Kevin Kan | Illustration Editor

Bear’s Den or the Village House are (mostly) reliable options for getting food on campus, and sometimes a late night Uber Eats delivery can hit the spot campus dining can’t. But takeout and half-and-halfs can only sustain a person for so long before one must venture into the kitchen and cook their own food. To assist in this endeavor, Student Life has compiled recipes of varying difficulty. We hope the following will provide an answer to the ever-present question: “What’s for dinner?” These recipes have something for all skill levels — people who have yet to venture into their dorm kitchens, the Dauten kitchen regulars, and even microwave-friendly options for those who really don’t want to leave their room on a rainy Sunday morning. Don’t have any of these ingredients in your dorm? No problem! Check out our cheapest picks for where to find these pantry essentials that you’ll use over and over again. 

Microwave Recipes:

(EASY) Baked Potato

• 1 russet potato

Optional: 

• 1 tablespoon of butter — $3.69 at Target | $3.49 at Schnucks
• Shredded cheese or Paws and Go cheese stick  – $0.99 at Paws and Go
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sour cream — $1.29 at Target | $1.39 at Schnucks

Directions: 

1. Start by washing your potato, then stab repeatedly with a metal fork or make thin slices with a knife. 
2. Microwave for around 5 minutes, or press the ‘potato’ button if available.
3. Cut potato in half, then stir and smash the insides of both halves (if applicable, add butter and cheese here).
4. Top with a dollop of sour cream and/or salt and pepper if desired.

(EASY) Sweet Cinnamon Burrito 

• 1 flour tortilla — $2.29 for an 8 pack at Target | $1.79 for an 8 pack at Schnucks
• Cinnamon (measure with your heart) — $0.99 at Target | $1.99 at Schnucks
• Sugar (any type! Powdered works best) — $3.19 at Target | $2.19 at Schnucks
• Butter (measure with your heart) — $3.69 at Target | $3.49 at Schnucks

Directions:

1. Spread butter all over the tortilla to the edges.
2. Heat up the buttered tortilla in the microwave for 10-20 seconds.
3. Sprinkle as much cinnamon and sugar on the tortilla as you would like.
4. Roll up the tortilla and chow down!

(MEDIUM) Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla

• ½  cup of black beans — $0.99 at Target | $0.99 at Schnucks
• ½ cup of frozen or canned corn — $0.99 at Target | $0.99 at Schnucks
• 2 flour tortillas — $2.89 at Target | $4.19 at Schnucks
• 1 bag of shredded Mexican-style cheese — $1.99 at Target | $2.29 at Schnucks
• ½ teaspoon chili powder, to taste — $0.99 at Target | $1.74 at Schnucks
• ½ teaspoon paprika, to taste — $0.99 at Target | $1.74 at Schnucks
• Sour cream — $1.29 at Target | $1.39 at Schnucks
• Salsa 

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine black beans, corn, chili powder, and paprika. Cover with a paper towel and microwave for 3 minutes, then in 1-minute intervals until corn is thawed.
2. Lay a tortilla on a microwave-safe plate, and place a small layer of shredded cheese on top.
3. Scoop a thin layer of the bean and corn mixture onto the tortilla and top with additional cheese. 
4. Once mixture runs out or a thin layer has been layed, top with a final layer of cheese and microwave for about 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
5. Cut into 8 slices and serve with sour cream and salsa.

(HARD) Baked Oats
Takes loose inspo and metrics from this recipe 

• ½ banana — $0.29 at Target | $0.57/LB at Schnucks 
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder — $1.99 at Target | $1.99 at Schnucks
• 1 tablespoon honey, agave, or maple syrup — $3.39 at Target | $3.39 at Schnucks 
• 1 egg — $2.39 for a dozen at Target | $2.49 for a dozen at Schnucks
• Rolled or quick oats — $2.89 at Target | $3.49 at Schnucks 
• Chocolate chips — $3.89 at Target | $4.49 at Schnucks
• Milk (any type) — $1.59 at Target | $1.54 at Schnucks 
• Any spices you would like! (Cinnamon and nutmeg work best) 
• Any nuts you would like! 
• Salt 
• Water — literally free

Directions:

1. Mix together all ingredients, except for add-ins (nuts and chocolate). This step can be done by hand, or in a blender if you so choose.
2. Pour the mixed contents into a microwave-safe container, such as a bowl, mug, or ramekin. 
3. Sprinkle the toppings onto the mixture. 
4. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds, give it a quick couple seconds of rest, then microwave for 30 more seconds. Repeat this twice more, or until it’s cooked to your satisfaction! (It’s good gooey!)

