Is it another night of dinner from the frozen isle of the grocery store? Have you had ramen for the fourth night in a row? Dinner can be hard to figure out. Especially as a college student with limited access to a kitchen. Whether you are roaming the isles of the grocery store, or utilizing the UWW Warhawk Pantry, you can find all of these ingredients in these recipes to up your dinner game.  Here are some recipes tested by college students sure to fill you up and break you out of the cycle of frozen meals.

  1. Chicken Rice Bowls 

This is such a simple and delicious meal idea where you can truly customize this to fit your taste palette. You can make this your own with any veggies, meat, or cheese, however this is my favorite recipe for this!

Ingredients: 

  1. Minute Rice cup (cilantro lime is my favorite!)  
  2. Pre cooked grilled chicken
  3. Shredded cheese 
  4. Grape tomatoes 
  5. Guacamole cups 

Instructions: 

  1. Microwave your rice and put in a bowl
  2. Cut your grape tomatoes into small pieces
  3. Cut your chicken strips into small pieces 
  4. Add your chicken, cheese, tomatoes, guacamole on top of the bowl
  5. Enjoy!

2. Hummus Pitas  

These hummus pitas have become a staple in my life. They are such a simple meal which tastes amazing and is such a great way to add some fun veggies to your diet!

Ingredients: 

  1. Pita bread 
  2. Hummus of your choice (I LOVE roasted pine nut!) 
  3. Feta cheese crumbles 
  4. Cucumbers 
  5. Tomatoes 
  6. Olives (these are optional, my roommate loves these but I hate them) 

Instructions: 

  1. Chop your cucumbers and tomatoes into small pieces 
  2. Lightly toast your pita bread to get it warm
  3. Spread your hummus on the pita bread
  4. Top with feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives
  5. Congrats! You made a hummus pita! 

3. Pasta with Red Sauce and Italian Sausage

 When I want a quick and easy yet filling meal, this is my go-to. This meal is warm and cozy, perfect for a cold night in! It is definitely one of my favorite comfort foods!

Ingredients: 

  1. Pasta (I find that penne cooks the best in the microwave) 
  2. Red pasta sauce 
  3. Precooked Italian sausage 
  4. Parmesan cheese

Instructions: 

  1. Fill a microwave safe bowl with your desired amount of pasta and cover the pasta with water 
  2. Microwave the pasta in 2 minute intervals stirring at each interval 
  3. Once you have your pasta at the desired texture, strain your pasta 
  4. Microwave your Italian sausage as per the instructions on the package
  5. Once your sausage is cooked, cut it into pieces  
  6. Mix your pasta with your red sauce and add your sausage 
  7. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of your pasta
  8. Enjoy!

I hope these 3 recipes have given you some ideas on how to make delicious dinners fast and easy! If you are looking for more fun and easy ways to up your nutrition and come up with different recipes, you can meet with the UW-Whitewater Campus Dietitian, Summer Manzke, for more ideas! There are so many options for great meals that are fast, healthy, and yummy. 

If you are looking for a quick shopping break without spending any money, visit the Warhawk Pantry and pick up free food and hygiene products during open hours each semester! To learn more visit, https://www.uww.edu/uc/pantry 

Keep in mind, if you want a break from cooking, on-campus meal plans are a great deal and take all of the work out of meal planning! For more information on UWW meal plans and Warhawk Dining visit https://www.uww.edu/uc/services/hawkcard/meal-plans and https://dineoncampus.com/uww