Howdy all,
I’m a starving college student, and because it’s finals week, my dorm is holding a potluck for a chance to unwind and eat. I’m looking for a pretty dang easy potluck recipe that also has the benefit of being cheap. I have some instant rice in the ‘pantry’, and can hit the store for the rest.
Anyone have any great ones out there?
Do you have a kitchen to cook things, or are you limited to “instant” foods or microwaveable stuff?
Deviled eggs. Easy and cheap. Dozen eggs about $1.75. Boil em, cut em in half, scoop out the yolks mix with a couple of packages of mayo “borrowed” from the sandwich store or the school cafeteria. Yolk mix back into egg white shells. Add paprika to top or some relish in the mix, bonus, but not necessary.
Ro-tel Dip.
1 can Ro-tel (or store brand diced tomatoes and chili peppers), 1 pound Velveeta. Yes, Velveeta. Chunk up the cheese, put in a microwavable dish, add Ro-tel, juice and all. Nuke until melty, stirring often. Serve with tortilla chips.
“Fancy soft cheese”
1 block cream cheese, low fat cream cheese or neufchatel cheese. Unwrap, put on plate. Pour over a jar of jalapeno jelly, mango chutney or apricot preserves. Serve with crackers.
Instant Gratification Garlic Potato Soup
If you don’t have a stove, heat the water and milk in the microwave until it bubbles, and then proceed as directed.
Hot Baked Cinnamon Apples
Very easy, but it does take some time to peel and slice the apples. If you don’t have an oven, you can nuke them in 10 minute increments, stirring between sessions, until soft.
Hash Brown Casserole
Good for any meal, not just brunch. It’s ridiculously tasty and couldn’t be easier, but it does require an oven.
Corn and Black Bean Salad
If you can open a can, you can make this. Very yummy. You cook even cook your rice and add it to transform it to a main dish with a complete protein.
MUST have a capful of cider vinegar to be fit to eat. Or at least a squirt of mustard.
This.
Never ever this.
Absurdly Easy Fruit Dip
1 jar Marshmallow Fluff
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
Fruit for dipping (strawberries, banana slices, apple slices, etc.)
Mix together and dip your fruit.
Anything you put in a crockpot will be good. You can even just dump some canned black beans in there to heat up, make the rice and take that.
Chili-fritoes.
1 can chili–any kind will do. Nuke in microwavable container. Pour fritoes (or any corn chip) in a bowl, cover with chili. Can top with cheese.
Here’s something that used to feed me well.
Take one large can of Hormel Chili No Beans. One block of Velveeta cheese. Break or slice up the entire block of Velveeta cheese into the chili. Heat.
I used to always take a shrimp tray to our potlucks at work. Ridiculously easy- no cooking involved. I would put it in the refrigerator the night before so it wasn’t frozen solid. Pretty cheap- I got them at Walmart for about $6.00.
Nowadays I make Taco Soup and it’s a big hit. It’s a little more involved; I can post the recipe if anyone’s interested.
Ah yes. Do have a kitchen, with oven and stove and everything. But I’m hoping I get a crock pot at Christmas
Dinner got called off though, not enough people 
But if anyone else has any good uns, let me know for future reference!
Okay, here’s the recipe for Taco Soup:
1 16-oz. can tomatoes
1 15-oz. can whole-kernel corn, undrained
1 15-oz. can black beans
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/4 cup chopped onion
8 oz. tomato juice
1 lb. ground beef, browned & drained
Place all ingredients in large cooking pan, simmer 15-20 minutes
When I make it, I add one small can of green chiles (I live in New Mexico, green chiles are mandatory in everything).
When I take it to a potluck, I use a crock pot instead of the large cooking pan.
You can make this slightly less calorically egregious by using a block of neufchatel (1/3 fat cream cheese) and fat-free turkey chili (no beans). Can also add a can of sliced black olives and some (drained) jarred jalapenos.
Your dorm-mates will worship you.
Just t’ain’t the same.
You won’t REALLY absurdly easy, cheap, and tasty?
You have your rice- cook it. Go get some brand name cans of “chunky beef stew” (pay the extra 50 cents for name brand though- usually is better), heat it up, and mix it with the cooked rice. Add lots of garlic powder and other spices- soy sauce if you have it- and simmer the whole in a skillet for as long as possible, stirring constantly. (Water chestnuts are a great thickener and not terribly expensive.)
I used to live on this stuff during my starvation wage days and it was damned tasty. Still have it upon occasion just for the taste.
That’s probably true, Siam Sam. I just don’t want to be saying the same thing about my butt. 
Keep It Simple.
Go to the grocery store and pick up some fresh fruit ( many stores have an prepared section ready to go.)
To make Texas style, put ‘t can chili in the back o’ the truck while you go get beer cheese and Fritos.
When ya get back open the Fritos on the seam, pour in chili.
Agreed. I just thought it might be easier to come up with a packet of mustard than a bottle of vinegar.
This one is simple, versatile, and tasty for the dorm, it invokes the holidays, is simple to make and masquerades as either a side or a dessert. Leave out the marshmallows and you have a vegetarian/vegan dish…
Dorm Sweet Potatoes
4-8 Sweet Potatoes (depending on how much you want to make and their size)
1 can coconut milk
1 small package hickory smoked almonds
1 small package shredded coconut
1 package mini marshmallows (optional/*nonvegan)
Wash and Poke holes in the Sweet Potatoes and microwave for a good 10-20 minutes (depending on the microwave) or until cooked through. Peel them while hot or warm with a butter knife… be careful, they are hot but the peel should come off easily. Mash the sweet potatoes in the serving bowl with a fork, add enough coconut milk to get a proper “thick mashed potatoes” consistency (make sure you add the coconut butter/cream in the top of the can… that’s the best part). Top with the coconut and almonds and/or marshmallows and microwave for a few minutes until the marshmallows start to melt or the sweet potatoes are warmed through.
*Unfortunately Marshmallows are not Vegetarian/Vegan, they are made with fish gelatin… to make this a vegan dish, leave out the marshmallows.
I was in a similar predicament when I was in college. I went to the dining hall and filled up a takeout container with pre-sliced vegetables from the salad bar and my drink cup with ranch dressing. I was able to borrow a plate and bowl from someone and assembled a decent veggie tray.
This also works for dessert platters, but you need to be slightly more careful about how you arrange your desserts in the takeout container and anyone who frequents your university’s dining hall will probably notice quite easily.