Recipes for a College Student

It’s hard to cook when you’re a college student. You don’t want to buy a full kitchen worth of supplies but you do want to eat good tasting meals at an affordable prices. Here are some ideas that I put together for my son, Luke, who is trying to cook for himself this summer in a frat house. I put together options that minimize waste so you use what you buy without too much leftover. I also minimize the amount of extra pans and supplies you might need.

Ingredients to Buy For Three Meals

Ingredients:

  • 2 to 2.5 lbs. ground beef (I usually buy the 80/20 ground beef for more flavor)

  • bag of hamburger buns

  • your favorite condiments for burgers

  • taco kit (I prefer Old El Paso)

  • shredded cheese

  • lettuce

  • favorite taco toppings - cilantro, jalapenos, sour cream, tomato, salsa, onion, etc.

  • 12 - 16 oz. box of penne pasta (or your favorite pasta)

  • 1 jar of pasta sauce (I prefer Prego)

  • butter to spread

  • garlic powder or Parmesan cheese, if desired

Supplies needed:

  • Frying pan

  • Grill or broiler pan for oven

  • pot to boil water in

  • colander

  • cutting board

  • knife

  • large wooden spoon

Three meals from ground beef

  • Ground Beef Tacos

    Divide the ground beef you purchased into thirds, approx. 3/4 lb. each.

    If desired, dice half of an onion.

    Heat a frying pan on medium heat. If desired, add onion. Add ground beef. Using wooden spoon, crumble the beef as it cooks. Continue to stir and crumble the beef until cooked through.

    Add the taco seasoning using the instructions on the box.

    Warm up the taco shells in the microwave by stacking the soft shells on top of each other with paper towels in between. Microwave for 30 seconds - 1 minute until warmed. Or follow instructions on box to warm hard taco shells.

    Shred some of the lettuce into small pieces.

    Assemble tacos with ground beef first, then topping with shredded cheese, lettuce, and other of your favorite toppings.

  • Hamburgers

    Divide the ground beef your purchased into thirds, approx. 3/4 lb. each.

    Form the ground beef into 1 or 2 hamburger patties - depending on the thickness you want per patty.

    Heat a grill or turn the broiler on the oven.

    Flatten burgers and put them on the grill or the broiler pan.

    Sprinkle with salt and pepper, OR seasoning salt, OR your favorite steak seasoning.

    Broil or grill 5 minutes per side for well-done burgers.

    If desired, sprinkle with cheddar cheese and let it sit on/under the heat for 30 seconds to melt the cheese.

    Put on a bun and serve with your favorite condiments.

  • Pasta & Meat Sauce

    Fill a pan with enough water to cover the pasta and set it on a burner at high heat.

    Sprinkle water with salt.

    While waiting for the water to boil, heat a frying pan on medium heat. Add 3/4 lb. ground beef and crumble with wooden spoon while it is cooking. Continue to stir until browned and crumbled. Turn heat to low.

    Once water is boiling, add pasta to water. I usually add just half a box for one to two servings. Reduce heat to low, and follow the box instructions regarding how long to boil the pasta. Stir occasionally. Make sure water continues on a low boil - if not, adjust heat.

    Drain browned meat of fat/ grease with a spoon. After grease is mostly removed, add jar of pasta sauce. Stir and heat until warmed.

    If making a half box of pasta, put half of the meat sauce in a freezable container and freeze for later.

    Once time is up on the pasta, drain the water by dumping the pasta in a colander. Return to pan and add meat sauce.

    Meanwhile, toast 2 hamburger buns, then top with butter and garlic powder or Parmesan cheese.