As a busy college student, it can be difficult to find time, options and ingredients to make a dinner that’s satisfying. I have always been a fan of cooking and I spend time on Pinterest finding recipes and tweaking them. I have found a couple of meals that are super easy, cheap and you can keep the leftovers up to a week. I will be giving you the prices of food from City Market because that’s where I grocery shop and they have great prices.

Easy Chili

There are many ways to make chili. Some people like to make chili complex and it turns out great. But, college students usually don’t have time for that and want to get straight to the point. This recipe does that for you. Most of the time I cook chili in a Crockpot, but you can do it in a pot on the stove as well. This recipe feeds about six, so if you are cooking for one or two, you can eat off it for awhile.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground beef: City Market sells Kroger brand ground beef roll for $4.49 for 80 percent lean and $3.99 for 73 percent lean.
• 1 can of Kroger diced tomatoes: City Market sells for $0.73 (You can also get Kroger diced tomatoes with green chilies if you want more of a kick for $0.89.)
• 1 can of Kroger tomato paste: City Market sells for $0.69 but right now it’s on sale for $0.59.
• 1 packet of Kroger mild or hot taco seasoning: City Market sells for $0.49.
• ½ of a 12 0z bag of Kroger frozen sweet corn: City Market sells for $1 but right now it is on sale for $0.88.
• 1 can of Kroger hot chili beans: City Market sells for $0.69.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of chili powder (depends on how hot you like it) City Market sells for $1
• Vegetable Oil spray (if you already don’t have it.)

Directions:

1. If you are doing it on the stove: In a large pan, over a medium high heat, cook the ground beef until it’s browned and then add the packet of taco seasoning. Mix the seasoning well in the beef.

If you are doing it in the Crockpot: Do the same things as above but once it’s all cooked and mixed together, add the meat into the Crockpot. Turn on the Crockpot to high.

2.   For the stove: After the beef is cooked with the taco seasoning, add all of the rest of the ingredients. Bring to boil and then reduce heat to low. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then serve.

For the Crockpot: Add all the ingredients in the Crockpot. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, stir, then let it sit for another 10 mins.  

3. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and cornbread if you would like but it is fine by itself!

Homemade-ish Classic Supreme Pizza

This is super fun to make and it’s easy. Have a pizza night with your friends, roommates or significant other to keep cooking interesting. Sure, you could make homemade pizza sauce and dough, actually I highly recommend it, if you have the time. There are many different pizza recipes as well, besides the classic red sauce, cheese and pepperoni. I will just give you the quick way but you still feel like it’s home cooking.

Ingredients:

• Pizza dough: City Market sells fresh dough that makes a 16 inch pizza for $1.79. There is also canned Kroger dough at City Market for $2.49. The choice is yours.
• Tomato sauce: This is all up to you. For the simple recipe, I get Kroger brand Marinara sauce for $1.50 at City Market.
• Shredded Italian cheese: City Market sells Kroger brand small bag of cheese for $2.49.
• Your choice of meats: City market sells Kroger brand sliced pepperoni for $2.50. Italian sausage for in a roll for $2.50.
• Your choice of produce: I like red and green bell peppers, banana peppers, onion and diced tomatoes. City Market sells produce for a decent price. Especially when they are on sale.

Directions:  

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. If you are doing fresh dough, place the dough on a floured pan and punch down the dough. Knead the dough until smooth. For fresh and canned dough place it on a 12 or 16 inch greased pan.
3. Spread out your sauce, then cheese and add all your toppings.  
4. Cook for 20 minutes.

I hope these two recipes interest you and please let me know if you try them out. These recipes can be tweaked and made however you want. I just wanted to give the basics to give you more dinner ideas.