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16 Simple Meal Ideas for College Students

College routine can be very demanding. You may have to juggle between a lot of different tasks and keep up with your studies as well. Amid this hectic routine, you would rarely find time to do house chores that includes preparing yourself a meal. 

As a college student, you would probably be living alone by yourself in an apartment or sharing a dorm room with a person. This routine may require you to cook for yourself and you need to look for some quick and easy recipes. 

Well, this article has some useful information for you. Here we have put together a list of the 16 simple meal ideas for college students that can be instantly prepared and enjoyed.

Chickpea Curry

Chickpeas are packed with all the essential nutrients that you need in your daily diet. Luckily, there are many different ways to prepare them. The best and most convenient way to enjoy them is in the form of curry. 

You can mix other ingredients as well, according to your preferred flavors and taste. How about trying a bowl of hearty and extremely delicious chickpeas with curried spinach? This vegan dish is not only packed with flavors but also very healthy and filling.

Pesto Mac and Cheese

One of the most delicious ways and simple meals for college students to get their daily dose of vegetables is by preparing and having Pesto Mac and Cheese. It is a creamy delight that can be prepared in no time. You can use the simplest of ingredients to prepare this creamy mac and cheese. 

You can enjoy your meal as a snack while watching your favorite movie or your lunch and dinner. It would be a perfect fit for your dietary needs, especially when you are short on time.

Burrito Bowl

Well, you could never go wrong with a bowl full of all your favorite burrito ingredients. Yes, you can surely add Chipotle Burrito Bowl to your monthly or weekly meal plan as a college student. It is very satisfying and you can mix and top it up with your favorite vegetables and meat.

Some people like it the spicy way, so you can always add any spice you like to give it the flavor you want. A burrito bowl is a hearty and fulfilling meal in its simplest form that is very convenient to prepare.

Quesadillas

Tortilla, cheese, and all the goodness perfectly infused. Quesadillas is one of the best simple meals for college students. Packed with deliciousness and health, this snack gives you an amazingly delicious mix of vegetables and your favorite spices. 

The recipe for a quesadilla includes onions, beans, and obviously a lot of cheese. It is the perfect go-to meal, which promises flavors, fiber, and a good dose of energy. You can also include meat in Quesadillas if you like to.

Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese

If you are a fan of cheese, then you should know that it is a highly preferred comfort food, especially among students. Infusing it within a variety of different recipes to consume it in a healthy and more appropriate way would be a good idea.

Take the Spinach and Feta Grilled cheese for example. It is one of the tastiest recipes that you can prepare instantly. You can add many different ingredients to make it taste the way you like. Think of adding a little garlic, some grilled cheese, feta, and of course a lot of other vegetables along with spinach.

Overnight Oats

You can also consider trying different healthy and tasty recipes of overnight oats. They are very rich in fiber and protein to keep you going the whole day. Overnight oats can also be enjoyed in breakfast as they are packed with a lot of energy and essential nutrients.

Many people season them with different types of fruits to enhance their taste and texture. You can enjoy them with bananas, blueberries, yogurt, and a lot of different ingredients.

Chicken Provolone

One of the easiest and most fancy-looking dishes that you should try is Chicken Provolone. As the name suggests, it is made with chicken, provolone cheese, spinach, fresh basil, and a variety of other ingredients. 

It is going to be a very healthy and delicious meal for college students. If you are getting your chicken provolone’s crust stuffed with herbs, it is going to enhance its flavor. It is a very simple recipe that you can even try during a very busy schedule.

Chili Garlic Shrimp

This is a very quick and easy prawn recipe that is loaded with a variety of different flavors, among which chili and garlic are the most prominent ones. The recipe originally belongs to Asia, so it is often called Asian Chili Garlic Shrimp.

The flavor of honey makes them deliciously sweet. You can use oil or any other vegetable oil to prepare the recipe. Some people also prefer adding sesame oil to the dish to make it even more delicious and satisfying. To spice up things, you need to add sriracha and chili flakes.

Baked Salmon

You would never get enough of baked salmon, especially if you add honey and garlic to it. It is one of the best meal ideas for college students. The prep time of this dish is hardly a few minutes. You can also serve this dish as a part of a fancy dinner or even if you are planning for a wholesome weeknight meal.

Every time is a perfect time for baked salmon because it is so easy to maintain and packs some of the most essential nutrients. You can easily get it prepared even on a very busy weekday while taking care of your household chores and study-related tasks.

Quinoa Salad 

This could also make the day for a college student who is looking for a delicious and easy meal to prepare. The best part about preparing Quinoa Salad is that you can keep it in the fridge for around 3 to 5 days. The container having the salad should be tightly covered to keep the ingredients fresh.

You can enjoy your Quinoa Salad over a bed of green and leafy vegetables. The light and delightful texture of the salad will surely be a refreshing addition to your dinner after a long and tiring day at the college. Add tomatoes, onions, or any other vegetables you like.

Tacos

There are many different ways to prepare tacos. This traditional Mexican dish can be enjoyed with both meat and chicken. Tacos are a good source of protein and very rich in fiber. The meat and cheese combination in tacos, which is topped with tortillas, is extremely delicious.

Since they are high in saturated fats, consume them in a moderate way to make them a part of your healthy diet. Tacos are usually with tortillas that have delicious toppings and fillings inside.

Microwave Omelet

Microwave Omelet or Omelet in a cup can be prepared in only a few minutes. It is a fun recipe that you can work on using different ingredients. Since eggs are a very good source of protein and other important nutrients, this quick and easy recipe is also very healthy.

To make your omelet even smoother in texture and more delicious in taste, you can consider adding milk to your recipe. You can do a lot of things like cheese and vegetables to your microwave omelet to make it more juicy and refreshing.

Chicken Wraps

This is another super easy recipe that is considered one of the best meal ideas for college students. It is an on-the-go fulfilling snack that you can enjoy anywhere. Add different types of spices to your recipe as well as lemon juice and ginger garlic paste to enhance its flavor.

All the filing then goes inside the tortilla. You can also add a variety of vegetables to make it a delicious as well as a wholesome meal. 

Bean And Cheese Burrito

Do you love bean and cheese burritos? Well, a lot of people do because they are very healthy and filling. The recipe is loaded with fiber-rich beans, which are also a great source of protein. This is also a very simple recipe that can be prepared in a few minutes.

You would surely fall in love with this recipe if you prepare it with creamy jalapeno sauce and nacho cheese scrumptiously wrapped in a tortilla. It’s one of the most delicious ways to get your necessary dose of calories for the day.

Baked Potatoes

One recipe that you just can’t ignore as a college student is baked potatoes. This meal can not only be instantly prepared but is also super filling. You can get your baked potatoes loaded with many different flavors to add a tantalizing variety to your food and make your boring meal exciting. 

Add cheese, vegetables, meat, and a whole lot of other ingredients to your baked potatoes and it would surely leave you craving for more. If you like giving some buttery and creamy twist to your recipe, try to fill your potatoes with some butter and top it up with sour cream.

One-Pot Pasta

Pasta in any form is a perfect option if you are looking for some quick and filling lunch or dinner. Prepared in a few minutes, one-pot pasta, which is also known as one-pan pasta, is one of the most delicious and simple meal ideas for college students. 

Like other recipes in this list, one-pot pasta can also be prepared in many different ways with a variety of ingredients and flavors. It can be prepared with both meat and vegetables, which makes it even a good option for veggie lovers.

Along with trying and enjoying the aforementioned simple and easy meals, as a college student, you should also try these amazing microwave recipes that are also delicious and healthy and can be prepared in a few minutes.

What do you think?

Written by Spencer K