Cooking isn’t always easy, and when you’re sharing a kitchen and shopping on a budget, it can be even harder. But just because you’re a student, it doesn’t mean you have to live on instant noodles and toast – we’re here to save the day and share some easy recipes for students which you can easily make in your accommodation kitchen!
Cheesy Pesto Pasta Bake
This one is a lovely, warm and filling pasta dish which takes roughly half an hour to make. And you can save the leftovers for lunch the following day, which is ideal if you’ve got a full schedule…
What you need:
Pasta
Pesto
Cherry tomatoes
Basil (fresh or in a jar)
Grated mozzarella
All you need to do is cook your pasta (al dente, not all the way), then add it to a baking dish with the pesto, tomatoes and a sprinkling of basil. Spread your grated mozzarella over the top and pop the dish in a preheated oven for around 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted enough for you! There are no particular measurements for this one; use as much or as little pesto, tomatoes and cheese as you like based on your own tastes. And of course, you can add in peppers or peas or any other veggies you fancy! This is one of the very best easy recipes for students.
Tuna Melt Jacket Potatoes
A jacket potato is a simple, tasty and filling dish: ideal for lunch or dinner, it’s one you can switch up easily. This particular recipe is budget-friendly and healthy too!
What you need:
A baking potato
Tinned tuna
Mayonnaise
Grated cheese of choice
Spring onions
The first step is to bake your potato – you might have your own way of doing this, but pricking it all over with a fork, sprinkling with salt and leaving it in the oven for an hour should do the trick. If you’re in a rush, try microwaving it first! While the potato is cooking, mix the tuna, spring onions, mayonnaise and some cheese in a bowl. Once your potato is cooked, scoop out the insides and add to your tuna mix. Squash it all back into the potato skin shells, then add some more cheese on top and pop it back in the oven for a few minutes. Voila!
Chicken in Black Bean Stir-Fry
You can make just about anything into a stir-fry, but if you’re stuck for ideas here’s an easy one for you…
What you need
Chicken breast
Noodles
Beansprouts
Peppers
Sugar snap peas
Soy sauce
A jar of black bean sauce
Grab a wok or frying pan and cook your chicken breast with a bit of soy sauce in there and whatever herbs or spices take your fancy. Once cooked, add in your veggies – the above are just an idea, you can of course add whatever you choose. Cook your noodles separately according to the instructions, then add into the pan with everything else plus your sauce. Heat through and eat!
These are just three easy recipes for students, and there are hundreds more. You can easily tweak these to make them vegetarian or vegan-friendly, or gluten-free if need be. Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore, and remember it’s something you can arrange with your flatmates so you share the load. Just make sure someone does the washing up afterwards…
