Best Easy Meals For College Students

Yep, it’s official. It’s getting to that time in the school year when I am starting to wear out. I understand the struggle of managing school, a job, and a social life and then on top of that, trying to carve out time to make meals! However, eating well is essential for maintaining your health and well-being, especially during these busy and stressful times. Whether you are living in a dorm room with limited facilities, or are living off campus with a full kitchen, these recipes are designed to help you! I believe cooking shouldn’t be a dreaded everyday experience, it should be enjoyable and rewarding! This page is focused on helping busy college students navigate the struggles of finally cooking on their own. It can be a scary transition when you are used to surviving off your mom’s home-cooked meals or cafeteria food! So if you are tired of living off of instant noodles, processed snacks, and microwavable meals, you came to the right place! Get ready to impress your roommates, friends, and family with your newfound culinary skills. Here I have crafted a full day’s worth of my favorite go-to recipes that are easy to make when you are in a time crunch. 



 

Breakfast Vegetable Egg Scramble

We all want to start off our mornings energized and ready to brave the day. It can be tempting to grab a bar or simply skip breakfast all together when you are running out the door to class. In reality, most protein bars and prepackaged snacks are filled with added sugars and ingredients. To start your morning off right you want a dish that is packed with protein and nutrients, and that will give you long-lasting energy throughout a busy school day. A vegetable egg scrabble is a simple healthy way to get a kick start to your day. 

To make a vegetable egg scramble, you’ll need some basic ingredients: eggs, vegetables, and a few seasonings. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ bell pepper, diced
  • ½ an onion, diced
  • 1 cup of spinach, chopped
  • ¼ cup parmesan 
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • Avocado slices, for serving 
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.
  3. Beat the eggs in a bowl with a fork until the yolks and whites are combined.
  4. Add the chopped spinach to the skillet and stir until wilted.
  5. Pour the beaten eggs into the skillet and stir constantly until they are fully cooked and scrambled.
  6. Season with salt and pepper, and an optional pinch of red pepper flakes. 
  7. Top off with some parmesan cheese and enjoy! 

As a busy college student, it can be challenging to find the time to make a healthy and satisfying breakfast before rushing off to class or work. However, a vegetable egg scramble is an excellent option for students who want to start their day off right with a nutritious meal. This scramble is a quick and easy breakfast option that can be prepared in just a few minutes. You can customize the scrabble to your liking, by adding or subtracting ingredients! I make this weekly and am constantly substituting our different veggies such as zucchini, tomatoes, green onions, etc! It is so flavorful and keeps me energized throughout the day! Some weeks I will even pre-cut my vegetables, so I can simply throw them into the pan and then add the eggs! This saves time in the mornings when I am running out the door. 

 

Meal prep: 2 minutes   Cook time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1



Peanut Butter Rice Cake Snack

This midday snack is quick and easy to make. All you need is 5 simple ingredients! Using a rice cake as a base is a healthy alternative to bread, considering each rice cake is only 35 calories. Packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, this snack is perfect for anyone looking to stay energized throughout the day.

Ingredients:

  • Rice cake
  • Half a banana
  • A spoonful of peanut butter 
  • Chia seeds
  • Honey

Instructions: 

  1. Grab a rice cake and spread a spoonful of peanut butter on top.
  2. Slice half of a banana into thin rounds and place them on top of rice cake.
  3. Sprinkle chia seeds on top.
  4. Drizzle honey on top and enjoy! 

This snack is tasty and super easy to make. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty. You can whip it up in just a few minutes using ingredients you probably already have on hand! The chia seeds are a great addition, considering they are high in fiber, which is essential for maintaining digestive health. Because they are high in fiber, chia seeds can help you stay full for longer, making this perfect for a midday snack! 

 

Meal prep: 5 mins   Cook time: 0 mins

Serves: 1

Vegan Pesto Hummus Wrap

Next up, is a simple vegan pesto and hummus wrap. This wrap can be made in 5 minutes and is so delicious! It is a good staple to bring with you on the go, or prepare it beforehand and be ready to go! This flavourful wrap is the perfect addition to your cookbook! 

Ingredients: 

  • Tortilla of your choice 

  • Hummus 

  • Vegan pesto 

  • Persian cucumber 

  • ½ an avocado

  • Salt and pepper

Instructions:  

  1. Heat your tortilla on a pan.

  2. Spread the hummus down the middle of the tortilla on one side.

  3. Spread some pesto on the other side down the middle. 

  4. Cut up your cucumber and avocado and add to the wrap.

  5. Add salt and pepper. 

  6. Wrap up like a burrito.

  7. Optional: add oil to a pan and cook wrap until golden on either side

This wrap is completely customizable, you can add protein, more vegetables, etc. The opportunities are endless! It’s the perfect on-the-go meal and has zero cook time! On a busy school day, I love being able to bring this wrap to class or whip one up as I am running out the door! Another alternative to this wrap is a salad wrap, such as a caesar salad wrap. You can simply make any salad of your liking, and wrap it up! This elevates just a simple salad, while still being a healthy option! 

