Recipes for starving college students?

Question

I am posting this for my nephew, who is in college in Boston; and appears to be wasting away. He's in a dorm with a kitchen shared by his 3 other roomies. They all (stupidly), elected not to take the food plan this year...somehow they also forgot none of them know anything about cooking. They are dying for some REALLY simple recipes. We're going out to get him a crockpot where he can dump everything in. So, if you have any really easy crockpot recipes, I surely would appreciate them. Also, anything really basic would be great. I mean, he doesn't even know how to make a chicken cutlet! What were these boys thinking! There is a Trader Joes near BC from what I understand, but they can't live off of TJ frozen meals forever. They are also dying for snacky food that is easy to prepare. 
I'd appreciate any and all help!
Thanks!

Answer

some CHers will scream, but please remember these are beginners who have little time and few untensils.

Sliced Onion (two onions should be about right for 4 students)
a pound or so of any kind of meat cut into cubes (beef, lamb, chicken, pork, etc)
Three Tablespoons (olive) oil
Maybe some minced garlic, a couple of tablespoons (it comes in jars)
Cream of mushroom soup (one can should do it)
Broth or Wine (red or white) or even just water
Salt, Pepper

In a large saucepan/frypan Brown the onions and meat in the oil then stir in the garlic and quicly brown. garlic burns fast.
Pour in the mushroom soup, stirr it around till it picks up the color and flavor from the bottom of the pan. 
Thin to desired consistency with the broth or wine.
Season to taste

serve with/over rice, pasta, potatoes, etc.

Answer

This very recent thread has good ideas for them: 

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/439116

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http://www.chowhound.com/topics/423753#2774168

I know I keep posting this - yogurt marinated chicken - but it really is very simple and tasty.

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There is a cookbook by Mable Hoffman titled Crockery Cookery. It has some easy recipes in it. It even has a way to make chex mix in the crockpot. It's an old cookbook, but I got one a a half-price bookstore.

Now I know that the "hounds" totally dismiss Taste-of Home, but this is the time to look there for recipes for the crockpot. There is one on there that has you roasting a chicken in the crock by placing it on a foil coil. It is supposed to come out good and crispy, but I can't say I have tried it.

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heres a very easy recipe that i (a college student) use. 

get a french bread loaf from the stores bakery or even better focacia. if youre using the french loaf, slice lengthwise in half. apply a thin layer of ranch dressing to the top surface of the bread/focacia and spread diced chicken (pre-cooked) on top (pre-cooked chicken can be found almost anywhere). next spread diced tomatoes on top of the chicken layer and then add a layer of shredded mozz. cheese. place in a 300 degree oven until cheese is melted. after its out of the oven you can sprinkle on some parm. cheese or green onions if you like. slice and enjoy. its like a cheap/easy version of pizza.

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My son was in this situation last year and he relied on take-out and because I live close by, about every 2 weeks I would make a big batch of something for him and his roommates. My daughter is in a house this year with 8 girls and she said she is buying a lot of microwaveable meals, although I bought them some cookbooks designed for college kids and I will be bringing over food as I did for my son.

Answer

A few recipes that have proven helpful in college for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness:

Eggs in Purgatory
1 jar spaghetti sauce
3 eggs
Heat spaghetti sauce over medium heat until sputtering. Crack eggs directly into sauce and cook until whites have set. Serve on top of bread or spaghetti.

Pork shoulder
Pork shoulder
salt
pepper
BBQ sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heavily salt the outside of the pork shoulder. Rub pepper to taste. Cook in oven for 2 hours. For final 30 minutes, occasionally baste with BBQ sauce.

College Chicken Cacciatore
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. chicken legs and thighs
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 sm. onion, sliced
1 jar marinara sauce
1/3 c. water
2 Tbsp. BBQ sauce
1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
1 sm. bell pepper, chopped
8 oz. mushrooms
parmesan cheese
Heat olive oil in pot. Fry legs and thighs until browned. Set aside. Fry garlic and onions until brown. Return chicken to pot with accumulated juices, along with water, BBQ sauce and pepper. Simmer for 30 min. uncovered, stirring occasionally. Add green peppers and after 5 minutes add mushrooms. Cook an additional minute. Garnish with cheese. Serve with garlic bread or pasta.

Frito casserole
1 lb. ground beef
1 sm. onion, minced
8 oz. can red enchilada sauce
1 large bag fritos
1 large bag shredded taco cheese
8 oz. sour cream
Preheat oven to 350. Brown ground beef in a pan with chopped onion. Drain juices. Combine with enchilada sauce and fritos in a casserole. Top with sour cream and cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve.

Basic chicken and pork adobo
1 lb. chicken legs and thighs
1 lb. pork stew
1 c. vinegar
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 c. water
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. hot sauce (or red pepper flakes)
3 garlic cloves, smashed
2 bay leaves
12 peppercorns
Combine all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Serve with rice. (For advanced: remove chicken when cooked and continue to cook pork for an additional 20 min. or until tender. Place meat in a baking pan and broil until browned. Meanwhile reduce sauce by half. Return meat to sauce and serve.)

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They have a kitchen, is there a functioning oven, and are they willing to put some money into some spices or spice blends to have on hand? You can do a LOT with the same basic ingredients and a variety of spice/herb blends.

