10 Easy Mug Recipes to Make Dorm Life Delicious

When you’re away at college, it’s natural to experience cravings for a home-cooked meal. But if you live in a dorm, chances are, you don’t have access to an oven. You probably don’t even have a cooktop.

Turns out, you can whip up plenty with only a microwave and a mug! The next time you have a craving for “real” food rather than ramen, try one of these easy mug recipes. You’ll be the envy of your floor when the smell of your cooking wafts through the halls. 

1. Chicken Pot Pie in a Mug 

Does anything scream comfort food like chicken pot pie? If it’s a damp and rainy day, warm yourself up with this super simple microwave mug recipe. You only need six affordable ingredients to whip up this dish in a flash. If you’ve treated yourself to a rotisserie chicken, this meal offers the perfect way to use up the leftover bits of dark meat clinging to the bones. Hey, when you’re on a college student’s budget, it’s waste not, want not! 

2. Macaroni and Cheese

Craving a hot cup of comfort — literally? Nearly everyone adores mac and cheese! You don’t need many ingredients for this easy dorm room cooking recipe. Plus, if you follow a strict vegan meal plan, you can substitute cashew cheese for the cheddar. If you want a heartier meal with more protein, opt for chickpea or lentil pasta instead of the white flour variety. 

3. Vegan Tofu Scramble

Just because you choose a cruelty-free lifestyle, that doesn’t mean you need to give up pure deliciousness. This hearty tofu scramble combines the goodness of soy and nutritional yeast for a protein punch no animals die to provide. Plus, nutritional yeast contains vitamin B-12, a nutrient many vegans develop deficiencies in because it occurs primarily in animal products. 

4. Gluten-Free Egg Fried Rice 

Are you feeling like Chinese food, but you lack the money for takeout? Not a problem! This dorm room cooking recipe is terrific if you have celiac disease or any condition that makes you sensitive to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, and it can cause severe gastrointestinal distress in some people. Your room will smell like you’ve died and been reborn in Chinatown. 

5. Scrambled Eggs in a Mug 

What’s for breakfast? Who says you don’t have time to fuel your hectic morning with filling protein? The best part is that you only need three ingredients to whip up this mug-based deliciousness. You’ll be the envy of everyone trying to stay awake through a three-hour physics lecture on coffee alone. 

6. Coffee Mug Chilaquiles 

Are you craving some south-of-the-border spice in your life? If you have some leftover tortilla chips on the verge of going stale, resurrect them with this delicious dorm room recipe. You can choose to make the sauce as fiery or as mild as you like. If you can locate one, try adding a Manzano pepper to the mix. This variety grows only at particular altitudes, but it has a sweet and spicy flavor that’s milder than a habanero. 

7. Veggie and Cheese Breakfast in a Mug 

You know that you benefit from eating more vegetables, but making a salad every day in the cafeteria gets boring. Add some spinach and tomato to your morning meal with this recipe. You’ll also get beta carotene from the red pepper, and if you enjoy the flavor, you can toss in some purple onion for additional phytonutrients. 

8. Sponge Mug Cake 

Who doesn’t love dessert? It’s even sweeter when you can throw it together in less than five minutes in the microwave. This fluffy cake tastes scrumptious enough alone, but you can top it with berries or bananas to get more fruit in your diet, too. 

9. Single-Serving Apple Crisp 

Are you feeling homesick for your mom’s or grandma’s baking? You might not be able to replicate her Dutch apple pie, but you can create a reasonable facsimile with this dorm room recipe. Since it’s a single-serve portion, you don’t have to share the deliciousness with anyone else if you don’t want. However, if you’re feeling generous, you can double the recipe and treat your roommate, too. 

10. Brownie in a Mug 

Sometimes, chocolate and nothing but chocolate will hit the spot. If you’ve got a desire, go ahead and indulge it with this recipe. Chocolate not only tastes fantastic, but it also contains antioxidants that fight disease-causing free radicals in your body. You’re not caving to cravings — you’re benefiting your health! 

Enjoy These Easy Mug Recipes

Even though you lack a kitchen, you don’t have to resign yourself to takeout and pizza slices. Comfort food is a part of self-care in college — you deserve a delicious and simple treat sometimes. Whip up any of these easy microwave mug recipes from the comfort of your dorm room — and enjoy.