8 cheap recipes every student should know

Living away from your parents for the first time can be a real eye-opener, especially if you’re used to them making your tea every night.

So we wanted to help you start uni life with a few simple, straightforward and - crucially - affordable meal options, that even a novice cook can get their head round in no time.

1. Spaghetti bolognese

A spag bol is a classic for a reason. 

Just bung some minced beef (or lentils) in a pan with some tinned tomatoes and herbs, and boil up some spaghetti in hot water, and you’ve got a tasty meal ready to go.

You can even make a bit more than you need and bung it in the freezer, so you have a quick tea on hand whenever you need it.

2. Curry

Instead of forking out for an expensive ready meal or an unhealthy jar of curry sauce, why not make your own?

You can make a simple curry sauce by adding a few spoonfuls of curry powder to a carton of passata or tinned tomatoes.

Add some cooked chicken chunks and/or some vegetables and you’ve got a tasty, spicy meal ready to eat.

3. Chicken stir fry

A stir fry is a great option if you’ve got some veg that’s about to go off that you don’t want to waste, or some frozen veg in the freezer.

Just heat in up in a pan with some oil and some soy sauce, along with some chicken, and serve with noodles.

4. Mac 'n' cheese

Making a cheese sauce from scratch can sometimes be a bit of a hassle, but we’ve got a great cheat for you - use a tin of soup instead.

It’s cheap, simple and no less tasty.

Heat it up, stir it into some boiled pasta, add some grated cheese and it’s done.

And if you want to liven it up, just add any leftovers you’ve got hanging around like unused veg and chicken.

5. Rice bowls

Cook a batch of rice and add toppings such as leftover or frozen veg that’s been cooked up, a fried or boiled egg or a bit of soy sauce.

It’s a great option if you’re short on time and ideal for putting in your lunchbox.

6. Vegetable soup

Make your own hearty soup by boiling up some carrots, potatoes and any veg that you might be thinking of chucking out and let it simmer until it softens.

Add a sprinkle of coriander and once everything is soft, blitz with a hand blender or food processor until smooth.

7. Fajitas

Fry up some chicken with sliced peppers, onions and any other veg you’ve got in the fridge and add a little fajita seasoning.

Then you just need to spoon the mix into a tortilla wrap and add some grated cheese and hot sauce.

8. Eggy bread

Soak some bread in a whisked egg and pop it on a frying pan with a drop of oil.

Fry it until it turns golden on both sides and either eat it on its own or with some baked beans.

Base meals around cheap staples

You don't need loads of fancy ingredients to make tasty meals. 

Cheap, long-lasting kitchen staples like pasta, rice and tinned tomatoes can form the basis of countless meals.

And they can be a life-saver towards the end of month when money’s running short.

Check out our list of 12 ingredients you need in your kitchen to make sure you’re stocked up with the right things.

It’s also well worth checking out our tips on how to save money on food at university.