The nights (and days!) are getting colder, and dinner needs to be something both filling and warming – preferably with leftovers, to save as much of your student budget as possible. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of hearty meals you can cook this winter which won’t eat into too much of your funds…
Lentil and vegetable stew
Lentils are a staple – they really help to bulk out a meal, without being too expensive. Pick up a pack of dried red lentils and your favourite vegetables, and you’re good to go. Start by adding your lentils to your pan, using around two parts water to one part lentils; mix your water with a stock cube to add some flavour, and let this simmer. Chop and add your veggies to the mix along with a tin of tomatoes and whatever seasonings you fancy. Let it cook low and slow, and you’ve got a thick, warm, hearty stew.
Sausage and bean casserole
This is another easy meal that will fill you up, and you can make sure you have leftovers! Pick up some sausages of your choice (pork, chicken, veggie etc…) as well as a tin of tomatoes and a tin of baked beans. Brown your sausages in a pan, then transfer to an oven dish with your tinned tomatoes and beans, as well as seasonings or veggies. Then pop this in the oven and you’re good to go. Serve with some buttery crusty bread if you want a real treat!
Tomato and butter pasta
Pasta is another absolute staple ingredient for students – and so it seems are tinned tomatoes! They’re so versatile and handy to have in the cupboard. Cook and drain your pasta, then add your tinned tomatoes and a few knobs of butter along with some herbs. This is a tasty meat free meal, but you can add meat of your choice as well as whatever vegetables you want to bulk it out.
Jacket potatoes
There’s nothing warmer than a nice jacket potato, and they’re super affordable to make too. The beauty is you can really customise your toppings! Baked beans or spaghetti hoops with a sprinkling of cheese is a really cheap and easy one, as well as being nice and hot. You could instead add tuna, tinned chilli con carne, or even some leftover stew from previous hearty meals…
Stuffed peppers
This one sounds a bit fancy, but it’s easy to do. Cut your pepper in half and take out all the middle bits, then pop a packet of rice in the microwave – opt for flavoured rice packets to really jazz this one up. Pack the pepper with rice and top with cheese, then put the peppers into the oven or air fryer until they’re crispy on top and the cheese is melted. Make a few and have them for lunch the next day, too!
All of these hearty meals are easy to make, relatively cheap, and will keep you both full and warm. What more could you want?
