Dining in: Quick, Cheap and Easy Recipes for Twenty-Somethings

It isn’t very easy being twenty-something. Between looking for their place in the professional world, and trying to keep up with all the latest, craziest trends, a lot of young people today just don’t have enough time or money to cook for themselves.

Good food, however, doesn’t require expert skills or loads of extra time, no matter how old you are. All anyone really needs in the kitchen are good ingredients, a decent recipe and a whole lot of confidence. If you’re young and raring to finally learn how to properly feed yourself, here’s a list of tips and recipes that’ll surely turn you into a confident cook, minus the stress.

Flash Fry

Stir frying is one of the quickest, easiest ways to cook. All you need is a handful of ingredients, a nice big pan and a stove. The trick to a good, quick stir fry is a high heat and making sure that you have everything at the ready (prepped, clean, chopped, and seasoned) before you turn on the stove. The real beauty of a stir fry, though, is that you can improvise and use whatever ingredients you have on hand. Sriracha, sausage and egg fried rice, anyone?

Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

Yakisoba

Pineapple Fried Rice

Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken Curry

No Cook, No Problem

If you’re too scared to even bother going near a stove, you still have plenty of options. Salads can make for a great hearty meal, are good for you, and require no cooking whatsoever! If you’re feeling up for more protein, try making kinilaw or ceviche, which literally cooks in the fridge.

Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

Spicy Tuna Ceviche

Rainbow Bright Salad

Panzanella

Pasta Perfect

When in doubt, make pasta. While it may take a little practice to make perfectly al dente pasta, there’s no harm in overcooking it a bit. Pasta is affordable, easy to prepare and is the perfect blank canvas for whatever saucy flavors your heart desires. If you’re feeling particularly lazy, you can even use store bought pestos and pasta sauces as the base of your own personal pasta dressings. Don’t worry; we won’t judge.

Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

Cacio e Pepe Maccheroni

Chicken Pesto Pasta

Fussili with Grilled Chicken and Broccoli

ALSO READ:

VIDEO: How To Cook Al Dente Pasta Noodles

9 Secrets to Cooking Pasta Like a Pro

5 Easy Dishes for the Kitchen Newbie

8 Cookbooks Every Kitchen Newbie Should Have