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As a college student, it’s all about keeping things simple and efficient — including cooking your meals.
College is four years of studying, learning, and retaining information. Which also makes it the best time to pick up other lifelong skills like cooking!
Here we outline five quick and easy recipes to make as a college student.
1. Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Oatmeal for breakfast provides several benefits. It’s a nutritious and filling food that includes antioxidants and soluble fiber. For some people, it lowers cholesterol and helps them maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Pair the oats with peanut butter to boost the nutritional value.
Gather one cup of your favorite oats, one and ¾ cup water, and a pinch of salt. Grab two tablespoons of your favorite peanut butter and honey. Add two teaspoons of flaxseed and one teaspoon of cinnamon.
Boil the water and salt in a small saucepan and add the oatmeal. The oatmeal cooks fully in about five minutes. When it’s ready, the oatmeal is enough for two people.
In separate bowls, stir in half of the remaining ingredients and consume immediately. Apple slices give the oatmeal a nice crunch. Plus, peanut butter and apples taste great together.
2. One-Pan Pasta
Pasta is a college student staple because, well, it’s cheap.
The jury is still out on the health benefits of pasta. The carbs do benefit your brain and energy because they release in small increments. Yet, if you consume it often watch the portions.
You can dress up one-pan pasta dishes to your preference. If you’re trying to boost the health factor, add more veggies.
For this recipe, gather 12 ounces of your favorite pasta, cherry tomatoes, and four and ½ cups of water. Thinly slice two cups of onions, four cloves of garlic, and grate some parmesan cheese.
Add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, a couple of basil leaves, and two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Grab a pinch of salt and pepper too.
This pasta recipe requires you to boil all the ingredients from the beginning, except the parmesan cheese, basil leaves, and olive oil. Boiling takes about nine minutes. With a pair of tongs, flip the pasta frequently to ensure that it cooks evenly.
It makes four servings. After dividing the pasta, add the olive oil and cheese to each bowl. Garnish with basil.
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3. Mini Salsa Pizzas
Some people shy away from cooking pizzas at home because the dough poses a challenge. If you’re not ready to cook a fully authentic pizza, there are plenty of dough alternatives. For example, this recipe substitutes pizza dough with English muffins.
Split one English muffin. Add two tablespoons of shredded Italian blend cheese, two teaspoons of salsa, and one strip of chopped turkey bacon. (If you have pepperoni handy or other favorite toppings, substitute it for the turkey bacon.)
Preheat your apartment oven’s broiler for five minutes. Place all the ingredients on the English muffin. Fully spread the salsa first. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the salsa. Top with your favorite toppings.
Next, place the English muffin halves on a baking sheet and under the broiler. Remove when you see that the cheese melted. Enjoy immediately.
4. Slow Cooker Stew
One of the greatest cooking tools invented?
The slow cooker.
Here, we share a recipe for slow cooker stew. In reality, if you have access to a slow cooker you can make a ton of meals!
Besides stews, you can prepare soups, rice dishes, and your favorite chili.
For the slow cooker stew recipe, gather one pound of stew meat, two peeled and cubed potatoes, and three bay leaves. You’ll need one can of beef broth and V8 juice. Chop two celery ribs, two carrots, and one sweet onion.
Grab ½ teaspoon of salt, dried thyme, and chili powder. Add ½ cup of frozen corn and peas. Gather ¼ teaspoon of pepper, two tablespoons of cornstarch, and one tablespoon of cold water.
Place all the ingredients except the frozen corn and peas, cornstarch, and water in your slow cooker.
The stew cooks for seven to eight hours on low. When the meat is tender, toss out the bay leaves. Then add the cornstarch and water mixture, plus the peas and corn.
Cover the stew and let it continue cooking for another half hour. The goal is to wait until it thickens. In a three-quart slow cooker, the recipe nets five servings. So, you can enjoy it with friends.
5. Chocolate Cake in a Microwave
No meal is complete without dessert. If you’re craving chocolate cake, you only need your microwave, your favorite coffee mug, and a few fresh ingredients.
Gather three tablespoons of all-purpose flour, sugar, milk, vegetable oil, and chocolate chips. Next, round up two tablespoons of cocoa powder. Grab a pinch of salt, splash of vanilla extract, and a quarter teaspoon of baking powder.
Pour all the dry ingredients, except the chocolate chips, into your microwave-safe mug and mix thoroughly with a fork. Next, add the wet ingredients and blend until there are no lumps. Finish by mixing in the chips.
Place the 12-ounce mug in the microwave and cook for 90 seconds on high. Don’t go over 90 seconds. Overcooking will dry out the dessert. Wait two to three minutes before enjoying it.
Of course, you can stop by the market and buy a box of cake mix. Stopping by your favorite coffee shop or dessert place and buying a slice is another option.
However, this recipe comes in handy during late-night study sessions or when a sudden craving for chocolate kicks in.
Conclusion
It’s possible to eat good-for-you meals while in college. You only need some basic cookware essentials and a few minutes for each. Also, you’ll be consuming fresh ingredients and picking up another life skill.
Cooking for yourself during your college years is a great experience. It allows you to pick up basic food preparation skills and equipment.
When you’re ready to bump up your cooking skills a notch, there’s no shortage of videos and online tutorials that outline more recipes.
Author Bio:
Adam Marshall is a freelance writer who specializes in all things apartment organization, real estate, and college advice. He currently works with The Reserve at Greensboro to help them with their online marketing.
