Living in a dorm room is limiting enough when it comes to preparing inexpensive and nutritious food, but living in a dorm room on a vegan diet can be even more challenging. While everyone else is heating up microwave pizza and mac and cheese, you’re stuck living off vegan snacks that don’t fill you up as much as a hearty meal would. However, with just a few pantry ingredients and access to a stove, you can whip up some seriously delicious vegan dishes that don’t cost much but will keep you satisfied hours after the microwave pizza eaters are scrounging for their next meal.
If you’re struggling to find vegan-friendly breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even desserts, use our guide for 16 cheap vegan recipes for college students to find your favorite dorm room dishes, all of which can be ready to go in less than 30 minutes.
15 Minute Soy Peanut Noodles
Credit: thecookreport.co.uk
This tasty noodle dish comes together in just 15 minutes using ingredients you probably already have on hand.
15 minutes
400 calories
Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: 15 Minute Soy Peanut Noodles.
Crispy Tortilla Pizza
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Pizza is a standard when it comes to a college dorm room diet, but yours doesn’t have to be a greasy or unhealthy one. This tortilla pizza comes together in just a few minutes using inexpensive but flavorful ingredients.
25 minutes 290 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Crispy Tortilla Pizza.
5-Minute Tomato Basil Pantry Soup with Garlic Croutons
Credit: momsdinner.net
Fry up a few grilled cheese sandwiches to go with this velvety tomato soup that’s entirely made up of pantry ingredients.
5 minutes 180 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: 5-Minute Tomato Basil Pantry Soup with Garlic Croutons.
Fresh Mango Coconut Chia Seed Parfait
Credit: vegetariangastronomy.com
This fresh fruit parfait can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert, and requires no baking.
15 minutes 300 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Fresh Mango Coconut Chia Seed Parfait.
2-Ingredient Banana Egg Pancakes
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Cooking up nutritious, fluffy pancakes doesn’t require a laundry list of ingredients. As long as you have eggs, bananas, and a saute pan, you’ve got an impressive breakfast.
10 minutes 230 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: 2-Ingredient Banana Egg Pancakes.
Easy Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Credit: www.acouplecooks.com
This nutritious sandwich is incredibly versatile, so feel free to add any toppings you’d like to complete this satisfying meal.
10 minutes 384 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Easy Chickpea Salad Sandwich.
Rice and Beans
Credit: www.fullofbeans.us
This dish is ideal for the college student who wants to stick to a budget without sacrificing flavor. Spice up your rice and beans with sriracha and soy sauce and throw in a side of sauteed broccoli or bok choy for a well-rounded and beyond simple dish.
5 minutes 150 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Rice and Beans.
Vegan Ramen
Credit: www.theedgyveg.com
Ramen is a dorm room staple, but if you’ve got the creativity and a few additional ingredients, you can dress yours up. This ramen omits the flavor packet and uses a spicy almond butter sauce for a delicious twist.
5 minutes 250 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Vegan Ramen.
Healthy Dorm Room Microwave Pasta
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This healthy pasta only requires four ingredients, a microwave, and a microwave-safe pasta maker. Add in some greens for some added nutrients, or enjoy that filling bowl of noodles all on their own.
10 minutes 160 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Healthy Dorm Room Microwave Pasta.
Better Than Chipotle Veggie Bowl
Credit: modestdish.com
Just four steps is all that stands between you and a veggie bowl that tastes great and is actually good for you.
20 minutes 380 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Better Than Chipotle Veggie Bowl.
Vegan Grilled Hummus Burgers and Sweet Potatoes
Credit: modestdish.com
Rather than spreading hummus on a burger and calling it a hummus burger, this recipe thickens hummus so that it can be grilled as its own solid, thick burger. Use the garnishes of your choice and grill the sweet potatoes as a flavorful, crispy side dish.
20 minutes 350 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Vegan Grilled Hummus Burgers and Sweet Potatoes.
Quick Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal
Credit: veggieprimer.com
This chocolatey oatmeal goes far beyond the oatmeal bar in the dining hall. Topped with chocolate, sweet cherries, and cooked banana, you can enjoy this satisfying bowl of oatmeal without any guilt.
10 minutes 290 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Quick Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal.
Mini Microwave French Toast
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If all you’ve got access to is a microwave in your dorm room, you can still make a great plate of French toast that tastes like the traditional version without the saute pan or a mess to clean up.
2 minutes 120 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Mini Microwave French Toast.
Vegan Peanut Butter Microwave Mug Cake
Credit: www.rhianrecipes.com
Free from refined sugar, this mug cake is a healthy treat you can easily heat up if you’re craving something sweet.
5 minutes 330 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Vegan Peanut Butter Microwave Mug Cake.
Vegan Hummus, Ricotta, Kale, and Spinach Wrap
Credit: www.veganosity.com
Hummus is great to keep in a dorm room refrigerator – it’s loaded with savory spices, clean protein, and has a creamy texture that is great in a wrap, on a sandwich, or just spread on a cracker. This wrap is loaded with nutritious veggies and comes together with a creamy hummus for a quick and delicious meal.
5 minutes 115 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Vegan Hummus, Ricotta, Kale, and Spinach Wrap.
Simple Vegan Panzanella
Credit: www.yumsome.com
Impress your dorm mates with this healthy salad that’s easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients.
10 minutes 205 calories Easy
Vegan
Visit the page to learn more: Simple Vegan Panzanella.
