The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond

by Pamela Ellgen

More than 100 tasty and affordable 5-ingredient recipes for busy college students

College students don't typically have a lot of time, money, or kitchen space to get fancy with their meals—which means good and cheap is the name of the game. This 5 ingredient college cookbook makes it easy for students to prepare fresh, balanced meals for themselves on a budget, with more than 100 recipes that only take 30 minutes to throw together, and only require 5 main ingredients.

Upgrade from fast food and microwave dinners with a cookbook for college students that

5 ingredients, 30 minutes—Learn simple and fast ways to throw together favorites like Classic French Toast, Vegan Enchiladas, Greek Pita Sandwiches, Thai Chicken Ramen, and more.

Kitchen basics—Brush up on fundamental cooking skills with easy recipes for college students that include tips for everything from using knives to storing veggies.

A wide variety—Most of these student-approved recipes also include 3 alternate versions to keep things interesting and accommodate every taste!

Equip students with an easy, 5-ingredient cookbook that makes it fun and accessible to cook fresh food for themselves—in college and for life.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Reference, Nonfiction

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook is perfect for the new college student with easy and healthy recipes and very little ingredient. It is perfect for the novice cook who have no experience and who feels intimidated with very difficult cookbooks. This is very easy for students to prepare. That is not only tasty but also healthy and is a very realistic meal preparation to prepare quickly and cheap.

[Mitch Please · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the simple recipes and the way kitchen basics are explained; however, as someone who mostly lives off of fast food, I didn’t know what a lot of things were supposed to look like! (I’d never heard of things like a “frittata”.). Without pictures to show what the finished product of each recipe looks like, this is NOT a book I will be regularly turning to. Otherwise, it would be a five star cookbook for me.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m quite surprised with this cookbook! I checked it out from the library because I like 5-ingredient recipes. There was some great advice on starting a kitchen and properly prepping vegetables. I thought it was cute there was a “recovery” food list for those party nights…oh, to be in college again. 😂 I liked the tips given with the recipes to make them incredibly easy and swapping ingredients. A vegetarian section was also included. It was nice to see a focus on healthy options.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I looked at this cookbook because I'm thinking about what to work on with my college sophomore over the summer - she'll have an apartment with a kitchen and is looking forward to cooking for herself - she has some ability in the kitchen but needs more ideas and understand of the store to dinner table process.

The problem with this book is that, while it is targeted to college students, it doesn't give enough information to a true newbie [there is some] and it doesn't acknowledge the well known budgetary limitations of most college students.

It was ok, the recipes look fine although not particularly unique [this is the age of finding a recipe for anything you'd like a zillion times over on the internet after all] but I didn't feel like it fit the bill of being a college cookbook. YMMV of course.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this cookbook is a must have for ANYONE who is short on time, short on budget, and short on cooking skill. The author starts by explaining how to stretch your budget, how to build a pantry, basic cooking skills and basic cooking equipment. The recipes in this book all require just a basic knowledge which makes it perfect for young adults or anyone who is just starting their journey into cooking. The best part, in my opinion, is that the recipes are 5 ingredients or less and many use the same ingredients so it automatically makes the meals more frugal and less wasteful. The recipes are flavorful yet simple and most make 1-2 servings which is nice for singles or couples. There are many vegan and vegetarian dishes and nearly all the recipes are what I would consider healthy which is a bonus! I appreciated that nutritional information is included with the recipes too. I actually saw several recipes that I could double and make for my family that would be crowd pleasers - a difficult task with a 3 year old sometimes. I highly recommend this cookbook!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ensie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a hopeless college student who survived by the grace of companies like grubhub and ubereats, I love this book! Very easy to follow layout and simple explanations, perfect for the timid first-time cooks :-) most of the recipes are very healthy too, and the book is loaded with little hints and tips about how to improve on the recipes, and even a small section for foods to eat when you're hungover and the like x) there's also a simple, yet comprehensive glossary and section on kitchen tools and how to use them. It was a motivating read! Finally, I can survive on my own! (There aren't pictures of the recipes but that wasn't a con for me, I was indifferent to this)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great cookbook, and I'm decades out of college. There is an intro chapter with some cooking basics, including things like how to stock a pantry, basic equipment needs, etc. The recipes are sound - this is the best chia pudding recipe I've had. The dinners are also good, and most meals serve 4. I like this because it's a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table if you're busy, and the recipes are standard, using ingredients you probably already have. Also, full nutrition information is included. My only gripe with this is that there aren't any pictures, which would have gone a long way.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey picked this up on our last trip to Parnassus Books in Nashville. We took turns reading it on the way home, and I decided I needed my own copy. It not only talks about fast and easy meals, it explains in non-motherly language (ie no finger wagging) about how to stretch ingredients, how and when to shop, and the nutritional value of each meal. It even has vegetarian and vegan recipes. Very highly recommended for anyone going back to college—or anyone cooking for themselves for the first time.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook had several easy recipes for a college student in an apartment since the pantry needs several spices, veggies, meats. I felt this book had a few healthier and good starter recipe book for your college student.

[Sunshine Kerkenes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for my son

Just bought this for my son who just moved into his own place. So many recipes that he'll be able to do and make his own. Even with his food allergies he can substitute and change them up.

[Scott Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas and recipes - fully utilized in life after college as well.

[L E Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easycooking

Got this because I like to cook but am living alone.
Easy to follow and implement. Thanks for putting this together

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing earth shatteringly new.

[Mills College Library]

641.512 E459 2017

[Baronda Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family- and college student- tested, all approved!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

yeah this counts towards my reading challenge and what about it. i haven’t actually tried any of the recipes in this yet but they sounded good and affordable so i mean

[DetailedbyDenise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little cookbook!

[Gina Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes!

For most college students, most of these recipes are going to sound strange unless your from California.😆 best to just get the ingredients make and dive in you will be pleasantly surprised at the yumminess!