10 Recipes For Any College Budget

When cooking on a college budget, it can be exceedingly difficult to find both cheap and delicious meals. It can take hours scouring the Internet for recipes that will fit your pallet and your budget. But with these great recipes, you will never have to sacrifice quality over price. Here are 10 recipes to fit any college budget.

These chips are a great healthy way to keep that salty crunch in your life.

1. Lemon Pepper Poppy Beet Chips

When you’re craving a zesty salty snack, lemon pepper poppy beet chips are perfect. This snack offers the zesty tang of lemon while also satisfying that salt craving. This snack is also a great healthy alternative to regular chips. And the best part, it costs approximately $2.75 to, making it perfect for any college budget.  

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 red beets
• 1 ½ splash of olive oil
• 1 ½ splash of fresh lemon juice
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch black pepper
• ½ pinch poppy seeds

Directions

Get a baking sheet or glass oven pan and preheat your oven to 275 F. Make sure you scrub your beets in cold running water until they are free of dirt. Once thoroughly rinsed, slice both tips off. Then, proceed to thinly slice the beet.  In a medium bowl, toss the beet slices with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and poppy seeds. Lay them out in an even layer into the baking dish and bake for 15 minutes, making sure you flip halfway through. Let cool and enjoy. 

This recipe is fast and easy to get beautiful rustic and buttery potatoes.

2. Potatoes With Butter and Herbs

If you want beautiful buttery potatoes without breaking your budget, this recipe is right for you. This is a fast and easy way to get buttery potatoes for minimum cost. And unlike other recipes, these potatoes come out to $5.35. This recipe is not only cheap, but is super easy for any level of cooking. These potatoes leave you with delicious potatoes and leave your college budget happy. 

Ingredients

• 2 pounds small potatoes
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 tbsp of unsalted butter
• 1 pinch black pepper
• ½ cup fresh chives, diced

Directions

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with about 1 inch of water. Season with your salt and pepper to taste. Then, put the saucepan over medium high heat. Once your potatoes are at a rolling boil, reduce the heart to medium and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Next, add your butter to a large bowl until it softens. Drain your potatoes and add them to the bowl with the butter. Season again to taste while adding herbs. Serve and enjoy. 

When you’re looking to satisfy that spicy salt craving, this recipe is a must try.

3. Homemade Chicken Wings

This is a great cheap recipe when you’re craving the sweet tender meat of hot wings, but can’t afford to go out. This recipe is a fast, easy and fun way to create a great snack in a matter of minutes. This dish is still relatively cheap, ranging around $20 to $25. 

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 pounds of chicken wings
• 1 splash olive oil
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• 1 ½ cups soy sauce
• ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 bunch ginger
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 cups meat stock ( I recommend chicken)
• 3 tbsp sesame oil
• ½ cup thinly diced scallions

Directions

Preheat your oven to 325 F. With a sharp knife or scissors, cut off the tips of the chicken wings. Cut the wings in half, through the joint. Next, heat up your olive oil. This is where it gets tricky, you’re going to want to heat up your olive oil in not one pan but two. We are going to sear them in batches. Season the wings with your salt and pepper. Then, sear your wings for 30 to 60 seconds on each side until browned and remove from heat. In a medium bowl, stir your soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and vinegar. We want this mixture to be salty but not too salty! Next, arrange the wings in a pan and pour the soy sauce mixture over the wings.  Add your stock and make sure you are completely coating them. Sprinkle the scallions on top. Then, wrap the pan tightly in aluminum foil. Cook for about 2 ½ to 3 hours. You want to carefully peel back the foil and check on them every hour and give them a light stir. Make sure your pan isn’t drying out. And if it is, add a little more stalk. Reduce this all down and enjoy fall off the bone wings! 

This salty rich meat is perfect for any get together.

4. Mustard Roasted Pork

While there are many recipes out there for pork roast, this one is by far the  most decadent. If you’re feeling fancy and have a little extra on your budget, this recipe is a must try. This mustard roasted pork will impress all your dinner guests while also still not breaking the bank. This recipe is a little more pricey than the others, approximately $47. Yet the flavors of the deep saltiness of the pork and the sharp tang of the mustard are well worth it. 

Ingredients

• 7 to 8 pound pork shoulder( note if you want this to be a little cheaper, buy a smaller pork shoulder)
• 1 pinch salt
• ½ grainy mustard ( my favorite is Djon)
• 2 cups of a meat stock ( I prefer chicken)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 tbsp rosemary, chopped

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400F. Make sure you let your pork shoulder come up to room temperature. Next, place the pork skin side up on a roasting rack or baking dish. Smear your grainy mustard throughout the surface of the pork shoulder. Then, pour ¼ cup of stock to the bottom of the pan. We just want a thin layer to allow the pork to cook off of. Cook for 20 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350F and cook for 3 to 4 hours. Remember to check in on the shoulder every hour and flip it. Add more stock if your dish is drying out. While it’s baking, take your remaining mustard and maple syrup in a small bowl. Once an hour, lightly brush the glaze on all sides of the pork. Continue until the glaze is a brown sticky texture and the internal temperature of the meat is between 165 F to 180F. Serve and watch as your guests keep coming back for more. 

When you’re a cook in college, it can be difficult to find both healthy and delicious alternatives to the cafeteria. Yet with these recipes, you’ll never have to worry. These recipes will ensure you always have fantastic food that will fit for your college budget.