen

Coconut Sesame Granola by The Tomato Tart

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins by Slap Dash Mom

 Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Dip by The Kitchen is My Playground

Sweet Treats

3-2-1 Magic Mug Cake

Easy Homemade Chocolates by Masala Herb

Fudgy Strawberry Brownies Nachos by Simply Southern Baking

Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake by Keep It Sweet Desserts

Pots de Chocolat by Cook the Story

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Cookies by Wine & Glue

Chocolate Covered Cookie Butter Pretzels by Keep It Sweet Desserts

Microwave Fudge

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie by The Kitchen is My Playground

Chewy No-Bake Thin Mint Bars by Keep It Sweet Desserts

Candy bar Stuffed Rice Krispies by Inside BruCrew Life

Butter Pecan Caramel Rice Krispies Treats by Simply Southern Baking

Brown Sugar Sticky Bun Popcorn by Simply Southern Baking

Brownie Batter Cookie Dough Popcorn by Inside BruCrew Life

Scotcheroos by Like Mother Like Daughter

No Bake Cheesecake by Like Mother Like Daughter

1-minute Dixie Cup Cakes

Other Mosts You May Enjoy:

• 25+ Single Serve Desserts
• The 30+ Best Instant Pot Recipes for College Students