Are you missing your mom’s homemade meatloaf? What about those brownies with gooey frosting? You can’t make those in your dorm — or can you?
These recipes for college students are easy to make with or without an oven. Plus, they’ll remind you of home, even if you’re hundreds of miles away.
If you’ve been living the dorm life for a while now, you already know how versatile mugs can be. With a little help from the microwave, your favorite coffee cup can easily make everything from cake to lasagna to quiche.
Simply crack an egg into the mug, add some milk and beat with a fork. Then, add some bread, cream cheese, ham and whatever other mixins you choose. Microwave for about one and a half minutes, let cool and enjoy. Who said you needed to bake quiche in an oven, anyway?
Are you looking for a more filling dorm room recipe? Try this microwave meal-prep lasagna. It might not be as flavorful as your mother’s recipe, but it’ll do until you go home on break. Plus, it’s 100 times easier to make and only requires a few minutes of your time so you can get back to studying — or prepping for a party.
Gather all nine ingredients and layer them between the lasagna noodles. Cover the final layer with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Then, cover the container and microwave for seven minutes or until all the cheese melts. Carefully remove your lasagna from the microwave — it will be hot. Refrigerate the rest for later.
If you happen to have a slow-cooker, you can make a whole slew of comforting college recipes, including chicken tortilla soup. Relive your dreamy South American vacation and warm up with a hearty bowl. All you need are a few simple ingredients and your trusty crockpot.
Combine everything but the cheese in a large slow cooker and cook on low for five to six hours or until you can shred the chicken with a fork. Then, add the Monterey jack and let it melt for a few minutes more. Top with store-bought tortilla strips if you don’t want to make your own and serve with sour cream, cilantro, lime and other Tex-Mex inspired garnishes.
Are you lucky enough to have an oven in your dorm room? Take advantage of it by baking these creamy vanilla bean cupcakes. This recipe includes an ingredient list and instructions for making your own buttercream frosting. However, the store-bought kind will certainly suffice if you’re trying to save time and energy.
Preheat the oven to 350° F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Mix and fold your batter and divide it evenly among all the cups, filling each one two-thirds full. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes or until you can stick a toothpick in one and it comes out clean. Then, remove your cakes from the oven and allow them to cool in an airtight container before adding the frosting.
Behold, the king of comfort food recipes — the almighty mac ‘n cheese. No dorm food list would be complete without it, and neither would your grumbling tummy. Luckily, it’s one of the easiest recipes to make in your dorm room. Skip the boxed mac and try this five-ingredient version the next time you get a comfort food craving.
Whip out your Instant Pot and add the macaroni, water and salt and cook on high for four minutes. After the cycle is complete, stir in the milk, butter and remaining water. Add a little cheddar — or whatever cheese you prefer — and mix until melted. Top with pepper and enjoy hot.
Going to college is one of the most memorable and exciting times of your life. Instead of worrying about the freshman 15, treat yourself to new cultures, experiences and foods. You can still enjoy your favorite comfort foods when you’re missing home. When all is said and done, you’ll be happy to have embraced the experience in its entirety — and learned a few kitchen tricks along the way.