I used to think it was a myth that college students only ate ramen, mac and cheese and junk food. That was before I became a college student. While I go to the dining hall occasionally, I usually sit in bed, filling my body with everything but nutrition. Lately, I’ve been tired of this lifestyle and decided to compile a list of meals I can make in the dorm. Here are five dorm friendly recipes that anyone can make in their room or communal kitchen. 

Banana Chocolate Rice Cakes 

We’ll start things off simple. For this snack, you only need three ingredients, but you can always add some more to spice things up. Get a pack of rice cakes (I prefer chocolate), a banana and some peanut butter. Put the peanut butter on the rice cake, cut a banana and layer it on top. If you want to make this even better, drizzle some honey over it and add a sprinkle of chia seeds. I usually pair this with a cup of coffee and a yogurt parfait to make it a little more of a full meal. This easy meal will have you hooked. 

Buffalo Chicken Wraps 

This next dish does require a stovetop, so for those living in Towers or an apartment, this one’s for you. You will need chicken, tortillas, feta cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. Cut the chicken in cubes and grill it with some type of sauce. I usually go with a buffalo sauce but you can also choose to put a dressing on top later. Once the chicken is cooked, throw it in the tortilla with a sprinkle of feta cheese and the sliced veggies. Roll it up and pair it with some fruit or chips. Voila, you just made a buffalo chicken wrap…or something like that. 

Breakfast Burritos 

I think you’re starting to catch on, these are going to continue to get more advanced. Now, who doesn’t love a good breakfast burrito? Since you already have tortillas from the buffalo chicken wrap you just made, you might as well use them up. While you’re at it, buy some eggs, tomato, onion, avocado, shredded cheese, bacon or sausage (or both), salsa and sour cream. Chop up the meat and cook it with some scrambled eggs. Make sure you season the eggs with a little bit of salt and pepper for flavor. While that’s cooking, slice your veggies and get ready to assemble. Throw in the meat, scrambled eggs, cheese, veggies, sour cream and salsa. Roll it up into a burrito and throw it back on the stove with a little bit of oil to crisp it up. Once all the sides are golden it’s time to enjoy. 

Bruschetta 

This is my personal favorite. While it’s more of an appetizer, it’s quick, simple and I promise you won’t regret making it. Bruschetta can be made a variety of ways but we’ll just stick to the core ingredients. Pick up some tiny toasts at the store (trust me you’ll know them when you see them). Along with that, get basil, tomatoes, garlic, salt/pepper, oil, mozzarella balls and balsamic vinegar. Mince the garlic, dice the tomatoes and basil, and cut the mozzarella into quarters. Throw all of this into a bowl with oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt/pepper. Season to taste. Mix it all together and lay out the little toasts topping it with the tomato mixture. There you have it, a super simple, dorm-friendly version of bruschetta. 

Fettuccine Alfredo 

All you need to make this meal is salt/pepper, garlic, butter, fettuccine noodles, parmesan, and heavy cream. If you want to spice it up, you can add onion powder, dried parsley and/or chicken. Cook the chicken if you decide to add it and start a pot of water so it can begin to boil. Add a half-cup of butter into a pan with two cups of heavy cream. Whisk until all the butter has melted. Then, add minced garlic and the rest of your seasonings to taste. Mix this until everything is combined. Remember you can always add more, but you can’t take any out! Throw in the noodles once the water comes to a boil and cook to al dente. Next bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it rest for a few minutes. During this time, you can slice the cooked chicken (hopefully you seasoned it with salt and pepper). Add in the parmesan until the sauce becomes a consistency you like. If it’s too thick, you can add some of the pasta water. Finally, stir in the noodles to the sauce and add the chicken on top. And just like that, you’ve got a homemade version of fettuccine alfredo.