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It can be hard to come back to school after a Thanksgiving filled with amazing friends, family, and delicious food. There’s nothing that can quite match a home-cooked meal, and sometimes cafe food (or Baguette and Taco Bell) just doesn’t quite cut it.

As finals season approaches, it’s easy to fall back on Pop-Tarts and Cheetos while hunkering down over class notes in an increasingly messy room. Luckily, there are some quick and inventive ways to craft meals right in your dorm (or in the dorm kitchen, if you’re feeling adventurous). They may not quite measure up to Thanksgiving dinner, but they’re great ways to eat something fulfilling and fueling without having to venture out into the cold winter weather.

Breakfast can be a hard meal to motivate yourself to make, but when studying for tests or gearing up for projects, it may be one of the most important components of your day. Thankfully, there are a lot of fun, accessible options available.

Yogurt and Granola
The Gazebo offers some quick and easy granola/yogurt combos, but this particular dish provides a lot of opportunity for variety. Combine your favorite flavor of yogurt with a granola of your choice (my favorite types have chocolate chips in them), and add in some sliced fruit for a great way to start your morning.

Cinnamon Maple Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
As an alternative to cereal or oatmeal, offers a simple, microwave-made breakfast bowl. It’s made out of quinoa, cinnamon, butter, milk, maple syrup and banana slices, and only takes about ten minutes total to make.

Breakfast Wrap
If you’ve ever been inspired to make your own breakfast burrito or wrap, has created an easy, low-carb and low-fat option. This particular recipe will require a stove, so the dorm kitchen might be the best place to make this one, but all it requires is a tortilla, milk, eggs, bell pepper and sour cream.

Noodles! If you’re lucky enough to have a stove, or if you’re up for using the dorm kitchen, pasta (of all kinds) is a great dish to share with friends. Cooking pasta is a great way to take a break from your studies and it’s not difficult to throw together in a short amount of time.

Ramen
Yes, ramen is a pretty generic dorm food, but there are a lot of fun ways to spice it up and make it a meal. Add in some egg, seaweed, green onion, peas and/or mushrooms (or other vegetables that sound good), and it becomes filling and much more flavorful. has a great post that lists different things you can add to your ramen to add that extra flourish.

Udon
The New Berrien Springs Oriental Supermarket sells varieties of (chewy, Japanese noodles served in a broth). Both filling and delicious, they are easy to cook when found in their pre-packaged form. They have a similar serving style to Ramen, and can be flourished and flavored in a variety of ways.

Mac n’ Cheese
Mac n’ cheese is one of my favorite dishes, so I might be a bit biased, but thanks to that fact, I’ve found many ways to make it in my dorm. If you’re needing a quick meal, microwavable cups can be found at the Gazebo. Alternatively, boxed noodles can be boiled in the microwave if you’re pressed for time, (though they are best cooked over the stove). You can also cook the noodles with real cheese and add in a bit of mustard for some extra flavor.

Rice dishes are a great way to introduce variety to a simple recipe. Whether you have a rice cooker or not (you can buy varieties of microwavable instant rice on ), there’s an array of ways to enjoy a rice-based meal. You can use it as a base or side for a main dish, or can utilize it as the main component of your dinner. Either way, it makes for a fulfilling meal.

Rice Bowls
has compiled a great list of different types of rice bowls, each with a different flavor profile, depending on your mood. They don’t all have to be fancy (I recommend stocking up on some extra vegetables from the cafeteria if you’re ever taking out a meal and using them here). Adding some seaweed, furikake (rice seasoning), vegetables, egg and tofu to your rice can make for the perfect stay-in supper.

Mug recipes can be made with just your coffee mug and a microwave, making them incredibly convenient if you’re wanting a full meal in a fraction of the time. There are hundreds of interesting recipes online, but I’ve compiled a few here that sounded intriguing to me.

Quiche
has a great recipe for a five minute spinach and cheddar microwave quiche. All it takes is some frozen spinach, egg, shredded cheddar, milk, salt and pepper, and you’re on your way.

Blueberry Muffin
This recipe from is a bit more complex, but if you’re down for doing some quick baking, you’ll need some flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, milk, vegetable oil, and blueberries. The streusel topping, which is made from butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon, makes this the perfect breakfast or snack treat.

Pizza
has crafted a unique pizza-in-a-mug. All it takes is some flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, olive oil, marinara sauce, and cheese. If you’re looking for a vegan option, has created just the thing for you.

There are times when the craving for something sweet hits, but there just isn’t enough time to bake a tray of cookies. These recipes provide some simple ways to reward yourself for a long night of studying or to give yourself an excuse to take a break to share with your friends.

Greek Yogurt Chocolate Truffles
The website has a great collection of healthy, tasty dorm food options. Their truffles are made out of greek yogurt, cocoa powder, skim milk, egg yolks and sweetener. Once rolled into balls and left in the fridge, they can be topped with sprinkles and chocolate chunks for the perfect after-dinner treat.

College Dorm Cookies
This is a vegan, no-bake option from . You’ll need some cooking oats, creamer, sugar, chocolate chips and peanut butter, and the cookies are made with a microwave and a fridge - something both simple and fun to share!

Microwave Rice Krispies Treats
has dozens of delicious foods to check out, but this particular recipe simply requires Rice Krispies Treats, marshmallows, butter and a microwave. They recommend topping with some chocolate chips, nuts, or a caramel drizzle to spice up the dessert.

Dorm life isn’t always the easiest, but it does provide the opportunity to try new things, including unconventional ways of cooking. I’d encourage you to try something new and to pull your friends into doing it with you (just don’t set off the fire alarm!) Study breaks are encouraged, and it helps if you have something delicious to show for your efforts. Happy cooking!