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This is not exactly a gourmet delight, but it is easy, will feed a small crowd, and is generally liked by college students.
--Break up two tubes of refrigerated biscuits (I warned you that it wasn't gourmet!) and spread around a 9x13 greased pan
--Brown a pound of ground beef and sprinkle over biscuits
--Pour over a jar or two of spaghetti sauce 
--Add whatever other pizza toppings you like or have around: onions, peppers, etc.
--Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes.

This is a very forgiving recipe: kids can add or subtract ingredients, alter the amounts, and still end up with something fairly edible. The good news is that they become better cooks and eaters as time goes on!

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Pasta With Tuna, Tomato, & Green Olives Recipe #199920
Terrific recipe from Fine Cooking. Basically everything can be found in the pantry, so easy and quick for a weeknight meal.
by spatchcock
4 
servings
25 min 15 min prep
4	 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2-3	 large garlic cloves, minced
1	 pinch hot red chili pepper flakes
3	 tablespoons finely minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
2	 cups canned tomatoes with juice, very finely chopped
1	 teaspoon fennel seeds	 (crushed in a mortar or spice grinder)
1 (6-7	 ounce) can imported tuna in olive oil, well drained and very finely minced
1/3	 cup pitted and quartered green olives	 (not with pimentos)
salt
3/4	 lb dry penne pasta	 or rigatoni pasta	 or spaghetti	 or perciatelli
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Heat 3 Tbs. of the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over moderate heat. Add the garlic, chile flakes, and 2 Tbs. of the parsley and sauté briefly to release the fragrance of the seasonings. Add the tomatoes and fennel seed. Bring to a simmer, adjust the heat to maintain the simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick and well blended, about 10 minute.
Stir in the minced tuna and then the olives. Season with salt and remove from the heat while you cook the pasta.
Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling water. When the pasta is a few minutes away from being finished, return the tomato sauce to moderate heat and add enough of the hot pasta water -- about 2/3 cup -- to thin the sauce to a nice consistency. Keep the sauce warm over low heat.
When the pasta is about 1 minute shy of al dente, scoop out and set aside 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the hot pot and stir in the sauce. Cook together over moderately low heat for about 1 min., stirring and adding some of the reserved pasta water if needed to thin the sauce. Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil. Serve the pasta immediately in warm bowls, garnishing each portion with a little of the remaining parsley.

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Another great one. We love this even now!
Ramen Fried " Rice" Recipe #34716
This is like fried rice but it's done more quickly! We love this about once a week!
by spatchcock
4 
servings
10 min 5 min prep
1 (3	 ounce) package pork-flavored ramen noodles	 (or smoked ham flavor or oriental flavor)
1/2	 cup frozen peas
2	 eggs, beaten
1	 teaspoon sesame oil
1	 pinch white pepper
1	 tablespoon peanut oil
4	 green onions, finely chopped
1	 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/2-1	 cup diced roast pork	 (optional) or cooked chicken	 (optional) or shrimp	 (I use tofu if I include this at all, optional, optional) (optional) or tofu	 (I use tofu if I include this at all) (optional)
1	 tablespoon soy sauce
Break the noodles into about 6 pieces into a bowl, sprinkle with the contents of the seasoning packet and pour boiling water over to cover.
Stir a bit and let soak while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
Rinse peas with hot water in a colander to defrost.
Mix together the eggs, sesame oil, and pepper and set aside.
Heat a wok or large skillet and add the oil.
Add the garlic and green onions and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
Add optional meat and peas and stir fry until hot, about 1 minutes.
Drain the noodles well, add to the skillet and stir fry for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Stir in the soy sauce until well distributed.
Pour the eggs into the skillet and continue to cook and stir, until the bits of egg are cooked.
Serve at once.

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If they aren't looking for gourmet and need easy food when they finished with classes, no real prep work, here's a couple:

Easy Easy Chicken and Vegies
3 carrots, sliced, 3 stalks celery, sliced, 1 large onion, cut into thin wedges, 3 cups cubed cooked chicken, 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup, 3/4 cup chicken broth - Place vegetables in the bottom of slow cooker. Top with chicken. Add the soup and broth. (No need to mix). Cover and cook for 4 to 6 hours on low.

Really Easy Pot Roast
6 small potatoes, 6 small onions, 6 medium carrots, 1 boneless beef chuck roast (approximately 3 pounds), Salt and pepper (any other favorite seasonings), 1 cup water or beef stock. Combine all in crockpot - low for 8 hrs.

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In grad school I lived off of 7 layer dip and baked potatoes. I could cook, but just didn't feel like doing it. Quesadillas, crockpot chicken with salsa. Baked sweet potatoes.

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I lived with four guys in a house whilst going to college. Our main goal, when not eating takeout, was to minimize the number of dishes used. Hence, our pasta recipe:

Heat the largest pot you have filled 3/4 with water, and some salt.

Pour in all the pasta the pot should hold (obviously will depend on size of pot, but they're university students, they should be able to do the arithmetic, right?)

