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Ditch the ramen! Craving quick and easy college meals that won’t wreck your dorm room or apartment kitchen? Look no further! We’ve got a treasure trove of budget-friendly, single serving recipes designed for busy college students. Whip up a healthy stir-fry in minutes, savor a comforting soup for lunch, or try a protein-packed salad – all made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Forget takeout and explore our easy college dinners, fast pasta dishes, and microwave dessert recipes. Simplify your mealtimes today and fuel your college lifestyle!
Discover delicious stove recipes perfect for college living. Whether it’s a fast stir fry or a comforting soup, your stove makes it easy to create these tasty dishes.
Caprese Pasta For One
5 from 3 votes
This single serving Caprese pasta is made with tender pasta, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and garlic. It’s a quick, flavorful meal that comes together in just 20 minutes.
This creamy, single serving Tuscan Chicken recipe features tender chicken strips cooked in a rich, flavorful sauce with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Ready in 30 minutes.
This single serving chili mac is a hearty blend of pasta, ground meat, beans, and spices cooked in one pan. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a quick and flavorful meal for one.
This single serving taco soup is packed with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and tomatoes, creating a hearty and flavorful meal. It comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Transform your apartment oven into a culinary wonder with these oven recipes. Discover how to make everything from a heartwarming casserole to a perfectly roasted chicken, all sized just for you
Personal Pepperoni Pizza
5 from 1 vote
This personal pepperoni pizza recipe features a homemade dough, flavorful sauce, and classic toppings like mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. It's simple to make and perfectly portioned for one or two people.
Treat yourself to a single serving of Lasagna Rollups, featuring the perfect mix of cheese, meat, and sauce all rolled into one. Simple to prepare and full of flavor!
This single serving Chicken Caprese is a simple, flavorful dish made with seasoned chicken, juicy tomatoes, red onions, and melted mozzarella cheese, all baked together with a simple balsamic glaze.
Tender and juicy oven-baked pork chop, perfectly seasoned with a flavorful blend of spices. This quick and easy recipe takes just 15-20 minutes to bake and delivers a melt-in-your-mouth pork chop every time.
This mini lasagna is a perfectly portioned, hearty dish made with layers of noodles, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese. Ideal for one or two servings!
Think a toaster oven is just for reheating and toasting? Think again! Perfect for tight dorm or apartment spaces, it can help you make tasty dishes like chicken tenders, nachos, and even sheet pan lasagna. Just ensure your dish fits and refer to your model’s guidelines. With faster heating and easier cleaning, a toaster oven is a college student’s kitchen ally. Dive in and discover a world of easy and delicious meals.
Baked Chicken Tenders For One
4.93 from 28 votes
These baked chicken tenders are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and ready in just 20 minutes. A quick and easy meal made with simple ingredients.
This one-pan meal features roasted salmon and asparagus, seasoned with a flavorful butter mixture and baked on a sheet pan. Ready in 20 minutes, it’s an easy and delicious dinner!
This small batch of loaded nachos are made with crispy tortilla chips, seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and fresh toppings. They’re quick to assemble and perfect for a satisfying snack or easy meal.
Indulge in a quick and easy single serving Baked Buffalo Chicken, perfect for spice lovers. A juicy chicken breast topped with homemade buffalo sauce and melted mozzarella, ready in 30 minutes.
This baked shrimp recipe features juicy shrimp tossed in a lemon butter sauce and baked to perfection in just 10 minutes. Perfect for a quick, flavorful single serving meal.
A small sheet pan lasagna made with layers of tender pasta, a rich meat sauce, and melty cheese. Baked to perfection in a quarter sheet pan for a simple, flavorful meal.
Fuel your college day with these perfect-for-one breakfast recipes. From sweet baked oatmeal to hearty egg dishes, we have options to jumpstart your morning right.
Breakfast Sandwich For One
5 from 1 vote
Ready in minutes, this breakfast sandwich is a great way to start the day. Made with simple ingredients, this hearty meal makes the perfect breakfast!
This easy breakfast bowl is made with scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese, then topped with green onions for extra flavor. It’s a quick, customizable meal that’s perfect for starting the day. Ready in just 10 minutes!
Make fluffy pancakes for one with this easy recipe! Perfectly portioned, ready in 15 minutes, and made with pantry staples for a quick, delicious breakfast.
This single serving baked oatmeal is made with old-fashioned oats, milk, honey, and your favorite fruit. It's a warm, hearty breakfast that's easy to make!
This small batch drop biscuit recipe is quick, easy, and perfect for one or two people. Ready in just 20 minutes, these buttery, tender biscuits are great for breakfast, dinner, or with soup. No rolling or cutting required!
These sheet pan pancakes are soft, fluffy, and baked all at once for an easy, no-flip breakfast. Customize with your favorite mix-ins or toppings like fruit, chocolate chips, or nuts.
On days when you’re short on time or kitchen appliances, turn to our “no recipe” recipes. These are simple meal ideas with minimal ingredients that don’t require exact measurements or complex cooking techniques—perfect for a quick, satisfying bite.
