Easy & Affordable College Recipes

Story and photos by Hayley Seibel

Having no FLEX money left and no appetite for another meal at the dining hall is something we can all relate to. We’ve all been there. For those on a budget or little to no time to cook an extravagant meal, we’ve curated some recipes that are easy to make for student chefs of all skill levels.

Crepes

Whether you’re looking for a new breakfast favorite or a dessert for you and your roommates to enjoy, crepes are a popular French dish that are easy to make with ingredients that are more than likely already in your spice cabinet. This dish is a favorite for senior Vladimir Brown. Vlad learned to make crepes from his stepmom, who learned from her mother as well.

For an easy, fun dish to make for yourself or your friends, follow the recipe below:

• 6 tbs sugar
• 2 cups of flour
• 2 cups of milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 stick of butter (melted)
• 2 ½ tsp vanilla

The process in making crepes is quite simple. Mix the ingredients in a bowl until well-blended and pour the batter on a griddle over medium heat. Tilt the pan in a circular motion to create a thin consistency, flipping the crepe until each side is light brown. Vlad enjoys his crepes with no filling, but berries, bananas, chocolate syrup and cream cheese topped with powdered sugar are popular crepe fillings.

Inside-Out Chicken Pot Pie

Classic chicken pot pies typically take about an hour to make and require a variety of ingredients, but this inside-out chicken pot pie only requires four ingredients and takes half the time to make. Senior Kirsten Lovely. enjoys making this dish because it’s simple, preservable and can even be thinned into a soup topped with egg noodles.

For a simple quick dish, gather the following ingredients:

• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 bag assorted veggies
• 1 can biscuits

In a pot or skillet, stir together the cream of chicken soup and assorted veggies over medium-high heat until warm. As the mixture is cooking, bake the biscuits as directed. Shred the rotisserie chicken, mix into the batch and continue to cook until biscuits are golden brown. Seriously, it’s just that easy.

Beef Stroganoff

For those with busy school and work schedules, beef stroganoff is a great Russian dish that takes as little as 30 minutes to make. This recipe is one sophomore Alexis Chaffin enjoyed eating at home and couldn’t move to CMU without.

For an elegant yet quick dish, follow the recipe below:

• 1 package of egg noodles
• 1 packet beef stroganoff seasoning
• 1 package stew beef
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup water

While heating a pot of water for the noodles until it comes to a boil, cook the olive oil and beef in a pan until well-done. Mix the seasoning packet and a cup of water with the beef until it comes to a boil. Once boiling, cover the beef and simmer on low-heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook the egg noodles until well-done and add to the beef mix with a cup of sour cream, stirring well. This beef stroganoff is a great dish for students who are looking for an easy meal to make that they can eat again and again.

Say goodbye to TV dinners, and say hello to recipes you can enjoy even beyond your college years.