Cooking at Uni Made Simple

Cooking at Uni Made Simple

We’ve rounded up 5 easy uni recipes every student can master. They use affordable ingredients, minimal equipment, and will keep you fuelled through lectures, late nights, and everything in between.

1. Budget-Friendly Burrito Bowl

Why it works for students:
It’s healthy, filling, and you can mix and match whatever’s in your fridge.

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • 1 cup rice

  • 1 tin black beans (or kidney beans)

  • 1 cup frozen sweetcorn

  • 1 pepper, chopped

  • Salsa or hot sauce

  • Grated cheese

Method:

  1. Cook rice according to the packet.

  2. Heat beans, sweetcorn, and chopped peppers in a pan.

  3. Assemble in a bowl: rice first, then beans and veg.

  4. Top with salsa and a sprinkle of cheese.

✨ Cheap uni hack: Buy frozen veg—it’s cheaper, lasts longer, and cuts prep time in half.

2. One-Pan Tomato Pasta

Why it works for students:
Comfort food on a budget, plus only one pan to wash up.

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • 200g pasta

  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes

  • 2 garlic cloves

  • Olive oil

  • Dried basil or oregano

  • Optional: grated cheese

Method:

  1. Cook pasta, drain, and set aside.

  2. In the same pan, fry garlic in olive oil.

  3. Add tinned tomatoes, herbs, salt, and pepper.

  4. Stir in pasta and cook for 5 minutes.

  5. Serve with cheese on top.

✨ Cheap student meals don’t get easier than this—under £3 for two servings.

3. Loaded Jacket Potato

Why it works for students:
Comfort food that costs pennies and feels like home.

Ingredients (per potato):

  • 1 baking potato

  • ½ tin baked beans

  • Grated cheese

  • Optional: sour cream, yoghurt, or spring onion

Method:

  1. Microwave a potato for 7–10 minutes (or oven-bake for 45).

  2. Slice open and fluff with a fork.

  3. Add hot beans, sprinkle with cheese, and finish with sour cream or yoghurt.

✨ Perfect for batch cooking—make two at once and save one for tomorrow.

4. Quick Veggie Stir Fry

Why it works for students:
It’s cheap, fast, and you can throw in whatever veg you’ve got.

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • 2 packs instant noodles

  • 2 cups frozen stir fry veg

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

  • Garlic (fresh or powder)

  • Optional: sesame oil

Method:

  1. Cook noodles according to packet.

  2. In a wok or pan, fry garlic, then toss in veg.

  3. Add noodles and soy sauce, mix well.

  4. Finish with sesame oil if you’ve got it.

✨ Swap soy sauce for sweet chilli or teriyaki to mix things up.

5. 5-Minute Omelette Wrap

Why it works for students:
Protein-packed, portable, and perfect when you’re running late.

Ingredients (per wrap):

  • 2 eggs

  • Leftover veg or cheese

  • 1 tortilla wrap

Method:

  1. Beat eggs and pour into a hot pan.

  2. Add veg or cheese and cook into an omelette.

  3. Place omelette in a tortilla wrap, fold, and go.

✨ Uni breakfast hack: wrap it in foil and take it to lectures.

Final Thoughts: Cooking on a Student Budget

Learning to cook at uni doesn’t need to be stressful—or expensive. With these cheap student recipes, you’ll save money, eat well, and avoid living off pot noodles. The key? Stock up on staples like pasta, rice, beans, and frozen veg. From there, you can mix, match, and cook meals in under 30 minutes.

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