College Student Recipes, Cooking Tips, and Hacks for Eating Healthy in the Dorms 

Late nights, caffeine-fueled study sessions, and tiny, shared dorm rooms don’t make it easy to prioritize healthy eating, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for college students to cook nutritious meals. 

A bit of creativity, the right tools, and some smart recipes to lean on are all it takes to help you cook better in college. Read on for our favorite college student recipes, dorm cooking tips, and a recipe for a Spicy Cold Peanut Noodle Salad that just might replace your usual overpriced takeout order. 

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6 Smart College Dorm Cooking Tips 

1. Get creative with add-ins and toppings. Think of ways you can upgrade basics to make them healthier or more flavorful. (Think: diced scallions and a soft-boiled egg on top of instant ramen; avocado, nutritional yeast, and a sprinkle of hemp seeds on a simple salad; or fresh basil and grated cheese to add flavor to pasta.)
2. Make meals to last the whole week. Some simple prep work while you’re studying on a Sunday will make the rest of the week’s meals easier. Prep a batch of rice, roast some veggies, and grill a batch of chicken breast (or tofu), then mix it up with different sauces, like Thai coconut curry or teriyaki sauce.
3. Stock up on spices. Having a varied spice arsenal means that you can add extra flavor to anything you make. Aside from basics like salt and pepper, invest in other go-to spices like crushed red pepper, cumin, garlic powder, cinnamon, and a variety of spice blends. 
4. Invest in quality, shelf-stable foods. If you’re short on space in your dorm room mini fridge, stock up on shelf-stable foods that are still nutritionally dense, like oatmeal, canned fish, grains, rice, and legumes. 
5. Focus on one-pot (or pan) meals. Avoid dirtying a bunch of dishes by focusing on recipes that only use one pot for all the ingredients, like stews or “sheet pan dinners”.
6. Rethink frozen meals. Frozen meals used to be full of additives, high in sodium, and low in nutritional value. Many of today’s frozen meals, on the other hand, use real, wholesome ingredients and adhere to a variety of dietary restrictions, so they make a reliable standby in your freezer. 

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Healthy Recipes for College Students

Beet Ginger Smoothie Bowl 

Loaded with antioxidant-rich fruits and topped with good-for-you add-ins like bee pollen and cacao nibs, this smoothie bowl is a world away from the usual dorm food.   

Get all the ingredients here 

Easy Gluten-Free Vegetarian Pizza

With an almond flour crust mix and flavorful, nutrient-dense vegetables as toppings, this easy, homemade pizza recipe is a whole lot healthier than delivery. 

Yellow Curry With Rainbow Veggies

Use whatever veggies you have on hand to make this spicy, colorful curry. Tip: Make a batch of rice ahead of time for easy meals throughout the week. 

One-Pot Chickpea Pasta

This easy-cleanup pasta recipe is gluten-free and full of flavor thanks to fresh sage and mascarpone cheese. 

Low-Waste Fried Rice

This clean-out-the-fridge dinner will help you stretch your grocery budget and cut down on food waste. 

Gluten-Free Spicy Fusilli alla Vodka

Impress your roomies by making pasta sauce from scratch (it’s easier than you think!) 

Cauliflower Buffalo “Wings”

Game day? Invite your friends over for a watch party and snack on this vegan version of Buffalo wings. 

Overnight Oats, 3 Ways 

The perfect dorm room breakfast, overnight oats require no cooking and make a great grab-and-go meal before that 8am class.