Easy MEALS to Eat in a Dorm

College meals don’t have to be just syrup sandwiches and cheese crackers!

We are living in modern times sis, which means we are no longer in the business of making ice sandwiches and having saltine crackers for dinner. There are many affordable college “struggle meals” to eat that will satisfy those late night cravings.

When you live in a dorm, then your dining hall most likely closes between 9pm to 11pm. But as a college student, you’re most likely to stay up late or pull all-nighters. And that’s usually when those hunger pains come calling.

If you live in an apartment or don’t have a dining plan, then cooking is completely your responsibility. And if you’re like me, you won’t be found in the Whole Foods meat section buying fillet mignon steaks for dinner. Nah fam, you were down at the local Walmart or Stop and Shop trying to figure out if 20 bucks could get you through the week.

Before I lived in an apartment, I was shacked up in a 154 square foot dorm room with my best friend. It was our first time away from home, which meant our meals were one hundred percent on our own schedules.

I often had late night classes, which made it hard to eat at the dining hall before they closed. We would both end up staying up til’ like 1am studying and getting homework done. By 11pm, we were both usually looking for something to snack on. So…we got creative.

The best item we had in our little dorm hut was an electric hot pot purchased from Dormco.

Dormco is a great online company designed for college students’ needs.

A lot of dorms have restrictions on certain kitchen appliances, but the hot pot is normally allowed.

For only 15 bucks, we were whippin’ up some gourmet meals in that thing (at least it seemed that way by midnight).

Below are a few “struggle meals” that are worth every bite.

RAMEN (but better!)

Ok, no lie, I am a new fan of Korean Hot Pot cooking. You basically add a bunch of veggies and meats to seasoned water, and then add your favorite noodles.

There are so many varieties of this soup which makes it a highly versatile meal.

Some restaurants have high quality fresh veggies such watercress, spinach, and bean sprouts that pair really well with soups. But y’all know what else tastes really great with it? Frozen veggies, YUP. Let’s be real, as a broke college student, ain’t nobody eating WATERCRESS. Plus, you’d need a place to store fresh veggies, and our 154 square-foot small space was very limiting.

With just a bag of your favorite ramen, eggs, and frozen veggies (I prefer the stir fry mix) , you can recreate a hot pot soup for much cheaper.

First, plug in the hot pot and boil your eggs. Then boil some water and add your favorite seasonings. If you want to add some meat at this point, I recommend shaved steak slices; they’re inexpensive and cook quickly. Then add your veggies, and add your noodles. I personally like the spicy Shin and Buldak brands, but Maruchan works just as well. Once these are all done, garnish with your boiled egg, grab some chop sticks, and enjoy!

Total cost: $3-$10 for five meals (depending on if you add meat)

Spaghetti and Meatballs

I’m not even joking, my roommate and I made spaghetti and burst into laughter when it was done cooking because we realized… holy s*** we just made freakin’ SPAGHETTI in our dorm room! And it was so easy.

Once again, that electric hot pot came in clutch for our Italian meal. You just boil some water, and cook your spaghetti noodles. In the meantime, heat up your favorite pasta sauce in the microwave. If you wanna be even fancier, cook your sauce in the hot pot after your noodles are done (fair warning: this can get messy with the sauce splatter). But this way, you can simmer in more seasonings and vegetables to your liking.

I personally like to add a dash of brown sugar along with other seasonings to make the sauce less tart. Lastly, heat up some frozen meatballs in the microwave. After all that, garnish with some parmesan cheese (we had extra packets from the dining hall ) and Voilà !

Total cost: $5-$15 for five meals (depending on if you add meatballs)

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is both a good breakfast and late night supper meal. It’s also pretty great in between classes. I typically like my oats hot or cold. And I dress them up however I want. Whether it’s bananas, strawberries, nuts, or chocolate chips, I really pamper my oats like they’ll be on the cover of a Martha Stewart magazine. And the best part is how affordable a big box of old-fashioned oats can be.

If I’m cooking hot oats, I usually boil them with some cinnamon and sugar. Then I garnish them with strawberries or shaved almonds. The electric hot pot is the perfect dorm appliance for making hot oatmeal.

