College Meals in a Mug

When you’re in college food is definitely a high priority, but you don’t always want to eat the mysterious food on campus. Don’t worry, you can make tons of meals in your microwave that won’t take more than 5 minutes. Check out some of these delicious meals in a mug you’ll die to try! 

Quiche 

Ingredients: 

1 large egg

1 1/2 tablespoons whole milk (substitutes: half and half or heavy cream)

1 teaspoon melted unsalted butter

Pinch of salt

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

4 small grape tomatoes, halved

1/8 cup torn pieces of fresh bread

1 tablespoon grated cheese (e.g., cheddar cheese, mozzarella, etc.)

1 teaspoon chopped fresh herbs, plus more for garnish (e.g., green onions, Italian parsley, chives, etc.)

Directions:

1. In a microwavable mug, add egg, milk, melted butter, salt, and pepper and whisk until thoroughly mixed and egg whites are completely broken up. Add halved grape tomatoes, torn bread, grated cheese, and chopped herbs on top of egg mixture, making sure ingredients are evenly dispersed and have not settled to bottom of mug. Ingredients will stay settled within the quiche mixture better if you do not whisk ingredients into egg mixture.

2. Place mug in microwave, and cook on high for 1 minute, just until egg is completely cooked and quiche is slightly puffed. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately.

Egg White Omelet 

Ingredients:

4 egg whites, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons fully cooked ham or turkey bacon (or you can omit meat)

2 tablespoons fresh baby spinach, shredded

1 tablespoon green pepper, diced

1 tablespoon red pepper, diced

1 tablespoon tomato, diced

1 tablespoons reduced-fat cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste, if desired

Directions: 

1. Spray a microwave-safe mug with non-stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in mug and mix. Microwave uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir. 
2. Cook for 1-1 1/2 minutes longer or until eggs are completely set.

Baked Oatmeal 

Ingredients:

½ cup quick oats

1 Egg

1/3 cup milk

½ a banana

¼ tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. maple syrup or honey

Directions: 

1. In a mug mash the banana.
2. Add and combine milk, maple syrup and the egg.
3. Add the quick oats, cinnamon and combine together.
4. Gently mix in the berries or your chosen fruit.
5. Cook in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until cooked.
6. Serve & Enjoy

Homemade Mac & Cheese 

Ingredients: 

⅓ cup (28g/1oz) pasta

¾ cup (175ml/6fl oz) water, cold

4 tablespoons milk

¼ teaspoons cornstarch (aka cornflour)

4 tablespoons cheddar cheese, grated

salt and pepper

Directions: 

1. In a large microwavable mug or large bowl add in the macaroni and the  water. You need a large mug as the water will boil up.

2. Microwave for roughly 3 ½ minutes. You want the pasta to be fully cooked. (timing is based on my 1200W microwave so your timing might vary)

3. Pour off the remaining cooking water.

4. Stir in the milk, cornstarch and shredded cheese and microwave for a final 60 seconds to create your sauce. Stir well, season with salt and pepper and enjoy.

Quinoa Mix

Ingredients: 

1 cup rinsed quinoa

1 cup water

1 can whole kernal unsweetened corn rinsed and trained

1 can black beans rinsed and trained

1 avocado

1 tomato (or canned & diced tomatoes)

1 zucchini

2 tbsp. lime juice

1 tbsp. olive (or grape) oil

1/2 tsp. cumin

pinch of salt

Directions: 

1. Boil water in kettle. Rinse quinoa in room temperature water. Add rinsed quinoa to boiling water. 

1. Let simmer for 15 minutes (or until fluffy and cooked). 
2. Mix together corn, beans, avocado, tomato, zucchini, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, and salt together in a big bowl. When quinoa is cooked, fluff with a fork. 
3. Add quinoa to large mixture of the other ingredients. Serve hot or cold!

Vegan Tofu Dish 

Ingredients: 

1/2 block firm tofu, crumbled

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

3/4 cup nutritional yeast (aka “vegan crack”)

1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 bunch spinach

1 handful ‘shrooms

Seasonings (I use salt, pepper, garlic powder, and turmeric), to taste

Directions: 

1. Mix it all together and nuke for 1 to 2 minutes.

Nutella Cake 

Ingredients: 

4 tablespoons self-rising flour

4 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

3 tablespoons Nutella

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions: 

1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug.

2. Whisk well with a fork until smooth.

3. Microwave on high for 1½– 3 minutes. (Time depends on microwave; mine took 1½ minutes.)

4. Add heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and whip on medium-high speed until almost stiff.

5. Add sugar and beat until heavy cream forms stiff peaks.

6. Top Mug Cakes with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce, if desired.

Cinnamon Roll 

Ingredients: 

Cake:

4 tbsp all purpose flour

3 tsp granulated white sugar

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1/16 tsp nutmeg

3 tbsp fat free milk

1/2 tbsp vegetable oil

Cinnamon swirl

1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tbsp butter

Frosting (makes enough for 2)

1/2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp cream cheese

2 – 2 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar

Directions: 

1. Combine all the cake ingredients into a microwave-safe mug. This is a smaller cake, so using an 8 oz mug should be fine. Whisk with a small whisk until batter is smooth and no lumps remain.

2. In a separate small bowl, combine cinnamon swirl ingredients. Microwave briefly, about 20-30 seconds, or until butter melts. (I recommend covering top with paper towel before microwaving.) Stir and mix until uniform. Pour into a small liquid container that has a narrow pouring spout.

3. Working quickly (you don’t want the butter to cool as your swirl will become hard to pour), scoop out 3 tbsp of cake batter and set aside. Pour a swirl into the remaining batter in the mug, starting from the middle and working to the edge (like in the photos above). Pour the rest of the batter back in, making sure to cover the cinnamon swirl completely. Pour another cinnamon swirl on top. It’s okay if you still have a little leftover of the cinnamon mix.

4. Cook cake in microwave for about 1 minute until cake parts are completely cooked. The butter from the cinnamon swirl might separate slightly during cooking which will cause the cinnamon swirl to be a little gooey and wet but it’ll solidify and sink in as the cake cools.

5. While cake is cooking, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, add ingredients. Warm in microwave slightly, about 10 seconds. Make sure to cover bowl with paper towel before heating. Using a really good whisk, whisk until uniform and frosting thickens. Scoop frosting into a piping bag and pipe frosting onto cake. You should have enough to frost two cakes. You can save the remaining for another time.