Easy Student Meals

Are you heading off to uni this year and in need of easy student meals? I’ve got you, don’t worry!

It can be a daunting situation, having to cook for yourself full time. Particularly if you’ve not got much experience in the kitchen. But don’t worry, it’s a very normal thing to go through.

I won’t sugar coat it, your budget is going to be tight, you won’t have lots of fancy equipment to work with and you’ll probably get it wrong a bit (or maybe a lot!) But it’s entirely possible to make great tasting food from not a lot.

You just have to be smart about how you spend your money. Plan ahead, work out your meals in advance and write a list of the ingredients you need. Stick to the list as much as possible.

You’ll probably find it helpful to always have a few staple ingredients in your cupboards, that way you know you’ve always got something to cook (I’m thinking of those days when you’re too tired to go shopping and you just want a hot dinner).

Here are some of my easy student recipes, designed to be delicious without breaking the bank:

Breakfast/Snack Recipes For Easy Student Meals

You’ve heard people say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, sure. It’s not up to me to tell you when and how often to eat, but I do know that on days when you’ve maybe got a thick head from too much rose the night before, you need something satisfying to soak it all up in the morning.

Breakfast Potatoes This is a simple recipe for a hearty breakfast. It’s my best hangover cure. You can easily add extra/different vegetables – for instance, adding in the last of your spinach before it goes mouldy in the back of the fridge (been there…) just before you add the eggs in will give in an extra boost of nutrients.

Shakshuka If you’ve got the stomach for eggs early in the morning, this is a brilliant recipe that feels a little lighter. Serve it with bread and butter if you need a little extra, but it’s packed full of flavour and will set you up right for the day.

Cheese & Marmite Twists Not a breakfast, but a delicious and easy to make snack that will feel instantly comforting. All you need is a roll of puff pastry, which is usually about £1-£1.50, some cheese and marmite. If you don’t like marmite, you could swap it out for tomato puree to make pizza twists. Either way, the golden melted cheese will always put a smile on your face!

Cheap Uni Meals

Cassoulet Typical peasant food from France. When you’re exploring new recipes to try, look for the peasant food. This is often where you will find the most flavour at the lowest price. Cassoulet uses tinned white beans and a few humble herbs – you can add meat or not, depending on your preference – to create a stew-like dish that’s comforting and delicious.

Sausage Goulash Again, considered peasant food. Using paprika, goulash is a hearty stew recipe that can be served with rice, mash or buttered bread to create a warming, filling meal. This is a great recipe to batch cook and reheat as/when you need it in the week.

Lentil Dhal If you like things a little spicier, try making a lentil dhal. It’s not the most authentic recipe, but it will certainly fill you up! You can achieve great flavour with very simple ingredients and, if you like curry, it’s always worth having a pot of curry powder in the cupboard.

Stir Fry Possibly the quickest recipe I’ve ever made, this stir fry couldn’t get much easier. Use instant noodles and some veg that will cook quickly at high temperatures, like onions and peppers. You could very easily swap these out for other things like green beans, mangetout or carrots, if you prefer.

Frittata Eggs, potatoes and onion – that’s nearly all there is to it! Using a few very cheap, basic ingredients you can recreate a Spanish classic in your uni kitchen with ease. Just be sure to season it well – even if it’s with salt and pepper – as there’s nothing worse than bland eggs and potatoes!

Pasta Recipes For Student Cooking

Pasta was and still is an ingredient I never let myself run out of. It’s so easy to use it with two or three other ingredients to create a tasty meal in minutes. I haven’t included it in this list, but if you can make a superb dish in under 15 minutes using: spaghetti, olive oil, garlic and chilli. That’s it. Here are some more of my best simple pasta recipes that are perfect for student meals:

Pesto Pasta If you’re big on bold flavour but don’t want to be stood over a stove for hours on end, pesto pasta is the way forward.

If you do like pesto, you must learn How To Make Pesto at home. That way, you can whip it up in an instant and trust me – it tastes so much better than the stuff that comes in jars.

Leftover Pasta If you’re unsure how to use up all the leftover veg at the end of the week… chuck it in a pasta recipe. Honestly, works every time.

Easy Orzo Another simple recipe that uses minimal ingredients to create something super tasty. It also lends itself to being made in a big portion of so if you wanted to cook for your whole flat, try something like this.

3 Ingredient Creamy Pasta Yes, you read that right, only three ingredients go in to making this creamy, cheesy dish. It’s particularly great for the colder months when you need something comforting. Top tip: use the supermarket own-brand cream cheese to make it cheaper.

There you have it, a little round-up of some really easy student meals to help you on your way this September. If you need cookbook recommendations, help with kitchen equipment, or want to ask questions about cooking away from home for the first time – reach out to me!

Happy Cooking X