27 Easy Recipes Every College Student Should Know

For many, college means learning independence, including in the kitchen. Living away from home is a great opportunity to explore different cuisines, develop culinary skills, master a few easy recipes and gain confidence in cooking for yourself. So, fill up the mini fridge and stock up on dorm-room essentials—we’ve rounded up recipes that coax big flavors out of short ingredient lists, use approachable techniques and give you dietary value to boot. For instance, this delicious breakfast takes 10 minutes, and you’ll only have to wash one pan afterward! Ham, cheese and baby spinach are used here, but you can swap them out for your favorite omelet fillings.

This from-scratch mac and cheese cooks in one bowl, and you don't have to boil the macaroni or cook the cheese sauce separately. Plus, it's ready in less than half an hour. A blend of American and Jack cheeses makes the sauce smooth and tangy.

A fully loaded baked potato can make for a hearty meal, but what college student has an hour to wait for a spud to cook?! This recipe yields a moist, steamy, fluffy potato with crispy skin in a fraction of the time.

Premade pesto delivers tons of herbal flavor in this 5-ingredient dish. The first step is simmering the chicken thighs in broth for 40 minutes, so you can study (or watch TV) while you wait. Then, simply shred the chicken, add it in with the spinach, and stir in some pesto.