 

Meal Prep: 5 mins   Cook time: 0

Serving Size: 1

Mediterranean Bowl

For dinner, we will prepare a Mediterranean bowl. This flavorful dish is packed with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals, making it an excellent choice for a quick balanced meal. 

Let’s start with the ingredients. For this recipe, you will need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of quinoa
  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 cucumber, halved
  • 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
  • A scoop of tzatziki/ dill dressing
  • A handful of spinach 
  • 3 tsp of olive oil
  • Paprika
  • Onion powder
  • Cuman
  • Citrusy garlic seasoning (optional) 

Instructions: 

  1. First, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. As you are waiting for the oven to heat up, drain and rinse your can of chickpeas. Next, spread them out on a tray and season in olive oil, paprika, and onion powder. Then place in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until crispy. 
  2. Add one cup of quinoa and 1 ½ cups of water into a saucepan. Let the water come to a boil. Once the water is at a boil, bring it to a simmer and stir occasionally. Cook until all of the water is absorbed. 
  3. While the quinoa is cooking, cut up your chicken breasts into cubes and place them into a mixing bowl. Add a teaspoon of olive oil, and a dash of paprika, onion powder, cumin, and citrusy garlic seasoning (optional.) Add the chicken pieces to a pan with some more olive oil and cook for about 7 minutes, until each side is golden brown. 
  4. Cut up your cucumber and vegetables into small pieces and set aside your feta and spinach. 
  5. To assemble the bowl start with a bed of quinoa followed by a handful of spinach and a scoop of chickpeas. Top with sliced red bell pepper and cucumber, drizzle your choice of tzatziki sauce over the top and sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.
  6. Serve and enjoy! 

This Mediterranean bowl is a quick, healthy delicious meal and it’s a great way to incorporate fresh, whole ingredients into your diet. It is a go-to meal for me, as a college student, and is great for meal prepping if you double the recipe! You can make it your own and sub for different carbs, vegetables, protein, and healthy fat, which are all components of a balanced meal. The opportunities are endless!

 

Prep time: 7 minutes   Cook time: 20 minutes

Serves: 2 people 



Peanut Butter Oat Cups

Craving a sweet treat? These no-bake peanut butter oat cups are a delicious and easy recipe that will diminish your sweet craving! This dessert is perfect for peanut butter and chocolate fans and is great for when you are in a rush! This recipe makes a dozen cups so you can have leftovers in your freezer for later! 

Ingredients:

Oat Layer

  • 2 cups of oats
  • ½ cup of honey
  • 1/3 cup of all-natural peanut butter

Chocolate Layer

  • 6 oz of dark chocolate 
  • 2 teaspoons of coconut oil

Peanut butter Layer  

  • ½ cup of all-natural peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon of coconut oil

Instructions: 

  1. Line a metal muffin pan with cupcake liners
  2. First, mix together the oat layer. Add the oats, honey, and peanut butter to a bowl and stir together until combined. Then scoop about 2 tablespoons of oats into the bottom of the muffin tin and press them down. 
  3. Next, mix together the chocolate layer. Microwave the chocolate and coconut oil in 20-second increments and stir until combined. 
  4. Scoop about 2 teaspoons of the melted chocolate and add it on top of the oat layer and smooth over the surface. Then place the pan in the freezer for 5 minutes.
  5. Lastly, make the peanut butter layer. Add your peanut butter and coconut oil into a bowl and microwave for 15 seconds. Stir until combined. Then add about 2 teaspoons of the peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate layer. 
  6. Place the muffin tin into the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. 
  7. Remove the cups from the muffin tin and enjoy! (You can also freeze for future use!)

These oat cups are the perfect healthy way to quench your sweet tooth cravings. No need to run to the store and buy candy, when you can make these at home without the use of the oven! These are a go-to for me when I need a quick treat! These oat cups use just 5 regular ingredients that you probably already have at home and if you freeze them, are a long-lasting treat!

 

Prep time: 35 minutes   Cook time: 0 minutes

Serves: 12



Thank you for taking the time to stop by! I hope that all of these recipes helped fulfill your culinary needs in an efficient and healthy manner! I understand that cooking can be intimidating, especially after having meals prepared for you your whole life up until this point! At the end of the day, cooking should be fun, easy, and enjoyable. I hope that this post inspired you to experiment with recipes of your own, or take these recipes and incorporate them into your weekly meal prepping and tailor them to your liking! Overall, cooking as a college student doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. With the right recipes and a little bit of planning, you can enjoy delicious and healthy meals that will help you power through your busy days. By making the most of simple ingredients and preparing meals in advance, you can save time and money while still enjoying tasty and healthy meals. Don’t forget to sign up for my E-newsletter for new weekly recipes and tips, happy cooking!