Being a college student often means juggling classes, assignments, and social activities, leaving little time for cooking elaborate meals. However, with a bit of planning and some simple recipes, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals throughout the week. The recipes that I am about to share with you were some of my favorite recipes when I went to college, they made me feel satisfied and full of energy. So here are easy meal prep recipes that I think are perfect for busy college students:
Black Bean Quesadillas
- Ingredients:
- Flour tortillas
- Canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- Shredded cheese
- Salsa
- Avocado (optional)
- Choped tomato.
- Canned corn (optional, but highly recommended)
- Instructions:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Place a tortilla in the skillet and spread black beans, corn, cheese, and salsa on one half.
- Fold the tortilla in half and cook until golden and crispy.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- Serve with sliced avocado on the side and optional a side salad.
Recipe: Chicken Burritos
Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Burrito Assembly:
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Chicken:
- In a bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Rub the spice mixture over the chicken breasts until they are evenly coated.
- Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 6-8 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove from heat and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing into strips.
- Assemble the Burritos:
- Lay out the flour tortillas on a flat surface.
- Divide the cooked rice evenly among the tortillas, placing it in a line down the center of each tortilla.
- Top the rice with cooked chicken strips, black beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped fresh cilantro.
- Fold the Burritos:
- Fold the sides of each tortilla over the filling, then fold the bottom edge up and over the filling, and roll tightly to form a burrito.
- Serve:
- Serve the chicken burritos immediately, or if preferred, you can lightly toast them in a skillet or on a griddle for a crispy exterior.
- Serve with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on the side for dipping or drizzling, if desired.
- Enjoy:
- Enjoy your delicious and flavorful chicken burritos!
Easy Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup grapes, halved
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lettuce leaves for serving
- Bread or croissants for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Chicken:
- Cook chicken breasts by boiling, baking, grilling, or using leftover cooked chicken. Shred or dice the cooked chicken and set aside.
- Mix Dressing:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and Dijon mustard until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Ingredients:
- Add the shredded or diced chicken, chopped celery, chopped red onion, halved grapes, and sliced almonds (if using) to the bowl with the dressing.
- Season:
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill:
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the chicken salad to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve:
- Serve the chicken salad chilled on a bed of lettuce leaves, or as a sandwich filling between slices of bread or croissants.
- Enjoy your delicious and easy-to-make chicken salad!
Note: This chicken salad recipe is highly customizable. Feel free to add other ingredients such as diced apples, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, or fresh herbs like parsley or dill for extra flavor and texture. Adjust the amount of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard according to your taste preferences.
Classic Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 4 slices of bread (your choice of white, whole wheat, or multigrain)
- 4 slices of turkey breast
- 2 slices of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, or your favorite cheese)
- 2 lettuce leaves
- 2 slices of tomato
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Mustard (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Prepare the Bread:
- Lay out the slices of bread on a clean surface.
- Spread Condiments:
- Spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread. If desired, add mustard to the other two slices for extra flavor.
- Layer Ingredients:
- Place a slice of cheese on each slice of bread with mayonnaise.
- Layer two slices of turkey breast on top of the cheese on each sandwich.
- Add a lettuce leaf and a slice of tomato on top of the turkey.
- Season:
- Sprinkle salt and pepper lightly over the tomato slices for added flavor.
- Assemble Sandwiches:
- Place the slices of bread with mustard on top of the assembled sandwiches, creating two sandwiches in total.
- Slice and Serve:
- Using a sharp knife, carefully slice each sandwich in half diagonally or straight down the middle.
- Serve immediately, or wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap for an on-the-go meal.
- Enjoy:
- Enjoy your classic turkey and cheese sandwiches for a quick and satisfying meal!
Note: Feel free to customize your sandwiches by adding other ingredients such as bacon, avocado, sliced cucumber, or different types of cheese. You can also toast the bread for added crunch and flavor, or use a different protein such as ham or roast beef.
This post may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I will earn a small fee at no extra cost to you.
