Easy Food for Students To Make

Being a student often means juggling lectures, assignments and an active social life, so it’s understandable that you can’t always find the time to cook. Despite these challenges, there are plenty of easy foods for students to make which can be beneficial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By cooking at home, you can control what goes into your meals, ensuring that you’re getting all of the nutrients you need to fuel both your brain and body. After all, a healthy brain can boost your concentration and overall well-being.

 

Whether you’re just starting out on your cooking journey or are looking for more student-friendly meals, we’ve compiled a list of ideas to keep you well-fed. From pasta classics to food to share with your flatmates, get a brief overview, ingredients list and an easy-to-follow set of instructions to get you started. With limited kitchen space and equipment needed, discover a range of delicious student meal ideas that are easy to prepare at uni.

 

Spaghetti bolognese is a student favourite for a reason. Not only is it simple to make, but it also provides a great balance of carbs, protein and vegetables. As it’s such a versatile meal, you can chop and change the ingredients as you please—you could even try adding celery or carrots. If you’re looking to save time throughout the week, you could even cook it in bulk and store it in your freezer to enjoy later—after all, nothing tastes as harty and homely as a good spaghetti bolognese does. The Italian dish takes just half an hour to cook but will be devoured in minutes. 

 

Ingredients:
Minced beef or vegetarian mince
Onion 
Garlic
Chopped tomatoes
Tomato paste
Dried oregano
Dried basil
Spaghetti
Cheese (Optional)
Garlic Bread (Optional)
 

Method:
Brown minced beef or vegetarian mince, add onions, garlic, chopped tomatoes, and herbs, and simmer. Serve over cooked spaghetti with a sprinkle of cheese, not forgetting the garlic bread. 

 

Another easy food for students to make is pasta bake. This dish is customisable, so you can include extra vegetables, like peppers and spinach, or exclude meat/meat substitutes if you want. The great thing about a pasta bake is that you can even enjoy the leftovers in days to come so that you can save time on tomorrow’s lunch and dinner too! Taking just forty minutes to prep and cook, this pasta bake recipe is certainly a crowd-pleaser.

 

Ingredients:
Pasta
Tomato or cream sauce
Vegetables of your choice
Meat or meat substitute
Cheese
 

Method:
Cook pasta and mix it with your sauce of choice. Add in your vegetables and meat/meat substitute and top with cheese. Bake until the cheese is golden brown and enjoy!

 

3. Jacket Potato 

Jacket potatoes are the epitome of comfort food and can be topped with a variety of ingredients to keep things refreshing. They’re easy to make and are perfect whatever the weather. For cold, rainy days, you could top it with butter, cheese and beans. And if it’s sunny? You can’t go wrong with tuna and a side salad! Whether it’s lunch or dinner, you can enjoy a baked potato in less than one hour. 
 

Ingredients:
Potatoes
Butter 
Toppings
 

Method:
Start by piercing a few holes in your potato and bake in the oven until the skin is crispy. Whilst your potatoes are cooking, you can start to prep your toppings. 

 

An omelette is another of the quick student meals to be made and can be loaded with your favourite ingredients, making them ideal for breakfast or brunch options. With egg for protein, cheese for dairy and a range of veg to choose from for added nutritional value, the meal is a great way to start your day and takes just ten minutes to prepare.

 

Ingredients:
Eggs
Cheese
Ham
Peppers
Spinach
Mushrooms
 

Method:
Whisk your eggs and pour them into a medium-heat pan. Add your fillings of choice and cook until set. Top with salt and pepper to taste.

 

5. Enchiladas

Enchiladas are a flavourful, filling option that’s easy to make in bulk and perfect for sharing. If you’re living with a flatmate in your student housing London, why not invite them to share your creation? This Mexican dish takes just thirty minutes to cook.
 

Ingredients:
Tortillas
Cooked chicken or tofu
Enchilada sauce
Onions
Peppers
Cheese
 

Method: 
Add your cooked chicken and veg to half of the enchilada sauce into a pan and simmer. Fill your tortillas with the mixture, roll up and squash them into a baking pan. Cover the wraps with the other half of your enchilada sauce and top with cheese. Bake until golden brown. 

 

Our last easy food for students to make is stir fry. Despite its deliciousness, stir-fries are actually one of the most simple recipes for students to make. Not only is it packed with the vegetables of your choice, but there are also so many flavours of sauces you can use, so you’ll never get bored! Whether you use chicken or a meat alternative, you can enjoy this dish in just 20 minutes. To save time, you can even buy pre-chopped stir fry veg from your local supermarket.

 

Ingredients:
Meat or tofu
Stir fry sauce of your choice
Noodles 
Vegetables
 

Method:
Add a dash of oil to a pan and stir fry your veg and meat or tofu until well-cooked. Pour on your stir-fry sauce and simmer until warmed through. Serve over cooked noodles.

 

There you have it! Six of the best uni student meal ideas for you to try out. With this selection of easy food for students to make, you can enjoy a variety of delicious, nutritious meals that fit your busy schedule. From classic dishes like spaghetti bolognese and pasta bake to quick options like omelettes and stir fry, these student meal ideas are designed to keep you well-fed and energised. Remember, a healthy diet contributes to a healthy mind, so take a short amount of time to prepare these simple meals and enjoy the benefits. Happy cooking!

 

If you’re looking to secure your student accommodation spot in London, check out what’s on offer at Novel.