This Post: 22 Easy Dorm Room Recipes (No Oven or Stove Top Needed!)
Living in a dorm room is all about making the most of what you have… even if it IS small and shared! And, that goes for food, too!
Even though your college kid may only have a microwave and a mini fridge to work with, deliciously good and healthy food is still within reach if they have a few handy recipes they can fall back on. Plus, can we all agree that cafeteria and dining hall food isn’t anything to write home about?
That’s why we came up with a list of easy recipes college kids can make in their dorm – perfect for midnight snacks, rainy or cold days when they don’t feel like venturing out, or when they’re deep in the throes of homework and studying and stepping out for food isn’t in the cards.
Here are 22 delicious and easy dorm room recipes for college students!
22 Delicious Dorm Room Recipes (No Oven or Stove Top Needed!)
1. Microwave Mug Pizza
It’s hard to believe you can whip up a delicious pizza in a mug! But your college student really CAN! Just a few simple ingredients and they’ll be enjoying real fast food that’s way better than cafeteria. Perfect for those days when they’re busy studying and can’t find the time to head to the dining hall.
Check out the recipe at Bigger Bolder Baking HERE
2. Omelet in a Mug
Who wants to crawl out of bed and grab breakfast when you stay in your dorm all cozy in your pajamas? What’s cool about this recipe is that they can make it simple with just eggs, salt, and pepper or they can spruce it up with a bunch of other additional ingredients they might fancy, like onions, green pepper, spinach, etc.
Check out the recipe at The Country Cook HERE
3. Chocolate-Peanut Butter Granola Apple Bites
Who could resist the flavor combination of apples, granola, peanut butter, AND chocolate? It’s healthy (for the most part, anyway) so it’s a way better snack than chips and Coke.
Check out the recipe at The Comfort of Cooking HERE
4. EASY Microwave Quesadilla
Honestly, it doesn’t get much easier than this! Two ingredients are all you need… tortillas and cheese. Of course, if it were me, I’d add a few extra ingredients like onions or peppers! No matter what you choose to add, it’s still an easy and delish microwave snack.
Check out the recipe at All Recipes HERE
5. Easy Chocolate Mug Cake
This microwave Chocolate Mug Cake recipe will become your college kid’s obsession when they’re craving something sweet! It’s the easiest and fastest way to make dessert for one or two, and they won’t believe how delicious it is!
Check out the recipe at Tastes Better From Scratch HERE
6. Easy Mac n’ Cheese Cup
It’s the perfect comfort food for college students… Mac n’ Cheese! This easy 5-ingredient recipe is SO easy to make (one of the ingredients is water so it’s really only 4 ingredients!) and it tastes SO good… it’s going to be one of their go-to recipes, for sure!
Check out the recipe at A Few Shortcuts HERE
7. Microwave Nachos
Tortilla chips, cheese, and whichever toppings they fancy… that’s all you need to make delicious nachos in the microwave! And, it sure beats going out late at night when they get the midnight munchies.
Check out tbsp for the recipe HERE
8. Blueberry Muffin in a Mug
This yummy muffin-in-a-mug recipe is perfect for a single-serve, quick dessert or snack! It’s easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and has a light, fluffy texture – just like a traditional muffin!
Check out the recipe at The Big Man’s World HERE
9. Fettuccine Alfredo in a Mug
Yes… you really CAN make Fettuccini Alfredo in a dorm room. It’s the perfect snack to make when cafeteria food just doesn’t cut it!
Check out the recipe at Kimspired DIY HERE
10. Popcorn Jazzed Up
When it comes to easy dorm room recipes, popcorn is king! Add seasoning to make it gourmet without ramping up the cost! You can buy kernels in bulk to save money. Just put a half cup in a loosely folded brown paper bag and microwave.
Check out these delish popcorn seasoning recipes at Andianne HERE!
11. Breakfast Burrito in a Mug
All you need is a few simple ingredients to make this delicious breakfast burrito in a mug – a tortilla, eggs, and your favorite mix-ins – that’s it!
Check out the recipe at Bigger Bolder Baking HERE
12. Microwave Mug Cheese & Broccoli Rice Bowl
When it’s cold outside, raining or you’re all comfy in your sweats and you don’t feel like venturing outside to go to the dining hall, this comfort food recipe is the way to go! And, the best part is, it only requires a handful of ingredients you can easily store in your dorm and mini fridge.
Check out Bigger Bolder Baking for the recipe HERE
13. 90-Second Pancake in a Mug
With just 2 ingredients and 90 seconds, your college kid can make a microwave pancake that’s ridiculously light and fluffy!
Check out Midestern Homelife for the recipe HERE
14. Easy 2-Ingredient Queso Dip
This dip is a breeze to make – great for when college buddies drop by their dorm!
Check out the recipe at It’s a Keeper HERE
15. 5-Minute Microwave Cheesecake
Who knew you could make cheesecake in the microwave? Well… you can and it’s so much easier than you think! Just a few simple ingredients are needed!
Check out Tasty for the recipe HERE
16. Microwave Egg Caprese Cups
You really CAN cook a gourmet “ish” breakfast in a microwave when you have a few easy ingredients on hand. Ham, shredded cheese, eggs, and pesto sauce (the secret ingredient) come together for a delicious breakfast or snack in your dorm room any time – day or night.
Check out Foodie Crush for the recipe HERE
17. Healthy Apple Nachos
Sometimes, you get tired of junk food and you’re craving something a little healthier. This is so easy and it will curb your sweet tooth, too! Slice apples thinly and arrange on a plate. Drizzle with peanut butter, chocolate, or caramel sauce, and sprinkle with chocolate chips, nuts, or granola.
Visit Simple Veganista for the recipe HERE
18. Microwave Granola in a Mug
You won’t believe that it comes out of the microwave crunchy, just like baked granola. Just mix it in one mug, pop it into the microwave and you’re done! It’s real food made fast in your microwave.
Check out Bigger Bolder Baking for the recipe HERE
19. Microwave Ramen Noodles with a Few Extras
Well, of course, we HAD to include Ramen Noodles, right? Every college kid’s dorm room staple. But these Ramen Noodles aren’t basic… with an egg and a few extra veggies added in, it makes this a hearty meal fit for a hungry college kid.
Check out How to Cook for the recipe HERE
20. Everything Bagel Seasoning Stuffed Celery (47K shares on Pinterest!)
This might just become one of your college kid’s new favorite snacks! (My daughter loves it!) Just three ingredients, but you won’t believe how much flavor this easy snack packs into each bite!
Check out the recipe at Whole Lotta Yum HERE
21. No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls
If your college kid hasn’t tried these, they’re missing out. First of all, they’re easy to make and with so many delicious variations, one is truly better than the next! A lot of good ingredients here (plenty of protein!) to get them through a long day of classes and late-night studying.
Check out the recipe at Bless This Mess HERE
22. Banana & Peanut Butter Rice Cakes
When those midnight hunger pangs hit and the dining room is closed, this healthy snack will fill them up and satisfy their taste buds. It’s so easy – just three ingredients – and the flavor combo is delicious!
Check out Lean Green Dad for the recipe HERE
