15 Mug Recipes Essential for Every College Student (2024)

Are you a college student who does not have a kitchen or are you not sure how to cook using actual pots and pans? Never fear, we have got you covered with the essentials meals that every college student can make using just a microwave and a mug. No longer will you have to heat up the oven or wait for water to boil on the stove while you should be on your way to your marathon class. Hungry to find out the 15 mug recipe essentialsfor the busy college student? Read on.

1. Mac ‘n Cheese

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Photo by Alex Weiner

Mac ‘n Cheese is the most well-known comfort food that every college student misses when they are at school. Now, with this mug recipe, you can make your comfort food and eat it too in less than ten minutes. Want to step up the classic mac ‘n cheese? Try thisPizza Mac ‘n Cheese.

2. French Toast

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Photo by Kelda Baljon

Ever wanted to make French toast before your 8:30 am class but you never felt like you had enough time to get ready and make a real breakfast? Well you are in luck because this French Toast mug recipe only takes two minutes and since everything can be made in one mug, you can easily use the dishwasher for clean up. Looking for a different twist on this breakfast favorite? Try Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast.

3. Omelet

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Photo by Megan Prendergast

This mug recipe is one of my favorites because it only usesone mug to make it and it takes less than five minutes which is the time it would take to heat up a pan on the stove top. Not an omelet fan? Try poached eggsor scrambled eggs.

4. S’mores

Are you lacking a fire pit and sticks or are you already counting down the days until summer vacation? We have got you covered with convenience and ease giving you a mug recipe to make s’mores. Not ready to commit to the whole s’more? Try our mug recipe fors’mores dip.

5. Chocolate Cake

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Photo by Kelda Baljon

This picture may look like this cake was not made in a mug but I can assure you that it was. Don’t believe me? Check out the recipe in the headingabove. Are you a chocolate fanatic? Try our mug recipeforNutella dark chocolate cake.Not a fan of dark chocolate? TrytheNutella mug cake.

6. Nachos

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Photo by Dina Cheney

Nachos in a mug? Yes, you read that correctly. Impress your friends by handing them their own mug of nachos. They are the perfect personalized party snack for the germ phobic peopleof the world.

7. Banana Nut Bread

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Photo by Susan Bean

Have banana’s from the dining hall that have already browned before you had the chance to eat them? Never fear, you can make them into this banana nut bread. Are you more of a visual learner? Here’s a video tutorialof banana bread being made. Have more of a sweet tooth? Try the mug recipe for Banana Carmel Pie. Or try this banana pancake.

8. Oreo Cheesecake

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Photo by Natsuko Mazany

Oreo cheesecake that can be made in less than ten minutes and in a mugfor one? Yes please. Love anything Oreo andcheesecake flavoredin general? Try these Oreo Cheesecake Truffles.

9. Pizza

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Photo by Natsuko Mazany

Who knew that pizza could be made in a microwave? Have you ever wanted to order pizza but you knew that the next day the pizza would not be as good? Well, this recipe allows you to make one serving of pizza without having to leave your apartment to get take out or having excess pizza. You can also follow a video tutorial on how to make this recipe here. Want to eat pizza for breakfast? Try this breakfast pizza.

10. Oatmeal

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Photo by Becky Hughes

I make this heart healthy meal, oatmeal, for a quick and easy lunch before a long afternoon of classes and it really helps power you through the day. Are you an oatmeal fanatic? You can try more oatmeal recipeshere.

11. Muffins

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Photo by Lauren Gong

What breakfast doesn’t get better by adding a baked good along side it? Satisfy your sweet tooth with these three simple muffin mug recipes including chocolate peanut butter, apple cinnamon, and blackberry crumble. Looking to use your oven? Try these blueberry oatmeal flaxseed muffins.

12. Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Photo by Christine Chang

Baking is one of the best study breaks you can take (this recipe only takes six minutes)and with this recipe, who could resist a personalized chocolate chip cookie? You can even add a scoop of ice cream on top to step up your dessert game. Looking for a healthier version of this cookie? Try this chocolate chip cookie ball recipe.

