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Home » College Meals

Easy College Meal Recipes

Discover affordable and easy college meal recipes that require minimal time, tools, and ingredients. Try quick favorites like onigiri, tamago kake gohan, gyudon, yakisoba, and instant miso soup.

These simple meals are perfect for dorm living, late-night study sessions, or busy weekdays. Save time, stick to your budget, and still enjoy tasty, homemade Japanese food.

A round shallow bowl containing a bed of steamed rice and Hayashi Rice. A round shallow bowl containing a bed of steamed rice and Hayashi Rice.
Try this!
Easy Hayashi Rice (Video)

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All College Meals Recipes

  • Zaru soba and zaru cha soba (cold buckwheat noodles and green tea noodles) served on a bamboo mat with shredded nori on top. Dipping sauce, green onions, and wasabi are in the background.
    Easy
    Zaru Soba (Cold Soba Noodles) ざるそば
    117
    15 minutes
  • An oval shape plate containing Pan-Fried Curry Chicken garnished with lettuce.
    Easy
    Pan-Fried Curry Chicken (Video)
    8
    20 minutes
  • A wooden bowl containing tomato egg vermicelli soup garnished with green onion.
    Easy
    Tomato Egg Vermicelli Soup (Video)
    4
    15 minutes
  • A white scalloped plate containing stir-fried Butter Ponzu beef with komatsuna green and maitake mushrooms.
    Easy
    Butter Ponzu Beef (Video)
    9
    20 minutes
  • A white plate containing Honey Gochujang Chicken sprinkled with sesame chicken served on green salad.
    Honey Gochujang Chicken (Video)
    10
    20 minutes
  • Wooden soup bowls containing Spinach and Mushroom Miso Soup.
    Easy
    Spinach and Mushroom Miso Soup ほうれん草と椎茸の味噌汁
    2
    15 minutes
  • A large shallow bowl containing multi-grain rice and Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry.
    Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry (Video)
    6
    20 minutes
  • An oval plate with scalloped edge containing Pork and Eggplant Stir Fry served with multigrain rice and miso soup.
    Easy
    Easy Pork and Eggplant Stir Fry (Video) 豚と茄子の炒め物
    2
    20 minutes
  • Lacquerer miso soup bowls containing Kale Daikon Miso Soup.
    Easy
    Kale Daikon Miso Soup
    1
    20 minutes
  • A round shallow bowl containing a bed of steamed rice and Hayashi Rice.
    Easy Hayashi Rice (Video)
    4
    40 minutes
  • Delicious Chicken Yakisoba with tender, moist chicken thighs and crisp veggies in a sweet savory sauce plated on a beautiful white plate with blue scalloped edge.
    Easy
    Easy Chicken Yakisoba チキン焼きそば
    1
    20 minutes
  • An oval plate containing Chicken Stir-fry with Garlic Chives served on the table along with tea pot and small plates.
    Easy
    Chicken Stir-fry with Garlic Chives (Video)
    4
    20 minutes
  • A bowl containing ahi tuna and salmon poke along with edamame, avocado, sushi ginger, and radish over bed of steamed rice.
    Easy
    Poke Bowl Recipe
    61
    15 minutes
  • Wooden bowls filled with Pork Tofu Soup, served alongside steamed rice and a chicken dish on the table.
    Easy
    Pork Tofu Soup (Video)
    4
    15 minutes
  • An oval-shaped plate holds a comforting serving of Japanese cream stew, featuring tender chicken, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli in a rich, creamy white sauce. The stew is generously ladled over a bed of fluffy steamed rice, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
    Easy Cream Stew (Video)
    2
    40 minutes
  • A light wooden bowl containing Spicy Pork and Bean Sprout Miso Soup sprinkled with ground sesame seeds.
    Easy
    Spicy Pork and Bean Sprout Miso Soup (Video)
    5
    10 minutes
  • Yaki Udon (Japanese Stir-Fried Udon Noodles) being pulled out with chopsticks.
    Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles) (Video) 焼きうどん
    178
    25 minutes
  • A Japanese black mortar containing cut tomato wedges dressed in ground sesame ponzu seasoning, garnished with mitsuba leaves on top.
    Tomato Salad with Sesame Ponzu (Video)
    3
    5 minutes
  • Japanese bowls containing Classic Udon Noodle Soup called Kake Udon or Su Udon, topped with sliced green onion, onsen tamago (poached egg), and fish cake slices.
    Easy
    Udon Noodle Soup (Kake Udon) (Video) かけうどん
    93
    15 minutes
  • A bowl containing Chicken Teriyaki glazed with homemade teriyaki sauce on the bed of steamed rice.
    Easy
    Chicken Teriyaki (Video) チキン照り焼き
    380
    20 minutes
  • Donburi rice bowls containing gyudon, simmered beef and onions over steamed rice.
    Easy
    Gyudon (Japanese Beef Rice Bowl) (Video) 牛丼
    506
    20 minutes
  • A large ceramic donburi rice bowl containing Sukiyaki Don, thinly sliced beef, tofu, and vegetables simmered in a savory dashi soy broth and served over steamed rice.
    Easy
    Sukiyaki Don すき焼き丼
    4
    15 minutes
