5 Easy And Healthy Student Dinner Ideas To Stop You Reaching For The Pot Noodles!

When it’s your first time living alone, and probably your first time cooking every day, meal-time ideas can become a bit stale. To avoid living up to the student reputation of instant noodles and beans on toast, here are a few exciting and tasty dinner recipes that are quick to make and guaranteed to make your flatmates jealous.

1. Easy chicken burritos

If you find yourself daydreaming during lectures about tasty Mexican cuisine, or can’t seem to walk into town without making a beeline for Tortilla or Taco Bell, then this recipe should be right up your street!

Ingredients: chicken breast, chopped tomatoes, can of mixed beans, small onion, garlic, chilli, red pepper, green pepper, tortilla wrap, cheese.

1. Heat some olive oil in a frying pan. Dice the chicken and add it to the pan with the onion. Fry until they start to brown. Whack in some garlic and chilli (to taste) and cook for another few minutes. Add the peppers, then beans and tomatoes and heat until it begins to boil.
2. Turn off the heat and warm a tortilla in the microwave (about 20 seconds each). Spoon the filling mix into your wrap and roll up in true burrito style (don’t forget to tuck in the end!).
3. For an extra kick, serve with some salsa and guacamole for dipping and scooping on the side. Easy!

Chilli salmon with teriyaki noodles

For a nutritious and delicious dinner that takes less than 20 minutes, you’ll struggle to find a better alternative to this! Spicy, aromatic flavours with a few of your 5-a-day? It certainly beats a pack of Super Noodles.

Ingredients: salmon fillet, red chilli, soy sauce, ginger, coriander, mange tout, teriyaki sauce, straight-to-wok noodles.

1. Start by heating your oven to 190C. Meanwhile, line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and place your salmon filet on top. Make a marinade with the chilli, soy, ginger and coriander, and evenly spoon over the salmon. Roast for 12-15 mins until the fish is pink and fluffy!
2. Heat a large frying pan or wok and cook the mange tout with 1 tbsp water for 2 mins until it’s tender but still with some crunch. Stir in the teriyaki sauce and noodles to heat through. Take the salmon from the oven and place on top! A sprinkle of fresh coriander and voila! Better than Wagamamas.

Chicken and sweet potato thai red curry

A fail-safe favourite of mine, and one which can be cooked in bulk and stored in the fridge for another day, this twist on a Thai Red Curry will get your taste buds tingling!

Ingredients: chicken breast, thai red curry paste, oil, coconut milk, spinach, sweet potato, red pepper, mange tout and baby sweetcorn, microwave rice.

1. Start by peeling and chopping your sweet potato into chunks then microwaving for a few minutes until tender. Meanwhile, heat a heaped tablespoon of the curry paste in a pan with some oil then add the diced chicken to cook.
2. Add the coconut milk and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes.
3. Add the sweet potato chunks and the other veggies and cook for another 5 minutes.
4. 2 minutes before serving, chuck a handful of spinach into the pan and let it wilt down. Serve with the microwave rice and enjoy!

Piri piri chicken with spicy rice

When your taste buds love Nando’s but your student budget doesn’t, here’s a cheap and easy alternative to the South African favourite.

Ingredients: chicken thighs or breasts, piri piri marinade, sunflower oil, peppers, spring onions, tomato puree, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, microwave rice, corn on the cob/ salad to serve.

1. Heat your oven to 200C. Slash your chicken a few times with a sharp knife and pour over the marinade. Massage into the chicken and leave in the fridge to flavour for a while. Once marinated, place your chicken in a large baking tray and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until the juices run clear.
2. Just before the chicken is ready, heat some oil in a frying pan and cook the peppers and spring onions for 5 minutes. Add some tomato purée, chilli flakes and paprika, stir, then add the pre-microwaved rice and mix until piping hot. Scatter some more spring onion on top and serve with the chicken.
3. To replicate a true restaurant experience, serve with some grilled corn on the cob or a side salad. Bam. Home-made Nando’s!

Tortilla pizzas

Domino’s, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut. All taste great… but their greasy toppings and thick doughs all take a toll on your bank balance and waistline!

A great way to curb those pizza cravings for a fraction of the cost is to make home-made tortilla pizzas. Get creative with your flavours and add toppings to your taste. It’s a much healthier way to enjoy one of your favourites!

Ingredients: whole-wheat tortillas, garlic cloves, tomato puree, chilli flakes, grated mozzarella, fresh basil, olive oil, variety of chosen toppings.

1. Heat the oven to the highest it will go (around 240C). Meanwhile, spray a bit of oil onto a large baking tray and place your tortillas on top. Cut a garlic clove in half and then rub the cut side of the garlic all over the tortillas along with another spray of oil – this gives the pizza extra flavour!
2. Spread the tomato puree across the tortilla, leaving a border to create your pizza crust. Scatter over the chilli flakes and cheese, then arrange your chosen toppings evenly over the base.
3. Pop your pizza in the oven for around 4-6 minutes, or until the cheese looks gooey and melted and the tortilla crusts are crisp and golden.
4. Remove your pizza from the oven and drizzle with olive oil, scatter some fresh basil and ENJOY!

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