Cooking on campus can be tricky. Not only are most students out, living on their own for the first time in their life. But they’re also the years when you have to learn how to cook for yourself (or else risk spend all of your money dining out or running up the tab on your meal plan). Besides, cooking is a great skill to learn and will benefit you for the rest of your life.
There’s only one problem that you face when you’re cooking in a dorm room, and that’s the lack of a well laid out kitchen. In fact, if you’re like most college students, you’re probably working with only a mini fridge, a small sink, and a microwave. And if you’re really lucky, you might have a portable stovetop with a few pots and pans. But let’s assume that the most technologically advanced appliance you have is a microwave.
You might think that you’ll be resigned to eating cup of noodles and hastily thrown together PB&Js, but in actuality, you can do a lot with some choice ingredients and a microwave. Don’t believe us? Here’s three dorm room recipes you can try out today!
Spinach and Feta Mashed Potato
Baked potatoes can be easily cooked in the microwave, so it’s not surprise that making mashed potatoes can be easily cooked in one too. This recipe from BudgetBytes is perfect for students going back to school, as all of the ingredients can be easily stored in a mini fridge and the total recipe takes less than 20 minutes. It’s perfect for a hearty meal after class.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is an old standby, but there’s more than one way to spice it up and make it a little more appealing. Given that tuna is an easy food to store (and doesn’t even take up space in your fridge), it’s kind of ideal for college students. If you want something different, try out this Mediterranean Tuna Salad from A Pinch of Healthy for a quick dorm room meal that’s both simple and healthy.
Microwave Broccoli Risotto
Bet you never thought you could whip up a tasty bowl of risotto in a dorm room, but as long as you’ve got water, rice, and a microwave, you’re in luck. It may not be the best risotto of your life, but it’s pretty darn good. Add in some chopped broccoli and a few spices, and your roommates will be impressed with your culinary skills. Yummly has a fantastic broccoli risotto recipe that can be made in no time.
Do you have any tried and true dorm room recipes that you love? Did you have a favorite meal in college? Share it with us in the comments!
