Dinner Ideas for College Students
Cheap dinner foods
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Lentils
- Tofu
- Pasta
- Tuna (canned or pouch)
- Eggs
- Rice
- Canned and frozen vegetables
20 dinner meals for college students
1. French bread pizzas: Cut a loaf of French bread in half, then cut it again lengthwise. Spread the cut half with pizza sauce, top with shredded mozzarella cheese, and the toppings you like. Put under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until melty and toasted.
2. Sheet pan sausage & veggies: This is a customizable recipe with whatever kind of sausage (including veggie sausage), potatoes, and veggies you like. It’s drizzled in a simple sweet-savory sauce. Get the recipe for Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Veggies.
3. Loaded baked potato: Use white potatoes or sweet potatoes. Poke the rinsed potato all over with a fork and microwave for about 8 minutes. Top with combos like butter, shredded cheese and steamed veggies or canned beans, shredded cheddar, and salsa.
4. Better burger: Meat is a great source of protein but can be one of the most expensive foods on your grocery list. Stretch ground beef (or turkey) further by mixing it with finely chopped mushrooms before making patties. The mushrooms will disappear into the mix and give a savory flavor boost. Here’s a recipe for a better-for-you burger.
5. Crispy tofu: Tofu that’s pressed and cooked in a skillet turns into a chicken-nugget-lookalike protein you can eat on rice with veggies and a favorite bottled sauce. Make a batch to have for a few meals during the week. Get the recipe for Crispy Tofu.
6. Veggie stir fry: Stir-Fry fresh or frozen veggies in a pan with some oil and soy sauce. Push veggies to the side and scramble 1-2 eggs in the pan. Mix everything together and serve over rice with an optional handful of chopped peanuts on top (peanuts are one of the cheapest nuts FYI!).
7. Ramen plus: Cook ramen noodles according to the package, then add in frozen veggies or greens, extra protein (like jerky, peanuts, scrambled egg, or chicken), and some sweet/hot chili sauce and cook on low until everything is heated through.
8. Pan-fried bean tacos: In a small bowl, mix a big spoonful of refried beans (or mashed black beans) with a spoonful of salsa, handful of shredded cheese, and a sprinkle of taco seasoning. Spread onto a tortilla, fold in half, and cook in a lightly-oiled skillet until browned and crispy.
9. Pesto tortellini: Cook a pot of cheese tortellini or ravioli, rinse, and drain. Add a few spoonfuls of jarred pesto. Top with Parmesan cheese.
10. Power salad: Start with a bagged salad and top with a protein (such as drained and rinsed chickpeas or edamame, canned tuna, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or rotisserie chicken), add a handful of nuts, sliced apple or other fruit, and a favorite salad dressing.
11. Fried rice: Place a portion of cooked rice in a skillet coated with cooking spray. Add frozen vegetables and cook until heated through. Move everything to one side of the pan, then crack an egg on the other side, pushing around until cooked through. Combine with rice, add a splash of soy sauce, and stir until everything is combined.
12. Sheet pan nachos: Spread out tortilla chips on a baking sheet. Top with drained, rinsed beans (or cooked ground beef or turkey), shredded cheese, and corn, . Put under broiler for 3-5 minutes or until melty. Take out and top with dollops of sour cream, guacamole, salsa, olives, or other favorite toppings.
13. Chicken parmesan: Cook a pre-breaded chicken breast (such as ALDI “red bag chicken”) in the oven. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add a spoonful of pasta sauce and a slice of mozzarella cheese on top of and bake until melted and bubbly. Eat on top of pasta.
14. Meatball subs: Cook a few frozen meatballs with a little jarred spaghetti sauce in a saucepan. Spoon saucy meatballs onto a toasted sub or brat bun, top with shredded mozzarella, and pop under the broiler or in the toaster oven until cheese is melted.