‘Fall’ into October with these 5 affordable, dorm-friendly autumnal recipes

For college students, cooking delicious meals without breaking the bank can be a struggle — especially when your dorm kitchen has barely functional appliances. But college meals don’t have to be bland, time-consuming or expensive.

Embrace the flavors of fall, from your pre-breakfast coffee to your post-dinner sweet treat, with these budget-friendly original recipes. Although I prefer to shop at Trader Joe’s, most of these ingredients can be found at any grocery store.

Since moving to Florida from my home state of Washington state at age 17, I have developed a knack for creating my own cozy autumn season without the changing leaves or chilly weather by creating recipes. 

When I think of fall, one of the first things that comes to mind is maple leaves. My childhood was full of gazing out into a yard of crimson and amber colors floating to the ground. That’s where the inspiration for this cozy autumn coffee drink comes from. 

One of my favorite things to order at coffee shops is a dirty chai, so I figured I should make my own. I highly recommend using the Trader Joe’s Spiced Chai Concentrate and Salted Maple Cold Foam for the best flavor.

Coffee: Salted Maple Dirty Chai (iced or hot) ($1.50/serving)

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Iced or hot

1 K-cup—6-8 oz

2-4 oz of chai concentrate

1 tsp of maple syrup

½ cup milk

Canned cold foam (ideally Trader Joe’s Salted Maple)

Pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon topping

Directions:

1. Brew a coffee pod into your mug using the 6 or 8 oz setting or brew 3 tsp of coffee grounds in a coffee pot.
2. Add chai concentrate to the brew.
3. Pour milk into a cup and stir.
4. Add maple syrup if wanted. 
5. Put the desired amount of cold foam on top.
6. Sprinkle pumpkin pie or cinnamon spice on top.

Every time fall comes around, I find myself scrolling through aesthetic Pinterest pictures of girls with red bows, chunky knit sweaters and Uggs picking apples at an orchard. I wanted to capture that whimsical feeling with this yogurt parfait.

The best part about it is that it’s quick to make, provides great protein and can be prepared for the week in jars. If you are planning to make several, I would recommend saving the oat crisp in a separate container to top when serving so it doesn’t get soggy.

Breakfast: Spiced Apple Crisp Yogurt Parfait ($2/serving)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 apple, cored and diced (Honeycrisp or Gala)

3 tbsp oat crisp:

3 ½ tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 ½ tbsp old-fashioned oats

2 tbsp chopped pecans (optional)

1 tbsp of cinnamon

Maple syrup (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix flour and brown sugar, then add melted butter into a small pot on medium heat to make the oat crisp.
2. Mix with a fork, until mixture clumps together. Mix in oats and nuts, if using. 
3. Layer ⅓ of oat crisp on the bottom of a jar.
4. Layer ⅓ cup of yogurt next with a drizzle of maple syrup and sprinkle of cinnamon.
5. Layer desired amount of diced apple.
6. Repeat this process until you get to the top of the container.
7. Top with chopped pecans.

Tip: Prepare the oat crisp and use it for other dessert recipes.

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I love stuffing vegetables with mouthwatering fillings. Stuffed peppers, stuffed mushrooms, stuffed artichokes. Why not stuff a butternut squash with turkey, spices and cheese? You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to start stuffing.

There is nothing like tasting a soft, slightly sweet butternut squash roasted with savory spices. Its nuttiness resembles a cross between a pumpkin and a potato. To get a well-rounded flavor profile, I would recommend using the Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute.

Lunch: Stuffed Butternut Squash ($1.50/serving)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Pepper

1 lb. of ground turkey

1 tbsp garlic powder + 1 tbsp onion powder (or Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute)

1 tbsp minced garlic

2 tsp celery salt

2 leaves of fresh rosemary

Mozzarella cheese sauce:

1 cup mozzarella cheese

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and discard or save for another use.
3. Drizzle both halves with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the two halves hollow side up on a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 45 minutes or until fork-tender. 
5. While the squash is roasting, prepare the filling.
6. Pour the ground turkey into a medium-sized pan on medium heat and cook until brown.
7. Season with 21 Seasoning Salute, minced garlic and celery salt.
8. In a small pot over medium heat, combine mozzarella cheese, heavy whipping cream and unsalted butter.
9. Stir until the mixture becomes thick and creamy.
10. When the squash is done roasting, hollow out the middle and place the filling inside.
11. Pour mozzarella sauce on top of the squash and spread evenly.
12. Turn the oven to high broil and place the baking sheet inside to caramelize the cheese for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Remove from the oven and garnish with rosemary leaves.

