41 Easy College Dorm Room-Friendly Vegan Recipes (2024)

41 fantastic easy vegan recipes that are suitable for a college dorm room! Minimal tools required while full of flavor and nutrients, these are the kind of recipes that are doable in a dorm room with a full day of classes. We've got a wide variety, including flavored waters, breakfast ideas including a latte, snack & dessert options, lunches/dinners, even a seasoning mix! All are vegan and some are gluten-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free. Provided by a variety of food bloggers from around the world.

41 Easy College Dorm Room-Friendly Vegan Recipes (1)

Nutritious vegan options are becoming more prevalent in college dining halls - yay! Still, it's not necessarily a wide variety of options available day to day, so I called on some of my fellow food bloggers to help me compile a resource for you college students to help you discover what you can cook on your own. That's right, in your dorm room! A special thank you to each of these wonderful contributors.

All of these recipes can be made with just the following appliances:

  • a mini-fridge
  • a microwave
  • coffee maker, milk frother

It would also be a good idea to have the following basics:

  • bowl
  • dish
  • cup
  • utensils
  • jar with a lid or other storage container
  • cutting board and knife (if not allowed, use one in the dorm kitchen or buy already-chopped fruit & veg from the dining hall)

Where to Find Ingredients

  • See what you can bring back to your room from the dining halls. Remember the on-campus market, too, where you can also (usually) use your dining card.
  • Most college towns have a farmers market nearby, which can add much-desired variety to your diet, even with a small amount of cash. And you get to support local, hard-working farmers! You can't beat the quality found at most markets, with their fresh-picked selections.
  • Check out the nearby grocery store. Some schools even have a shuttle that will take you on the weekends.
  • Try growing a few herbs on your windowsill! It's easy and adds so much to your dish. Think fresh mint in your water, basil in your salad.

Go solo or buddy system

Your roommate or someone else in your hall might want to go in on some groceries and use these recipes, too! They're bound to find something they like on this long list, whether or not they consider themselves "vegan." You'll be doing them a favor, introducing them to some delicious and nutritious food. More brain power for school! You could even start a group dinner club, with each person making a recipe from the list and eating them together, discovering your favorites. Have fun!

41 Easy Vegan College Dorm Room Recipes

compiled by Beautiful Ingredient

Flavored Water

Lemon Mint Flavored Water by Beautiful Ingredient

Cherry Vanilla Flavored Water by Beautiful Ingredient

Breakfast

Homemade Vegan Caramel Latte by Beautiful Ingredient

Vegan Caramel Steamer by Beautiful Ingredient

Quick Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal by Veggie Primer

Homemade Instant Oatmeal, 4 Flavors! by Veganosity

Almond Joy Chia Pudding by Dianne's Vegan Kitchen

Chocolate Chia Pudding by Yummy Mummy Kitchen

Pink Dragon Fruit Chia Pudding by Beautiful Ingredient

Tropical Chia Pudding by Beautiful Ingredient

Mini Microwave French Toast by Strength & Sunshine

Snacks & Desserts

Vegan Peanut Butter Microwave Mug Cake (3 Ingredients) by Rhian's Recipes

Cookie Dough Protein Balls by V Nutrition & Wellness

Peanut Butter Chocolate Coconut Bites (no bake) by Delightful Adventures

Pistachio Chocolate Banana Sushi by The Petite Cook

Tahini Bon Bons by Fried Dandelions

Healthy Black Forest Bon Bons (gluten-free) by Sunnyside Hanne

Peach and Black Bean Salsa by Cadry's Kitchen

Mango Salsa by Beautiful Ingredient

Vegan Ceviche with Hearts of Palm by Cadry's Kitchen

Creamy Avocado Hummusby Yumsome

Favorite Guacamole by Beautiful Ingredient

Lunch or Dinner

Sandwiches & Salads

Veggie Wrap with Apples & Spicy Hummus by Veggie Inspired

Quick & Easy White Bean Salad (salad or sandwich) by Veggie Inspired

Apple Walnut Chickpea Salad (salad or sandwich) by Where You Get Your Protein

Vegan Tuna Salad (salad or sandwich) by Veggies Save the Day

Chickpea Salad with Jalapeño Relish (salad or sandwich) by Beautiful Ingredient

Avocado Chickpea Lettuce Cupsby Tasting Page

Cannellini Bean Salad with Basil & Sun-Dried Tomatoes by Food Pleasure & Health

Simple Black-Eyed Pea Salad by Delightful Adventures

Black Bean Mango Salad by Dianne's Vegan Kitchen

Healthy Vegan Greek Salad by Yummy Mummy Kitchen

White Bean Cherry Tomato Basil Salad by Veggies Save the Day

Balsamic Bean Salad by Fried Dandelions

Simple Vegan Panzanella by Yumsome

Avocado Artichoke Lentil Salad by Tasting Page

Soup

Mason Jar Miso Soup by Sunnyside Hanne

Summer Rolls

by Beautiful Ingredient

Comfort Food

Microwave Mac & Cheese for One (gluten-free) by Strength & Sunshine

5 Minute Easy Vegan Tacos by Happy Kitchen. Rocks

Seasoning

Smoky Hemp Heart Seasoning Mix by Beautiful Ingredient

Hungry for more?

Check out this Make-Ahead Chia Pudding recipe and info on The College Vegan Cookbook by Heather Nicholds.