Kitchen Recipes

(EASY) French Toast 

• 4 eggs — $2.39 for a dozen at Target | $2.49 for a dozen at Schnucks
• ½ cup of milk or creamer — $1.59 at Target | $1.54 at Schnucks 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon — $.99 at Target | $1.99 at Schnucks
• 1 teaspoon cloves — $1.99 at Target | $3.39 at Schnucks
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg — $3.69 at Target | $3.99 at Schnucks
• 1 teaspoon salt — $0.89 at Target | $0.99 at Schnucks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract — $4.19 at Target | $4.79 at Schnucks

Directions:

1. Mix together all ingredients in a container you can dunk bread into, like a shallow bowl or pan (not over heat).
2. Heat up butter in a pan over medium-low heat.
3. While your pan is heating up, dunk ½-inch to 1-inch slices of bread into the liquid mixture, making sure the bread completely soaks up the batter. 
4. Start pan-searing the french toast slices, flipping them to cook both sides evenly to a golden-brown color. 

(MEDIUM) Fried Rice 

• 4 cups white rice (pre-cooked and cooled is best) — $1.49 at Target | $1.99 at Schnucks
• 2 eggs — $2.39 for a dozen at Target | $2.49 for a dozen at Schnuck
• 3 green onions — $0.99 at Target | $1.14 at Schnucks
• 2 carrots, diced — $1.49 at Target | $2.29 at Schnucks
• 1 cup frozen peas — $0.99 at Target | $1.49 at Schnucks
• 2 garlic cloves, diced —  $2.99 at Target | $1.79 at Schnucks
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil — $2.39 at Target | $1.99 at Schnucks
• 1 ½ tablespoons  soy sauce — $1.69 at Target | $1.79 at Schnucks

Optional:

• 1 pound chicken breast, diced — $7.49 at Target | $10.99 at Schnucks
• 1 small package mushrooms, diced — $1.99 at Target | $2.49 at Schnucks

Directions:

1. In the bottom of a tall-sided pan, put 1 cup of water into the bottom, then add diced carrots, peas, and the whites of the green onions and cook on medium until slightly softened (3-5 minutes).
2. Drain water, add vegetable oil and garlic, and stir until aromatic (around 1 minute). 
3. If cooking chicken, remove vegetable mixture, cook diced chicken breast until no longer pink(around 7 minutes). Remove chicken from the pan.
4. Scramble the eggs in a small bowl, then add to vegetables (including diced mushrooms if applicable), stirring to avoid clumping.
5. Add cooled rice, soy sauce, and chicken if applicable. Cook on low until rice is warm and veggie mixture is integrated. 
6. Top with the greens of the green onions and additional soy sauce. 

(HARD) Chicken Pesto-Alfredo Pasta 

• 1 box of pasta (I recommend linguine or penne) OR 2 packages of frozen tortellini — $1.89 at Target | $2.29 at Schnucks
• 15 ounces of Alfredo sauce — $1.99 at Target | $2.69 at Schnucks 
• 6-7 ounces of pesto — $3.49 at Target | $3.49 at Schnucks
• 1 pound chicken breast — $7.49 at Target | $10.99 at Schnucks
• 8 ox baby bella mushrooms — $1.99 at Target | $2.49 at Schnucks
• Italian seasoning, to taste — $0.99 at Target | $1.29 at Schnucks 
• 3 teaspoons garlic powder — $0.99 at Target | $4.59 at Schnucks 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil — $6.39 at Target | $4.99 at Schnucks
• ½ cup milk —  $1.59 at Target | $1.54 at Schnucks

Directions:

1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, and season with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Slice mushrooms vertically, trying for slices that you would see on Papa’s Pizzeria. 
2. In the bottom of the pan, add a small amount of oil and the sliced mushrooms, and cook on low-medium heat until they are reduced in size (around 7 minutes). Remove mushrooms from the pan, and drain any liquid in the bottom of the pan. 
3. Add chicken to a medium pan and cook on medium-high heat until you can cut through the largest piece and see no pink (around 10 minutes).
4. While cooking the mushroom chicken, fill a large pot with water and salt it heavily. Boil pasta according to package instructions. Drain pasta in a strainer, or using the lid of the pot.
5. Leaving the pasta in the strainer, add alfredo sauce to the pot. Add the milk to the sauce jar, then close the jar, shake, and pour to remove excess sauce. Add the jar of pesto, remaining garlic powder, and plenty of Italian seasoning. 
6. Cook the sauce on medium heat until it begins to bubble, then add the pasta, chicken, mushrooms. Stir and serve!