Tip: Make a double batch of the mozzarella cheese sauce and use it for other recipes.

Who doesn’t remember going to the pumpkin patch in elementary school? Maybe you went through a corn maze chasing your friends or took turns riding in the wheelbarrow. Maybe you went to find the tiniest, largest, brightest or ugliest pumpkin. 

Whatever it is, I hope tasting this dish brings you back to those early days trudging through the fields in rain boots searching for your perfect pumpkin. This creamy pumpkin gnocchi with chicken sausage balances the sweet and savory flavors of the season.

I recommend using the Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage and Pumpkin Gnocchi for a deeper flavor. It pairs wonderfully with the subtle tanginess of the mozzarella cheese sauce.

Dinner: Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi with Chicken Apple Sausage ($3/serving)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pack pumpkin gnocchi

3 links of chicken sausage, sliced (or Trader Joe’s Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage)

1 pouch of cherry tomatoes

2 tbsp of thyme

Oregano to taste (optional)

Mozzarella cheese sauce:

1 cup mozzarella cheese

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Boil 3 quarts of water in a medium-sized pot according to the directions on the gnocchi package.
2. Pour gnocchi in and boil for 2 minutes. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
3. Slice the apple chicken sausage.
4. In a separate pan, cook the apple chicken sausage on medium heat until golden brown. Sear on each side for 2-3 minutes. Once cooked, remove and set aside.
5. In a small pot over medium heat, combine mozzarella cheese, heavy whipping cream and unsalted butter.
6. Stir until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Add desired amount of oregano and stir.
7. Pour mozzarella cheese sauce over the cooked gnocchi and stir.
8. Add apple chicken sausage to the mixture and stir.
9. If the sauce is forming a clump, add 2 tbsp of heavy whipping cream.
10. Turn heat to low.
11. Slice cherry tomatoes in quarters.
12. With the same pan used for the apple chicken sausage, sear the tomatoes. Chop thyme leaves and add to the pan.
13. Pour the tomato mixture into the pasta, turn heat back up to medium for 2 minutes and stir thoroughly.
14. Stir and sprinkle thyme on top if desired.

The warm feeling of sitting by a fire and smelling a caramel apple candle is a core autumn memory of mine. For this dessert recipe, I wanted to capture that essence. For most college students, it is hard to find recipes that are only for one person.

This single-serve apple crumble has the spiced cinnamon and warm apple flavors you won’t want to miss out on. For golden brown topping, I recommend you put the dessert into the oven. However, if you want a quicker process, you can put the apples in the microwave for 2 minutes and add the topping. Then, microwave it for another 2 minutes.

Dessert: Single-Serve Apple Crumble ($1/serving)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 apple, cored and diced (Honeycrisp or Gala)

¼ cup oat crisp

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp caramel sauce (optional)

Chopped pecans or almonds (optional)

3 tbsp oat crisp:

3 ½ tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 ½ tbsp old-fashioned oats

2 tbsp chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small ramekin or oven-safe skillet, mix together the diced apples and cinnamon.
3. Mix flour and brown sugar, then add melted butter into a small pot on medium heat. 
4. Mix with a fork, until mixture clumps together into crumbly balls. Mix in oats and nuts, if using. 
5. Bake for about 20 minutes until the crumble topping is golden brown and apples are tender.
6. Serve warm and top with caramel if desired or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

As the air grows more crisp, these fall recipes bring warmth and comfort to every table. From hearty pasta to a spiced dessert, each dish celebrates the season’s bounty, inviting you to savor the flavors of the harvest with every cozy bite.