Dorm-Friendly Thanksgiving Food

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, everyone is anticipating a break from classes to relax, laze around, and enjoy food. Some college students might go home during break, but for some, they stay in on-campus housing like dorms. Celebrating Thanksgiving in your dorm doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the food you’d get at home. Even if you only have a mini fridge and a microwave at your disposal, it's still possible to put together a spread of food for a memorable Thanksgiving feast. These dorm-friendly recipes will make it possible for you to create easy Thanksgiving food options to enjoy this Thanksgiving!

Microwave Mac and Cheese:

When you hear about microwave mac and cheese, you might think your only option is the already pre-packaged cups you buy from the store. Even without an oven or stove, you can make a delicious homemade mac and cheese that will taste way better than the packaged ones, while still being convenient to make. 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon cream cheese

½ cup dry macaroni pasta

½ cup water

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

¼ cup of any milk

¼ teaspoon of salt

Steps:

1. Add the pasta and water to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for around 3-4 minutes, stirring the pasta halfway through.

2. Once finished cooking pasta, drain any leftover water in the bowl.

3. Add butter, cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, your milk of choice, and salt to the pasta.

4. Microwave again for around 30-45 seconds until you see all your added ingredients melting.

5. Remove from the microwave and mix everything until it is creamy.

Mashed Potatoes: 

Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple and can be found on almost everyone’s table. Mashed potatoes are actually very simple to make without a full kitchen. With just a few extra added ingredients you can buy for cheap, you can make your instant mashed potatoes taste like they were cooked by a professional.

Ingredients:

Instant mashed potato flakes

Water

A splash of milk of your choice

1 tablespoon butter

Salt & pepper

Garlic powder or chives 

Steps:

1. Heat water in the microwave based on the directions listed on the back of your instant mashed potato package.

2. Stir in the potato mixture until they reach your desired thickness.

3. Mix in butter, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

4. (Optional) Top the mashed potatoes with chives to upgrade the dish even further.

Mug Stuffing:

Stuffing is another Thanksgiving staple, and luckily, you don’t have to miss out on it just because you are in a dorm. Your microwave can replace an oven, while still making stuffing that will taste delicious in only a few minutes.

Ingredients:

½ cup croutons in your choice of flavor.

⅓ cup vegetable or chicken broth

1 tablespoon butter

A pinch of herbs like dried sage or thyme

Cranberry sauce

Steps:

1. Add your croutons, broth, and butter to a microwave-safe mug.

2. Microwave for about 1-2 minutes.

3. Remove the mug and stir everything up.

4. Microwave again for about 20 seconds, repeating this until you see the croutons soften. 

5. Top with the dried sage, thyme, and cranberry sauce.

Rotisserie “Turkey”: 

Cooking an actual turkey is essentially impossible with the limited cooking options in a dorm. But luckily, there are a few turkey replacements you can use that will make it feel like the classic Thanksgiving dish is still on your plate!

Ingredients:

Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from any store like Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, etc.

Pre-made gravy sold in jars or microwaveable packets

(Optional) Hawaiian rolls as a side dish to join the chicken on a plate 

Steps:

1. Shred a small portion of the rotisserie chicken until it's your desired serving size.

2. Warm the rotisserie chicken in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds.

3. Heat the gravy in the microwave separately for 1-2 minutes.

4. Pour the warm gravy over the chicken, add yourself a Hawaiian roll on the side, and there is your instant turkey replacement for a dorm feast.

Pumpkin Pie Mug Cake:

What is Thanksgiving without the desserts? While there are many dessert options you can choose to make for your feast, pumpkin pie is one of the most well-known Thanksgiving desserts. You can make a mini pumpkin pie that is able to match one baked in an oven.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons of sugar

2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon

Your milk of choice

Whipped cream 

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients (minus the whipped cream) in a microwave-safe mug until it reaches a smooth consistency.

2. Microwave for 60-90 seconds, checking halfway.

3. Let cool for one minute and then top with your whipped cream.

4. Enjoy the warm and comforting dessert!

Thanksgiving in a dorm might feel impossible, but it doesn’t have to be boring, even if you have to use a few non-traditional approaches to cooking the meals. With just a microwave, a couple of dishes, and cheap ingredients you can get from the store, cooking a Thanksgiving feast from the comfort of your dorm can actually be very simple. Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be difficult, and with these recipes, you can still have that taste of homemade Thanksgiving food even if you’re in your dorm.