It’s that time of year again! Join Mahatma® Rice as we explore quick and easy rice recipes perfect for busy school days. From poke bowls and burritos to comforting chicken recipes, we’ve got delicious, time-saving meals that cater to all tastes. Our meal prep ideas and essential kitchen hacks will make cooking with rice a breeze this back-to-school season. So, come along for the ride as we dive into some of the best recipes for busy college kids.
Kitchen Hacks and Tools for Cooking in College
Let’s face it, whether you’re getting ready to go back to college this September or starting your freshman year, you’ve probably got enough on your plate without having to stress over college meals. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to get ahead of the game. With these simple cooking hacks you can make your back to school transition a smooth one.
- Planning: The secret to stress-free college meals is as simple as this. Draw up a meal plan for each day and get your ingredients together well in advance. Make sure to choose easy, time-saving meals that you can whip up in a flash. This is not a week to get experimental in the kitchen with elaborate dishes!
- Get the right equipment: Having time-saving kitchen devices such as an air fryer, blender, microwave, rice cooker, and/or pressure cooker, will ensure you have the tools you need to cook low-fuss meals. Remember: Make your meal plan according to the tools you have at your disposal.
- One pot recipes: Think about your favorite meals and research one pot recipes to make them. The less utensils you use the better. That way, you’ll save time on your post meal clean up.
- Find a like-minded dorm buddy to cook with: Scout your friends to see if any of them are as keen on wholesome home-cooked meals as you are. Make a cooking rota and divide up the work. Alternatively, find a cooking buddy and work together. After all, teamwork makes the dream work!
- Repurpose Leftovers: Check your meal plan to see which meals may leave you with opportunities for cooking with leftover ingredients. Rice leftovers after meals can be easily repurposed into dishes like egg-fried rice or refreshing rice salads.
- Cook with budget-friendly ingredients: Keep costs down by using grains as the base for your meals. When it comes to cooking with rice, the sky’s the limit!
- Stock up on containers: Having a variety of sizes at hand will allow you to take a wide range of packed lunches with you. Consider investing in a good-sized soup canister and thermos if you find yourself craving soups or smoothies.
On-the-Go Lunches
Taking a delicious packed lunch to school with you is a must in that all-important first week. This Greek Chicken and Turmeric Rice Burrito is delightfully portable. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s the perfect comfort food to sustain you on a busy day’s schooling. Alternatively, if you prefer seafood flavors in your burrito, try this 10-minute Shrimp Burrito.
Poke Bowl to Go
Poke Bowls are a great lunch option to take with you to school. Quick and easy to prepare, they’re packed with nutritious ingredients. Best of all, you can easily adapt them according to your tastes and preferences. For an easy poke bowl recipe that’s ready in just 20 minutes, try this Tuna Avocado Poke Bowl recipe.
Comforting Dinner Recipes in Minutes
So you’ve made it through the day and you’re craving something delicious and comforting to cap things off. How about this Creamy Mushroom Rice dish? Savory and scintillating, it’s guaranteed to hit the spot. What’s more, it only takes 20 minutes to make, leaving you plenty of time to catch up with classmates on all that’s been happening throughout the day.
Similarly, if you’re craving something scrumptious and meaty, why not try this Glazed Chicken and Yellow Rice? Made with Mahatma® Ready to Heat Yellow Rice, this rich and tasty chicken recipe will make you the envy of the whole dorm. Don’t be surprised if your roommates ask you for the recipe!
Finally, to add some variety to your weekly meal plan, how about bringing some seafood flavors to the mix? This California Sushi Bowl is bursting with flavor and couldn’t be easier to make. Showcasing oodles of classic sushi ingredients such as nori seaweed, cucumber, crab sticks, and Mahatma® Sticky Rice, it’s the ideal dish to round off the day.
Energy-Boosting Snacks
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Mealtime is still hours away and you find yourself craving something sweet to keep you energized in between. That’s where these Puffed Rice Chocolate Bars come in handy. Simple to prepare, sit back and let the oven do the work. Whip up a batch at the weekend and you’ll be well-stocked up on snacks for the week.
#Playwithyourfood
Now that you’ve got plenty of inspiration for delicious back to school meals, embrace the excitement of this special time of year. Your college years are something you’ll always look back on with fondness. Make the most of them. Live every moment and remember, Mahatma® Rice is always here to help when it comes time to cook!
