Let’s be honest.

When you first get to uni, you imagine yourself cooking proper meals… then reality hits. You’re tired, broke, and suddenly pasta + sauce feels like a personality trait.

The good news? You don’t need to be a chef (or spend loads) to eat well.

These are real meals students actually cook, cheap, simple, and perfect for batch cooking.

1. Student Spaghetti Bolognese (4–5 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1.50–£2

Ingredients:

• 500g minced beef (or veggie mince)
• 1 onion (diced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 tin (400g) chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp mixed herbs
• 300g dried pasta

Method:

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan on medium heat
2. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft
3. Add garlic and mince, cook until browned
4. Stir in tomatoes, purée, herbs, salt & pepper
5. Simmer for 20–30 minutes (add water if too thick)
6. Cook pasta separately (10–12 mins), then serve

Batch tip: Store 2–3 portions in the fridge or freeze.

2. Pesto Pasta (2 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1

Ingredients:

• 200g pasta
• 3 tbsp pesto
• Optional: 50g spinach or cherry tomatoes

Method:

1. Boil pasta in salted water (10 mins)
2. Drain and return to pan
3. Stir in pesto and extras

That’s it. Minimal effort, maximum survival.

3. Chicken & Rice (3–4 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1.80

Ingredients:

• 400g chicken thighs (cheaper than breast)
• 250g rice
• 200g frozen veg
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt, pepper, paprika (optional)

Method:

1. Cook rice (15 mins simmer)
2. Season chicken and fry for 10–12 mins (or oven at 200°C for 25 mins)
3. Heat veg in pan or microwave
4. Combine everything

Keeps well for 3 days in the fridge.

4. One-Pot Chilli (4–5 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1.50

Ingredients:

• 500g mince (or 2 tins beans for veggie)
• 1 onion
• 1 tin kidney beans (drained)
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp cumin

Method:

1. Cook rice (15 mins simmer) (75g dry per person).
2. In a separate pan, Fry onion for 5 mins
3. Add mince and cook until browned
4. Add beans, tomatoes, spice
5. Simmer 25–30 mins
6. Serve with cooked rice

5. Egg Fried Rice (2–3 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1

Ingredients:

• 250g cooked rice (ideally cold)
• 2 eggs
• 150g frozen veg
• 2 tbsp soy sauce

Method:

1. Fry veg for 5 mins
2. Add rice and stir
3. Push to side, scramble eggs
4. Mix everything + soy sauce

6. Tuna Pasta (2–3 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1.20

Ingredients:

• 200g pasta
• 1 tin tuna
• 3 tbsp mayo OR 200g tomato sauce
• Optional: sweetcorn

Method:

1. Cook pasta
2. Drain and mix with tuna + sauce

7. Jacket Potato + Toppings (1 portion)

Cost per portion: ~£1

Ingredients:

• 1 large potato
• ½ tin baked beans
• 30g cheese

Method:

1. Bake at 200°C for 45–60 mins (or microwave 8–10 mins)
2. Heat beans
3. Add cheese on top

8. Quick Stir Fry (2 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1.50

Ingredients:

• 150g noodles
• 200g mixed veg
• 200g chicken or tofu
• 2 tbsp soy sauce

Method:

1. Cook noodles
2. Fry chicken/tofu (8–10 mins)
3. Add veg and cook 5 mins
4. Add noodles + sauce

9. Lentil Curry (4 portions)

Cost per portion: ~£1

Ingredients:

• 200g red lentils
• 1 onion
• 1 tbsp curry paste
• 1 tin coconut milk (or tomatoes)
• 300g cooked rice (cooked seperately)

Method:

1. Rinse lentils
2. Fry onion 5 mins
3. Add curry paste, lentils, coconut milk
4. Simmer 20 mins

10. Toastie / Wrap Meal (1 portion)

Cost per portion: ~£1

Ingredients:

• 2 slices bread or 1 wrap
• Cheese / cooked chicken / whatever you have

Method:

1. Fill
2. Toast or heat in pan
3. Eat immediately (preferably after a long day)

The Real Student Hack: Cook Once, Eat All Week

Most students don’t fail at cooking, they fail at planning.

If you:

• Cook 1–2 big meals
• Store portions
• Reheat during the week

You instantly:

• Save money
• Avoid takeaways
• Eat better

What You Actually Need to Cook This

You don’t need a full kitchen. Just:

• A frying pan and saucepan
• Knifes + chopping board
• Storage containers

Having a student cooking survival set makes life easier, you’ve then got everything you need (pots, pans, and cooking utensils) from day one instead of struggling with random mismatched gear.

Final Thought

You don’t need to cook perfectly.

You just need a few meals that:

• are cheap
• work every time
• don’t require effort

Master these, and you’re already ahead of most students.

Note: There's also a link to cooking your own "fakeaway" meals via the below Loomz budgeting article. These are great, and also very easy to do.