22 Cheap and Easy Meals for College Students (2024)

Simple Macaroni and Cheese

"For a simple macaroni and cheese recipe as the title suggests, this recipe was fabulous!" says reviewer Karli F. "I'm throwing out my box macaroni!"

Cheesy Ramen Noodles

"Melting cheese in ramen makes for an extremely simple and delicious spin on typical ramen noodles that can be easily made in the college environment," says Emily.

Sloppy Joes II

Sloppy Joes are really easy to make from scratch in a single skillet — and it will taste so much better than the canned version. Or, if you have a slow cooker, this recipe is great to make while you're in class. by the time you come home, dinner will be ready. "Much better than Manwich and SO easy! The best thing is it's made with ingredients I always have in the house and it's not a hundred ingredients either so it's fast to make," says reviewer AMERETTE.

Simple Macaroni and Cheese

Skip that box of mac and cheese and make this recipe instead. This mac and cheese tastes like it came from a restaurant, but it calls for just a handful cheap, staple ingredients. And you only need one pot! While the recipe uses elbow macaroni, you can use whatever pasta noodles you can find.

Baked Chicken Wings

Put that takeout menu down! Save some money by making your own chicken wings at home. This basic chicken wing recipe can be dressed up however you like and is ready to serve before the delivery person knocks on your door.

Tatertot Casserole

With just five ingredients, you'll have a filling and easy casserole. This recipe can be made with just about any meat, so you can use whatever you found on sale this week. "Versatile... turkey, beef, pork, lamb meats, tomato or cream-based soups work, add a layer of green beans, carrots, or corn and you have a complete meal. Vary the spices and it's a new casserole each time you make it," says home cook Joydee Mccorkle.

Shipwreck Dinner

"It's not pretty but, it's a tasty, busy-night meal. It's not 'gourmet,' but it's hot, filling, and easy. The prep time is generally limited to how fast your can opener works and how hard it is to unwrap your meat. The big bonus is that it's a complete one-pot meal with no chopping, unless you want to," says recipe creator Bcsgibson. You can also make different variations by adding Rotel, frozen fajita veggies, and taco seasoning or by using Italian seasoning and mozzarella — the sky is the limit with this recipe!

Broccoli, Rice, Cheese, and Chicken Casserole

This casserole recipe gives you a delicious, well-rounded meal in under an hour. And to save even more time, and money, use a rotisserie chicken. Reviewers say this recipe makes a lot, so you can have leftovers for a while — or if you don't want leftovers, cut the recipe in half.

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken

"A wonderful baked chicken recipe that's quick and easy! Using just a few handy ingredients, create a delicious main dish that also makes great leftovers — if there are any! Serve with a salad and pasta or rice for a quick, scrumptious dinner," says recipe contributor Karen.

Emily's Excellent Taco Casserole

Ready for the easiest Taco Tuesday dish? Try this versatile taco casserole. This recipe uses vegetarian chili, but reviewers like to use regular chili or shredded chicken. You can easily omit or add any ingredients you want, such as more veggies, cheese, or guacamole.

How to Make a Tuna Melt

Canned tuna is an especially easy, cheap option for college students. And this recipe dresses it up so you'd never know the meal only cost you a couple bucks. Plus, reviewers say this recipe is even great for people who don't like tuna.

Buttered Noodles

This four-ingredient recipe is about as cheap and easy as it gets. "These noodles are just down-home awesome. My mom would make this growing up, I would make this a lot in college, and I still make it every now and then when I'm looking for something simple to make. These noodles are so versatile. You could easily tweak this with ingredients you like. I sometimes add crushed red pepper, other times I add dried minced garlic or fresh minced herbs," says Allrecipes Allstar France C.

Baked Chicken Nuggets

Why hit the drive-thru when you can just as easily make chicken nuggets at home? And they're healthier than if you would get them from a fast food joint. Serve these chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce and French fries. "These were very flavorful and probably the best chicken nuggets I ever made. Came out of the oven tender and moist with a nice crunch to the topping," says reviewer Shirley Orzulak Voigt.

Philly Steak Sandwich

Impress your friends with this easy Philly Steak Sandwich that is loaded with meat and vegetables. Simply sauté your meat and veggies, layer them on rolls with cheese, and broil them in the oven until cheese is melted. You can buy steak that is already pre-cut to save some extra time.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This classic three-ingredient grilled cheese is perfect served with tomato soup. If you want a crispy sandwich, reviewers recommend using mayo on the outside instead of butter. "Yes this is truly a classic. I have made it many times. Feel free to use any type of bread and any cheese you have on hand instead of Cheddar," says home cook JUSTCYN.

Easy Tuna Casserole

This easy, five-ingredient tuna casserole will remind you of home. Reviewers suggest adding an extra can of tuna and a bag of frozen peas for a perfectly well-rounded meal. "This recipe is perfect! I am the worst cook in the world and even I could manage this! Seriously tasty surprisingly easy and a new favorite for sure," says home cook Canadian Jen.

Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Elevate your traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich by grilling it for a few minutes. This recipe is as simple as it sounds, and you don't even have to measure any of the ingredients — just spread the amounts you like. Some things reviewers like to use include crunchy peanut butter, cinnamon raisin bread, raspberry jam, and marshmallow fluff for extra fun flavor.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Making your own chicken pot pie is as easy as, well, pie! This five-ingredient chicken pot pie is made with store-bought pre-made ingredients, like frozen pie crust and frozen veggies, and you can also use a rotisserie chicken to save even more time. Some reviewers like to add extra vegetables and potatoes to make this pot pie more filling.

Quick and Easy Goulash

This hearty goulash is perfect after a long day of classes, and it only takes 30 minutes to prepare. Some reviewers like to use Italian sausage instead of ground beef and recommend pre-cooking the onion with the meat.

Dorm Room Chili Mac

"As a college student I fully appreciate quick and inexpensive meals. This one is a winner because it combines chili and mac and cheese, two items I always have on hand. Like another reviewer, I too used Campbell Chunky Firehouse chili since I love spicy chili, and for the shredded cheese topping I used a Mexican blend. Good stuff," says reviewer MBKRH.

Ramen Noodle Soup

Take your ramen noodle packet to the next level with this soup. You can add frozen vegetables and chicken to make this ramen soup a heartier meal. "Wow! I had never thought to add all this goodness to ramen. Used fresh veggies I had on hand. I also put fresh spinach in the bottom of my bowl before adding soup. This is such a fast, easy meal. Perfect when you are in a time crunch but still need to eat," says home cook Cindi N Dan Unruh.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

If you have a slow cooker, you're going to want to try these five-ingredient buffalo chicken sandwiches. These sandwiches are so easy to prepare and taste like buffalo chicken wings on a bun. Plus, this is a great recipe for tailgating or having friends over for dinner.

More Inspiration

• 50 Easy Recipes for College Students
• Campus Cooking Recipes