Cheap, Easy, And Weirdly Memorable
Back when your days were spent entirely focused on studying and schoolwork, it was harder to plan meals around nutrition, presentation, or even a proper grocery list. Because when you're a young college student working hard and sticking to a budget, food had to adapt to you. Here are 20 struggle meals you likely had that weren't amazing by any means, but will always hold a soft spot in your heart for helping you get through school.
1. Instant Ramen With Whatever You Can Find
Every college student had a stash of instant ramen in their pantry because it's the most dependable, affordable, and tasty meal you can buy. If you're feeling fancy, you can easily spruce it up with an egg, some frozen vegetables, leftover chicken, or a slice of cheese. Even after graduation, it might still be your go-to midnight snack or quick and satisfying lunchtime meal.
2. Boxed Mac And Cheese
Few foods require as little thought as a pot of boxed mac and cheese, which makes it the ultimate college-friendly meal after a long day of classes. It only asks for a few basic ingredients, and even those can be substituted if needed. A touch of hot sauce, bacon bits, or extra shredded cheese can level up it up, but it's comforting as is too.
3. Microwave Quesadillas
If you had access to a microwave, you knew how handy a simple tortilla and some shredded cheese could be. When you toss them together and heat it up for a minute or two, you're left with a basic quesadilla that'll do the trick. Sure, the tortilla might not turn crispy, but when you're hungry and trying to save, it'll still taste delicious.
4. Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwiches
There are plenty of reasons why peanut butter and jelly sandwiches remain a college staple. Not only are the ingredients are inexpensive, but they also last a long time and require no cooking which is perfect for busy days. You can make one before class, late at night, or as a tasty midday snack, and it's not something you'll grow out of.
5. Cereal For Dinner
When you're on a budget, there are no restrictions as to what's for dinner, including breakfast foods! A bowl of cereal can become a handy dinnertime food when you're too lazy to cook and too busy to spend time putting something together. It's not the most balanced of meals, but plenty of college students are perfectly happy with it.
6. Buttered Noodles
Even if your college pantry only contains pasta and little else, you can always keep buttered noodles in your back pocket.
All you need is a little salt, pepper, Parmesan, and butter to create this simple but tasty meal. The recipe is so basic, it'll likely stick with you even after graduation.
7. Frozen Pizza With Extra Toppings
Frozen pizza is already convenient, but college students have an impressive habit of improving dishes with whatever's sitting in the refrigerator. Extra cheese, leftover vegetables, deli meat, or a few pepper flakes can make a budget pizza taste noticeably better and be more filling too.
Renewableandalternativeenergy on Wikimedia
8. Scrambled Eggs And Toast
If all you have are some eggs and bread to work with, you can still whip out a filling meal by making scrambled eggs on toast. Not only does it work for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but it's quick to make and rather filling when you're in a rush. If you're lucky enough to have some cheese, hot sauce, or leftover veggies, you can always toss them in too.
9. Hot Dogs Heated In The Microwave
No, microwaved hot dogs don't sound very fancy, but they're difficult to beat if you're talking about cheap and convenient. It's not going to taste as good as one smoked on a grill, but at least you don't have to worry about clean up afterward! And if buns aren't available, you can even make do with bread as a replacement.
10. Rice With Soy Sauce
Even a plain bowl of rice can be enhanced with just one simple ingredient: soy sauce. This cheap eat has saved plenty of broke college students in the past, with the soy sauce adding just enough flavor and umami to turn your bland base into something more interesting. Of course, if you have eggs, frozen veggies, or leftover meat on hand, tossing it in just levels it up further.
11. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
With just bread, cheese, and a little butter, you can make a delicious grilled cheese that is sure to come in handy when your grocery stituation is looking a little questionable. It's the kind of meal that tastes so good even though the ingredients individually are cheap and affordable.
12. Baked Potatoes Loaded With Leftovers
A potato can turn into a surprisingly substantial meal once you start adding whatever ingredients you have on hand. Cheese, sour cream, canned beans, leftover chili, or even chopped deli meat can all work without much planning. Just microwave the potato and your toppings to create a hassle-free, resourceful meal.
Yolanda Djajakesukma on Unsplash
13. Canned Soup And Crackers
Canned soup easily earns its place in any college pantry because it'll always be there for you when you need an effortless dinner. Heating it takes only a few minutes, and crackers add enough texture and substance to make the meal a little more satisfying.
14. Nachos Made On A Plate
With just a bag of tortilla chips and some simple ingredients like shredded cheese and salsa or hot sauce, you can make a simple plate of nachos that are surprisingly filling. The more leftovers you have to toss on, the better, but even the most basic of toppings will make do when you're on a budget.
15. Pasta With Jarred Sauce
Pasta and jarred sauce are a college student favorite because it can stretch across several meals without putting much pressure on a budget. You don't need advanced cooking skills, and the leftovers usually hold up well enough for lunch the following day.
16. English Muffin Pizzas
When you're craving pizza but don't have the money or time, using English muffins as the base is a clever hack that only college students can think of. Just spread some jarred sauce on top with a sprinkle of cheese and whatever toppings you have on hand and voila, dinner is served after you toast, bake, or microwave it.
17. Instant Mashed Potatoes In A Bowl
Sometimes, all you want is comfort in a bowl when you're a college student, and nothing is more affordable and does the trick than instant mashed potatoes. They're inexpensive, ready quickly, and easy to improve with butter, cheese, gravy, or a generous amount of seasoning.
18. Tuna Salad On Crackers
Canned tuna is a great food to stockpile because it lasts a long time and can sit in your cupboard until you need it. Once mixed with other affordable ingredients like mayo and seasonings, you just need to spoon it onto some crackers or even bread to create a quick and easy lunch or snack.
U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wikimedia
19. Frozen Chicken Nuggets And Fries
When even a McDonald's run is out of the question, keeping a bag of frozen chicken nuggets and fries is an affordable option that you can go back to time and time again. They cook on their own, giving you time to do your homework and study, and serves as a guilty pleasure meal that'll definitely bring you some comfort.
20. Leftover Takeout Turned Into Another Meal
College students know too well the beauty of packing leftovers after treating themselves to a meal out. It could be Chinese takeout, a pizza, or a handful of fries, whatever it is, it's coming home with them. A little reheating in the microwave never hurts, especially if there's enough to transform into a whole other meal.
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