When pasta is cooked, pour through colander, rinse pot, and dry (1 dish done)

Place colander in fridge (if not eating now)

When you want to eat:

1 - Turn on sink taps to hottest hot, running full
2 - Put sauce pan of water on stove to boil
3 - Put colander of pasta under running water in sink; turn occasionally
4 - Put opened jar of bottled (cough *ragu* cough) pasta sauce in pot
5 - Drain pasta, and distribute amongst plates for diners
6 - When pasta sauce is hot, pour over plates
7 - Eat; when done, pasta sauce jar should be cool, cover and put back in fridge

Total utensils used: one pot for pasta (once), one plate and one fork per diner per meal; one colander (per week, or however long pasta lasts)

This, and other interesting recipes, will be in my upcoming "Cooking for Guys" (TM).

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I guarantee this will be a hit - Kraft Mac & Cheese - prepare according to instructions on box. Drain and add one can of tuna. Drain and add one can of peas. Keep over low heat for about a minute, stirring gently just to warm the peas. Instant Tuna Casserole!!! And dinner for two at well under $5 !

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For an easy-to-prepare and inexpensive snack, teach him how to make popcorn.

Place a large pot (that has a cover) on the stove. Turn the heat on high. Put in enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pot thinly. Add three popcorn kernels. Put the cover on the pot. When the first kernel pops add enough more popcorn to cover the bottom of the pot in a single layer. Turn the heat down to medium, cover the pot with a small crack at the top so steam can escape, and shake the pot periodically (maybe every 30 seconds or so).

When the pops become less frequent than one per 15 seconds or so it's done.

Pour popcorn into a bowl. If you want butter on it, stick a few tablespoonsful of butter into the still hot pan until it melts, then pour over popcorn.

Add salt or other seasonings to taste.

Answer

Here are two of my favorites from when I was a student. Actually, it's essentially the same recipe made two different ways. 

He will need: a package of Ramen noodles or a package of Kraft mac and cheese, a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, a package or Perdue shortcuts already-cooked-and-sliced chicken strips.

Instructions for mac-and-cheese option: Cook noodles according to package directions, but toss in some frozen vegetables (as much or as little as he likes) a few minutes before the end of cooking time. When done, drain water and stir in milk, butter, and cheese sauce mix according to package directions. Finally, stir in chicken strips and cook on low just for a minute or two until chicken is warmed through.

Instructions for Ramen soup option: Cook noodles according to package directions (you can use two packages if you want, since it'll be pretty heavy on the chicken if you use only one), tossing in frozen vegetables a few minutes before the end of cooking time. Add seasoning packet(s) and stir in chicken until warmed through.

These are incredibly easy and not too bad tasting when you're a poor student and don't know any better.

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Do they know how to cook rice and pasta? A quick tutorial on that might be helpful if they are that inexperienced. One poster mentioned chilli which is a great idea for college guys.

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IF they have a low setting on the oven, fool proof, medium-rare roast beef is easy. Take 1 square cut rump roast (or eye of round), put it in a roasting pan/9x13 pan/pan with high-ish sides. Put it in the oven at 150 degrees. Go away for several hours (at least 6, up to 12). Take pan out of oven (use oven mitts!). Let sit for 5-10 minutes. Take meat out, place on cutting board and slice. Serve with vegetables.

For easy spaghetti sauce--For 4 guys I'm guessing 3 cans of crushed tomatoes (look for Muir Glen if possible). Take 2T. olive oil, put in large fry pan or medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add 5 cloves minced garlic and cook briefly (burns easily). Pour in cans of tomatoes. Cook over medium heat and simmer until slightly thickened (not too watery). While the tomatoes simmer, season with salt, pepper, dried basil and oregano (crush in fingertips). Taste and if it's a little sharp, add a pinch or 2 of sugar, to taste. Before you start the sauce you can get a large pot of water to boil. When boiling, add about 1 pound-1 1/2 pounds spaghetti and cook according to the box directions. Serve with garlic bread and salad.

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How about stacked enchiladas. Brown ground beef or buy a rotiserrie chicken and layer with tortillas, salsa or enchilada sauce, shredded cheese and refried beans--throw in the oven for 30 minutes. And leftovers freeze well.

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I would also suggest an easy chicken parmesan. Guys love it and it can be made fairly simple. Buy chicken cutlets, dip in a beaten egg, coat with italian seasoned breadcrumbs (yes, purchased--these boys aren't going to make their own) and fry in skillet for a few minutes each side in olive oil/butter. Take out the cutlets, heat pasta sauce in skillet, replace cutlets and top with parm and mozzarella. Cover for a few minutes until melted. Meanwhile cook pasta and serve with chicken.

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Sorry, but when I went to BC I found that an electric coffee pot could cook soup or even stew if left on while at classes, hot dogs came out ok as well, an iron was better at making grilled cheese and hamburgers than working on clothes and that "dinty moore"
could be heated in the can with sterno.....oh god how did I survive...i'm getting ill thinking of it now. The truth is we thought it was great and that we were brilliant... but that was the 60s

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My roommates and I lived off of lo mein for a while. It can be easily prepared in a skillet.

1 pkg spaghetti or lo mein noodles
1/2 bag frozen veggies or 1 can stir fry blend, drained
chicken pieces if you can afford it
soy sauce
mirin if you're fancy, chicken broth if you're not

You can also use beef and 1/2 jar beef gravy or substitute tofu for chicken.

