10 Quick Dinner Recipes For Busy Students

Life as a student can be hectic at the best of times. Deadlines, social events, and general adulting are hard to balance and often cooking becomes a low priority. You don’t need to be reminded that eating a fresh, homecooked meal every evening is super important for your body and brain. If you often find yourself reaching for a ready meal or takeaway menu then these 10 quick dinner recipes will help you break the cycle, what’s more, they are delicious too.

Cheesy Bean and Chipotle Quesadilla

This chipotle bean quesadilla recipe uses only five ingredients, most of which you probably already have lurking in your kitchen cupboards. It’s a super-quick and comforting meal that can be eaten on the go – perfect for those late-night library trips on deadline week.

Shakshuka

Traditionally a brunch dish, Shakshuka often gets overlooked when planning quick dinner recipes. However, it is simple to make, hearty and filling which making great for a busy student’s dinner. Add as much spice as you can handle and serve with a thick piece of toast to soak up the sauce.

10 Minute Couscous Salad

Couscous Salad is packed full of flavor and healthy ingredients. It is tasty on its own or served as a side dish to most leftovers. Since it only takes 10 minutes to prepare, make extra and keep it in the fridge for lunch the next day.

Five-Spice Fish Tacos

These five-spice fish tacos use salmon as their main ingredient but can be enjoyed with any fish of your choosing. The fresh herbs and light ingredients provide a nutritional alternative to the usual stodgy Mexican takeaways. This quick dinner recipe will be ready in less time than it takes to order in.

Sausage Bolognese

A speedy substitute for the traditional Italian slow-cooked sauce, this bolognese recipe uses sausages rather than minced meat but tastes just as good. The trick here for quick dinner recipes is to replace tomatoes with a shop-bought pasta sauce – more flavor and less cooking.

Masala Omelette Muffins

This recipe for omelette muffins is extremely versatile and while it suggests you use masala flavorings, you can really add anything you like. Switch the spices for herbs and flavorings, the feta for cheddar, peas for sweetcorn or simply follow the recipe in detail. Whatever you decide to flavor with, these muffins will be ready in no time.

Tortilla Pizza

Make your own pizza without all of the kneading and rolling. This recipe uses tortilla wraps as pizza bases making pizza and movie night with your flatmates so much easier. Indulge with your favorite cheeses, sauces, and toppings or get inventive with ingredients you already have lying around in the kitchen.

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Canned Tuna Pasta

Pasta is often a fallback option for a busy student with no time to get creative in the kitchen. While there are many quick dinner recipes involving pasta, this recipe which uses canned tuna provides a welcomed alternative to the usual shop-bought sauce. With only minimum cooking required, this pasta recipe is simple but packed full of deliciousness.

Halloumi Fajitas

Fajitas are usually a staple student dinner – a one pan dish that is perfect for sharing with friends. These halloumi fajitas are great as a substitute for chicken, making this recipe cheaper, veggie-friendly and surprising. While the instructions call for soured cream, sweet chilli sauce or yogurt dressing also make tasty accompaniments.

Summer Rolls

This Thai dish tastes like the name suggests. Summer rolls are light and refreshing as well as being fun to make. Similar to a spring roll but without the calories and cooking, you can fill these rice paper wrappers with whichever vegetables, meat or seafood you wish. For added flavor and texture, sprinkle some crushed peanuts into your rolls and dip into and sauce of your choosing.