6 Quick and Easy Meals for Dorm and Apartment Life

By Tamiera Vandegrift on February 1, 2017

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

When you are a college student, cooking like Gordon Ramsay will not be your first concern. You have classes, extracurricular activities, internships, part-time jobs, and more to worry about.

At the end of the day, you are probably ready to just toss some Ramen on the stove or put your local pizza place on speed dial and call it a night, right? Before you do either of those things, why not consider a healthier or more affordable option? Cooking.

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Wait, do not click away from this article. Stay with me now. Cooking does not have to be too much of a chore with the right recipes! Read on to find the best, quick and easy meals for college students.

Breakfast

Spicy Breakfast Burritos

If you are craving Taco Bell, but lack the time or the money, cooking a quick and easy breakfast burrito will be muy bueno!

You will need:

•One egg

•Baby tomatoes

•Shredded cheese

•Hot sauce

•Tortilla

1. Spray down a pan with oil or Pam and put the stovetop on medium heat.

2. Slice the baby tomatoes into smaller portions. Sautee the spinach and baby tomatoes for a few minutes, then add salt and pepper, or whatever other seasonings you prefer. Pour this mixture into the tortilla.

3. Next, scramble an egg, or cook it sunny-side up — whatever your preference is.

4. Place the cooked egg in the tortilla and sprinkle cheese on top. Use as much hot sauce as you would like. Wrap the tortilla together and say adios to hunger!

Omelets

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If you have a little extra time to try something classy and sophisticated, making an omelet is the right choice for a top-notch breakfast.

You will need:

•Three eggs

•Spinach

•Baby tomatoes

•Cheese

1. Spray down a pan with oil or Pam and put the stovetop on high heat.

2. Slice the baby tomatoes into smaller portions. Scramble three eggs together, but do not add milk.

3. Sauté the spinach and baby tomatoes for a few minutes, then pour the egg mixture in. Immediately lower the heat levels down to low or medium. Let the egg mixture cook, occasionally using a spatula to lift the cooked egg portion to allow the uncooked egg mixture to reach the bottom of the pan.

4. Once the mixture is solid enough, it’s time to flip it. If you are brave, try to flip the omelet using only the pan and your strength. If not, that’s okay, use the spatula to flip your omelet. Once your omelet is completely cooked, feel free to sprinkle some cheese in the middle and then close it up, allowing the cheese to melt on the inside. Bon appetit!

Lunch

Ramen Stir-fry

Take a college classic and make it into something healthy and extraordinary.

You will need:

•Ramen noodle soup (any flavor)

•One egg

•Spinach

1. Take a saucepan, fill it with three cups of water, and place it on the stove to boil at high heat. Once the water is boiling, toss the Ramen noodle block in the saucepan and allow it to cook for three minutes.

2. Spray down a pan with oil or Pam and put the stovetop on medium heat. Sautee the spinach for a few minutes, then add salt and pepper, or whatever other seasonings you may prefer.

3. Scramble an egg in the same pan as the spinach. Once the Ramen noodles are done, drain the saucepan completely of water. Pour the noodles into the pan and mix them with the spinach and egg, while mixing in the Ramen noodle seasoning, or seasoning of your own choice.

4. Continue to mix and sauté the mixture until the seasoning has been equally dispersed. Enjoy!

Caprese Salad

Image via: Wikimedia Commons

Take a classic Italian dish and bring it into your dorm for an excellent, tasty lunch.

You will need:

•Mozzarella cheese

•Basil leaves

•Tomato(es)

•Balsamic vinegar dressing

1. Slice up a block of mozzarella cheese and a tomato, or tomatoes, depending on how many people you are serving.

2. Layer the slices of mozzarella and tomato one by one, including a basil leaf in between each.

3. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar salad dressing and enjoy!

Dinner

Bagel Pizza

Put your local pizza delivery order on hold and make your own savory pizza dish today!

You will need:

•One bagel, sliced into two

•Shredded mozzarella cheese

•Pepperoni slices

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (or opt to use a microwave — whichever is more convenient!).

2. Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese onto your two bagel slices. Toss as many pieces of pepperoni as desired.

3. Bake for 10 minutes for ultimate crispiness, or microwave until the cheese melts. Remove the bagel pizzas and allow them to cool for two minutes. Enjoy!

Quesadillas

Image via: www.pexels.com

This fun dish is easier to make than you might imagine!

You will need:

•Two tortillas

•Shredded Mexican cheese

1. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded Mexican cheese mixture onto a tortilla.

2. Place the other tortilla on top and microwave for two minutes. If you would prefer a crispier quesadilla, pan-fry the quesadilla on your stovetop until the tortilla begins to lightly brown.

3. Slice into eight pieces, allow the dish to cool, then enjoy!

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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