13. Coffee Cake

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Photo by Emma Weir

Can’t wait in line at Starbucks or Dunkin’ before your first class? We’ve got your coffee fix covered with this coffee cake recipe that you can make in only five minutes in a mug. Looking for another replacement for your cup(s) of coffee? Try these Chocolate Mocha Pancakes.

14. Rice Krispy Treats

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Photo by Rebecca Block

This recipe will take you back to your childhood and you won’t believe how much easier and quicker it is to make it in the microwave. You can check out the recipe here. Reminiscing about your childhood? Keep dreaming with these exotic takeson the classic Rice Krispy cereal here.

15. Mug Brownies

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Photo by Katie Walsh

A mug recipe for brownies? Just add ice cream and you have the perfect brownie sundae all in one mug. This mug recipe also creates less of a mess to clean up using just a mug that can easilybe put in the dishwasher. Like the idea of having a brownie in amug? Try making abrownie parfait.

Now that you have a complete list of the mug recipe essentials, you should not feel overwhelmed next time you have 5-10 minutes to make a meal.

15 Mug Recipes Essential for Every College Student (2024)

FAQs

What food do most college students eat? ›

Dish Preference – College Students:
  • Tacos.
  • Pasta.
  • Hand-helds (sandwiches, wraps, etc)
  • Stir fry.
  • Power bowls/salads.
  • Soup.
  • Chili/stew.
  • Curry.

How can you cook in college? ›

You'll want to choose recipes that are simple and easy to prepare, minimize clean up, and include as many nutrient-dense foods as possible. Thankfully, microwave cooking is perfect for all of that! For example, make instant ramen in the microwave and add frozen carrots and peas to the broth to bulk up the veggies.

What food to buy as a broke college student? ›

College student grocery list: snacks and side dishes
  • Snack crackers. These days there are a lot of different varieties of snack crackers. ...
  • Nut butter. ...
  • Single-serve chips and cookies. ...
  • Instant noodles. ...
  • Instant mashed potatoes. ...
  • Pasta noodles. ...
  • Soups. ...
  • Canned fruits.
Feb 25, 2022

What are college students favorite fast food? ›

1 fast food choice of today's college students? To find out, Yelp partnered with BrokeScholar to analyze data for fast food chains within a two-mile radius of 144 of the country's public universities. And the winner is ... Blaze Pizza.

How to cook in a dorm with no kitchen? ›

Classic no-cook meals start at sandwiches (canned tuna is shelf-stable before opening, and you can find hummus and cheese in one-time-use packets), progress through bean salads (canned beans, olive oil, and lemon, plus an herb or spice) and top out at gazpacho (made with tomato juice, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and ...

What is cooking called in college? ›

Description: A culinary arts degree is a general education degree in the culinary field that teaches students the basics of food preparation and safety, how a kitchen or restaurant functions, fundamentals of taste and flavor and instruction on culinary techniques.

How to make food in a dorm room? ›

“If your dorm allows desktop appliances, Instant Pot makes a tiny 3-quart dorm version, and air fryers come in super small 1.1-quart sizes,” he explains, “Both are way more versatile than a microwave.” If you have the space and they're allowed, a rice cooker can be huge for preparing one-pot meals, too.

What does the average college student eat? ›

The majority ate regular daily meals, but more than half skipped breakfast. Frequent snacking, fried food consumption at least three times per week and low intake of daily fruits and vegetables were common. The frequency of visits to fast food restaurants was significantly higher in the overweight/obese.

How much does the average college student eat? ›

The average cost of food per month for a college student is $670. College students spend on average $410 a month eating off-campus. Meals cooked at home average $260 a month when the cost of eating off-campus is included. A campus meal plan averages $450 a month.

What does the average college student spend on food? ›

Collectively, U.S. college students spend almost $40 billion on food each year. The average campus meal plan costs $563 each month, and the average amount spent on food each month is $547. That figure includes groceries, meal delivery services and restaurants, but not meal plans.

What is one key to eating well in college? ›

Eat a Variety of Foods, Frequently

So, try taking a simple approach: Eat frequently throughout the day, making sure you take time for snacks and meals between classes. Aim to get a wide variety of foods so that you're more likely to get your nutritional needs met without a lot of effort.

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