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6 Easy, Cheap, and Healthy Hostel Meals

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Hostels have some freaking cool amenities these days. Some of the best hostels around the world are even nicer than a lot of hotels you may have stayed in. But one of my favorite hostel amenities is the almighty guest kitchen, and we explained why in our post on how to save money on food while traveling— a guest kitchen means that you can cook your own meals, saving you from having to eat out a ton– which can really take a toll on your wallet.

6 Easy, Cheap, and Healthy Hostel Recipes. Make these 6 meals while you're in a hostel to save money and also to eat a bit healthier. Make use of the hostel kitchen!

But taking advantage of a hostel’s guest kitchen may not be so simple for everyone– we’ve found that thinking of something easy and healthy to cook can be tough, especially when you’re not sure what ingredients you’ll actually find at the local supermarket. So we’ve put together a list of my favorite recipes to make while staying at a hostel, and they all are made with cheap, easy-to-find ingredients, are SUPER simple to make, and are even somewhat healthy so you can keep off the study abroad 15.

 

easy hostel recipes

Grilled Cheese, Ham, and Tomato Sandwich

If your hostel serves a decent free breakfast, smuggle some bread, ham, and cheese into the fridge so you can make later on. It’s the cheapest and yummiest grilled cheese EVER, and you’ll get a bit of protein and veggies in too.

Kitchen tools needed:

Frying pan and oil, sharp knife, spatula (or get creative with what you’ve got)

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread
Ham and cheese slices
Tomato, sliced

1. Make a sammie with all of the ingredients and throw it on the frying pan.
2. Turn over once. Welcome to some gooey goodness, with a bit of protein and veggies.

READ NEXT: MORE Cheap, Easy, and Healthy Hostel Recipes

 

easy recipes to make while staying at a hostel

Personal Pizzas

Get anyone else who wants in on some pizza to contribute one topping, and you’ll have tons to chose from. You can even have a little pizza-making party with some fellow hostel-ers.

Kitchen tools needed:

Oven, toaster oven, grill, or if you have to, a frying pan and oil

Ingredients:

Pitas, pre-made pizza crust, or bread slices from breakfast
Tomato sauce
Any cheese or other toppings you like on your pizza

1. Lay out your “pizza crust” and spread with tomato sauce.
2. Cook your crust in your kitchen tool of choice for 2-3 minutes. Watch to make sure it doesn’t burn!
3. Take the crusts out and top them with whatever ingredients you want.

 

Hostel Kitchen recipes

Pasta with Caprese Salad

Adding a Caprese salad as a bite size appetizer to a pasta dinner adds some flavor and nutrients to your meal.

Kitchen tools needed:

Stovetop burner or hot plate, pot (big enough for how much pasta you plan to make), knife

Ingredients:

Pasta of your choice (see if there’s any leftover in the communal hostel pantry)
Pasta sauce of your choice
Mozzarella balls or chunks
Large tomato (one is enough for 2-3 people)
Basil (try spinach or arugula if you can’t find basil)
Balsamic dressing

1. Cook pasta according to directions on the package.
2. While pasta is cooking, wash and slice the tomato. Slice the mozzarella into bite-size pieces too.
3. Arrange the basil between a piece of tomato and a piece of mozzarella, and drizzle with balsamic dressing. Put a fews stacks on a plate.
4. Add pasta sauce to your cooked pasta and eat!

READ NEXT: How to Choose the Perfect Hostel

 

healthy hostel recipes

Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich

You can eat this one for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and it couldn’t be easier to make. The banana add some nutrients, making it a little better you.

Kitchen tools needed:

Knife

Ingredients:

Bread (from breakfast)
Peanut Butter
Bananas, sliced (you can also use strawberries or blueberries)

1. Spread peanut butter on bread.
2. Slice banana and put on top of the peanut butter.
3. Assemble your sandwich.

 

Hostel Kitchen recipes

Vegetable Stir Fry

This recipe is definitely is the healthiest, but the ingredients may be a bit difficult to find depending on your location. Feel free to add chicken or beef to this stir fry for some added protein.

Kitchen tools needed:

Frying pan and oil
Sharp knife if cutting your own vegetables
Stovetop burner or hot plate, pot to cook rice
Spatula or spoon to stir vegetables

Ingredients:

Frozen bag of assorted vegetables (you can find this at most supermarkets around the world, but you can always pick the veggies yourself)
Brown Rice
Teriyaki or Soy sauce

1. Cook rice according to directions on package.
2. While the rice is cooking, add oil to frying pan and bring to medium high heat.
3. Add veggies and cook according to package. If you’re using fresh vegetables, slice them and cook on frying pan for 6-7 minutes or until slightly brown, stirring frequently.
4. Add vegetables and cooked rice together, and top with sauce.

 

Cheap and easy hostel recipes to make while staying at a hostel.

Healthy Chicken Tacos

Um… who doesn’t love tacos? You can use whatever meat you like but chicken is nice and lean.

Kitchen tools needed:

Frying pan and oil, sharp knife, stirring spoon

Ingredients:

Chicken breast, cut into small pieces
Corn tortillas or flour wraps
Lettuce, shredded or chopped
Tomato, chopped
Black beans (from a can is fine)
Monterey Jack shredded cheese (or any cheese you can find)
Salsa
Taco seasoning

1. Grill the chicken in the frying pan until almost cooked through. Add the taco seasoning as directed on the package.
2. If you want to warm the beans up, you can throw them into the pan with the chicken for a minute or two.
3. Top your tacos with the rest of the available toppings.

 Photo sources: Bongopix on Flickr, Pixabay, Pixabay, Culinary Cory on Flickr, Pixabay, Tijuana on Flickr, Pixabay


Jess is the Editor-in-Chief of The Abroad Guide. After studying abroad in Belgium during her junior year of college, she caught the travel bug. Her experiences include volunteering in Nicaragua, backpacking through Europe, and a year-long adventure in Italy, and she's now settled in London.