When you go to university, you quickly have to learn how to live independently. That includes things like doing your laundry, washing up your pots and pans, cooking, and buying food for yourself.
Although you might be tempted to have a Pot Noodle for quickness, or order a takeaway to your student accommodation in Bolton, your bank account and waistline won’t thank you!
There are plenty of cheap and cheerful meals you can make at your student digs. Take simple jacket potatoes, comforting curries, healthy pasta bakes, and stir-fries, for instance.
Not only are they sure to stop your stomach from rumbling but they also make use of less expensive ingredients, cupboard basics, and tinned goods.
Here we share a few of our favourite meals that are easy to make for yourself – even if your culinary skills aren’t up to scratch.
7 budget-friendly recipes when cooking for one
1. Pasta bake
Who doesn’t love tucking into a delicious bowl of pasta?
Guaranteed to fill you up, and made from kitchen cupboard staples like pasta and tinned tomatoes, it’s one of the easiest and most affordable dishes to make when cooking for one.
The great thing about pasta dishes is, you’ll more than likely have leftovers, which means you’ve got tomorrow’s tea sorted too. Alternatively, you can freeze it for another day.
2. Fajitas
Whether you’re whipping up a midweek main or a quick snack in between a hectic day of lectures, you can’t go wrong with fajitas.
Super simple to make, all you need is a pack of tortilla wraps, a jar of salsa, and some chopped peppers and crunchy onions.
Depending on your dietary requirements, you could add diced chicken or pulled pork – or make veggie fajitas with halloumi.
3. Soup
From classic tomato to seasonal minestrone and creamy mushroom, you can’t go wrong with a hearty bowl of soup in the winter. It’s perfect for days when you’re feeling under the weather or evenings when you only get home from uni late.
Aside from being comforting on a cold day, soup is great for using up vegetables and other ingredients when they are starting to turn, ensuring you don’t end up throwing them away and wasting money.
You could also make a big batch and freeze it, so when money’s tight and you don’t have anything else in the fridge, you needn’t worry about going hungry.
4. Omelette
Perfect for breakfast, dinner, or tea, learning how to make an omelette will certainly benefit hungry students on a budget.
Eggs are a low-cost source of protein and rich in essential vitamins and minerals. So, whilst saving yourself some money, an omelette can also improve your health. Brilliant.
Made from beaten eggs and fried with butter or oil in a frying pan, there are many basic omelette recipes online. You can either keep it simple with cheese and ham, cheese and tomato, or cheese and mushroom or make it more interesting by adding leftovers from last night’s tea.
5. Curry
Do you enjoy spicy food? Fancy having a go at making a homemade chicken or Thai green curry? If so, pop to your local supermarket and stock up on spices and curry powder.
A simple chicken curry can be whipped up in no time at your student accommodation using a handful of ingredients.
If you’re vegetarian, roasted aubergines, chopped tomatoes, and coconut milk are sure to add richness and balance out those fiery flavours.
6. Jacket potatoes
Feeling hungry but pushed for time? Jacket potatoes are not only super speedy to make, but ideal for savvy students looking to save money.
Whilst you could ping one in the microwave in your communal kitchen, they taste best when lovingly baked in the oven. Just remember to add a tasty filling – either cheese and/or beans, tuna, chilli, barbecue pulled pork, coronation chicken…you decide!
With so many options, you could have a baked potato for your tea every night and never get bored.
7. Stir fry
There are few things more frustrating than getting home from uni only to find out that your housemates have already eaten and forgotten to save you some.
However, a stir fry is one of those dishes that is super healthy, super delicious, and super affordable. Plus, it allows you to use up leftover veggies and takes little more than 15 minutes to make.
Depending on what you fancy, you could stick to vegetables and meat (e.g. beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, or tofu) or add noodles and soy sauce for an authentic twist. It’s entirely up to you!
Common room cookbooks
If your still stuck for inspiration for something tasty to eat then check out the cookbook library in the Orlando Village Student Accommodation Common Room, if you tag @orlandovillagebolton on Instagram with a photo of your tea then you could win a £5 food voucher, you are basically cooking for free!
For more basic student recipes or information about the facilities on offer at our student accommodation in Bolton, don’t hesitate to contact Orlando Village.
You can either call us on 01204 903 488 or email info@orlandovillage.co.uk, and we’ll be in touch.
