11 Breakfasts That You Can Make in a Dorm Room, Besides Cereal

It’s true that dorm life is never going to be glamorous, but that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck eating a breakfast diet solely consisting of Cheerios and toaster strudels for the duration of your dormitory life. In fact, there are some delicious breakfast dishes you can make right in your dorm (or hotel room or AirBnB or vacation cabin) using minimal ingredients and tools. Here are some delicious breakfast foods that can be made quickly and simply.

Homemade muffins are a breakfast delight that you don’t have to go without just because you live in a dorm. Delicious muffins can be made simply by mixing all of the ingredients into a mug, and popping the mug into the microwave. Blueberry? Apple cinnamon? Chocolate chip? All can be created piping hot and every bit as tasty without an oven.

Oatmeal is delicious, but it can get a little boring. Luckily, there are ways to step-up your hot-cereal game. Start by cooking up some porridge oats in the microwave, then get creative with toppings. Greek yogurt with honey will add creaminess and just the right amount of sweet, and for a saliter option, scoop in some nuts. Fruit? Sure. Peanut butter? Why not! There are all kinds of possibilities out there. Add maple syrup, bananas, blueberries, and top with a little whip cream. It will taste like dessert, but technically it’s still breakfast.

There’s no reason to hold back on fruit at breakfast time. Fruit salad is quick, delicious, and requires zero cooking (always a bonus!). Slice up strawberries, bananas, melons, apples, oranges, and raspberries, toss a little white sugar on top (because why not!), and you can even eat this breakfast on the go. The leftovers will also make for excellent snacking throughout the day.

Toast is the crispy, buttery breakfast we all craved as kids, and college years are the perfect time to upgrade this simple favorite. To make toast that goes beyond all your expectations, top two pieces of whole wheat toast with greens, a sliced avocado, a bit of olive oil, and a dash of salt. It might be a bit messy to eat, but the variety of textures and flavors of this breakfast dish are well worth a little clean-up.

A breakfast bowl is a very filling and decadent dish that you don’t need a full kitchen to create, but you will need at least one burner, so if your dorm’s kitchen has a small stove, this breakfast will be a snap. Simply scrape out the insides of a few rolls or a circular loaf of crusty bread and voila! You have a bread bowl. Scramble three eggs, and scoop them into your bread bowl, sprinkle some shredded cheese on top, then go to town with other fixings. Ham, peppers, tomato, and onion will all be right at home.

All you need to get started with tasty huevos rancheros is a hot plate and some eggs. Fry a couple of eggs, then top them with your favorite salsa, sprinkle some adobo seasoning on top, and enjoy with sliced avocado, refried beans, and tortilla chips on the side.

Parfaits are one of the best ways to start the day. Scoop raspberry jam into the bottom of a cup and add in a thick layer of vanilla yogurt, toss in mandarin orange slices, another layer of yogurt, then cover with a generous portion of crunchy granola topped with almond slices. Stir the whole concoction together or mix it all up to enjoy the sweet, crunchy, creamy medley all together.

Make sure your stomach isn’t rumbling while you’re working by filling up with a veggie burrito in the morning. Pile scrambled eggs, shredded Chihuahua cheese, jalapeños, diced tomatoes, green onions, and black beans onto a giant tortilla, and you’re good to go. If you have access to a stove-top, you can heat the whole thing up in a pan to give the tortilla a bit of crispiness.

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with craving a burger at 7 a.m. An english muffin with a sausage patty cooked up in the microwave with a slice of cheese (try pepper jack) is a satisfying and filling breakfast snack. Vegetarians can substitute for a veggie patty for this meal, and regardless of whether you opt for pork or vegetables, don’t just stop at cheese for toppings! Add tomato and onion to give this even more of a burger feel.

With the use of a small blender, you can enjoy smoothies in the dorm every day. To get the day started right with a boost of protein, mix up a smoothie made with milk, peanut butter, banana, kale, and vanilla or chocolate protein powder. No worries if you’re no great kale fan — the creamy peanut butter and protein powder flavors will drown it out, so you’ll get all the vitamins without the bitter flavor.