Serve with homework and thick coffee.

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here's another soup - very fresh tasting and surprisingly good. i'll still make in a pinch with staples. it was a classic in med school when i had no time or money but wanted things that tasted good..

"pam" the bottom of a saucepan and add a teaspoon - tablespoon (depending on taste) of cumin 
add a cut up zucchini and yellow squash and saute until golden
add some cut up carrots 
pour in 2 big cans chicken broth
add a can of diced tomatoes with chiles (or you can do them separate) 
add a can of red or kidney beans, drained
add leftover, canned or shredded rotisserie chicken
let cook 15 minutes
add a can of corn
let cook 5 minutes more
add a whole bunch of cilantro shredded and just warm through

i serve with sour cream garnish and chips/salsa/guac on the side
the original recipe had tortillas and cheese stirred into the soup - i like it "fresher" than that but college boys might like it that way.

really it's EASY and good and pretty healthy. :)

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after you get him a crockpot .it would also be nice to get him some gift cards to the local supermarket. 
teach him how to make oatmeal, big batches he can eat throughout the week, also pasta is affordable & easy, show him the whole wheat pastas for xtra nutrition, also teach him how to boil eggs. great snacks.

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Here's what got me through my senior year of college:
I took some canned black beans, heated them up on the stove with a half jar or so of salsa, and served over white rice (from the local takeout place, although if he can handle making his own, that's great). If frying up an onion isn't out of the question, that adds some great flavor, too. If they like spicy, adding some hot sauce or using extra spicy salsa will work well. Leftover beans are great as a snack with tortilla chips.

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Look for "Fix it and Forget it" by Ranck and Good, a crockpot cookbook filled with simple recipes from appetizers to beverages and desserts, or "500 Five Ingredient Recipes" from Better Homes and Gardens, available used from $3.94 plus s&h on Amazon.com.

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Just a little aside....give him a fondue set for Christmas....that way he can make what look like fancy dishes for "date night"--my son impressed many a date with chocolate fondue that was nothing more than melted chocolate with strawberries and some other goodies around it.....pretty amusing.

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I cooked a lot in college, but for someone not so good at it how about chicken fajitas, tons of recipes they can even get bags of already cut pepper and onion if that is too much for them, and if they can't cut up chicken use shortcuts. They were always fun, easy to make and good.

Also there was this recipe that is kind of bad for you but so yummy it was on the hungry jack rolls and was called hungry jack casserole I will see if I can find that recipe I haven't made it in forever... 

Not crockpot, but very simple.

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Here's an easy recipe that took me through college and the first years of my marriage and on to fussy toddlers. :)

Brown a pound of ground beef, drain
add a box (8 oz.) of your choice of pasta - elbows, penne, etc., cooked
add a 2 cans of stewed tomatoes with onions, green peppers and celery. 
You can also added extra onions, peppers and celery for a more "fresh" taste. Onions and peppers are readily available here in Boston already chopped in the frozen food section in supermarkets. I never met anyone who didn't like this.

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I had my roommies hooked on Ruben sandwiches. Meatloaf is always easy. Homemade meatballs with spaghetti, bread and a dinner salad.

When I went to college my mom got me a cook book called Where's Mom Now That I Need Her. It was very helpful and had many easy recipes (as well as household hints and basic first aid tips). There is even basic cooking info on things like boiling eggs properly (yes, some people really don't know how to do this). Every now and then I still refer to it, our favorite is the easy chicken pot pie.

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Baked potatoes are easy and cheap -- scrub, prick, bake directly on oven rack at 350 to 400 until soft when pierced (about 1 hour). Can be topped with all kinds of things.

Tell them to watch for spiral-sliced ham to go on sale at their supermarket. Unwrap, discard all wrappings including glaze packet, put flat side down in a lasagna pan (giving them a really solid one would be a great kindness), cover with aluminum foil and heat slowly (300) in oven for about 45 minutes. This will be great with whatever veggies hot out of the oven and equally great cold for sandwiches or with other veggies (or just picked at) the next day.

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easy mac and little smokies. Easy enough for a 3 year old to make since everything is precooked. Delicious. Also very very Healthy!

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Easiest crockpot recipe possible:

1 lb boneless chicken breasts
1 can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
1 small can of mushrooms
1/4 cup white wine
a dash of pepper

Cover the chicken with soup, mushrooms, and wine mixed together. Add pepper. Cook on low for about 8 hours. Serve over rice.

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Tuna-Roo
1 can tuna
1 can either cream of mushroom or cream of chicken or cream of whatever you like
8 oz pasta

Boil pasta. Drain. Add in drained tuna and cream of XX soup. Stir until hot. Eat out of the pan or use a plate. Scale up as needed. Also, you can add in whatever frozen/defrosted/fresh veggies are on hand: broccoli, peas, etc. 

Spinach Ricotta Pasta
Ricotta Cheese
butter
Frozen spinach
S/P
Pasta
Cook pasta, Drain. In the same pot, add ricotta cheese, butter and drained (and squeezed) frozen spinach with s/p to taste. Add as much cheese and spinach as you like. Again, a one pot meal that gets in a serving of vegetables!

