33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (2024)

Say "so long" to mystery meats in the dining hall with these 33 easy (and delicious!) recipes.

A lot of these dishes are quick and easy to make, meaning they're perfect for whipping up in between classes or for late-night study breaks. They're colorful *and* delicious, and perfect for sharing with a roommate, BFF, or class crush. Ace these college recipes, from ramen hacks to meals in a mug, this semester!

What can I cook in a dorm?

The dorm room recipes you can make will depend on what your dorm offers. If you have a kitchen with a stove and oven, then that means you can do more baking and cooking than if you don't have either.

What food do most college students eat?

Trust us on this: college students right now eat a lot of pizza, sandwiches, and mac and cheese.

What are cheap dorm room recipes?

Unfortunately, there's a good chance that the cheapest dorm room recipes won't be very healthy (like pizza, pasta, and stovetop mac and cheese). But if you strategize your meal plan to include recipes that use the same ingredients, you'll save money! Great examples? Buying groceries to make sandwiches, buddha bowls, and salads all in the same week.

Sweetgreen Copycat Recipe

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (1)

Salads will always be a super easy dorm room recipe to make because you just get to throw together your favorite ingredients! This particular salad features chicken, rice, and potatoes, but you can also leave those off if you don't have time to cook. (image and recipe via Rachel Mansfield/Brit + Co)

10 Minute Risotto Cups
33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (2)

Forget standing over a stove for an hour, these delicious dinners are made in the microwave in less time than it takes to agree on what to watch on Netflix tonight. We tried a couple different flavor combos like butternut squash + sage and bacon + kale. (via Brit + Co)

Feta Fried Eggs

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (3)

This recipe is so easy, it's a no brainer! All you need is five ingredients: 1 egg, feta cheese, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and a tortilla. Boom, feta eggs. (image and recipe via Grace Elkus/Brit + Co)

Cinnamon Apple and Banana Oatmeal
33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (4)

Add fresh (easy) or frozen fruit (EASIER!) to your oatmeal to give it an extra boost. Plus, nothing is more warming than cinnamon oatmeal when that walk across the quad start to get chillier. (via Brit + Co)

Oatmeal Latte

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (5)

Image via Feel Good Foodie

This recipe is very versatile and very delicious. It combines combine oats, steamed milk, and coffee to fuel you. Sip it on your commute or with your breakfast for a tasty start to your morning. Here are some of our favorites! (via Brit + Co)

Eggs in a Nest

This healthy breakfast can literally be made in 30 seconds! You’ll be getting protein and some fiber if you use whole wheat bread, making this breakfast better than most of the greasy things available in the cafeteria. (via Brit + Co)

Taco Bell Vegan Crunchwrap

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (7)

If you have access to a stove and want to try your hand at something a little more challenging, make your own Taco Bell Crunchwrap! It's got all your favorites like cheese, beef, lettuce, and tomatoes, but since you're making it at home, you get to choose what ingredients you skip — and which you add in. (recipe and image via The Edgy Veg/Brit + Co)

Cocoa Mocha
33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (8)

If you don’t have a coffee maker, but you do have a microwave, then you can make this frothy, delicious coffee with instant coffee and hot chocolate. Naturally we topped our beverage with marshmallows. (via Brit + Co)

PB&J Overnight Oats

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (9)

Overnight oats are such an easy and delicious way to wake up in the morning. Plus, you can make these in bulk for a nutritious breakfast every day. (via )

Mexican Street Corn Salad

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (10)

Our stomachs are grumbling just thinking about this colorful salad. (via Live Eat Learn)

Protein Packed Cookie Dough Bites

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (11)

These are the *perfect* snacks for when you’re on-the-go. (via Chef Bai)

15 Minute Buddha Bowls

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (12)

We love Buddha bowls. They are such an amazing way to incorporate whatever’s in your fridge into a fabulous meal, and are a perfect staple for busy college students. (via Live Eat Learn)

Vegetable Ramen

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (13)

Okay, we’re not sure you can ever call those $1 packets of ramen a real meal, but adding a bunch of fresh vegetables to them sure helps their case! Fresh spinach, sliced cabbage and frozen peas are quick-cooking produce and can go in as soon as you stop boiling the noodles. (via Serious Eats)

Frozen Blueberry Bites

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (14)

These are basically DIY Tru-Frus for a whole lot less, so you know we’ll be munching on these come dinnertime. (via Live Eat Learn)

Mac in a Mug

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (15)

It doesn’t come out of a box or use mysterious cheese powder, but it does taste amazing! Bonus: It makes only one serving, so the eating-all-five-servings temptation is eliminated. (via The Better Martha)

Ramen Stir Fry

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (16)

Skip the flavor packet this time around and turn your attention to that super cheap, pre-measured serving of quick-cooking noodles that you can do anything with! The twirly ramen noodles are fun to eat, and you can throw all kinds of veggies and spices into them. (via Soup Addict)

