Quick, easy recipes for a college student?

Question

I live with my boyfriend and we never have time to actually cook a large dinner, so I was wondering if anyone had some good recipes that involves simple things?
Also - any recipes that you make a batch of, and the leftovers help with the following nights as well? (pasta salads, spaghetti sauce, etc)

thanks!!

To everyone who replied-
Thanks so much. There a ton of recipes that I will try out that you suggested. They sound really good.
Since there is no best answer, I will put it up for vote.
Thanks again!

Answer 1

1.canned chili and 2 minute corn bread..Great! easy fix, no mess.
2. Meat loaf tonight, save mix, chop up, add rice, stuffed peppers tomorrow.
3. baked chicken with cream of mushroom soup tonight, take left overs, add batch of Bisquick mix on top, bake-chicken pot pie tomorrow.

Answer 2

I have an asian recipe. I don't have exact measurements so I'll give you a rough amount.

One whole chicken, already boiled, diced and sliced in whatever way you want it to be.
About 1-1 1/2 cups of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of sugar
A few sprigs of parsley (don't be shy)
4 scallons
About two table spoons of fresh ginger
Lastly, I think about 1/2 cup of corn oil (you're frying a whole chicken!)

If you don't have a pre-boiled chicken, just get a huge pot, fill it up half way, then boil the water. Once it boils dump in the chicken and close the pot. Turn it over every 5 minutes for about 20 minutes and stick something in there (like a chopstick or a skewer) to see if it's bloody or not on the inside. When it's done, set it aside to let it cool then get chopping (with a cleaver, be VERY VERY CAREFUL!)

If you don't want to use a whole chicken, you can get about 2-4 pounds of chicken wings and drumsticks and cut those in halves. If you prefer that method, then you can just fry it without boiling it, but then that'd require more oil, and would be less healthy, so boil that too!

For the ginger, (we don't use that powder stuff), you should use an amount that is about the size of two super fat deformed thumbs (that's all I could think of). Cut it into thin (1 1/2" x 1" x 2-3 mm) slices, chop the scallions in to pieces of about 2 inches.

In a small bowl, add the soy sauce and sugar together, stir until the sugar has dissolved, then your parsley leaves, set it aside.

Heat your pan (preferably a big wok, because you'll need the space), add the oil, ginger and scallions. Poke the ginger and scallions around for a while until you can smell them, then add in the chicken. Turn them over occasionally until you see a slight crisp to the skin, then add in the soysauce mixture, slowly while turning over the chicken and add sprinkle a pinch of MSG, only a pinch! Let the chicken simmer in the mixture for awhile then turn it off, and serve!

I hope you understand it (I didn't know how to make it sound simple), because it's a very popular Taiwanese recipe, and well, it's really good if made properly!

Answer 3

I'm a busy college student and don't always have time to cook too. Somethings that I'll do... I'll bake different pieces of chicken perhaps breast cutlets,thighs or wings. I'll season it with regular seasoning. Then during the week, I can use the chicken for example:
Monday- Baked Chicken
Tuesday- Spaghetti with chicken
Wednesday- Stewed Chicken (chicken in gravy)
Thursday- Italian Baked Chicken (throw some Italian dressing and heat for a few minutes)
Friday- Hot Wings (if I baked chicken wings)


I also try to have a salad everyday and that gets pretty boring, eating it the same way. So I try to add something new to it everyday, like one day I'll add leftover corn. Another day I'll add diced apples, blueberries or pecans.


When I buy ground meat, I do the same thing.

I'll buy like two and a half pounds or so. I'll make some into meatballs, some into patties, and maybe I'll leave some for like homemade tacos.

What I do to is I prepare the stuff and freeze it. Then when you're ready, you can just take it out and cook. You can also do that with your seasoning, and (certain) vegetables. Saves so much time on cooking.