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Another easy crockpot recipe:

1 package of skinless chicken thighs and/or legs, depending on the size of your crockpot
1-2 cans of diced tomatoes (the kind with garlic and Italian seasoning is best)
1 can of tomato paste
1-2 cans of canned corn
Whatever other vegetables you like
Additional seasoning if it's not already in the diced tomatoes

Dump everything in the crockpot, stir to cover chicken with tomatoes. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve with rice or noodles.

Note: boneless chicken tends to get dried out in crockpots, so bone-in is best for this recipe. Skinless is best because there's no way for skin to get crispy; it just gets kind of slimey.

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1) beef or pork butt/roast-1 can of beer-1 pkg of lipton onion soup mix. put in crockpot and let cook 8-10 hrs on low. 1 large roast should last 4 boys 2 meals worth. one day serve shredded meat on sandwiches, next day serve with juice over pasta and if any left add vegis and make soup.

2) sounds gross but taste like lasagna. 8oz cream cheese, 1lb cooked ground beef or italian sausage, 1 jar of sauce (i like barilla with basil). put in crockpot 1-2 hours or cook over stove top, when ready to eat 1st guy makes the pasta then as others are ready they just take the hot sauce from crockpot.

3) chili-just tell them to buy the packet and follow the directions.

4) Bake potatoes in crock pot-Prick pots with fork. Wrap them in foil. Fill Crock-Pot with 6 to 12 potatoes. Cover. Go away. Cook on Low 8 to 10 hours (High: 2 1/2 to 4
 hours]. Come back. DO NOT ADD WATER. I find bake potatoes a great way to stretch any leftovers..just pour over the potato add cheese and dinner!

5) tacos! 

IF adventours tell boys when browning meat brown as much as they can at one time and throw bags of cooked brown meat in freezer. Saves so much time!

If they can have an electric skillet or george forman grill it may open up another whole batch of fixins...burgers, grilled cheese....

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Chicken and Dumplings-
1 can chicken stock
1 can chicken gravy
 1 bag frozen veggie mix or fresh of their choice
boneless chicken or chicken pieces
1 tube Pillsbury biscuits- each cut into 4 smal squares

Bring stock and frozen veggies to a boil.
Once veggies are getting soft, add all the gravy.
Stir to combine.
Lower heat and allow to simmer.
After 5 minutes, ad chicken
Stir again.
When chicken begins to cook ( ie-starts to look white), add small squares of biscuit.
Allow to simmer until chicken is cooked through, veggies are soft and biscuits are firm.
Makes great left-overs, too.

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Thank you everyone for these great ideas! I'll post back when I hear if they have made anything!

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This isn't so much a recipe as a college survival suggestion. One thing I couldn't afford was spoiled food. My budget was VERY tight. 

Tip: wrap celery sticks (sliced and cleaned) in aluminum foil. It keeps for weeks this way...crisp and fresh...I have no idea why. 

Tip: Splurge a bit more to buy the Ziplock Fresh Protect bags for all fresh veggies...especially romaine lettuce. It keeps veggies at the perfect moisture content to prevent rotting for a few weeks. 

Tip: Buy a big block of cheddar cheese (like from Sam's club) shred it (or buy pre-shredded) and freeze in small ziplock baggies. Then we'd take out right before using (like on top of chili or for grilled cheese sandwiches) and use a baggie at a time. 

If he has access & ability to use a grill (my roomie & I lived off-campus eventually) this opens up a nightly 'social hour'. Our neighbors (and about 1/2 the apartment complex) were invited to throw on their own meat and share a side. Some days it'd be a hot dog and others a steak...but there was always a fresh garden salad, someone would always bring mashed potatoes (from the box of course) and usually there was a rice or pasta...maybe a steamed veggie...whatever people had available. We never starved, always had good variety, explored different cultural dishes and most importantly we all made a lot of friends. It was a nice way to replace the 'family dinner'. We'd talk about our day, make plans for the weekend, laugh and let off steam. It took some of the stress off in a good way.

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I totally forgot to mention breakfast for dinner! That was always an inexpensive meal to make. Eggs, bacon, pop-open biscuits, grits (we were in the south), fresh fruit...yum.

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My mom gave me a rice cooker when I was in college, it made it impossible for me to screw up the rice. 
Quesadillas with salsa are easy protein.
Reheatable gyoza from Trader Joe's are very tasty.
Cereal. More cereal. Instant oatmeal. Cereal.
Premade pasta sauces are getting better and better. They can buy some real parmesan to make the pasta more tasty.

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If the kid's afraid of cooking, recommend the food channel -- and perhaps America's Test Kitchen on PBS. I was hospitalized a couple of weeks and watched TFC for hours at a time, even though I was never much of a cook. Not only are there recipes (don't frown on Rachael Ray here), but it shows that cooking can be easy...and fun.

Half the problem, maybe more, is eliminating fear from the equation.

And ditto the note elsewhere in this thread about pointing out that cooking impresses women. There is no stronger incentive than that!

