It’s not easy to know what to make when you’re in the mood to cook – sometimes inspiration for a complex, flavorful dish comes, and sometimes it doesn’t! There are exhausting days in college, days when you need something you made yourself, but don’t have the mental energy to create something out of thin air. And on days like that, I’m here to help. Here are 5 basic go-to recipes for your College recipe book.
1. Breaded chicken
One chicken cutlet, one egg, ¼ cup of Panko breadcrumbs, and any seasonings of your choosing (I love thyme and oregano) makes for a simple, delicious dinner. A quick pan fry and your stomach is full and your heart is filled with pride!!
2. Spaghetti and meatballs
This is a simple dish almost everyone already knows how to make. Boil a handful of your favorite pasta, drain, heat some store bought marinara and meatballs (or any type of sauce/meat/no meat combo you prefer) and mix it all together. Add cheese to your taste. Classic, traditional, and always satisfying, this dish will remind you of home, but with a lot less clean-up.
3. From scratch mac and cheese
I know from the title this dish can seem intimidating, but it’s a lot more simple than it seems. Start with cooked macaroni, then add butter to a different pan. Once it’s melted, add in a sprinkle of flour and mix. Keep adding until you have a semi-thick base (this is called a roux). Add milk until it’s smooth, then add as much of your fave cheese as you’d like until the cheese sauce is your preferred consistency. Then, just mix in your mac! So much better than any easy mac they have at CVS.
4. Balsamic chicken
A seasoned chicken breast browned on both sides in a pan, and then covered in balsamic vinegar is almost an instantaneous dinner. Just like this caption, it’s short, simple, and to the point.
5. Scrambled eggs
This may come off as a little obvious, but sometimes the obvious has to be pointed out, too! Whether you like your eggs plain and scrambled, or mixed with milk and countless diced veggies, there’s no going wrong with a little breakfast for dinner.