With the recent spread of COVID-19 (or Coronavirus), universities have switched to online courses and shut down dining halls, leaving you to cook for yourself with no fancy equipment in sight. To help you get a home cooked meal straight from your dorm room, I took it upon myself to come up with a list of easy meals. All you need is access to a microwave and fridge, plus ingredients you can find in your dining hall (if it's still open) or local convenience store. for these recipes and all can be made using ingredients found in the dining hall or at campus convenience stores.
1. Omelet in a Mug
Goodbye watery dining hall eggs. This omelet recipe is great because it can be customized to include the ingredients that you like.
2. Overnight Oats
The beauty of overnight oats is that they're insanely easy to make. You throw all the ingredients together at night, and wake up the next morning to a breakfast that required no cooking whatsoever. Overnight oats can also be made into a dairy-free breakfast for people who are lactose intolerant by simply substituting non-dairy milk. This overnight oats recipe gives overnight oats a sweet twist to the current situation.
3. Microwave Mug Granola
This is an awesome granola recipe because it only requires a few ingredients, and it can be made way ahead of time. You can customize it with any add-ins that you like (almonds and dried cranberries are solid components), and in five minutes you’ll be able to enjoy homemade granola with milk or yogurt.
4. Mac and Cheese in a Mug
Whenever you’re craving mac and cheese, grab the biggest mug you have, make this mug recipe, and skip the fluorescent cheese powder. The best part about it? This recipe is just as simple to make as the packaged stuff. If you’re feeling fancy, try adding things like bacon or broccoli.
5. Lasagna in a Mug
Instead of using several pots and a baking dish to cook lasagna in an oven, make it in a mug instead. You can make this microwave lasagna with with added sausage if you'd like and have a comforting meal within minutes. Plus, you can use the time you saved to write your five-page paper (or not).
6. Microwave Mug Pizza
The best part about this pizza in a mug recipe is that there’s no delivery charge since you made it yourself. Of course, pizza rocks in general is that you can put virtually anything on it. You can go for plain cheese, meat lovers’, or veggie.
7. Quesadillas
Quesadillas are quite possibly the easiest thing to make on this list because all you need are two tortillas and shredded cheese. Sandwich the cheese between the tortillas, throw it in the microwave for one minute, and you have an easy snack or meal (depending on how many you make).
#SpoonTip: Add things like black beans, shredded chicken, or bell peppers to this. Pair your quesadillas with some quality salsa and you’ve got yourself a solid meal.
8. Peanut Butter Banana Wraps
These PB banana wraps take no time at all to make, and they’re pretty healthy because of the protein from the peanut butter and the potassium from the banana. You can add in ingredients like chocolate chips or raisins, and you can swap out the peanut butter for almond butter or the tortilla for a wheat one.
9. Loaded Baked Potato
To make this loaded baked potato, all you have do is wash your potato, prick it a few times with a fork, and pop it in the microwave. Then it’s as simple as filling it with your favorite toppings. Butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, and cheddar cheese are pretty classic.
To take it one step further, you can swap the russet potato for a sweet potato and fill it with brown sugar, butter, and marshmallows. The possibilities are endless.
10. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
How do you make a grilled cheese without using a stove, you ask? It’s as simple as using an iron and some aluminum foil. This grilled cheese recipe takes you through all the steps and gives you a melty grilled cheese in about 10 minutes. If you want to add other ingredients besides cheese, make sure you cook them in the microwave first.
11. Mug Chicken Pot Pie
If you’re looking for something hearty to comfort you, look no further. This mug pot pie doesn't require an oven or a pie tin. A lot of the ingredients can be found in the dining hall, so grab your container, fill it up with ingredients, and head back to your room to cook. You can add in whatever vegetables are available and you can keep any leftover ingredients for the next time you want to make it.
12. Homemade Instant Noodles
These instant noodles don’t come with an artificial seasoning packet and you can change up the vegetables every time to keep it interesting. All you need to construct this convenient meal is your ingredients, a mason jar, and some boiling water (which you can make with a kettle or a coffeemaker). Since the cooking is done by pouring boiling water over the ingredients, this recipe is perfect for the student who doesn’t have a microwave.
13. Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal
This cinnamon roll oatmeal could function as breakfast or dessert, depending on what time you make it. Instead of buying packs of instant oatmeal, you can just keep these ingredients on hand in your dorm room and whip up oatmeal in seven minutes.
14. Egg Fried Rice in a Mug
Throw away the takeout menu and make this fried rice instead. Making fried rice is a good way to make use of any leftovers you might have sitting in your fridge. You can also make it really healthy (if that’s what you’re going for) because you can control what ingredients you put in.
15. French Toast in a Mug
I consider French toast a brunch staple, and this mug recipe lets you have brunch in your dorm room. You can make it plain or you can add in things like strawberries and a drizzle Nutella over the top. Breakfast for dinner is also an option here.
With these dorm room meals in your back pocket, you’ll never have to go hungry again. They can all be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, and they require minimal effort. Who needs dining hall food when you can cook way better meals in your dorm?