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I'm kind of a snob but even I enjoy it when my non-cooking boyfriend makes burritos:

Brown 1 lb ground beef.
Drain 1 large can kidney beans and add to beef, along with 
1 small can tomato paste
2 T Mexican seasoning

eat in tortillas with cheese and salsa, or vegetables if you are feeling healthy.

If you can be bothered to think or chop, you could add sliced onion at the beginning, refried or black beans instead of pinto, or different spices, like chili and cumin. But its great as written above.

as a sidenote, as a female in college, I know a LOT of young men in college, and if they're not already at least somewhat into cooking, it is extremely likely that they will <not> get into it while they're students, so, aim low. (believe me, I shudder to type this, but it is the result of my semi-empirical observations rather than my own beliefs)

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All the recipes sound good, but when they make a pot of chili or soup etc., suggest to them to make double the recipes and freeze in small containers so they can just take out and microwave. Can do with mac and cheese, pot roast whateverl. One thing I love is either take a cook chicken(rotisserie chicken) or roast etc, and shred cook with some bbq sauce, roll in soft taco flour tortillas into taquitos, and freeze. I always have them on hand and give to the kids for school. Do a little extra work and they can have lots of food.

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Here's a really good recipe that is soooo easy and I still eat it today!

6 english muffins - split

1 tomato - diced
1 red pepper - diced
1 jar of marinated artichoke hearts - chopped
about 1-1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
couple of handfuls of pine nuts - toasted (I just toast mine in olive oil in a skillet since I know I'd forget them if I put them in the oven

Mix above ingredients together and sprinkle on top of split english muffins. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

Healthy and easy!!!

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Beans and rice are an easy, healthy combo that can be diversified in many ways... Here are a few highly simplified versions.

--Minute rice / rice in a bag (sorry) + chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions, etc. + rinsed and drained can of black beans + taco seasoning (Add browned ground beef and top with sour cream if payday)
--Minute rice / rice in a bag + curry seasoning + cilantro + chunked rotisserie chicken 
--Rice + chunked rotisserie chicken + grated carrots + cilantro + chicken broth
--Minute rice / rice in a bag + spaghetti sauce (1/2 a jar--not the whole thing) + chunked rotisserie chicken + chopped tomatoes + kidney beans + grated parmesan 

And so on...

http://smetanas-glasses.blogspot.com

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Thank you, all, for one of the funniest threads I've read in weeks.

As a female in college, living in the nicest dorm on campus (suites with "kitchens"), I've watched my suite and some off-campus peers go through the adventure of getting off the meal plan. The two budding chefs in my suite (both males! there IS hope!) now eat 1) microwaveable pizza, 2) freezer taquitos, and 3) endless amounts of ramen. I love to cook and have been doing so since I was 12, and can pretty much make anything...yet, I don't have a car to get to more affordable supermarkets and the only one we've got (Whole Foods, which is far beyond my budget) is a 30-minute walk away. This past semester I've been applying to law school and doing other various things like studying, so I've had zero time and have started realizing that I really like using as few dishes as possible. My diet now consists of ramen (this is banned in my house and I NEVER realized how delicious it was...or cheap.) and fried egg sandwiches. Sometimes I muster the patience to cook pasta (with canned sauce) and occasionally splurge on a can of tuna.

In college, food must be cheap, mind-numbingly easy, and fast. There are certainly good ways to do this -- stockpiling, prepackaged foods, having a good variety of spices will help -- but it will take a few months of really bad experimenting for it to sink in. The proximity of TJ really helps; at least they have normal food along with the frozen meals...I, for one, am still happily slurping down ramen-with-egg (I poach mine and serve it on top, but I'll try that scrambled idea next time). Be patient -- I recently got my boyfriend to switch over from Easy Mac to "cooking" shells 'n Velveeta (apparently they sell them in boxes -- pasta shells that you cook, plus a handy Velveeta packet). He felt very accomplished. Good luck and happy eating!

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Forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but I was nosing around at Instructables.com and thought of this thread... Anyway, do a search for [Collegiate Meals] (with the brackets). The user trebuchet03 has some good, cheap ideas. The stromboli in particular looks magnificent.

Answer

Super Easy Pulled Pork

Get a pork shoulder/picnic that will fit in slow cooker. Pat a layer of brown sugar all over it. Place it in the slow cooker and douse with worcestershire. Cook on low 8-12 hours. Pull apart with 2 forks and serve on hamburger buns.

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1 can Rotel (tomatoes and chilies)
1 box Velveeta shells and cheese (Hey, they're in college, and we're looking for simple, right!?)

Make Velveeta as directed on box. 
Drain liquid from the can of Rotel, then add remaining contents of can to the pasta. 

Soooooooo good. And super easy!

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A few desperately cheap suggestions.
1. Macaroni and cheese from the box. You can add the following if you have it. A can of vienna sausages or some leftover ground beef, taco meat. You could even add some sauteed vegetables.
2. Rice with a can of soup poured over it. Don't water the soup down as much as you would for soup.
3. Tomato soup with some cooked ground beef added or you could add some veggies or maybe some pasta like bowties or rice.
4. Spaghetti noodles with pasta sauce. add ground beef or sausage if you like.
5. a crock pot stew. There are multiple recipes for this on web.
6. A can of white cannelloni beans add some chunks of ham or even spam.
7. Add the left over meat of your choice to ramen noodles.
8. Eggs are cheap. scrambled eggs and a little sausage sprinkled in is hard to beat. add cheese and put it in a flour tortilla - breakfast burritos. Beat some eggs and add it to hot spaghetti noodles. add cheese if you have it.

