Between tuition, textbooks, and rent, grocery budgets get squeezed fast. College student schedules are packed with back-to-back classes, part-time jobs and the occasional all-nighter. It’s easy to make eating well fall to the bottom of your priority list.
Being a broke college student is not an excuse to treat your body as an afterthought. What you eat affects how you study, how you sleep, and how you feel. And you don’t need much to do it right!
Below are four budget-friendly meals made with ingredients you can find down the road at the beloved Atchison Walmart. Each meal can be made for under $20, and they’re real food- protein, vegetables, whole ingredients. Spend more time cooking and prioritizing health, and less time in the Taco Bell drive-thru line.
- Chicken Caesar Wrap
Crispy romaine, creamy Caesar dressing, and tender chicken rolled in a flour tortilla. It tastes like something from a café — and comes together in under 15 minutes.
Ingredients: flour tortillas, rotisserie chicken, Caesar dressing, parmesan cheese, croutons.
Pro tip: Rotisserie chicken from the deli gives you twice the meat for the price of raw breasts — use the leftovers in the fried rice.
- Stuffed Bell Peppers
Halved bell peppers loaded with seasoned ground beef, rice, and melted cheese. They look impressive, reheat perfectly, and are among the most filling things you can make for the price.
Ingredients: bell peppers (4 pack), ground beef (one pound), white rice, canned diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, garlic powder and cumin (optional)
- Sweet Potato Beef Bowl
Roasted sweet potato cubes meet seasoned ground beef over a bed of rice or quinoa, finished with sriracha or soy sauce. Optional additions include a dollop of cottage cheese, avocado, and a drizzle of honey.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, ground beef (one pound), cottage cheese, avocado, siracha, olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.
- Easy Chicken Fried Rice
The classic late-night fix. Day-old rice, scrambled eggs, frozen veggies, and chicken come together in one pan with soy sauce and sesame oil. Better than takeout, ready in 20 minutes.
Ingredients: cooked rice (day-old), rotisserie chicken, frozen peas and carrots, scrambles eggs (x3), soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder
Pro tip: Day-old rice is the secret- fresh rice gets mushy. Cook a big pot the night before and refrigerate it or use leftover rice from another recipe!
