My roommate and I moved into our first-ever apartment at the beginning of this year. In true college tradition, we took many trips to Target to pick out our room decorations. We hosted our best friends after late nights and reveled in the fact that doing laundry was no longer a day-long affair. We also swore that we would put the kitchen to use, making homemade meals to save money and stay healthy. However, as the semester moved into full swing, we never quite got around to that last part.
Now that it’s summer, I’ve had the chance to read up on some easy recipes and cooking tips. I’ve compiled a list of the best cookbooks for college students below, filled with affordable, time-efficient, and beginner-friendly meals. The best part? I found all these books at my local public library, meaning these recipes can be accessible to anyone. It’s not too late to add these books to your summer reading list and ensure you’re not stuck in the dining hall this fall.
1. Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals, by Melissa Clark
Let’s be honest. Half the reason why I have avoided cooking this far in my undergraduate journey is because of the mess that inevitably comes alongside it. Cleaning dishes is the last thing on any student’s mind, especially after a long day of studying, writing papers, and trekking across campus. Luckily, in Dinner in One, Melissa Clark shares 100 recipes that can be made using just one piece of cookware.
Clark describes her recipes as “the kinds of meals you can start thinking about at 6:00 p.m. and have on the table by 7:00 p.m.,” perfect for those of us juggling jam-packed schedules. Nicknamed by Vogue as “your go-to fall cookbook,” Dinner in One is a solid reading option to kick off the academic year. My favorite recipe? The creamy goat cheese pasta with burst cherry tomatoes and olives (see page 121).
2. The Everything College Cookbook, 2nd Edition: 300 Easy and Budget-Friendly Recipes for Beginner Cooks, by Emma Lunsford
Air fryer french fries? Vegetarian lasagna? Honey lemon salmon? The Everything College Cookbook truly covers it all. With icons labeling vegetarian, vegan, ketogenic diet, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo diet-friendly options, there’s something for everyone in this cookbook, including a section on party food if you plan to share it with friends.
3. The New York Times Cooking: No-Recipe Recipes, by Sam Sifton
A wise individual once told me that baking may be a science, but cooking is an art. That sentiment certainly holds true in No-Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton, founding editor of The New York Times Cooking. Lacking formal measurements, No-Recipe Recipes allows readers to experiment with ingredients at their leisure, making cooking feel like a creative outlet instead of a rigid formula (because nobody wants to do more math after their quantitative methods lecture).
While the lack of instruction may seem intimidating at first, it’s actually a great way for beginners to improve their culinary instincts and gain confidence in the kitchen. It’s also fun and a great activity for a casual girls’ night. Plus, affordable recipes like black bean tacos and roasted sweet potato salad mean you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a great meal.
4. Meal Prep Cookbook For Dummies, by Wendy Jo Peterson
Meal prepping often feels like a trendy buzzword, but what does it actually mean? In Meal Prep Cookbook For Dummies, registered dietician nutritionist Wendy Jo Peterson breaks down the process, including information on how to pre-portion meals, batch cook, and navigate grocery shopping to reduce time spent on cooking throughout the week. Peterson also details how to meal prep if you follow a special diet, with plenty of gluten-free, low-carb, and dairy-free recipe options.
This cookbook is a great read for those interested in learning the meal prep basics. With an entire section dedicated to 20-minute meals, it’s also easy to implement into busy routines.
5. The Best 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes, by Marie-Claude Morin
Following a vegetarian diet in college is difficult. And if your dining hall is anything like mine, it can mean consuming cheese pizza every day of the week — often not receiving the vital nutrients your body needs to function at its best. But even if you’re not vegetarian, check out The Best 30-Minute Vegetarian Recipes by Marie-Claude Morin for easy, meat-free dishes with a focus on simple and accessible cooking.
With unfussy meals like cauliflower with curry and tofu tacos, once you get the hang of these recipes, you can start modifying ingredients and personalizing them to your liking, upgrading your culinary prowess.
6. The Ultimate Cooking For Two Cookbook: More Than 130 Mouthwatering Recipes, by Mr. Food Test Kitchen
If you hate calculating recipe conversions, try this cookbook by Mr. Food Test Kitchen. With each recipe making just enough for two servings, you don’t need to worry about wasting ingredients unnecessarily or filling your freezer with unwanted leftovers. Whether the second serving is for yourself, your roommate, or your partner, each dish is simple and includes accessible, affordable ingredients. Just make sure to invest in some small-quantity cookware!
7. The Tiny Kitchen Cookbook: Strategies and Recipes for Creating Amazing Meals in Small Spaces, by Annie Mahle
Your first cooking space is likely tinier than you anticipated. Unfortunately, we can’t all have expansive kitchens during our college years, even if Dakota Johnson’s dreamy green cabinets live rent-free in our minds and Pinterest boards. Nonetheless, in The Tiny Kitchen, Chef Annie Mahle shares tips for cooking in small spaces she learned while aboard the J. & E. Riggin, where she prepared meals in a galley kitchen.
Mahle even includes strategies for kitchen setup and organization, which can come in handy while shopping for move-in day. If your kitchen doesn’t have an oven, many of Mahle’s recipes can also be prepared in a cast-iron skillet.
8. Weeknight Baking: Recipes to Fit Your Schedule, by Michelle Lopez
It’s not technically a cookbook, but baking is just as much a life skill as cooking. This one is for the nights when you crave dessert after dinner, but don’t want to leave your apartment again (or pay that Doordash delivery fee). Inspired by her time spent balancing a blog on top of a full-time finance career, in Weeknight Baking, Michelle Lopez breaks down baking projects so they can be done even with strict time constraints.
By dividing recipes into prep time, work time, and bake time, Lopez applies meal prep strategies to your favorite sweet treats to make them more efficient. Although she writes that she “first started baking cupcakes during [her] sophomore year in college as a way to procrastinate from schoolwork,” if you follow Lopez’s tips in this book, you should be able to bake and budget your study time wisely.
9. Healthy Air Fryer: 75 Feel-Good Recipes. Any Meal. Any Air Fryer, by America’s Test Kitchen
Purchasing an air fryer was probably one of the best shopping decisions I made last semester, and this cookbook features 75 healthy recipes that can be made using the appliance. Recipes like make-ahead breakfast burritos are great for hearty, filling meals, and dishes like lemon-pepper chicken wings can be done in 30 minutes. This cookbook is a great way to learn how to incorporate more vegetables into your diet while limiting oil consumption.
10. The I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook: 150 Cheap-and-Easy Gourmet Recipes, by Andrea Lynn
The I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook includes meals that are so easy that they can be made even if you’re living in a dorm room and your only available cooking appliance is a microwave. While the cookbook highlights ingredients purchased from Trader Joe’s, don’t worry if you don’t have one near your campus. You can likely substitute some ingredients for items from your preferred retailer. Andrea Lynn also includes a chapter dedicated to special occasions, perfect if you’re planning on hosting a dinner party or impressing a date.