Answer 4

I'm all for quick and easy recipes too!!
Here is one that I like to make, you make a bunch of it so it lasts for a few days. It's chicken pasta made the easy way :)

Ingredients:
1 jar of ready made cream (white) sauce like Alfredo, Cheese, whatever. I like the Classico brand of sauce.
1 package of bowtie pasta or any other kind of pasta, I like using bowtie or something other than spaghetti for this recipe
1/2 package of frozen vegtables, whatever ones you like. Corn is good with this recipe but I prefer the mixed vegtables, use how ever much you like really.
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut up in small cubes

Ok put the water on for the pasta and while that is heating up put the sauce in a pot and put it on low to warm up. Cook your chicken in a frying pan with a bit of Olive Oil. You can add spices to the chicken. I use Thyme, Basil, Garlic Salt, Pepper, and Paprika. I don't measure these out I just put it in :) When the water boils add your pasta and cook that until it's the way you like it. When the pasta is done put the fozen vegtables in the microwave to heat up, should only be a few minutes. Drain your pasta and put it in a large bowl. Add the chicken and the cooked vegtables and on top of that add the sauce. Mix it all up and ta-da a nice easy pasta dinner with everything all added! This is also a great cold pasta salad! I make this and have it hot the first day and then will have it cold for lunch the following day. It's also good as a side dish. All in one meal! Enjoy!!

Answer 5

You can buy some of those frozen foods at Costco or Safeway (I don`t really know what stores you have in the mainland). Like get some of those pizzas, french fries, chickens, veggies, fish and stuff. And add some garlic or french bread on the side plus a healthy salad :] You can also never go wrong with canned soup. You can choose from many different kinds like tomato, chicken noodle, chili, minestroni, corn chowder, cream of mushroom, clam chowder, beef vegetable ETC ETC. Plus, try this awesome thing to eat. Just heat up some tomato soup and add some cooked rice in the soup. Then serve. It`s pretty good :]

Answer 6

Make Over 200 Juicy, Mouth-Watering Paleo Recipes You've NEVER Seen or Tasted Before?

Answer 7

Easy Lasagna

Cook up about 1 pound of hamburger. Add your favorite bottled spaghetti sauce.
Most grocery stores sell Oven Ready Lasagna noodles, that you dont need to boil beforehand. In a 11 x 9 pan layer noodles and sauce. (The noodles are hard but will cook in the oven.) Top with grated cheese. Bake at 375* for 30 min. Serves about 6.

Answer 8

Getting an electric steamer was one of the best things I did. I grill a steak or pork chop, steam some veggies, open a bottle of wine....great dinner. Simple and easy to clean up.

Edit: Intellectual Child knows how to ruin a steak. Do not marinade, use fresh ground pepper and quality garlic salt. There is no reason to marinade a good cut of meat. Never fry it in a pan with oil!!! YUCK!

Maybe I'm spoiled by good midwest meat.

Answer 9

What you need is a Crock Pot - Slow cooker!!! it's one of the best things I have ever gotten. If you really want a good meal, like pot roast and potatoes etc., all you gotta do is put everything in it turn it on and off you go by the time you get home it's all done and ready to eat. Most of them even come with a recipe book now.
Simple.

Answer 10

Chicken Ritz Casserole

Ingredients:
5-6 chicken breasts, cooked
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar broccoli soup
about 1/4 soup can of milk
1-1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. cooked minute rice (1 c. prior to cooking)
dash salt and pepper
30 to 40 Ritz crackers, crumbled
Butter
Cooking Instructions:
Cook chicken and remove chicken from bone and cut up. Place chicken in casserole dish. Mix together remaining ingredients. Pour mixed ingredients over chicken. Top with crushed Ritz crackers; dot with butter. Bake at 350F. for 45 mins.

Answer 11

i'll send you a spaghetti and lasagna recipes that are dadgummed good if you just email me.

also have a great chicken and dressing recipe and a good chicken on lettuce recipe and a killer chilu recipe among others.

i like to eat, so i learned to cook a long time ago from some of the best cooks i knoe,many of which own some good restuarants.