  • A round bowl containing Niku Miso, a savory Japanese ground pork dish seasoned with miso, mirin, and aromatics.
    Easy
    Easy Niku Miso (Video)
    6
    15 minutes
  • White scalloped plates containing negiyaki, a savory Japanese scallion pancake.
    Negiyaki (Japanese Scallion Pancake) (Video) ねぎ焼き
    4
    25 minutes
  • A large blue and white bowl containing udon noodle soup topped with fish cake, bok choy, fish cakes, and jammy soft boiled eggs in a savory dashi broth.
    Easy
    Easy Udon Noodle Soup (Video)
    2
    10 minutes
  • A donburi bowl containing mapo tofu over bed of steamed rice, served with a small bowl of miso soup and a glass of green tea.
    Easy
    Easy Mapo Tofu (Video)
    5
    15 minutes
  • Chopsticks pulling noodles from a black bowl containing Soba Noodle Salad topped with sesame seeds and chopped cilantro and green onions.
    Easy
    Soba Noodle Salad (Video) 蕎麦サラダ
    211
    15 minutes
  • A light-colored wooden tray containing a bowl of miso soup with soft tofu, wakame seaweed, and thinly sliced green onions, along with a bowl of steamed rice, a small plate of tamagoyaki, and a smalll side dish.
    Easy
    Easy Miso Soup (Video)
    3
    10 minutes
  • A black round plate containing metaiko pasta - Japanese spaghetti with spicy salted cod roe topped with julienned shiso and shredded nori seaweed.
    Easy
    Easy Mentaiko Pasta (Video)
    3
    13 minutes
  • A round plate containing Japanese chicken curry over steamed rice, garnished with fukujinzuke pickles.
    Easy
    Easy Japanese Curry (Video)
    4
    15 minutes
  • A Japanese ceramic bowl containing Oyakodon, a chicken and egg rice bowl dish garnish with green onion.
    Easy
    Easy Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Bowl) (Video)
    8
    15 minutes
  • An olive colored oval plate containing Yaki Udon, Japanese stir-fried udon noodles with chicken and vegetables.
    Easy
    Easy Yaki Udon (Video)
    4
    20 minutes
  • An oval plate containing Napolitan (Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti).
    Easy
    Easy Napolitan (Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti) (Video)
    1
    20 minutes
  • A white ramen bowl containing Korean ramen (ramyeon), topped with soft-cooked egg, kimchi, and green onions.
    Easy
    10 Minute Meal – Instant Ramen Recipe (Video)
    3
    8 minutes
  • A plate containing butter shoyu chicken, broccoli, and tomatoes.
    Butter Shoyu Chicken バター醤油チキン
    166
    30 minutes
  • An oval plate containing 3 pieces of Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) placed on a bamboo leaf.
    Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) (Video) おにぎり
    235
    1 hour
  • A white plate containing Japanese Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini.
    Japanese-style Shrimp and Broccolini Pasta 海老とブロッコリーニの和風パスタ
    46
    15 minutes
  • White ceramic bowls containing Cabbage and Onsen Tamago Miso Soup topped with green onions and shichimi togarashi.
    Easy
    Cabbage and Onsen Tamago Miso Soup
    10
    15 minutes
  • A donburi bowl containing a Japanese grilled rice ball in a flavorful dashi broth, topped with green onions and furikake rice seasoning.
    Easy
    Yaki Onigiri Chazuke (Grilled Rice Ball Soup) 焼きおにぎり茶漬け
    6
    10 minutes
  • Japanese miso soup bowls containing tofu and wakame miso soup.
    Easy
    Homemade Miso Soup (Video) 味噌汁
    585
    20 minutes
  • A white ceramic bowl containing Instant Pot Short Ribs with daikon and carrots pressure cooked in a savory sauce.
    Instant Pot Short Ribs (Video) 牛バラ肉と大根煮
    115
    1 hour 10 minutes
  • A fluted plate containing Yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles).
    Yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles)(Video) 焼きそば
    414
    30 minutes
  • A bowl of Vegetarian Ramen topped with ajitama (soy marinated egg), spicy bean sprouts, corn, and a green veggie.
    Vegetarian Ramen (Video) 豆乳味噌ラーメン
    397
    30 minutes
  • A Japanese donburi bowl containing Yakiniku Don, where pan-grilled well-marbled beef is coated with Japanese BBQ sauce and served over a bed of steamed rice.
    Easy
    Yakiniku Don (Japanese Grilled Beef Bowl) 焼肉丼
    3
    10 minutes
  • A white plate containing Stir-Fried Garlic Chives and Egg Over Rice.
    Easy
    Niratama Donburi (Garlic Chives and Egg Over Rice) (Video) ニラ玉
    32
    10 minutes
  • A fluted plate containing baked Tonkatsu drizzled with tonkatsu sauce, shredded cabbage, cucumber slices, and tomato wedges.
    Baked Tonkatsu (Video) 揚げないとんかつ
    223
    30 minutes
  • A white bowl containing Shiso Pesto Pasta garnished with shaved Parmesan cheese and shiso leaves.
    Easy
    Shiso Pesto Pasta (Video) 大葉ジェノベーゼパスタ
    9
    15 minutes
  • The wooden table with bowls and plates containing Asian Pulled Pork Taco ingredients.
    Instant Pot Asian Pulled Pork (Tacos and Rice Bowls)
    90
    1 hour 30 minutes
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