Budget-Friendly Meals for Students: Recipes that Won’t Break the Bank

Students may need to cook for the first time when they attend university. They also need to keep an eye on their budget. This can be a little challenging at first. Here are some suggestions for easy-to-make budget-friendly meals they can try out. 

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Quick and cheap meals for students

Grilled sandwiches are the perfect option for students. They are quick and easy to make, cheap, and filling. All they need is a loaf of healthy bread, butter, and a filling of their choice. Using multigrain bread and nutritious fillings makes this a healthier choice. Finely chopped mushrooms, herbs, and mustard sauce are a good breakfast option. Grilled veggies with spices and cottage cheese make a great lunch. 

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Student meals on a budget

A chili and soy chicken rice bowl is a cheap evening meal full of nutritious veggies. 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 chicken stock cube 
  • A cup of long-grain rice 
  • Two carrots (thinly peeled and sliced)
  • Broccoli cut into small florets
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 125g cooked skinless chicken cut into strips
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 pinches of dried chili flakes

Method: Fill a large saucepan with water and add the stock cube. Cover it with the lid and bring to a boil. Add the rice and return to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for three minutes. Add the carrots and broccoli to the rice. Cook for another five minutes. Drain and set aside. Add the oil to the saucepan and fry the chicken for two minutes over medium heat. Add the rice, veggies, soy sauce, and chili flakes. Toss together for a minute or two. Serve in a bowl with extra chili and soy. 

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One-pot meals for students

Chili con carne is a delicious meal students can cook in one pot.  

Ingredients

  • 1 brown onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Half a tsp chili powder
  • 500g ground beef
  • 400g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 400g tin kidney beans
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 1 chopped red pepper
  • Half a liter of beef stock  
  • 360g rice

Method: Add oil to a large pan over medium heat and brown the ground beef. Add the garlic and onion. When the onions are translucent, add the tomatoes, tomato puree, and chopped red pepper. Pour in the beef stock and stir. Add the chili powder. Leave to simmer for about 20 minutes. Once the liquid has reduced, make the rice. While the rice is cooking, add the kidney beans to the chili. Serve the rice with the chili on top. 

If students have an instant pot, there are hundreds of cheap and delicious instant pot recipes to make. 

Pasta dishes

There are a huge variety of cheap and easy meals students can make using pasta. Noodle stir-fry is a super easy dish that cooks in no time. Here is a veggie stir-fry recipe but it is easy to add a protein like chicken or beef. 

Ingredients

  • Egg noodles
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Finely chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
  • 1 large diced carrot
  • 1 thinly sliced yellow pepper
  • 2 finely chopped spring onions
  • 85g bean sprouts
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar

Method: Heat the oil in a frying pan. Stir-fry the garlic, ginger, carrot, and pepper over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Cook and drain the noodles and add to the pan. Add the spring onions and bean sprouts and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Mix together the soy sauce and vinegar and stir well into the pan. Serve immediately. 

Conclusion

The above meals are affordable and easy to make. Delicious grilled sandwiches are an easy lunch option. Freezing individual portions of chili con carne or chili soy chicken offer great dinner options. They can create many easy dishes using pasta. It won’t be so tempting to order takeaways when they realize how easy and affordable it can be to make their own meals. 

Author’s Bio

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