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (17)

Granola bars are an absolute lifesaver when you’re in a rush, but why are those little bars so expensive? For the college student on a budget, try these super delicious bars that are healthy for you and made in the microwave! (via Bakerita)

Waffle Maker Hash Browns

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (18)

We had no idea there were so many uses for the waffle iron! Making hash browns in a waffle maker gives them the perfect amount of brown crispy goodness. (via Macheesmo)

Chocolate Muffin

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (19)

If it’s called a muffin, we can eat it for breakfast, right? Right? (via Dessert With Benefits)

Microwave Salmon

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (20)

Don’t hate it until you’ve tried it! We think you’ll be amazed by how good this salmon dinner turns out even in a microwave. (via Savory Sweet Life)

5-Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (21)

Grab a bowl and some over-ripe bananas (plus a few staple baking ingredients) for this champion breakfast, after-class snack, or late-night munchie. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Waffle Pizza

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (22)

Don’t order in again. Pull out that waffle iron and try making a pizza crust! You could even have a mini pizza party with the roommates where everyone gets to pick a topping. (via Waffleizer)

Ramen Pad Thai

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (23)

Get crazy with some Asian fusion and make pad Thai out of those old ramen noodles. Just add fish sauce, fresh lime and a handful of peanuts to the spice packet, and you’ve done some impressive ramen hacking. (via Serious Eats)

Falafel Waffles

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (24)

These falafel-filled pita wedges are made in the waffle iron and make a great grab-and-go lunch for long days of classes. You can fill them with falafel and Greek yogurt and not worry about them dripping on your cute outfit like a traditional falafel wrap. (via Serious Eats)

Blueberry Muffin With Streusel Topping

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (25)

Keep that summer lovin’ going just a little bit longer and make these glorious blueberry muffins in a mug. They’ll make your dorm room smell amazing, but that means you might have to share one with your roomie. And that cutie down the hall. (via Kirbie’s Cravings)

Chocolate Chip Cake

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (26)

This delicious dessert is dangerously close to being classified as healthy, which means you might be tempted to make it often. (via Chocolate Covered Katie)

Cold Peanut and Coconut Ramen Salad

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (27)

This noodle dish is somewhere between a Thai-style peanut dipping sauce and a cold sesame noodle salad. Just add peanut butter, chili sauce, garlic, cilantro and some coconut milk for a creamy, delicious noodle dish. (via Serious Eats)

Microwave Cherry Crisp

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (28)

These individual crumbles only take 90 seconds to make in the microwave so you won’t have to take a super long study break! The cherries get nice and juicy, and there’s a buttery, sugary, oat topping that is just perfect. (via The Pretty Bee)

Mug Omelet

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (29)

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and with a tasty omelette this easy to make, we think we might finally have time to enjoy that meal! Have fun experimenting with different flavor combos and add all kinds of meats and veggies for extra protein. (viaJust Putzing)

Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (30)

Who needs a panini maker when you can make delicious grilled sandwiches in your waffle iron! And trust us; eating a sandwich with little finger grooves is a lot of fun. (via Fifteen Spatulas)

Coffee Cup Quiche

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (31)

A cute coffee cup is the perfect vessel for a quick meal like quiche. It takes only any ingredients you have on hand and a couple minutes of cooking time. (via St. Louis Today)

Microwave Berry Cobbler

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (32)

Breakfast or dessert? You get to decide with this tasty cobbler that you can make in a couple minutes. Use fresh berries if you want, but frozen berries work just as well for those wintery cravings. (via Domestic Fits)

Minestrone Soup

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (33)

Surprise! This soup was not made on a stove but was created in 10 minutes with the microwave. This hearty, fresh version of the Italian soup is packed with vegetables, beans and flavor for a meal that will get you through those math notes. (via Martha Stewart)

Want to get our latest foodie finds straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter! Check out our B+C Cooking and Baking classes on B+C Classes too!

This article was originally posted on August 9, 2022 but has been updated with additional recipes.

Header Image Courtesy of Luisa Brimble / Unsplash

33 Easy Dorm Room Recipes To Make This Semester (2024)

FAQs

What can you cook in your dorm room? ›

In fact, your microwave can do a lot more than you think: it can make fluffy rice, steamed broccoli, and even make crispy bacon and perfect poached eggs. Be sure to invest in a few microwave-safe glass dishes with airtight vented lids (like Anyday!)

How can I make my dorm room awesome? ›

  1. Hang Some Curtains. If your roommate is okay with it, hanging some curtains above your window can change the entire feeling of the room. ...
  2. Don't Underestimate Greenery. ...
  3. Pay Attention to the Floor. ...
  4. Get Some Cozy Pillows. ...
  5. Add a Lamp (Or Two) ...
  6. Utilize Light Scents. ...
  7. Hang Pictures and Wall Art. ...
  8. Get a Cute, Comfy Chair.

