• Chili is just one of the quick and cheap dishes you can make in your dorm.chili image by Silvia Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
  
  Living in a college dorm often comes with a meal ticket or meal plan, which gets you access to meals served in the dorm cafeteria. After a few months of eating the same things, you're bound to want a change of pace, but you'll also want something that's cheap and easy to make. Far too many students depend on macaroni and cheese, microwavable soups and Ramen noodles. With a few ingredients and utensils, you can amp up your cooking abilities and make something healthy and delicious in your dorm.
  
  

Baked Potato Bar

• Poke holes in potatoes and cook them in the microwave. Get your dorm mates involved by asking them to bring their favorite baked potato toppings, such as broccoli, cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon and salsa. Steam fresh vegetables in the microwave with a bowl and small amount of water. Top the potatoes with your favorite things. You can even find microwavable bacon or use pre-cooked bacon to make the cooking process faster.
  
  

Taco Salad

• The next time you visit the cafeteria, grab a few extra vegetables for use in a taco salad. Tomatoes, lettuce and olives are the basic vegetables, but try adding your favorites like carrots and onions. Brown hamburger in a slow cooker early in the morning, add a jar of salsa or water and your favorite taco seasoning. Let the hamburger simmer on low heat until you're ready to serve. Top your vegetables with some of the hamburger and then add cheese, taco sauce or salsa, sour cream, guacamole and nacho chips.
  
  

Chili

• Use a crock pot or slow cooker to make chili. Start by setting the slow cooker on high in the morning and browning the hamburger. Once the hamburger is done, add tomato juice, chili powder, beans and anything else you like in your chili. Turn the slow cooker down to low and by the time you get back from your last class, it should be done. Top with sour cream or cheese and serve with crackers and extra hot sauce.
  
  

Beef Stew

• Beef stew is another easy-to-make dish in a slow cooker. Set the slow cooker at its lowest temperature setting and add beef roast. Fill the pot with your favorite fresh vegetables, including onions, carrots and potatoes, but peel the vegetables first and cut them into smaller pieces. Add one cup of water or one cup of tomato juice to keep the meat and vegetables from drying out. Add your favorite seasonings, such as salt, pepper and garlic. Check the slow cooker every few hours and add more water or tomato juice as needed.