Easy Cooking Recipes for College Students

Often, college students have limited cooking time, unless it’s the weekend, but even so, they are always eager to have something quick and easy.  Here are some of the slow cooker recipes that any college students can purchase from their nearest grocery store and enjoy making them.

Breakfast Nachos

Ingredients

• Diced Bell Pepper
• Onion, Diced
• Black Beans
• Chicken Sausage
• Eggs
• Avocado
• Salsa
• Cheese
• Corn Tortilla Chips

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sauté peppers, onions, chicken sausage and beans for 5 minutes
2. Push the mixture to one side of the pan and add eggs
3. Cook until scrambled and mix well
4. Spoon mixture over chips and top with cheese, avocado and salsa
5. Serve warm

RECIPE NOTES

Keep in mind that you can customize and use your favorite veggies!  Make sure to leave out the meat or beans.  When you’re making a large amount, you may put them on a baking sheet and put them under the broiler or oven for a few minutes once you add the cheese.  If you’re making a smaller amount and wat some cheese extra melty, put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Nutella Stuffed French Toast Sticks

Ingredients

• 10 Slices White Sandwich Bread
• 5 Heaping Tablespoons Nutella
• 6 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• Powdered Sugar, For Sprinkling (Optional)
• Maple Syrup

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and coat a large or small baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Spread Nutella on one slice of bread and top with another slice to make a sandwich. Then use a knife to slice the sandwich into three pieces, making it as equal in size as possible. Repeat the same step for the rest of the amount.
3. In a pie plate or similar dish, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. You may use your hand or a tong, dip each assembled French toast stick into the mixture, turning to coat all sides well.  Do the same thing for the remaining.
4. Once it has been coated, bake for 8 minutes. Then return to the oven and use a spatula to flip each stick over, and bake for additional 7 or 8 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve with maple syrup for dipping

RECIPE NOTES

You can freeze them and then enjoy them later.  Place them in a zippered plastic storage bag or a storage container, and can store them up to 3 months.  To reheat frozen sticks place a few on a plate in microwave, and cook on high for one minute.

Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Large Onion Chopped Fine
• 1 Ground Beef
• 1 Can Crushed or Pureed Tomatoes
• 3 Cloves Garlic Chopped
• 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1 Good Sized Handful Fresh Parsley Chopped
• Salt and Pepperto Taste
• 1/2 Spaghetti
• Grated Pecorino Romano Or Parmesan Cheese for ServingOptional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat
2. Add the ground beef and fry until fully cooked and no pink shows at all in the meat (approximately 8 minutes). Drain and then set aside.
3. Heat the remaining oil in the pan. Add the onions, and sauté until lightly golden, 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the garlic and fry another minute.
5. Add the tomatoes, oregano, parsley and return the meat to the pan. Bring to a boil.
6. Season with the salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes.
7. Meanwhile cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and serve topped with the sauce and cheese (if desired).

RECIPE NOTES

You may use the pre-made tomato sauce from the grocery store however, having a fresh tomatoes and ground beef would absolutely better and healthier!

Margherita Flatbread Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 Naan Bread
• 3 Pieces of Sliced To ⅓- 1/2-Inch Thickness Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
• 1 Tomato, Sliced as Thin as Possible
• 5-6 Leaves Basil
• 3 Cloves Garlic, Pressed or One Tablespoon Dry Garlic Powder
• 5 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 5 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
• Salt & Pepper to Taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Press fresh garlic and mix with oil.
2. Brush the flatbread with oil & garlic with half the mixture. Place in preheated to 350 degrees oven for 5 minutes to crisp up.
3. Remove from oven and place 3 slices of cheese on top of the flatbread, sprinkle with salt & pepper, then place thinly sliced tomatoes on top and repeat with a sprinkling of salt & pepper.
4. Place back in the oven for another 5 minutes, plus extra 2-3 minutes on broil. Watch the bread closely, if it’s too dark before 2-3 minutes remove it from the oven immediately.
5. Meanwhile mix the remaining oil & garlic with the balsamic vinegar, stirring until a smooth emulsion forms.
6. Chop the basil leaves.
7. Once flatbread pizza is baked and the edges are golden in color, remove from the oven, drizzle with however much of the balsamic vinegar mixture you would like, sprinkle with basil leaves, slice and serve and enjoy!

RECIPE NOTES

Just to let you know, you can freeze your naan bread until you need it, keeping it soft and fresh.  Moreover, you can try putting chicken or pork on your pizza and have different flavors!