Whether you’re on or off campus, figuring out what to eat for dinner can be hard, even draining. Everyone deserves a break from cafeteria food every once in a while. Meal prepping can be an easy and cheap way to get a fast meal from the comfort of your own space! Here are a few recipes to get you started.   

According to U.S. News & World Report, foods like oats, rice, beans, chickpeas, and pasta are some of the most budget-friendly foods right now. Let’s look at three recipes using some of those ingredients. 

1. Curry Chickpeas

1 Onion (or/and 1 tbsp onion powder) 

3 cloves of garlic minced (and/or one ½ of garlic powder) 

2-3 tbsp of curry powder 

1 Can of diced or crushed tomatoes  

1-2 cans of chickpeas to taste 

1 tsp of cumin  

½ -2 tsp of cayenne pepper to taste 

1 can of coconut milk 

In a pot using the oil or butter of your choice, heat up the spices until aromatic, then add the onions and garlic. After letting them become golden, add tomatoes and let them simmer until runny. Add the chickpeas and coconut milk, then let the pot simmer until the chickpeas are soft, making sure to stir occasionally. Adjust seasonings to your preference and you can even throw spinach in if you’d like to add a vegetable. This can easily be made in bulk and separated into containers and frozen.  

2. Slow Cooked Chicken Tacos 

Chicken tends to be well priced; they can also be shredded and frozen for meal prepping, including tacos. 

2 chicken breasts  

4-6 tortillas 

2 tsp of garlic powder 

2 tomatoes  

½ jar of salsa  

1 packet of taco seasoning 

1 ½ onions 

½ cup of water 

1 jalapeno  

You’ll need a crockpot, slow cooker, or appliance of your choice. Most dorm halls’ front desks will have crockpots, along with other cooking supplies you might need are able for residents to check out for free! 

Add your chicken, a blend of onion, garlic, jalapeno, tomato, salsa, and your seasonings. Let cook on high for 3-4 hours making sure that your chicken is 165º F (according to FoodSafety.gov) internally before eating. After cooking, shred and put it into your tortillas, along with any toppings like cheese, corn, lettuce or the rest of the salsa.  

3. Overnight Oats 

Oats can be a great fast breakfast or snack for when you don’t feel like making anything (or just don’t feel like having cereal again). Being able to switch up your toppings also gives you a bit of variety! 

1/3rd cup old fashioned oats  

1/4th cup Frozen berries 

1/3rd cup of Yogurt  

2 tsp of Honey  

½ cup Milk of any kind  

1/4th tsp Cinnamon and/or vanilla extract optional 

Mix all your ingredients and cover, leave it in the fridge all night so the oats get soft, and by morning you’ll have a quick filling meal. Other topping variations can be bananas and peanut butter or chia seeds and apple.  

Of course, all these recipes can be changed to your taste and habits! Here are a few final tips on meal prepping: 

• Spices can be added or removed. 

• Rotisserie chicken can be used both shredded and frozen. 

• Veggies can be cut up ahead of time and stored in the fridge/freezer. 

• Meat can be marinated ahead of time. 

• Find a day where you can get all the prep done, so cooking is a breeze. 

Having something healthy that you can make with little effort can be helpful for a lot of people, especially college students who don’t have much time during the week to think about that stuff. So, I hope you found this article helpful with your cooking adventures!