32 Easy College Meals You’ll Actually Want to Make in Your Dorm Room

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32 Easy College Meals You’ll Actually Want to Make in Your Dorm Room2/32 Mini Burgers with the Works 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 1 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I started preparing these mini burgers several years ago as a creative way to use up bread crusts accumulating in my freezer. They’re delicious. —Linda Lane, Bennington, Vermont Nutrition Facts: 1 burger: 68 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 153mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein. 3/32 Pronto Vegetarian Peppers 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved

In the summer I love to serve these peppers with salad and a roll

Pronto Vegetarian Peppers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: In the summer I love to serve these peppers with salad and a roll. At the end of summer, I freeze them for cold months when produce costs are high. For a hot meal on a cold day, I love to serve them with a side of warm pasta tossed in olive oil. —Renee Hollobaugh, Altoona, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 2 stuffed pepper halves: 341 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 556mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (16g

sugars, 11g fiber), 19g protein

sugars, 11g fiber), 19g protein. 4/32 Egg-Topped Avocado Toast 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Egg-Topped Avocado Toast Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We always have avocados on hand, so it’s easy to make this quick breakfast toast for my husband and me. It’s really tasty! —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California Nutrition Facts: 1 open-faced sandwich: 313 calories, 21g fat (7g saturated fat), 211mg cholesterol, 492mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 15g protein. 5/32 Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowls 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved

It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor

Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowls Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 12 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This fresh rice dish tastes like the Mediterranean in a bowl! It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor. For a hand-held version, leave out the rice and tuck the rest of the ingredients into a pita pocket. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 433 calories, 25g fat (4g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 1355mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 6g fiber), 8g protein. 6/32 Coconut Acorn Squash 11 Reviews

7/32 Hasselback Tomato Clubs 3 Reviews

Test Kitchen Approved Coconut Acorn Squash Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Save yourself some time in the kitchen and toss the squash in the microwave for a quick dish. Sometimes squash can be a bit tasteless, so I conquer this by adding a bit of mango chutney and coconut. —Dierdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 filled squash half: 251 calories, 11g fat (7g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 400mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein. 7/32 Hasselback Tomato Clubs 3 Reviews

Make it for lunch or pair it with pasta salad for a light dinner

Test Kitchen Approved Hasselback Tomato Clubs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This no-fuss, no-bread riff on a classic is perfect during tomato season. Make it for lunch or pair it with pasta salad for a light dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 2 stuffed tomatoes: 272 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 803mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein. 8/32 Healthy Apple Crisp 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe

From the Recipe Creator: This easy dish is a tradition in my family

From the Recipe Creator: This easy dish is a tradition in my family. It’s as quick as a boxed cake mix but it’s a healthier dessert choice. It’s ideal in fall when it seems that everyone has a bag or two of fresh apples to give away! —Terri Wetzel, Roseburg, Oregon Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 252 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 66mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein. 9/32 DIY Salad in a Jar Test Kitchen Approved Dan Roberts For Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From

And we built in a homemade dressing flavored with fresh herbs

the Recipe Creator: Our farm-fresh salad is layered with gorgeous garden veggies. And we built in a homemade dressing flavored with fresh herbs. Just shake it up to eat the rainbow. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 364 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 37mg cholesterol, 294mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 17g protein. 10/32 Ramen Noodle Salad 24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Crunchy Ramen Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For potlucks and picnics, this ramen noodle

salad is a knockout

salad is a knockout. I tote the veggies in a bowl, dressing in a jar and noodles in a bag. Then I just shake them all together when it’s time to eat. —LJ Porter, Bauxite, Arkansas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 189 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 250mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein. 11/32 Easy Gazpacho 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved NICOLE PERRY FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 15 min Servings 5 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My daughter got this gazpacho recipe from a college friend and shared it

Now I serve it often as an appetizer

with me. Now I serve it often as an appetizer. It certainly is the talk of any party. —Lorna Sirtoli, Cortland, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 146 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 387mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 fat. 12/32 Chicken Tacos 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Tacos with Avocado Salsa Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A few people in my family have special dietary needs, but luckily,

these chicken tacos work for all of us

these chicken tacos work for all of us. I toss up a simple green salad and have a meal we can all enjoy together. —Christine Schenher, Exeter, California Nutrition Facts: 2 tacos: 354 calories, 15g fat (3g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 474mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 6g fiber), 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat. 13/32 Chocolate Chip, PB & Banana Sandwiches 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Chip, PB & Banana Sandwiches Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love

finding new ways to combine peanut butter, chocolate and bananas

finding new ways to combine peanut butter, chocolate and bananas. I was shocked when my nephews (who are very picky eaters) loved these sammies. —Charlotte Gehle, Brownstown, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 502 calories, 22g fat (6g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 394mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 7g fiber), 15g protein. 14/32 Pizza Dip 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pizza Dip Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 24 servings (about 3 cups) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You can assemble this easy appetizer in a jiffy. The pizza dip goes very fast, so

you may want to make two batches

you may want to make two batches. —Stacie Morse, South Otselic, New York Nutrition Facts: 2 tablespoons: 62 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 144mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein. 15/32 Cilantro-Avocado Tuna Salad Sandwiches 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Lime juice and cilantro in tuna salad – who knew? This recipe for avocado tuna salad came to me as a way to have a protein-packed meal with lots of pizzazz. —Heather Waldorf, Black Mountain, North Carolina

Nothing is more convenient than walking in the door to dinner

Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 506 calories, 30g fat (8g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 908mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 6g fiber), 30g protein. 16/32 Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe photo by Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home Total Time 5 hours 10 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a meal on busy days, I pop ready-made meatballs in the slow cooker to make this tantalizing Asian-style specialty. Nothing is more convenient than walking in the door to dinner. —Lisa Stepanski, Munnsville, New York

My crowd-pleasing party mix is buttery, chocolaty and nutty

Nutrition Facts: 8 meatballs: 794 calories, 29g fat (10g saturated fat), 186mg cholesterol, 582mg sodium, 94g carbohydrate (63g sugars, 2g fiber), 39g protein. 17/32 Chocolate Pecan Pie Snack Mix 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Pecan Pie Snack Mix Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 quarts Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My crowd-pleasing party mix is buttery, chocolaty and nutty. The recipe yields a party-sized portion, but I recommend keeping it covered so it doesn’t disappear before the event. —Annette Niemiec, Scottsdale, Arizona Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 350 calories, 19g fat (7g

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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