The college dining hall: an amalgamation of stressed students and long lines. While dining halls today provide elevated options ranging from cultural curries to many, many varieties of rice, the repetition can drag you down. However, nestled amongst the salad bar and neglected waffle maker lies a solution: the panini press.

The panini press—arguably a college living essential—elevates any plain sandwich, leaving you satisfied with golden, cheesy goodness. Most dining halls have salad bars equipped with cheese and other sandwich making ingredients—ready to be pressed to perfection. Below is the outline for a basic panini and two other variations to change up your weekday meals. 

The Tried and True

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:15 mins
  • Total Time:20 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread
  • 2 slices American cheese
  • 2 slices turkey breast
  • 3 leaves lettuce
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons margarine
Christina Wang

  • Step 1

    Preheat panini press to medium-high. On a press with a scale from 1-10, this would be around 7-8.
    Make sure panini press is not too hot, otherwise bread will burn before cheese inside has melted.

  • Step 2

    Lay bread flat and spread one side with mustard. Assemble sandwich ingredients with cheese directly facing bread and close sandwich.

  • Step 3

    Brush one of the sandwich sides with margarine.
    Be sure to have a thin layer of margarine to ensure a quick, crisp grilling.

  • Step 4

    Flip sandwich onto panini press, and spread remaining margarine on top piece of bread. Close lid and cook for about 10-15 minutes.

The Morning Glory

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:15 mins
  • Total Time:20 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 cup scrambled eggs
  • 3 pieces bacon
  • 2 slices American cheese
cheddar, dairy product, dairy, milk, cheese
Caroline Ingalls

The Veggie

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:15 mins
  • Total Time:20 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 cup marinated eggplant pieces
  • 1/3 cup sautéed onions
  • 1 cup loosely packed spinach
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
Christina Wang

Whether you're feeling a turkey club or a simple grilled cheese, the panini press expands and diversifies dining hall options. Go beyond the provided dining hall menu and experiment with these paninis; they really are made to order.