38 College & Dorm-Friendly Recipes
These classic and comfort food eats are better than any cheat sheet. 😜
College can be an incredible time in a young person’s life. It’s often the first time they’ve been on their own, free to make their own choices, to do whatever they want, whenever they want. It can be empowering to some and overwhelming to others, especially when it comes to figuring out what to eat and how to cook it. No matter how you (or your recent high school grad) are feeling about it, we’ve got inspiring recipes for you—everything from comfort food to staples, from breakfast to dinner. Check out our list of 38 college food recipes and get excited—you might just discover some favorites you’ll make over and over again.
Learning to juggle a whole new class and life schedule all on your own can be tough, so we’ve included some easy recipes here that make the most of simple ingredients and cooking methods, like our TikTok ramen (seriously, get on the everything bagel seasoning train), our black bean tostadas, our mug brownie, or our flatbread pizza. Other recipes, like our PB&J overnight oats or our egg muffins, take a bit of forethought, but once you’ve made them, you’ll be set for breakfasts all week long.
Speaking of being set for the whole week, it can be annoying to always have to spend mental energy on figuring out what to eat. That’s part of the plight of being an adult, so set yourself up for success by learning to meal prep. Set aside time for cooking a few times a week, and make recipes (or components of recipes) you can eat in the days to come. Check out our warm tahini ramen noodles, our sheet-pan chicken fajitas, our black bean and corn salad, our breakfast burritos (you can freeze them!), our chicken salad sandwich, or our sheet pan sausage & vegetables for ideas. Invest in some good reusable containers (or just use leftovers from takeout!), then fill them up. You’ll always have something tasty to grab, which is one less stressful thing off your plate.
Everyone in college gets homesick at one point or another, and we think the best way to combat it is to make comfort foods that remind you of home. We’ve included some of our favorites, like spaghetti & meatballs, meatloaf, mac & cheese, and grown-up spaghetti-Os, but ask your families for theirs before you head off to college, then make them whenever you could use a boost. These recipes often make a ton of food, so you can make some new friends by sharing them with dorm-mates who could use a bit of comfort too.
Want more easy recipe inspiration? Check out our best beginner friendly recipes for two (great for date night!), our top healthy lunches, and our favorite no-bake desserts.
Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
For these fajitas you simply toss all of the ingredients—chicken and vegetables—in an easy marinade of heart-healthy avocado oil and taco spices like cumin and chili powder and then bake it all together on one sheet pan. 😍 Serve with tortillas and guac for the easiest dinner ever.
Get the Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe.
Breakfast Burritos
There's no ONE right way to make a breakfast burrito, but if you follow our easy rules, you're guaranteed perfect results (that can cure any hangover!) every time.
Get the Breakfast Burritos recipe.
French Bread Pizza
Craving homemade pizza, but don’t want to deal with finicky pizza dough? We get it, that stuff can be tricky. Skip it altogether, and grab the nearest loaf of French bread instead. The loaf makes for a delicious pizza “crust” that will get crispy on the outside while staying nice and soft on the inside. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
Get the French Bread Pizza recipe.
Brownie In A Mug
Got an urgent brownie craving while doing some late night studying? This easy mug brownie is ultra-fudgy and ready in minutes. It's rich enough for two people, but it's okay not to share. 😏
Get the Brownie In A Mug recipe.
Black Bean And Corn Salad
This easy salad is full of protein and flavor and comes together quickly. Eat it on its own or with tortilla chips, tucked into tacos or burritos, or mixed with rice. The honey-lime dressing is killer on everything.
Get the Black Bean And Corn Salad recipe.
TikTok Ramen
Have fun customizing these ramen noodles with your favorite veggies and toppings. Try using frozen peas or halved snow peas in place of the bell pepper and carrot. Skip the egg and top with seared chicken or tofu, and try the whole thing topped with a smattering of everything bagel seasoning.
Get the TikTok Ramen recipe.
