Students have a lot to juggle. Lectures, assignments, exams, social events and maybe even a part-time job can leave little time or money for cooking. While the temptation to reach for an instant noodle pot can be strong, we believe you don’t have to settle for ready meals and convenience food. Creating tasty, nutritious meals from a few ingredients is easier than you think.

We’ve put together a collection of delicious recipes that are nourishing without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen.

Here are some of the best university student-friendly recipes that are easy to prepare, budget-friendly, and tasty!

Egg and Cashew Nut Stir Fry

This protein packed stir fry is a great way to refuel at the end of a busy day of lectures and our spicy stir fry oil makes it almost effortless to prepare. It really is a meal in minutes.

You can use any combination of veg, so why not check the reduced section of the supermarket to see what’s available.

Spicy Broccoli Ramen

If you are a lover of an instant noodle pot then this is the recipe for you. Spicy, soupy and noodley but with some top tier nutritional value. Broccoli is packed with Vitamin C, Iron, Phosphorous, Potassium, Zinc, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamins A, B6, E, and K and Folate.

Roasted Feta and Tomato Pasta

Preparing this dish couldn’t be easier and it’s a great one for feeding a houseful of hungry students.

Place all the ingredients on a baking tray or oven proof dish. bake, cook the pasta and you’re ready to go.

Leek and Butternut Squash Risotto

This recipe is great using pumpkin or butternut squash and is a true one pan wonder.

Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich

This is a super easy version of the much loved Vietnamese sandwich. Juicy chicken, fresh veggies and herbs all nestled inside a delicious baguette.

Using boneless chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts makes it much better value, your flatmates won’t believe how quickly and cheaply yoy can rustle up this Viet street food classic.

Top Kitchen Tips for Students

Store Cupboard Essentials

Here’s a few of our favourite hard working kitchen cupboard basics that we believe every student needs in their cupboard

· Salt & Pepper

· Mixed herbs

· Soy sauce

· Stock cubes

· Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil

· Littleseed Spicy Stir Fry Oil and Garlic & Herb Oil

Student Basics Cooking Equipment

· Cast iron oven proof pan with a lid. – Use it stove top and in the oven. Great for everything from frying an egg to roasting meat, risotto, soups, stews and pasta bakes.

Cast iron pans are little bit more expensive than a normal pan but it should last through university life and beyond and we’ve seen some great value options online.

Check out these good value options from Procook, Sainsburys and Dunelm.

· Baking trays

· A sieve or colander

· Tupperware for leftovers

· Wooden spoons

Good Value Protein Sources

Having a source of protein within a meal is important for satiety (feeling full and satisfied) but we understand that cooking on a student budget can sometimes mean leaving out more expensive ingredients. Here is a list of our favourite good value protein sources that can be included in or added to recipes to boost a meal’s ability to full you up.

Eggs
Nuts
Seeds
Beans and Pulses
Greek Yoghurt
Tinned Fish

Easy, nutritious and budget-friendly recipes for university students