Pasta al Limone For One (Lemon Pasta)
5 from 8 votes
Pasta al limone, also called lemon pasta, is a delicious Italian dish that combines the tangy flavor of lemon with savory pasta. This simple yet elegant single serving dish is ready in 15 minutes!
Peanut butter toast with apple slices and a drizzle of honey make a quick and easy breakfast, snack, or even dessert. Perfect for fall and apple season!
This single serving s’mores dip is an easy, oven-baked twist on the classic campfire treat. Melted chocolate and toasted marshmallows come together in minutes—just grab your favorite dippers and enjoy!
This simple, single serving tomato salad is made with fresh tomatoes, red onion, and capers, all tossed in a light olive oil and lemon dressing. It’s quick to make and full of bright, fresh flavor.
Think your college microwave is only good for reheating leftovers? Think again! With these microwave dessert recipes, you can create scrumptious sweet treats right in your dorm room. Transform your ordinary microwave into an extraordinary dessert-making machine, with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
Small Batch Chocolate Candy
4.93 from 13 votes
This small batch chocolate candy recipe is easy to make with just two ingredients. Melted chocolate is mixed with nuts, dried fruit, or other add-ins, then chilled until firm for a delicious homemade treat.
Whip up rich and creamy fudge in just minutes with this easy microwave recipe! Perfectly portioned for a small batch, it’s ideal for sharing or enjoying as a quick treat. This simple recipe is sure to be a hit with friends and family.
Craving a dessert but don’t have an oven? Dive into our no-bake dessert collection, perfect for dorm living. From creamy chocolate peanut butter treats to puppy chow, you’ll find easy recipes with minimal ingredients, many you likely have on hand. It’s a delightful way to satisfy your sweet cravings with no baking needed. Treat yourself to these fuss-free delights!
No-Bake Cheesecake For One
5 from 27 votes
This single serving, no-bake cheesecake features a creamy, whipped filling over a buttery graham cracker crust. It’s quick to make and perfect when you want a single sweet treat.
Easy small batch puppy chow recipe. Chex cereal coated in a mixture of butter, peanut butter, and chocolate then tossed with powdered sugar. The best sweet and salty snack!
These peanut butter balls are a simple, no-bake treat made with just three ingredients. They’re easy to make and perfect for one or two servings, bringing back the nostalgia of classic school lunchroom treats.
This single serving strawberry icebox cake is made with layers of graham crackers, a creamy whipped filling, and fresh strawberries. It’s an easy, no-bake dessert that’s light, refreshing, and perfect for one.
Cap off your meal with one of our delightful dessert recipes designed for the busy student. These easy-to-prepare sweet treats range from a deep dish chocolate chip cookie to a deep dish fudgy brownie, ensuring there’s something for every craving.
Small Batch M&M Cookies
5 from 4 votes
Enjoy our small batch M&M cookies! These soft, chewy cookies are packed with buttery flavor and loaded with colorful M&Ms that add a delightful crunch and chocolatey sweetness. Perfectly portioned, this recipe makes just enough cookies for a satisfying treat without any extras.
Enjoy a single serve Apple Crisp – a quick and easy dessert with warm, spiced fruit and a crumbly topping, made using just one apple and pantry staples.
Rich and fudgy small batch brownies made with simple ingredients. Perfect for one or two people, these brownies are quick to make and packed with intense chocolate flavor.
This mini chocolate pie features a rich, homemade chocolate pudding poured over a cookie crust and chilled until set. It’s an easy, small batch dessert with big chocolate flavor.
I’m Joanie, chef, author of The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook, and creator of One Dish Kitchen. With 10+ years of experience developing single serving and small batch recipes, I’m passionate about making cooking for one simple and enjoyable. So glad you’re here!
Anybody have suggestions for cookware to make these recipes in? I like the concept but all my bakeware/cookware is larger & I have to thus make more portions than what is featured here.
With each of the recipes, I try to link to the bakeware and cookware I recommend using. Also take a look at our store page which links to all products used in the recipes. You can find many of the small dishes at discount stores, Target, and on Amazon. https://store.onedishkitchen.com/
This is a fantastic list – I’m pinning it for when I need easy meals and to teach my kids now so that they have a selection of recipes that they will always be able to cook.
Never mind the college students, I’m in my 70s and will be making some of these. In my defence I still study.
Thank you so much for the recipes that are made for one two people.
You are most welcome. I’m so happy you are finding the recipes helpful.
Anybody have suggestions for cookware to make these recipes in? I like the concept but all my bakeware/cookware is larger & I have to thus make more portions than what is featured here.
Hi Stacy,
With each of the recipes, I try to link to the bakeware and cookware I recommend using. Also take a look at our store page which links to all products used in the recipes. You can find many of the small dishes at discount stores, Target, and on Amazon. https://store.onedishkitchen.com/
Joanie
Wow. It looks delicious. I love your recipes. So, I will try to make it very soon. Your recipes will help me. Thanks for sharing.
This is a fantastic list – I’m pinning it for when I need easy meals and to teach my kids now so that they have a selection of recipes that they will always be able to cook.
Great list! I sent this over to my niece who just moved out and is in her first year of college. Thanks.