One of the hardest parts about university for some students is not only knowing how to cook meals, but also deciding what to cook each day. Here is an easy meal guide for if you’re struggling for inspiration, including what ingredients you will need for each meal.
Stir Fry
This is a super easy meal to make and one you can make in bulk to freeze. Simply fry the ingredients in a pan/wok with oil until cooked all the way through, and then add your sauce. You could also add chicken or prawns. (Most supermarkets also do refrigerated stir fry deals)
Ingredients:
- Noodles
- Veg
- Chicken/prawns
- Sauce of choice (chow mein, katsu etc)
Pasta Bake
Pasta bake is a great meal to make with very few steps. Simple cook your choice of pasta, put all the ingredients listed below in a dish, and bake for 20 minutes.
Ingredients:
- Pasta
- Pasta bake sauce
- Cheese (cheddar and/or mozzarella)
- Extras (broccoli, tuna, sweetcorn, peppers…)
Fajitas
This is a good meal to have as a group (a Mexican-themed night is a great way of getting everyone involved) or just to have by yourself! You can either buy the pre-made fajita kits (such as Old El Paso) or make them from scratch, both ways are easy! You could also jazz it up and have nachos as a side.
Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Wraps
- Fajita seasoning
- Extras (cheese, peppers, lettuce etc)
Chicken, rice and veg
This meal is ideal because it’s quick, easy, and full of protein. Simply fry your chicken and veg in a frying pan/wok, make your rice, and mix together! You can also add soy sauce for extra flavour.
Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Seasoning (cajun, paprika)
- Choice of vegetables (broccoli, courgets, peppers, sweetcorn…)
- Choice of rice (golden vegetable, plain…)
Spaghetti Bolognese
This is another meal ideal for making in bulk and freezing. You could either make the sauce yourself, or buy a jar. You could even cook some garlic bread to have alongside it!
Ingredients:
- Spaghetti (or pasta)
- Mince meat
- Bolognese jar sauce/ingredients for your own sauce
A few more meal ideas for inspiration:
- Chilli con carne
- Bangers and mash
- Pesto pasta
- Lasagne
- Omelette and chips