30-minute student meal plan
Going to uni and want to master the art of meal planning? Follow this 30-minute meal plan for seven days of meal inspiration, from pasta bakes to stir-fries.
Going to uni and never cooked before? These student recipes are a great way to get started with easy, cheap and filling dishes that are packed with flavour. The best part? All these dishes can be ready on the table in 30 minutes.
These quick and easy recipes are perfect for students – from flavour-packed tandoori skewers and filling pork stir-fries to cheesy pasta bakes – and any leftovers can be enjoyed for lunch the following day.
See our collection of student recipes for more meal inspiration. Check out our vegetarian student recipes for meat-free, budget-friendly ideas and our favourite healthy student meals for nutritious suppers.
Discover the best cookbooks for students, the best student kitchen essentials to take to university this year as well as our 10 cooking tips for students.
Take a browse through these quick dinner recipes and quick and healthy recipes for speedy meal inspiration.
You can also visit our budget hub for cost-effective meals, such as these budget salads, budget comfort food and budget 'superfood' swaps.
Find more cost-effective meal plans over at our meal plan hub.
Monday: Courgette, sausage & rigatoni bakes
Start the week with a warming bowl of cheesy pasta bake. This thrifty and comforting dinner is made with a punchy garlic and chilli spiked tomato sauce, then topped with mozzarella. This recipe requires just five minutes of your time, with the oven doing the rest of the work for you. This simple but flavour-packed dish is sure to earn a place in your dinner rotation.
Find more budget-friendly pasta recipes.
Tuesday: Tomatoes stuffed with pesto rice
Loaded with spinach, pesto rice and melting mozzarella, these stuffed tomatoes make a speedy veggie supper. This thrifty, five-ingredient recipe is all about cooking with minimum effort - it uses a pack of microwave rice as well as shop-bought pesto to cut corners. Perfect for a Tuesday night when you want dinner, fast!
Search more cheap weeknight dinner recipes.
Wednesday: Tomato & pasta soup
On Wednesday evening rustle up this simple, budget-friendly tomato, pasta and chickpea soup in just 30 minutes. This vibrant pasta soup looks impressive but it's deceptively easy to cook - perfect for impressing housemates. It's a trusty vegetarian meal to add to your repertoire, it's healthy and even low fat.
Find more easy pasta soup recipes.
Thursday: Teriyaki tofu with charred spring onions
Throw together this vegan teriyaki tofu with charred spring onions and wholegrain rice in just 30 minutes. It's easy-to-make and low in fat, plus it's a winner if you're looking to cook more vegan and vegetarian meals. Tailor-made for busy weeknights, we guarantee you'll want to cook this again and again.
See more of our tempeh recipes.
Friday: Pork noodle stir-fry
Friday night calls for something cheap, filling and cheerful, such as this pork noodle stir-fry. Try if for a flavour-packed dish that's ready on the table in 30 minutes. It's also a great way of adding in lots of crunchy veg - we used 2 x 160g bags of mangetout, baby sweetcorn, beansprouts, carrots and peppers, but the choice is yours.
Check out our collection of stir-fry recipes.
Saturday: Tandoori paneer skewers with mango salsa
Cook these colourful tandoori skewers for a fun and thrifty weekend meal - grill skewers of paneer cheese and veg, then serve with a fruity avocado salsa. It's fresh, zingy and flavour-packed, so it's perfect for impressing housemates and friends over the weekend. You can also serve with a few pouches of basmati rice to bulk it up.
Find more quick vegetarian recipes.
Sunday: Italian meatballs with orzo
On Sunday night, try adding a twist to classic spaghetti and meatballs with garlicky tomato sauce by using orzo pasta. Ready in 30 minutes, it's just the ticket when you're looking for a warming, end-of-the-week meal without the hassle.
If you like the look of this, you'll love of best orzo recipes.
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