Living in the confinements of a dorm room can pose some serious challenges when you're trying to get your "Master Chef" game on. You're suddenly limited to eating what's provided on campus, what can be stored in your mini-fridge, and what can be nuked in a shoddy little 700-watt microwave. However, that microwave and mini-fridge are about to become your two best friends. Check out these 13 simple and yummy recipes you can make without even leaving your dorm!
Breakfast
1. Clean Eating Dorm Room Pancakes
Who says you need a griddle to make the perfect hotcakes? Using this recipe, you can incorporate common ingredients such as eggs, milk, and maple syrup to create the perfect on-the-run breakfast by nuking everything in the microwave. Although this method of making pancakes may seem a little unconventional, the fact that you can have a mug of fluff that tastes exactly like delicious pancakes without having to leave your dorm is truly magical.
2. One-Bowl Microwave Scrambled Eggs
If you're tired of eating your dining hall's questionable scrambled eggs, this is the perfect and super simple recipe for you. Requiring just eggs, milk, shredded cheese, and any additional seasonings or toppings you want to add, this recipe can't get any easier.
Tired of eating soggy french toast from the dining hall? This recipe turns a delicious brunch favorite into the perfect dorm room breakfast that you can make in just two minutes! But who says this has to be exclusively for breakfast? Add a little ice cream or whipped cream on top and you've got yourself a heavenly dessert!
Lunch and Dinner
4. Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Time to create a tasty dorm room meal by trading those highly processed corn taco shells for a scrumptious tater! Sweet potatoes contain high levels of vitamins C and A and are surprisingly easy to prepare in a microwave. Check out this delicious recipe and enjoy a flavorful dorm room dinner with a little Mexican flare!
5. Single-Serve Mac 'n' Cheese in a Mug
If you often find yourself craving some mac 'n' cheese, but you're tired of settling for that preservative-filled, store-bought junk, than this is the perfect recipe for you! In just seven minutes you can create this deliciously cheesy comfort food without even leaving your dorm!
Skip the mayo and prepare this refreshing tuna salad with basil, lemon juice, and olive oil. You can scoop it into some fresh lettuce for a crisp lettuce wrap, add it to a bed of spinach for a healthy salad, or spread some on whole-wheat bread for a tasty brown-bag lunch. The options are endless!
7. 5-Minute Vegetarian Burrito Bowl
This is the perfect dorm room recipe for the college student on a budget. Save money by ditching your local Chipotle and get your burrito bowl fix in a matter of minutes! This recipe uses healthy ingredients including pre-cooked brown rice, black beans, avocado, and shredded cheese to fill you up with protein and heart-healthy fats. Yum!
All you need to make this simple meal is pre-cooked quinoa (found at almost every grocery store), cucumber, tomatoes, lemon juice, and avocado. Loaded with healthy monosaturated fats, protein, and fiber, this simple dish will fill you up and give you the energy you need to push through a busy day.
Snacks and Treats
9. Bagel Chips
Love breakfast? Love (bae)gals? Try making this delicious breakfast-snack hybrid with just a bagel, cooking spray, and your favorite seasonings. Pro tip: Dip these crunchy bites of goodness into some healthy whipped cream cheese for the snacking experience of a lifetime.
Let's face it, buying roasted chickpeas from the grocery store can be expensive, and dorm rooms don't exactly come fully equipped with an oven. Luckily, you can still enjoy this delicious and protein-packed finger food by simply dusting some chickpeas with your favorites seasonings and popping them in the microwave until they're nice and crispy.
11. Single-Serving Brownie Cake
Whoa, whoa, whoa. This one is a game changer! Skip your dining hall's "fresh-baked" desserts and make your own! This recipe combines everyday baking ingredients such as flour, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, and cocoa powder. Even though the recipe calls for granulated sugar, you can substitute it with maple syrup or honey for the "health-ified" version.
12. Single-Serve Microwave Rice Krispy Treat
This is probably the simplest microwave treat ever! Seriously! All you need is a couple of handfuls of crisped rice cereal, four or five large marshmallows, and one to two tablespoons of butter. All you have to do melt the butter and marshmallows in the microwave, add your cereal, mix everything together, and you'll have created the most delicious, mouth-watering, gooey, marshmallowy goodness known to man!
13. No-Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars
So, here's the thing: You can never go wrong with chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallows. While this may not be the healthiest sweet treat, it certainly is delicious! The only downside is you have to wait a few hours while they set in the fridge. Regardless, this is the perfect goody to treat yo' self with!
Now that you are equipped with some of the tastiest and easiest dorm room recipes in the world, what are you waiting for? Befriend your microwave and mini-fridge, and embrace your new designation as a "Microwave Master Chef."