A buddy of mine lived for days on a family size box of macaroni and cheese. He put it all in a big tupperware container. He would heat it up in the microwave. Eat it right out of the container then put a lid on it do it all over again the next day. A can of chunk soup over a bowl of white rice was very popular with this guy too. 

These dishes may not be a balanced meal but what college student eats a balanced diet?

Answer

I'm a college student, and I have to say, instant rice has gotten me through many a lazy meal. 

Instant rice+cream of mushroom soup+chicken thighs+dry onion dip=sinfully delicious oven-baked casserole.

Or, just top cooked rice with cheese and salsa and call it a day.

Answer

as a current college student/vegetarian, my dinners often consist of :

1. scrambled veggies and a protein (tofu, eggs) OR beans
2. on top of a grain

REALLY easy. just put oil in a pan and stick whatever veggies in or dump a can of beans in, cook up some couscous/barley/quinoa...

just about as easy as kraft, but a million times better.

Answer

I am a college student and these two meals have gotten me through many a night. Pasta is a college student's best friend. I would take pre cooked chicken and add it to some spaghetti sauce, and spice it up with garlic powder, oregano, and some red pepper flakes. This with pasta sprinkled with olive oil and parmesan cheese. 

Also, buy him a bag of frozen asian veggies and a bottle of Teriyaki sauce, Thai curry etc... melt the veggies in a pan and add the sauce. Eat with Minute Rice and chicken may be added if you like (precooked again)

Also, chicken boneless skinless chicken breasts, and a bottle of Italian dressing. Cut the chicken into strips and dump onto a cookie sheet and coat the chicken with the dressing. Broil for about 10 minutes or until cooked and serve with a box of instant couscous

Answer

Eggs are a classic inexpensive food. Omelets, fried, you name it.
In college thats where I started with my hotplate. Get some butter, an onion, maybe some mushrooms or so, some good bread, you are done.

Answer

My go-to when I was broke and needed something that would re-heat well (to accommodate a few days' worth of leftovers!):

Penne a la Vodka
- 1 box penne pasta
- olive oil
- a few links of italian sausage 
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- a few cloves of garlic
- crushed red pepper
- salt
- heavy whipping cream
- vodka (what college student doesn't have a bottle of vodka in the freezer?)

Bring a pot of water to boil and add penne; cook according to directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat a few Tbsp of olive oil. Slice open the italian sausage links and dump the crumbled sausage into the pan. (Note: You can also use italian turkey or chicken sausage, or no sausage at all). Add some minced garlic and crushed red pepper and cook until sausage is slightly browned. Dump in can of crushed tomatoes and a tsp of salt. Raise heat to bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 25 minutes. Add 1/3 c. heavy whipping cream and 2 Tbsp of vodka. Bring to a boil. Add penne (which has been cooked and drained). Toss and serve. 

I've also made this without the cream and vodka and it's still delicious. It's a very flexible recipe - works with other kinds of pasta and with vegetables added in.

Nowadays, this is still my go-to meal when my husband's out of town for a few days -- I will happily sit on the couch eating a bowl of reheated penne for days.

Answer

I know I posted this elsewhere at some point but I think this is relevant enough to repeat... take a medium sized pepperoni stick and slice as thinly as possible (make sure to peel the wrappers off the meat first; throw into a crock pot with a large can of unseasoned tomatoes and cook until the meat "melts" into the tomatoes. serve over pasta or on good Italian hard rolls. sooo good!

Answer

If he doesn't mind the initial (still reasonable) cost in investing in spices (or, you could gift him with a stocked spice rack!) this super-cheap meal is one of my all-time favorites to quickly cook up on a weeknight while studying for class: channa masala (chickpea curry). Also, the flavors will most certainly impress; my roommates ask me to cook this constantly. 

Sautee 1/2 chopped onion in a tbsp of oil until golden. Add 1 clove minced garlic and sautee for about a minute more, then stir in a heaping tsp of ground cumin, 1/2 tsp turmeric, and 1/4 tsp cayenne (to taste- I usually add a little more as I like it extra spicy) and stir about 30 seconds until spices are fragrant. Add a 15oz can of chickpeas (drained) and 1/2 cup water, bring mixture to a boil, and then set heat on medium low. Add a heaping tsp of paprika,1/2 tsp garam masala, 1/2 tsp salt, and the juice of about a quarter of a lemon. Cook for 10 minutes, serve warm over rice. You can add all manners of foodstuffs to this- chopped chicken, tomatoes, etc.

