As college students, we are constantly in a battle with sleep, homework, studying and making time for self-care and other activities. It is easy to find ourselves turning to fast-food in order to get a warm, pre-made meal cheaply; however, these fast meals are typically not healthy. As much as we would like to eat delicious junk food all day, our bodies need nutrition and protein to function. Below are a couple healthy comfort foods to try out that are both nutritious and delicious.
Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken Tenders
Chicken tenders are a go-to food for most college students. While Grill Nation at NSU’s buffet line offers tasty tenders, you can make them yourself as well.
Ingredients:
For Chicken Tenders
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
For Honey Mustard Glaze
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- To make the honey mustard glaze, whisk together mayonnaise, honey and both mustards in a small bowl; set aside.
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, to taste.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. In another large bowl, combine breadcrumbs, paprika and vegetable oil; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Working one at a time, dredge chicken in the flour, dip into the egg mixture, then dredge into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to coat.
- Place chicken onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the chicken is completely cooked through.
- Serve with honey mustard glaze.
Spaghetti Squash Mac & Cheese
Macaroni and cheese has been America’s comfort food since as early as the start of the 20th century, and, to this day, not much has changed. With health trends rising, a variety of macaroni and cheese recipes have emerged, and below is another delicious one.
Ingredients:
For Spaghetti Squash
- 2 small/medium spaghetti squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided.
Instructions:
For Spaghetti Squash
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut both spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds,scooping them out with a metal spoon.
- Brush the inside with olive oil or spray with an olive oil spray, and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
- Place cut-side down in a baking dish.
- Fill baking dish ¼ inch with water.
- Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-60 minutes or until the squash is soft to the touch. It will compress down when pushed lightly.
- Remove from the oven. Turn the cut-side to the top and let cool.
- Use a fork to shred the spaghetti squash, being careful not to poke holes in the shell.
- Leave shredded spaghetti squash in the shell while you make the cheese sauce.
For the Cheese Sauce
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a small bowl, combine flour sea salt and garlic powder. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Whisk constantly until ingredients just start to brown (about 1-2 minutes).
- Add milk and whisk until mixture is smooth.
- Continue cooking over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil and starts to thicken (about 3-5 minutes).
- Once mixture is thick, add 2 cups of shredded cheese and whisk until the cheese is completely melted.
- Once cheese sauce is smooth, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Distribute cheese sauce evenly among shredded spaghetti squash.
- Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese on the top is melted and lightly brown.
For a few more comforting recipes, visit
