Not going home for Thanksgiving this year? No worries. While the dorm can be eerily quiet during the holidays, you can still make the most of your stay at college. Celebrate Thanksgiving in the dorms this year by making some of the most delicious, easy, and dorm-friendly recipes. These budget-friendly recipes will make you feel right at home with the familiar flavors and comfort.
6. No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
While some dorms have a community kitchen that offers an oven, sometimes it’s more of a hassle to cook with others around. Instead, opt for a no-bake pumpkin pie for a dessert. All you need is a store-bought graham cracker crust, spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, pumpkin puree, vanilla pudding mix, milk, and Cool Whip.
To make it, just mix the pumpkin puree, pudding mix, milk, and pumpkin spice seasonings. Once there are no lumps, fold in the Cool Whip. Spread out the mixture into the graham cracker crust and chill for at least 3 hours. This makes a delicious, familiar treat that is perfect to end the meal on.
5. Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a staple at most Thanksgivings. Bring the holidays to your dorm room this year by making this dorm-friendly mac. You can make a small but hearty portion in a mug or even a small bowl if you have a microwave. If your dorm room doesn’t have one, you should have a community kitchen that has one.
All you need is to put in a half cup of macaroni noodles along with a half cup of water. Salt a little and then put it into the microwave to cook. Microwave in two-minute intervals for a total of ten minutes until water is absorbed and the noodles are tender. Now, stir in your milk and shredded cheese. If you can shred fresh cheese, it’ll prevent the sauce from being grainy. Microwave for an additional 30 seconds, or until the cheese is melted, and serve. The best cheeses to add are sharp white cheddar and gruyere if you enjoy a tangy bite.
4. Green beans
Green beans are another really easy dish to make in a dorm. Celebrate Thanksgiving in the dorm with this easy and delicious green bean hack. The first is just by grabbing a can of green beans at the store, emptying it out into a bowl, and then microwaving it for about four minutes until fully cooked. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and serve.
3. Stuffing
You don’t need a stock, or even a full bird, to make stuffing. You can easily celebrate Thanksgiving in the dorm by grabbing store-bought stuffing and using the community kitchen. Or, you can use the microwave.
It might sound crazy, but it’s actually delicious. For microwavable, homemade stuffing, just grab breadcrumbs, your favorite vegetables (like onion, mushrooms, and celery), butter, broth, poultry seasoning, and salt and pepper. Just by mixing all these ingredients into your bowl and microwaving on high for four to six minutes, you get a fluffy, savory stuffing to go along with your main dish.
2. Mash
Speaking of the microwave, did you know that you can also make homemade microwavable mashed potatoes? Sure, you can easily grab the instant mashed potatoes at the store that you can plop in the microwave, or you can get fancy this holiday season.
All you need to do is wash, peel, and cube your potatoes. Throw into a bowl with cling wrap over top, and pop a hole to vent. Microwave on high for about 9 to 12 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. After, mash the potatoes, and add a splash of milk and some butter, along with salt to taste. Once it’s the perfect taste and texture, serve with heated-up turkey gravy. You can grab those jars of gravy and heat them up easily in the microwave.
1. Turkey
Getting turkey is the hard part. But thankfully, you can still celebrate Thanksgiving in the dorm with these recipes. If you have a community kitchen, cooking up some turkey cutlets would be a great way to go. All you need is a pan with your chicken cutlets, seasoned as desired, and then fry them.
But did you know that you can actually cook a turkey in the microwave? It’s insane, we know. But there’s a possibility. Just grab a small bird and prepare it. Clean the turkey, pat it dry, remove any giblets and organs, then season with your favorite herbs and spices. You should cook the turkey 8 to 10 minutes per pound, and it should be cooked in a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving holes to vent. Keep cooking until the turkey reaches 165°F. Let the turkey sit, and then carve and enjoy.
If neither of those things is interesting, your local store will most likely have several easier options, like microwavable turkey dinners or even oven-ready turkey breast that you can try. Either way, you can easily make a homemade or store-bought Thanksgiving in the dorm without any issues.
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