If I’m making overnight oats, I can create a lot more variety. I always put chia seeds in all of them. Sometimes I’ll spice them up with peanut butter and chocolate chips. Other times I’ll do frozen strawberries and blueberries. And at times I’ll make them with bananas, strawberries, and Greek yogurt. I also prefer to use almond milk because it stays fresh longer and it tastes great!

Lately I’ve been meal prepping overnight oats because they cook themselves while you sleep. What other food can do that?! Plus they’re so easy to grab on-the-go for when I’m heading to work or school. Overnight oats are filling, affordable, and healthy, so it’s a win-win all around.

Total cost: $5-$12 for seven meals (depending on your choice toppings)

Mac and Cheese

Do I hear comfort food on a budget? Yes sis, that’s exactly what this “struggle” meal is. And we’re not talking about the BASIC BATCH mac and cheese. No, we’re going for that gourmet, cheesy, gooey type of meal. This isn’t being cooked in your mama’s kitchen, but smack dab in the middle of your dorm room.

Here’s what you need: pasta shells or elbow mac (whichever you prefer), heavy cream, salted butter, and cheddar cheese. Break out the hot pot, and boil your pasta in some salted water. Once it’s done, drain and remove the pasta, add the butter until it’s melted, and then the cream. Stir frequently. Once it comes to a low boil, gradually add your cheese and stir some more. Sprinkle some salt and stir until the sauce is thick and creamy. Finally, add your pasta, stir it up, and scoop yourself a nice big bowl. Garnish with a little parsley to make it look Instagram worthy or whateva. Enjoy!

Total cost: $8-$10 for five meals

Chicken Chili

This is as gourmet as it gets when you’re eating on a budget. I love a good flavored chili with tortilla chips on the side. All you need for this “struggle” meal is a can of shredded chicken, can of black beans, frozen corn, and tomato sauce. You can add seasonings such as onion powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and don’t forget to add a little salt.

Of course you need your handy dandy electric hotpot and this recipe cooks in about 25 minutes. The secret to a good ol’ dorm room chili is letting the ingredients simmer for a long time. This allows for all the flavors to marinate and come together really well. Pair it up with some tortilla chips and you have the perfect late night dinner.

Total cost: $6-$10 for three meals (depending on if you add chicken)

Tuna Pasta Salad

If you’re not a tuna fan, you can definitely leave it out. But pasta salad is a simple meal to prep from the comfort of your own room. As long as you have a mini fridge, microwave, and that electric hot pot we keep bringing up, you’re already set up for success.

To make this simple yet yummy dish, boil some small shells or elbow mac in lightly salted water. Thaw some frozen green peas in the microwave.

In the meantime, get a separate bowl to add your drained can of tuna, light salt, pepper, mayonnaise, and the thawed peas. Once your pasta is cooked through, drain and add it to your bowl. Mix it all up and refrigerate it for 30-45 minutes, or until it is cold.

Total cost: $5-$8 for three meals

Chicken Noodle

Picture this. It’s 5pm on a Thursday. You’re coming back from your last class of the day. The snow is falling, and the wind is blowing dusts of snow around your face. It’s just above twenty degrees and the clouds are covering the sky. You dig your gloveless hands deeper into your pockets as you see your dorm approaching in the distance. You think to yourself, man I cannot wait to get inside and eat some…

Obviously the only answer to this fantasy is chicken noodle soup. There’s nothing like a good hot bowl of savory chicken soup to make yourself feel better at the end of a long day.

All you need for this gourmet struggle meal are egg noodles, canned chicken breast (shredded or cubed), chicken broth, celery and carrots. Break out the * drumroll* electric hotpot (you should expect this by now) and throw in all the ingredients. Side note, make sure you drain the water from the canned chicken before you use it. It’s healthier this way since the water preservative can be full of sodium.

Let the soup simmer for a while so that all the flavors can come together for a tasty bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Total cost: $5-$10 for four meals

Honorable Mentions

There are a few snacks that may not need fancy cooking, but they are honorable mentions for late night snacking options. Some of these affordable options are: