With just a handful of ingredients and a bank of simple recipes, whipping up nutritious, delicious student meals can be super-easy.
From brilliant breakfasts and speedy suppers to batch-cook beauties and a classic roast to feed hungry housemates, we’ve pulled together 14 student staples to help you master the basics and gain confidence in the kitchen.
When you’re in need of a quick brunch or lunch, eggs can really save the day. This basic omelette is fast to make, easy and versatile – try adding spices, fresh herbs or chuck in some leftover cooked veg to keep things interesting.
A post-pub recipe is a must for every student, and this Midnight breakfast is the ultimate late-night fix. It’s all cooked in one pan so there’s next to no washing up – and hopefully, next to no hangover the morning after.
Quick, colourful and full of the good stuff, a veggie stir-fry is a go-to midweek meal. This no-fuss version uses a selection of crunchy veg, but this method will work with chicken, beef, or tofu, too.
This hearty minestrone soup recipe makes the most of store-cupboard staples and packs in that all-important extra veg. Make a batch at the beginning of the week and it’ll be yours to enjoy for days.
Learning to cook a delicious pasta dish is a must for every student and it doesn’t get much easier than a simple carbonara. The sauce only requires a few basic ingredients and cooks in the time it takes to cook the pasta – perfetto!
An easy veggie curry is perfect when you need something cheap and comforting. Full of warming spices, soft sweet potato and creamy coconut, this chickpea curry is a big hug in a bowl.
Recreating takeaway favourites at home is great for saving those pennies. This egg- fried rice dish is full of flavour and ready in under 15 minutes. Plus, you can swap in any veg and cooked meat you’ve got in the fridge.
Slow-cooked chilli con carne spooned over fluffy rice or a crispy baked potato is just the ticket when comfort food is required. This recipe makes a bumper batch, ideal for feeding a crowd or portioning up and popping in the freezer for future meals.
Whether you’re after a light lunch or a speedy dinner, this colourful salad is guaranteed to bring a bit of brightness to mealtimes. You can use anything fresh and crunchy – simply chop, toss in the dressing and dig in.
A basic risotto is a lesson worth learning and can be adapted to whatever ingredients you have knocking about. Have a go at this recipe, and then mix things up by adding grilled mushrooms, roasted squash, leftover roast chicken, or frozen peas – anything goes!
Jarred pesto is a great ingredient to have on standby when you need a burst of flavour fast. This dish of crispy-skinned salmon and seasonal veg is delicious with a homemade version but a few dollops of good-quality pesto from a jar work just as well.
With minimal prep and hardly any washing-up, a simple traybake can be a real saviour when you’re pushed for time. This Comforting sausage bake takes 10 minutes to knock together and the oven does the rest – what more could you want?
When you want to go all out, cooking up a perfect roast chicken for your friends will hold you in good stead throughout your uni years and beyond. Serve with traditional roast potatoes and veg or a big green salad for a lighter alternative.
Once you’ve bossed these student staple recipes, check out more ideas for Easy student recipes.