School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t always mean students are off campus. There are so many reasons college students stay on campus, from housing insecurity, summer classes, or, if you’re like me, being a summer RA and having an internship. But the on-campus summer schedule means no meal-plan and no dining hall, which can definitely be a struggle. Luckily, I’ve got you covered with 5 low-budget meals that are easy and delicious. I grew up cooking with my parents, but don’t worry if that wasn’t your experience, because these meals are simple and low-effort, making them perfect for the summer college student on the go.
Just because these recipes don’t require too many ingredients doesn’t mean they aren’t absolutely delicious. All of the meals I’m about to share with you are ones I have personally tried and love! And depending on where you live, there are many grocery stores with apps that have dozens of coupons and deals for the frugal student.
Note: These prices are based on Star Market prices in Massachusetts, so some items might have a slight difference in price based on location.
Bean & Potato Burritos
These bean and potato burritos are not only super tasty, but beyond easy to make and are perfect for meal prepping! This 6 ingredient meal costs $12.75 and contains a can of black beans, a can of diced potatoes (you can also substitute with 2-3 Russet potatoes based on size), sour cream, shredded cheese, tortillas, and taco seasoning. Simply heat the beans and potatoes through in a pan (if using non-canned potatoes, roast them in the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees after tossing with oil, salt, and pepper), add in your taco seasoning, and serve on a flour tortilla with sour cream and shredded cheese!
The Poor Man’s Chicken Parm
Shout-out to my father for this one, he was the one who gave me the recipe. To make this budget-friendly version of the Italian classic, all you need is a bag of chicken nuggets, a box of spaghetti (or your preferred pasta), a jar of marinara, and some shredded mozzarella cheese. To make this dish, bake the chicken nuggets according to the package and upon flipping halfway through, top each nugget with a bit of shredded mozzarella. While the nuggets are cooking in the oven (or air-fryer, depending on your resident hall kitchen), cook the pasta on the stove in boiling water according to package and heat the sauce through on medium to low heat. Once all pieces are done, mix them together in your bowl and top with extra cheese if you’d like for a tasty bite that will only cost you $10.56
Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap
Because of the fresh produce involved, this meal is the most expensive on our list, but at $20.45 and only five ingredients, it’s still a total steal that yields plenty of extra celery and grapes for snacking. All you need is a can of chicken, some Miracle Whip, celery, grapes, and lettuce. Chicken salad is one of those recipes where everyone has their own ratios and a lot of eyeballing is used, but my favorite way to make it is by draining the chicken and combining it in a bowl with a few dollops of Miracle Whip before adding in some chopped up celery and halved grapes for a bit of sweetness and crunch. Once you have your chicken salad prepped, simply place some in a lettuce leaf and wrap it up for a lunch that is perfect for the summer scholar.
Chili-Cheese Nachos
Another family recipe for you, and one that is probably the most college-kid meal I have. This meal is great because not only is it three ingredients, beanless chili, tortilla chips, and shredded cheese, it only needs a microwave to make, which is great if you’re new to cooking. All you have to do is put some beanless chili and cheese on top of your tortilla chips and microwave for about 45 seconds and then you have a cheap and tasty meal for $7.78.
Ham & Pineapple Fried Rice
This easy-to-make fried rice comes to you from my mother’s recipe folder and tastes just as good as takeout Chinese. This is definitely the most involved recipe, but it’s still super easy to learn how to make and only needs six ingredients, minute rice, canned pineapple, eggs, frozen veggies, diced ham, and soy sauce. First, cook the rice several hours before you intend to make your fried rice (I recommend cooking it in the morning and storing it in the fridge until ready to use). Minute rice can be made in the microwave, so it won’t eat up too much of your time in the morning. You can also do this step the night before. Using actual rice is also an option, but involves more prep as it has to be done the night before. The important thing is that it’s refrigerated and fully cooled before you make the fried rice. Then, dump the rice in a pan with a little bit of oil (most resident hall kitchens I’ve lived in have canola oil for free use in the cupboards) and add the ham and mixed veggies and mix it all together. Once the veggies have started to soften, push everything to the sides of the pan to create a well, and crack the eggs in the middle. Immediately break the yolks and start scrambling the eggs until they are fully cooked and combine everything. The last step is to add in the pineapple and let it warm a bit, and then add some soy sauce to taste. This is another recipe that yields several servings, is great for meal prepping, and super cheap as it’s only $14.76.
Need Some Extra Resources?
Lots of colleges, including my own, Regis College, have food pantries and hospitality centers that are open all year for students to freely use. Several of the meals I shared here contained ingredients I was able to get at my school’s hospitality center, and I highly recommend seeing if your school has one as well by checking out The Swipe Out Hunger directory. Some other Massachusetts schools with food pantries include Emerson College and Middlesex Community College, And if they don’t, check your local area for food banks and take advantage of the resources around you.