Also, perfect for the college student: easy-peasy beer bread! Preheat oven to 375. Combine 3 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 3 tbsp sugar & 1 tsp salt in a bowl, and add 1 12oz bottle of beer at room temperature. Don't overmix the batter, it should be lumpy. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and brush the top with melted butter. Bake for 35-37ish minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
Light beers, the yeastier the better, are good for this. Since he's up in Boston, I suggest a Sam Adams Summer Ale. Bread comes out slightly lemony :)

Answer

Whatever happened to good old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Or grilled peanut butter sandwiches? Or grilled cheese sandwiches ... sandwiches is the theme here - cheap, easy, fast, and one-handed eating, usually... tuna salad, ham, salami, turkey, roast beef, corned beef, pastrami, bologna, American, Muenster, Provolone, Swiss, Gouda, Edam, Havarti, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Mozzerella!!! Cheese!!! Rye, Wheat, White, Oat, Pumpernickel, Foccacia, Ciabbata, etc. etc. etc. ... Guys, come on ... a little mustard, mayo, Dijon, Dijonaise, horseradish, lettuce, tomato, cuke, sprouts, spinace, arugula, pickles, olives, again- etc. etc. A little imagination and the whole world is your SANDWICH! And don't forget the toaster oven!!! ENJOY :)

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Here's an easy one for the crock pot;

Asian Crock Pot

5 t. soy sauce
1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen Asian veggies
3 T. peanut butter
1 lb. chicken breast strips
2 c. orange juice

Mix all ingredients in bowl. Place in crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hrs. Serve alone or over rice. Makes 4 servings.

Answer

This one is a lifesaver, can be dressed up with white wine or sour cream towards the end but is just really good "as is". One lb. of unbrowned stew beef, cubed, tossed in the crockpot. Mix a can of cream of onion soup with a can of cream of mushroom, blend well, pour over beef, cook on low 6-8 hours until meat is falling-apart tender. Serve with noodles, rice, couscous, orzo, mashed, toast....
Ditto 6 med. skinless boneless chicken breasts in crockpot, topped with cream of celery/cream of chicken mixture, on low 5-7 hours or until juice runs clear. Great if you add a can of diced green chiles, shred the chicken and serve over tortilla chips, but again good "as is" over a starch of some sort.
You can start with a decent jar of pasta sauce, add a can of beef broth and a can of water, some kidney beans, any diced vegies you have around, some cooked pasta at the end, browned ground beef if you need meat, maybe a few handfuls of prebagged spinach, for "instant" minestrone.
Canned chicken broth with shredded escarole (or cabbage, or lettuce, or any other green you can think of), beaten egg, orzo, and crumbled fried hamburger for a good fast soup, great w/ garlic bread.
Scrambled eggs, topped with canned chili on a tortilla - or canned chili topped with fried eggs.
Cabbage cooked with hamhock and onion in crockpot (stock, broth or water to cover) for 5 hours or so, served over noodles.
Tuna melts!! Tuna salad, cheese and sliced apple on raisin bread, pangrilled.
You can make great cream of tomato soup with canned tomatoes, milk and roux and lots of black pepper. Pure comfort, especially with cheese toast.
Drained ramen noodles stirfried with shredded cabbage and onion, made into a pancake, beaten eggs poured over, allowed to set and flipped once.

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my first real recipe was found in seventeen magazine. in a pan put a little oil, and any veggie and herb found in the cabinets, heat it all up together and add in some boiled pasta (any kind) and a few spoonfuls of the cooking water. if its a harder veggie like broccoli or carrots throw then into the pasta water to cook a little before adding to the pan. maybe some parm cheese (from the green can) and you have a meal. i grew up fairly vegetarian so i didn't use meat but anything cooked can be added and i know perdue has the pre-cooked strips in your grocers freezer that can be added.

a current staple in my life is stir fry, same concept and you can add a bottled sauce or make your own, simple, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili sauce, sugar and a little chicken broth...honestly whatever "asian" stuff in your kitchen, throw it in - your not messing it up. 

none of this is gourmet but its easy and it tastes like real food which i think is the point anyway.

Answer

Much Better Than Kraft Dinner:
1-12 oz bag spaetzle or similar shaped, dense noodle
3 cups grated cheese (any, or a mix)
2 tbsp real butter
1 large onion, diced fine

Boil pasta (spaetzle) til al dente, drain.
Butter a large pyrex baking dish, layer cheese & spaetzle til used up
Saute diced onionwith butter in pasta pan until glassy. Spread evenly over top of spaetzle.
Bake 15-20 minutes at 325 F.

Very filling. The spaetzle costs more, but you get a lot more real food for your money. To further change/improve it, ask at the deli counter of any store if they will sell you their meat ends (ham, turkey, beef) for cheap. Then dice them at home and add them to the layers of cheese/pasta. Flirt with the girl behind the counter, and maybe she'll give you the cheese ends for free! If you insist on creamy pasta, pour some (fluid) whipping cream over the baked strata and dig in.

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I guess this is an ancient post, but since people are still posting here, I thought I'd add my $.02 - I participated in a series with Benchfly.com about pantry cooking (my own blog is mostly about cooking with pantry staples) They have several microwave recipes that are quick and also tasty - http://www.benchfly.com/blog/recipes-chemistry-you-can-eat/

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My husband moved into an apartment freshmen year (he couldn't get on campus housing, long story). He spent all his money on rent and had about couple hundred to spend on food. He told me he lived off Hormel chili and quesadillas with the occasional Chinese take out of tofu and rice. (cheapest thing on the menu) Instead of gaining the freshmen 15 he lost 40 pounds.

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