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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.

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.

Zaru Soba (Cold Soba Noodles) ざるそば

4.75 from 117 votes
An oval shape plate containing Pan-Fried Curry Chicken garnished with lettuce.

Pan-Fried Curry Chicken (Video)

5 from 7 votes
A wooden bowl containing tomato egg vermicelli soup garnished with green onion.

Tomato Egg Vermicelli Soup (Video)

5 from 4 votes
A white scalloped plate containing stir-fried Butter Ponzu beef with komatsuna green and maitake mushrooms.

Butter Ponzu Beef (Video)

5 from 9 votes
A white plate containing Honey Gochujang Chicken sprinkled with sesame chicken served on green salad.

Honey Gochujang Chicken (Video)

5 from 9 votes
Wooden soup bowls containing Spinach and Mushroom Miso Soup.

Spinach and Mushroom Miso Soup ほうれん草と椎茸の味噌汁

5 from 2 votes
A large shallow bowl containing multi-grain rice and Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry.

Chicken Bok Choy Stir Fry (Video)

4.67 from 6 votes
An oval plate with scalloped edge containing Pork and Eggplant Stir Fry served with multigrain rice and miso soup.

Easy Pork and Eggplant Stir Fry (Video) 豚と茄子の炒め物

5 from 2 votes
Lacquerer miso soup bowls containing Kale Daikon Miso Soup.

Kale Daikon Miso Soup

5 from 1 vote
A round shallow bowl containing a bed of steamed rice and Hayashi Rice.

Easy Hayashi Rice (Video)

5 from 4 votes
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 Chicken Yakisoba チキン焼きそば

5 from 1 vote
An oval plate containing Chicken Stir-fry with Garlic Chives served on the table along with tea pot and small plates.

Chicken Stir-fry with Garlic Chives (Video)

5 from 4 votes
A bowl containing ahi tuna and salmon poke along with edamame, avocado, sushi ginger, and radish over bed of steamed rice.

Poke Bowl Recipe

4.78 from 61 votes
Wooden bowls filled with Pork Tofu Soup, served alongside steamed rice and a chicken dish on the table.

Pork Tofu Soup (Video)

4.25 from 4 votes
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)

5 from 2 votes
A light wooden bowl containing Spicy Pork and Bean Sprout Miso Soup sprinkled with ground sesame seeds.

Spicy Pork and Bean Sprout Miso Soup (Video)

5 from 5 votes
Yaki Udon (Japanese Stir-Fried Udon Noodles) being pulled out with chopsticks.

Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon Noodles) (Video) 焼きうどん

4.68 from 178 votes
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)

5 from 3 votes
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.

Udon Noodle Soup (Kake Udon) (Video) かけうどん

4.67 from 93 votes
A bowl containing Chicken Teriyaki glazed with homemade teriyaki sauce on the bed of steamed rice.

Chicken Teriyaki (Video) チキン照り焼き

4.76 from 380 votes
Donburi rice bowls containing gyudon, simmered beef and onions over steamed rice.

Gyudon (Japanese Beef Rice Bowl) (Video) 牛丼

4.74 from 505 votes
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.

Sukiyaki Don すき焼き丼

5 from 4 votes
A round bowl containing Niku Miso, a savory Japanese ground pork dish seasoned with miso, mirin, and aromatics.

Easy Niku Miso (Video)

5 from 6 votes
White scalloped plates containing negiyaki, a savory Japanese scallion pancake.

Negiyaki (Japanese Scallion Pancake) (Video) ねぎ焼き

5 from 4 votes
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 Udon Noodle Soup (Video)

5 from 2 votes
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 Mapo Tofu (Video)

5 from 5 votes
Chopsticks pulling noodles from a black bowl containing Soba Noodle Salad topped with sesame seeds and chopped cilantro and green onions.

Soba Noodle Salad (Video) 蕎麦サラダ

4.75 from 209 votes
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 Miso Soup (Video)

5 from 3 votes
A black round plate containing metaiko pasta - Japanese spaghetti with spicy salted cod roe topped with julienned shiso and shredded nori seaweed.

Easy Mentaiko Pasta (Video)

4.34 from 3 votes
A round plate containing Japanese chicken curry over steamed rice, garnished with fukujinzuke pickles.

Easy Japanese Curry (Video)

4.75 from 4 votes
A Japanese ceramic bowl containing Oyakodon, a chicken and egg rice bowl dish garnish with green onion.

Easy Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Bowl) (Video)

4.88 from 8 votes
An olive colored oval plate containing Yaki Udon, Japanese stir-fried udon noodles with chicken and vegetables.

Easy Yaki Udon (Video)

5 from 4 votes
An oval plate containing Napolitan (Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti).

Easy Napolitan (Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti) (Video)

5 from 1 vote
A white ramen bowl containing Korean ramen (ramyeon), topped with soft-cooked egg, kimchi, and green onions.

10 Minute Meal – Instant Ramen Recipe (Video)

4.67 from 3 votes
A plate containing butter shoyu chicken, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Butter Shoyu Chicken バター醤油チキン

4.78 from 166 votes
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

4.76 from 235 votes
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

4.74 from 46 votes
White ceramic bowls containing Cabbage and Onsen Tamago Miso Soup topped with green onions and shichimi togarashi.

Cabbage and Onsen Tamago Miso Soup

4.70 from 10 votes
A donburi bowl containing a Japanese grilled rice ball in a flavorful dashi broth, topped with green onions and furikake rice seasoning.

Yaki Onigiri Chazuke (Grilled Rice Ball Soup) 焼きおにぎり茶漬け

5 from 6 votes
Japanese miso soup bowls containing tofu and wakame miso soup.

Homemade Miso Soup (Video) 味噌汁

4.85 from 584 votes
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

4.88 from 115 votes
A fluted plate containing Yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles).

Yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles)(Video) 焼きそば

4.81 from 413 votes
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

4.82 from 397 votes
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.

Yakiniku Don (Japanese Grilled Beef Bowl) 焼肉丼

5 from 3 votes
A white plate containing Stir-Fried Garlic Chives and Egg Over Rice.

Niratama Donburi (Garlic Chives and Egg Over Rice) (Video) ニラ玉

4.82 from 32 votes
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

4.82 from 223 votes
A white bowl containing Shiso Pesto Pasta garnished with shaved Parmesan cheese and shiso leaves.

Shiso Pesto Pasta (Video) 大葉ジェノベーゼパスタ

4.67 from 9 votes
The wooden table with bowls and plates containing Asian Pulled Pork Taco ingredients.

Instant Pot Asian Pulled Pork (Tacos and Rice Bowls)

4.86 from 90 votes
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