Whilst moving to university is an exciting time, one of the biggest adjustments students face is cooking for themselves.
However, TikTok has stepped in to help. Student FoodTok is booming, with the hashtag #unistudentmeals receiving over 148 million views. One popular account, @lazypotnoodle, has gained millions of followers by sharing creative meals that can be made from a dorm room.
From pizza to fried chicken, students are embracing quick, affordable and creative recipes.
The most popular student meals according to TikTok
| Ranking | Food trend | TikTok views |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta | 29,200,000 |
| 2 | Cheese Toastie | 12,600,000 |
| 3 | Chicken Stir Fry | 7,200,000 |
| 4 | Chicken Fried Rice | 3,200,000 |
| 5 | Beef Burritos | 2,600,000 |
| 6 | Meatballs and Mash | 2,000,000 |
| 7 | Tomato Orzo | 2,000,000 |
| 8 | Smashed Burgers | 1,700,000 |
| 9 | 15 Minute Ramen | 1,700,000 |
| 10 | Quesadillas | 1,100,000 |
Tomato and mozzarella pasta takes the top spot
With over 29 million views, this quick and affordable pasta dish is the most popular student meal on TikTok. Made with simple ingredients, it can be prepared in just 10 minutes.
Cheese toasties come in second place
With over 12 million views, cheese toasties remain a student favourite thanks to their simplicity, affordability and versatility.
Chicken stir fry is a healthy favourite
With over 7 million views, chicken stir fry offers a balanced, nutritious and budget-friendly meal option packed with vegetables and protein.
Top cooking tips for students
- Purchase multi-purpose ingredients:: Choose versatile foods that can be used across multiple meals to reduce waste and save money.
- Check use-by and best-before dates:: A use-by date is a strict safety limit, while a best-before date is a quality guideline.
- Meal prep:: Cook in batches and portion meals to save time, money and reduce food waste.
- Try fakeaways:: Recreate takeaway favourites at home for a cheaper and healthier alternative.
- Invest in appliances:: Compact appliances like air fryers can make cooking faster, easier and more efficient.