Feel-Good Recipes for Really Bad Chefs
Living away from home at university and surviving on canned soup? Here are 9 easy recipes to dull the pain of missing mum's home-cooked food.
Updated 08 May 2019
Are you hankering for some home-cooked food while you’re away from home in college, but feel intimidated by the kitchen? Don’t despair — we’ve scoured the web for some student-friendly recipes for novice cooks!
#1. Cheesy spinach and ham omelette
Waking up in the morning will be so much easier with this cheese-filled savoury masterpiece only moments away from your mouth!
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp butter
- 2 cheese slices
- 1/4 cup baby spinach
- 1/4 cup finely chopped ham
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Beat eggs and water in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Heat butter in a pan over medium heat until hot. Make sure the pan is evenly coated.
- Pour in egg mixture ー the edges should set immediately.
- Gently push cooked portions from the edges toward the centre so that the uncooked eggs on top can flow down to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the surface of your eggs has thickened and no visible liquid egg remains, season with salt and pepper.
- Place cheese on one side of your omelette and top with spinach and ham. Fold omelette in half and slide onto a plate.
#2. Grilled chocolate, banana and peanut butter toastie
What better way to say good morning than with a hot and crispy sandwich brimming with chocolatey PB and B goodness. A triple threat!
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of bread
- 1 sliced banana
- 1 tsp butter
- Creamy peanut butter
- Nutella
Instructions:
- Spread Nutella on one slice of bread and peanut butter on the other.
- Place banana on either side of the bread before gently placing them together.
- Melt a teaspoon of butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Place the sandwich on a frying pan and fry the sandwich on both sides until golden brown.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
#3. Chilli chicken noodles
This Asian-inspired dish is as easy to cook as it is to wolf down in half the time it takes to make. No wok, no problem!
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
- 125g yellow noodles
- ½ tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
- 1 ½ garlic cloves
- ½ red chilli
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp chilli sauce
- 125g skinless and boneless chicken breast, cubed
- ½ tsp salt
- A pinch of pepper
Instructions:
- Cook yellow noodles according to packet instructions and set aside.
- Drizzle some oil into a pan and cook the chicken with salt, pepper and 5 spice until the meat is white all the way through. Take out and set aside.
- Fry the garlic and red chilli in the same pan for a few minutes before stirring in the chilli sauce and soy sauce.
- Add the chicken and noodles. Mix together for a couple of minutes.
- Garnish with some sliced red chillies and spring onions. Enjoy!
#4. Steamed rice with chicken
All you need is a rice cooker to cook this fuss-free, piping hot meal — perfect for a rainy day.
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rice
- 50g sliced chicken breast
- ¼ pack shimeji mushrooms
- ¼ medium-sized carrot, sliced thinly
- ½ tsp chicken stock
- ½ tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 ½ cups water
Instructions:
- Add rice, chicken, water, shimeji mushrooms, carrots, chicken stock, oyster sauce and sesame oil into a rice cooker.
- Stir ingredients lightly.
- Turn the rice cooker on and allow the ingredients to cook until the rice cooker switches to “keep warm”.
- Serve hot.
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Start now#5. Creamy one-pot veggie mac and cheese
Love pasta? Here are 5 simple steps to make the sexiest bowl of pasta your taste buds have ever had the pleasure of tasting. Jamie Oliver, who?
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup elbow macaroni
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup broccoli florets
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp flour
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except salt and pepper in a large, deep skillet.
- Simmer and cover for 10 minutes.
- Uncover and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
- Taste and season as needed with salt and pepper.
- That’s it! Ladle it out and devour.
#6. Super simple fried rice
This criminally easy fried rice gives you the luxury of a wholly satisfying meal made entirely out of leftovers.
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 cup day-old rice 2 cups water
- ⅓ cup chopped baby carrots
- ¼ cup frozen green peas
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
Instructions:
- Boil carrots in a small saucepan filled with water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Drop peas into the boiling water and drain after 2 minutes.
- Heat your wok over high heat. Add oil, then stir in carrots and peas; cook for about 30 seconds before adding an egg.
- Stir quickly to scramble the egg with your vegetables.
- Add cooked rice and soy sauce. Toss rice to coat. Drizzle some sesame oil and toss again.
- Serve hot.
#7. No-bake Oreo cheesecake
Decadence personified. This recipe makes a whole pie to share (but only if you’re in the mood).
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 2 hours
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups Oreo baking crumbs (or 24 Oreo cookies, finely crushed)
- 5 tbsp melted butter
- 4 cups plain cream cheese
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar (a.k.a. icing sugar)
- 3 cups whipped cream
- 24-28 coarsely crushed Oreo cookies
Instructions:
- Combine the Oreo baking crumbs and melted butter. Press the mixture into the base of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Whip the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar and continue to whip until well combined.
- Fold the whipped cream and the coarsely crushed Oreo cookies into the cream cheese mixture with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
- Chill the cheesecake in the freezer for at least 2 hours (4 hours is ideal). Let it sit in room temperature for 20-30 minutes before garnishing with additional whipped cream, chocolate sauce and crushed Oreo cookies.
- Serve and enjoy!
#8. Molten chocolate lava cake
Ooey, gooey and delicious. ‘Nuff said.
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 6 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tbsp unsalted butter (and extra for buttering your lava cake vessels)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 200°c and butter your ramekin (alternatively, use a small ovenproof cup or a muffin tin)
- Melt the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Whisk in the egg, sugar and vanilla extract.
- Fold in the flour until incorporated.
- Pour the chocolate batter into your ovenproof cups or ramekins and place on a baking tray.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Gently invert the cakes onto a plate, letting the cup or ramekin hang out upside down for a minute on the plate.
- Slowly lift the ramekin or cup.
- Serve and enjoy!
#9. 60-second chocolate chip cookie
This single-serving of chocolate chip cookie takes only 1 minute to make. Martha Stewart is #shook.
Prep time: 2 mins
Cook time: 1 min
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Add butter, both types of sugar, baking powder, salt and vanilla into a small mixing bowl until combined.
- Stir in the flour and well mixed. Add chocolate chips and transfer to a small ramekin or microwave-friendly mug.
- Microwave for 60 seconds.
- Let cool and garnish with a giant dollop of vanilla ice cream if you’re feeling particularly decadent. You’re welcome.
You don’t have to be a pro in the kitchen to whip up a warm, delicious meal. With some practice, you’ll get better in time. So have fun trying these recipes!