Easy Recipes for Students: Quick, Affordable & Perfect for Uni Life

You’ve had a long day full of lectures, studying and maybe even a part-time job. Now you finally get home, feeling low on energy, and hunger kicks in immediately. You want something that’s quick to prepare, filling, healthy (for your New Year’s resolutions) and still tastes good. You’re already tired of eating pasta with ketchup every single day. And honestly, after such a long day, a small dessert is simply a must.

That’s exactly what these easy recipes are made for. They’re easy, quick to prepare and perfectly suited for everyday university life. Whether vegetarian, vegan or with meat – here you’ll find easy recipes with just a few ingredients, ideal for long days at uni.

Vegetarian Dinners for Everyday Uni Life

Buddha Bowl with Quinoa, Egg & Broccoli

Preparation time: approx. 10 minutes

Cooking time: approx. 25 minutes

Short description: Short description: One of those easy recipes that keeps you full for a long time. Quinoa is particularly high in protein and provides essential nutrients.

Ingredients (selection): 65 g quinoa, 150 g broccoli (1/2), 50 g bell pepper (1/4), 2 eggs, oil, salt, pepper

Preparation: Cook the eggs for 5–6 minutes (soft) or 8–9 minutes (hard), then let them cool, peel and cut in half. Rinse the quinoa and cook it in lightly salted water according to the package instructions. Heat a little oil in a pan and fry the broccoli for about 4 minutes until golden and tender. Wash and dice the bell pepper. Arrange all ingredients in a bowl and serve.

Preparation in short: Cook quinoa, fry broccoli, chop bell pepper, cook eggs and assemble everything in a bowl.

Quick Vegetable Pasta Pan with Cream Cheese

Preparation time: approx. 5 minutes
Cooking time: approx. 10–12 minutes

Short description: A quick after-uni meal with just a few ingredients that’s filling and perfect for everyday student life.

Ingredients (selection): 80 g pasta, 100 g zucchini (1/2), 50 g bell pepper (1/4), 1 small onion, 2 tbsp cream cheese, oil, salt, pepper

Preparation: Cook the pasta in lightly salted water according to package instructions. Meanwhile, chop the zucchini, bell pepper, and onion. Fry the vegetables in a pan with a little oil for about 5–6 minutes. Stir in the cream cheese and season with salt and pepper. Drain the pasta and mix it with the vegetables.

Preparation in short: Cook pasta, fry vegetables, stir in cream cheese, and mix everything together.

Dinners with Meat – Simple & Filling

Chicken Tikka Masala with Rice

Preparation time: approx. 5 minutes

Cooking time: approx. 15 minutes

Short description: Easy recipes like this flavorful dish are perfect after a long day.

Ingredients (selection): 120 g chicken breast, 70 g rice, 1/2 onion, 100 ml cooking cream, 1 tbsp tikka masala spice, oil, salt

Preparation: Cook the rice according to package instructions. Finely chop the onion and dice the chicken breast. Fry both in a pan with a little oil. Add the spice and cooking cream, let it simmer briefly and serve with rice.

Preparation in short: Cook rice, fry chicken and onion, add spices and sauce.

Minced Meat & Vegetable Pasta Pan

Preparation time: approx. 5 minutes

Cooking time: approx. 15 minutes

Short description: A simple classic with just a few ingredients—completely stress-free.

Ingredients (selection): 120 g minced meat, 80 g pasta, 100 g strained tomatoes, 1/2 bell pepper, oil, salt, pepper

Preparation: Cook the pasta. Meanwhile, fry the minced meat in a pan. Chop the bell pepper and add it to the pan. Pour in the tomatoes, season to taste, and mix in the pasta.

Preparation in short: Cook pasta, fry minced meat, add vegetables, and add tomatoes.

Vegan Dinners for Everyday Uni Life

Vegan Bolognese with Lentil Pasta

Preparation time: approx. 10 minutes
Cooking time: approx. 20 minutes

Short description: Easy recipes for meal prep – high in protein, affordable and perfect for cooking in advance.

Ingredients (selection): 80 g lentil pasta, 120 g vegan mince, 150 g tomato sauce, 1/2 onion, oil, salt, pepper

Preparation: Cook the lentil pasta according to package instructions. Chop the onion and fry it in oil. Add the vegan mince, then stir in the tomato sauce and season. Mix with the pasta.

Preparation in short: Cook pasta, fry vegan mince, add sauce.

Quick Oven Vegetables with Vegan Yogurt Dip

Preparation time: approx. 10 minutes

Cooking time: approx. 25 minutes

Short description: Little effort, great flavor. Perfect if you want to do something else while cooking. Also suitable for small ovens.

Ingredients (selection): 200 g potatoes, 100 g carrots, 1/2 zucchini, oil, salt, pepper, vegan yogurt

Preparation: Chop the vegetables, mix with oil and spices, and bake at 200 °C for about 25 minutes. Season the yogurt with salt and serve as a dip.

Preparation in short: Chop vegetables, season, bake and serve with dip.

Quick Desserts & Sweet Snacks

When it comes to desserts, easy recipes don’t have to be boring. Here are three sweet ideas that are quick to make.

Skyr with Berries & Dark Chocolate

Preparation time: approx. 5 minutes

Short description: A quick dessert that’s sweet but still light.

Ingredients (selection): 150 g skyr, 50 g berries, 10 g dark chocolate

Preparation: Place skyr in a bowl, wash the berries, chop the chocolate, and combine everything.

Preparation in short: Mix everything and enjoy.

Overnight Oats with Banana & Chia

Preparation time: approx. 5 minutes

Resting time: overnight

Short description: Perfect for meal prep—ideal as a dessert or snack for the next day. Also great to take to uni.

Ingredients (selection): 40 g oats, 150 ml milk or plant-based drink, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 banana

Preparation: Mix all ingredients, refrigerate overnight, and add banana the next day.

Preparation in short: mix, chill, done.

Vegan Baked Banana with Cinnamon

Preparation time: approx. 5 minutes

Baking time: approx. 10 minutes

Short description: A warm, vegan dessert with minimal effort.

Ingredients (selection): 1 banana, cinnamon

Preparation: Slice the banana lengthwise, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake at 180°C for about 10 minutes.

Preparation in short: Bake banana and enjoy.

Getting Through Uni Life More Relaxed with easy recipes and simple food

Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated—especially not after long days at uni. With these quick, healthy meals and simple desserts, you can nourish yourself well, recharge your energy, and still treat yourself. Meal prepping can help you plan your week and save time.

This way, you can easily integrate easy recipes into your student routine and make sure food stays enjoyable even on long university days. So grab your ingredients and get cooking. Bon appétit!

Just in case: If you’re looking for more easy recipes or want to prepare meals for an entire week, feel free to check out our other recipe articles:

9 yummy recipes for students

The best autumn recipes