41 Easy College Dorm Room-Friendly Vegan Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook for yourself in college dorm? ›

You'll want to choose recipes that are simple and easy to prepare, minimize clean up, and include as many nutrient-dense foods as possible. Thankfully, microwave cooking is perfect for all of that! For example, make instant ramen in the microwave and add frozen carrots and peas to the broth to bulk up the veggies.

How to be vegan in college? ›

Stock up on vegan-friendly snacks and staple foods.

For instance, some basic vegan items include oatmeal, plant-based milk, nut butters, canned beans, crackers, bread, hummus, fruits, and veggies. Keep easy, dorm-friendly recipes on hand when you want a quick meal.

What do picky vegans eat? ›

36 Easy Vegan Dinner Ideas That Even Picky Eaters Will Love
  • 01 of 36. Spiced Rice With Crispy Chickpeas. ...
  • 02 of 36. Fish-Free Ceviche. ...
  • 03 of 36. Slow Cooker Black Bean Posole. ...
  • 04 of 36. Tofu Asada With Caramelized Onion Refried Beans. ...
  • 05 of 36. Vegetarian BLT With Shiitake Bacon. ...
  • 06 of 36. Chickpea Salad Sandwich. ...
  • 07 of 36. ...
  • 08 of 36.
Mar 15, 2024

What are good foods to have in a dorm? ›

14 Dorm Food Essentials I'm Stocking in My Room This Fall
  • Greek Yogurt. Single-serving yogurt cups are easy to store in your fridge and eat without needing to dirty a dish. ...
  • Granola. ...
  • Baby Carrots. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Apples. ...
  • Nut Butter. ...
  • Protein Bars. ...
  • Ready-Made Salads.
Aug 21, 2023

Why are air fryers not allowed in dorms? ›

An air fryer might seem like a great tool to take to college and pop in your dorm, especially if you're someone who loves to snack and cook, but the truth is most dorms actually ban air fryers due to the fire risk.

Are rice cookers allowed in dorms? ›

Anything with a heating device is not needed or allowed inside the dorms. So leave the rice cookers, crock pots and hot plates at home where someone else can use them (safely).

Can anyone be 100% vegan? ›

And that's only the dietary component of veganism. “The thing is, despite strict vegans' understandable frustration with meat eaters, no one is completely vegan. It's just not possible to live in this world and entirely avoid causing animals to suffer.”

How to go 100% vegan? ›

Slowly cut out animal products, starting with the easiest and leaving barrier foods to the end. Slowly lessen your consumption of animal products while simultaneously increasing the number of plant-based foods in your diet. Continue until you've eliminated all animal products from your diet.

Which foods are surprisingly vegan? ›

Top 10 surprising vegan foods
  • Crumpets. This might be an obvious one to some, but a quick poll with our vegan and dairy-free friends shows many mistakenly believe crumpets contained dairy. ...
  • Dark chocolate. Chocoholics assemble! ...
  • Cream crackers. ...
  • (Some) biscuits. ...
  • (Some) crisps. ...
  • Ice Cream. ...
  • Pasta. ...
  • Peanut butter.

What is surprisingly not vegan? ›

Beer and Wine

Isinglass, a gelatin-based substance derived from fish, is used as a clarifying agent in some beer and wine. Other non-vegan ingredients sometimes used are casein (from milk) and egg whites.

What are vegans most deficient in? ›

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

How to eat healthy in a dorm room? ›

Here are a few tips to identify the healthiest choices and customize your meals to meet your nutrition needs:
  1. Choose grilled meats over fried.
  2. Add a side salad to meals.
  3. Keep portions in check. ...
  4. Try to eat the rainbow at the salad bar by choosing as many colorful veggies as possible.
Mar 7, 2024

What is the most common food college students eat? ›

Dish Preference – College Students:
  • Tacos.
  • Pasta.
  • Hand-helds (sandwiches, wraps, etc)
  • Stir fry.
  • Power bowls/salads.
  • Soup.
  • Chili/stew.
  • Curry.

How to cook in college without a kitchen? ›

Here are a few ideas to help you make easy dorm meals without a kitchen.
  1. Eat foods that don't need heat. ...
  2. Make blender meals. ...
  3. Explore Keurig cooking. ...
  4. Invest in a microwave.
Jul 9, 2021

Do college students cook their own food? ›

For college students, cooking a fresh meal is not necessarily a top priority. Convenience and cost are usually the first two factors that dictate what the next meal will be. Since most universities require that students have meal plans, many naturally gravitate toward the dining hall.

How do you meal prep in a dorm? ›

How to Meal Prep: 5 Essential Tips for Students
  1. Organize Your Groceries. After you've done your grocery shopping or had your groceries delivered, organize your groceries and put them in the refrigerator. ...
  2. Plan Ahead. ...
  3. Use Clear Containers or Baggies. ...
  4. Use the Same Meat in Different Recipes. ...
  5. Always Have Staple Foods on Hand.

How to cook while in college? ›

You can make whatever you want, but don't. Instead, cook simply and frequently. Lean on lunch and dinner formats like pasta; roasted meat, fish, or vegetables; hearty salads; rice bowls; stir-fry; and pita pizzas. For breakfast, stick with standards like eggs and toast, yogurt and fruit, and oatmeal.

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