What is healthy food for college students in dorms? ›

We love sliced apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Whole grain crackers (like Wasa) / rice cakes / or toast topped with flaked tuna mashed with chickpeas, avocado, or hummus and Dijon mustard.

What can you eat in dorm room without oven? ›

Classic no-cook meals start at sandwiches (canned tuna is shelf-stable before opening, and you can find hummus and cheese in one-time-use packets), progress through bean salads (canned beans, olive oil, and lemon, plus an herb or spice) and top out at gazpacho (made with tomato juice, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and ...

Can you have a crockpot in a dorm? ›

Yes, you can have a crockpot in the dorms! Having a crockpot is an easy way to get a healthy, home-cooked meal in, even on a busy schedule.

What is the most eaten food by college students? ›

Dish Preference – College Students:
  • Burgers.
  • Pizza.
  • Tacos.
  • Pasta.
  • Hand-helds (sandwiches, wraps, etc)
  • Stir fry.
  • Power bowls/salads.
  • Soup.

What dishes should I bring to college? ›

Our Top Five Easy Recipes for College Students
  • French Toast in a Cup. Ingredients: 1 or 2 slices of bread. ...
  • Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats. Ingredients: ½ Cup Old-Fashioned Oats. ...
  • Five-Minute Mac and Cheese. Ingredients: ½ Cup Elbow Macaroni. ...
  • Bagel Pizza. Ingredients: 1 Bagel. ...
  • Flavored Whipped Cream. Ingredients:

How to make a dorm more cozy? ›

10 Ways To Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home
  1. Decorations. Hang some art or photos or whatever makes you feel happy! ...
  2. Lamps. Lighting can make a huge difference in the atmosphere of a room. ...
  3. Blankets and Pillows. ...
  4. Photos. ...
  5. Things that make you happy. ...
  6. Organize. ...
  7. Tapestry or curtains. ...
  8. Designated study space.
Nov 1, 2022

How can I cool down my dorm room fast? ›

How to Cool Down a Room Without Air Conditioning
  1. Cover Windows. ...
  2. Optimize the Use of Fans. ...
  3. Turn on Exhaust Fans. ...
  4. Turn Off Lights. ...
  5. Skip Heat-Producing Appliances. ...
  6. Open Windows at Night. ...
  7. Heat-Proof Your Bed. ...
  8. Get Low and Sleep Low.
Sep 14, 2023

How can I make my dorm room hotter? ›

Here are a few ways you can keep toasty and feel nice and comfy in your dorm room this winter.
  1. Hang Christmas Lights. That overhead lighting is less than stellar most of the time. ...
  2. Make Warm Drinks. ...
  3. Get a Space Heater. ...
  4. Invest in Fuzzy Slippers or Socks.
Jan 22, 2019

What is one key to eating well in college? ›

Eat a Variety of Foods, Frequently

So, try taking a simple approach: Eat frequently throughout the day, making sure you take time for snacks and meals between classes. Aim to get a wide variety of foods so that you're more likely to get your nutritional needs met without a lot of effort.

What are high protein college dorm snacks? ›

For some fat and protein, choose your favorite nuts and seeds, noting peanuts and pistachios will be higher in protein than other nuts. Pair the trail mix in your box with cheese sticks or hardboiled eggs, crackers and baby carrots.

How can I eat healthy and cheap in college? ›

20 tips for eating healthy-ish on a college budget
  1. Make a food budget — and try to stick to it. ...
  2. Stop buying junk food. ...
  3. Cook healthy food at home. ...
  4. Cook in large batches, so you have leftovers. ...
  5. Do the math on the meal plan options. ...
  6. If you have a meal plan, take advantage of it. ...
  7. Choose the right grocery store for you.
Mar 15, 2024

What cooking appliances are allowed in dorms? ›

10 Game-Changing Dorm Room Appliances
  • Microwave. A microwave is one of the most useful appliances, but unfortunately microwaves aren't always provided. ...
  • Microwave Pasta Cooker. Pasta cookers are life changing. ...
  • Mini Egg Cooker. ...
  • Electric Pot. ...
  • Travel Steam Iron. ...
  • Water Filter. ...
  • Heated Blanket. ...
  • Mini Toaster Oven.

Are you allowed to cook in your dorm? ›

Many traditional college dorms don't allow students to bring in small appliances with heating elements, like hot plates, Instant Pots or electric griddles because they're fire hazards (even decorations like lava lamps are on the no-no list).

Are you allowed to have a microwave in a dorm? ›

Yes, you can have a microwave in a dorm, but check your college's specific regulations first. Many dorms allow microwaves, often with wattage limitations for safety reasons. Moving into a dorm room sparks a mix of excitement and anxiety, particularly concerning what appliances one can bring.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6520

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.