Warm Tahini Ramen Noodles
This quick and satisfying meal lands somewhere between savory instant ramen and creamy peanut noodles. Throw in your favorite raw veggies for a dish that's healthy, filling, and delicious. (The trifecta!) For a little extra oomph, whisk in part of a ramen flavor packet little by little, tasting and adjusting along the way.
Get the Warm Tahini Ramen Noodles recipe.
Grown-Up Spaghetti-Os and Meatballs
Black Bean Tostadas
With only 5 ingredients, these black bean tostadas are the easiest and fastest meal to throw together. You can always add on additional toppings like corn salsa, avocado ranch, or endless crunchy veggies like radishes or pickled red onions, but here we keep things simple.
Get the Black Bean Tostadas recipe.
Best Classic Meatloaf
Meatloaf is an old-school recipe that everyone should know how to make. It might not be the sexiest piece of food, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and damn, is it delicious—especially in a sandwich the next day OR with a fried egg on top!
Get the Best Classic Meatloaf recipe.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are a meal prepper's dream, perfect for a busy college student: All you do is stir together ingredients in a large bowl, let them set overnight, and then divvy up portions for the week. This PB&J twist tastes just like your favorite sandwich—top it off with a drizzle of melty peanut butter if you wanna feel a little indulgent.
Get the Peanut Butter Overnight Oats recipe.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
If you're looking for a super-simple, comforting, no-frills bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, you've come to the right place. And if you're feeling adventurous, it's also a great jumping-off point for your own version of this classic dish! Get creative with different homemade or store-bought pasta sauce and meatballs.
Get the Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe.
Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
These ham and cheese pinwheels are made easy using store-bought crescent roll dough. They're chock-full of melty cheese and savory-sweet ham, topped with fresh parsley and toasty poppy seeds for texture and flavor. Eat them for an on-the-go breakfast, lunch, or snack, or bring them as an appetizer to your next college party.
Get the Ham & Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
No-Boil Baked Chicken Pasta
An ode to baked ziti, this dish is amped up with chicken and spinach and features fun, twirly fusilli pasta rather than ziti. Unlike most baked pasta dishes, you'll skip the pot of water and instead just add more water to the baking dish. Not only does this cut down on dishes, the hands-off approach adds a little breathing room to dinnertime. Win win!
Get the No-Boil Baked Chicken Pasta recipe.
Flatbread Pizza
Homemade pizza is super-delicious, but it takes a bit of time and special attention. These flatbread pizzas come together MUCH faster, and they're just as cheesy and flavorful as the classic version. 😍
Get the Flatbread Pizza recipe.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is a quick and delicious way to transform leftovers into something greater than the sum of its parts. Though we sometimes think of certain ingredients being typical (eggs, garlic), the only things you need to make fried rice are heat, rice, and oil. Anything else you add is up to you!
Get the Fried Rice recipe.
3 Cheese Mac & Cheese
This foolproof, homemade mac & cheese recipe is the only one you'll ever need. It starts on the stovetop, then is transferred to a baking dish and topped with panko bread crumbs that makes it *chef's kiss*.
Get the 3 Cheese Mac & Cheese recipe.
Everything Is Optional Chicken Noodle Soup
Anything goes in this comforting chicken noodle soup recipe. All you need is to fill in the blanks of this formula with your favorite ingredients, or simply with whatever you currently have on hand in your college kitchen—no additional shopping trip required!
Baked Feta Pasta
This TikTok-famous recipe is genius—it's super-easy (even if you're not an expert cook) and is fancy enough for date night, but chill enough for mid-week dinner. 😍
Get the Baked Feta Pasta recipe.
Microwave Baked Potato
Is there anything more perfect than a baked potato? Maybe only one made in the microwave instead of the oven. Topped with all your favorite ingredients, they're incredible for every meal of the day. More a fan of sweet potatoes? You can make those in a microwave too!
Get the Microwave Baked Potato recipe.
