30 Pantry Essentials For Your College Dorm Room

Back to school — it's the best time of the year, so long as you're a major retailer and not a stressed college student trying to wrangle all their clothing, textbooks, and appliances into the trunk of your parent's car before shipping out to school. It can be tough to decide what is absolutely essential to take with you and what is just going to take up a ton of excess space in your cramped dorm room.

One of the things you'll need to bring to college, regardless of where you go, are snacks and pantry items. Although some schools require students to go on a meal plan in a dining hall, you'll need to cover the bases for when the dining hall is open at weird hours, you're on the way to class and can't make it to the dining hall, or are just in a snacky mood. We've assembled some of the most crucial pantry staples you need to have on hand to make your transition to (or back into) college easy.

Breakfasts in college can be tough — especially those 8 a.m. lectures. Oatmeal is a nutritious, fiber-dense breakfast that you can make in a pinch.

Simply add your whole rolled oats to a microwave-safe bowl with milk or water and microwave per the package directions. You can also use oats to make cold overnight oats topped with your favorite dried fruit or peanut butter. Alternatively, you can purchase flavored oatmeal packets for a single-serve breakfast on the go. Our favorite of the most popular oatmeal brand, Quaker Oats, include the raisin, date, and walnut flavor and the protein apples and cinnamon.

Beef jerky is the protein-dense snack that you need to get yourself through hard nights in the library or classes that run back-to-back. One ounce has 9 grams of protein but should be eaten in moderation because it's high in sodium.

If you don't eat red meat or meat altogether, there are some jerky options that you can pick, too. BEYOND Meat makes a plant-based jerky that is packed with a ton of plant-based, gluten-free protein.

Even though a tuna salad may not be the sandwich at the top of your list, canned tuna is still an ingredient you should always have on hand. You can transform canned tuna into a gourmet meal by mixing it with other pantry ingredients like Dijon mustard, canned olives, cannellini beans, or rice, or just eat it out of the can if you're light on your kitchen staples. If you're looking for a healthy alternative, try to buy tuna in water rather than oil.

Protein bars aren't just for athletes and gym rats. These portable, single-serve packs of protein and nutrients are easy to pop in your backpack and eat on your way to class or the gym.

Plus, since protein bars come in so many different flavors and ingredients, you can always find one that fits your lifestyle and flavor preferences. Since protein bars can be expensive, we recommend sampling a couple of different brands before committing to a whole box.

It's unrealistic to expect that you can stock your dorm room kitchen with all of the ingredients to be a professional baker. Instead of stocking your under-bed storage with flour, sugar, eggs, and baking soda, buy a boxed cake mix instead.

Even if you don't have a baking pan and an oven, you can use your cake mix to make a single-serve mug cake. Mix the cake mix with water and oil, pop it in the microwave, and you'll have dessert ready in a matter of minutes.

If you don't have a knack for seafood, you can try eating canned chicken instead of tuna. There are tons of ways to use canned chicken to spruce up your dorm room fare.

Try wrapping it in a tortilla with cheese for an on-the-go lunch, or mix it with mayonnaise for a quick chicken salad. Unlike regular chicken, you won't have to worry about keeping it cold or having the meat take up a ton of space in your tiny dorm room.

Have you ever left the cafeteria and forgot to get ketchup packets for your chicken tenders and fries? It can be agonizing to have to go back and get your condiments — but imagine doing that in the wintertime across campus.

Having a small container of your most commonly used condiments — like ketchup, barbecue sauce, and soy sauce — is a great way always to be prepared. Plus, condiments last a long time, so you won't have to worry about buying them from the store constantly.

Honey is the sweetener that you should always have on hand for your midnight cup of chamomile tea or when you're craving a sweet touch on your morning bowl of oatmeal. It's also the ingredient that stays safe to eat indefinitely, as long as you don't refrigerate it.

The cold temperature makes the honey solidify and crystallize — in turn, making it difficult to work with. If you notice your honey starts to look cloudy, you can warm the honey up in its container and bring it back to its liquid goodness.

Tortilla wraps are an easy, versatile carb to eat with savory or sweet fillings. For breakfast, add a swipe of peanut butter (or, even better, Nutella) and sliced banana to the tortilla and wrap it up. Or, add a bit of canned chicken salad and veggies for a filling, wholesome snack.

Tortilla wraps can keep anywhere from a week to several weeks. For maximum longevity, keep them in an airtight container to prevent moisture encroachment and premature staleness.

Rice is an extremely versatile carbohydrate to have in the kitchen. And you won't have to settle for mushy microwave rice packets either. Instead, add a 1-to-2 ratio of rice to water and cook it in the microwave for about 15 minutes. You may need to leave the rice in a weaker microwave to cook for a bit longer.

Once you have your cooked rice, you can season it with soy sauce or add a protein boost from canned chicken, tuna, or beans. Or, pair it with other carbs in a wrap or sprinkle it on a salad for a bit of texture.

Instant mashed potatoes: Don't knock it until you try it. Since you won't have the stovetop or space needed to prepare a whole batch of spuds, you can whip up some easy mashed potatoes in your dorm room with the help of your microwave and a splash of water. You should always have instant mashed potatoes in your pantry to add to other dishes, like shepherd's pie, potato cakes, or as a crunchy topping for fried chicken or pork chops.

Sometimes, you get bored with eating the same cheesy pasta night after night. If you have a jar of tomato sauce and a box of dry pasta, you can throw a meal together in under 20 minutes.

You can also use pasta sauce as a dip for your frozen mozzarella sticks or make mini chicken parmesans with chicken nuggets and shredded cheese. Once your pasta jar is opened, you should store it in the fridge and eat it within five to six days.

Pasta is a must-have item for any pantry — especially for a college student. Dried pasta lasts a very long time — making it a good option for when you forget to grab dinner on your way home from class.

Not only can you toss it with some butter and seasoning, but you can also use jarred tomato sauce to make a traditional pasta dish. Just don't forget to pick up a container of shelf-stable Parmesan.

Caffeinated beverages are a college essential for any 8 a.m. classes — or just college in general. An electric kettle, mugs, and single-serve coffee machine are three essential kitchen items to bring with you to college so you can make beverages with your favorite beans or tea bags.

You can purchase reusable and refillable K-cup pods if you're looking for a lower-waste alternative for your dorm room. You might also consider buying a dried coffee creamer, sugar, or honey to make your beverage your own.

We couldn't forget about boxed macaroni and cheese. It's a college student staple because it's inexpensive, only requires water, and is perfectly savory and cheesy.

And it doesn't have to be a monotone meal, either. For example, pickled jalapeños are an easy addition to give boxed mac and cheese a spicy kick, or you can consider adding a squirt of sriracha to add some dimension to your pasta. Even a sprinkle of black pepper can take the flavors of your pasta up a notch.