Affordable Chinese Food Recipe for Broke College Students: A Budget-Friendly Meal

If you’re a broke college student craving Chinese food but don’t want to break the bank, this quick and easy homemade Chinese meal is the perfect solution. The teen and I were craving some Chinese food recently, but the closest restaurant charges $25 for a large serving of orange or sweet and sour chicken with rice. That’s way too expensive for us! Instead, we decided to create our own budget-friendly version at home.

We had picked up the sauces prior to making this meal last month when we wanted dipping sauces for our vegetables so it worked out perfectly when we had the idea to make this.

Ingredients for Homemade Chinese Food:

• Panda Express Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Panda Express Orange Sauce
• Tyson Popcorn Chicken
• White Jasmine Rice ($6.99 from WinCo)
• Grape Crystal Light ($3.49 on sale)
• Broccoli
• Leftover Hoisin Sauce (from pho splurge during the end of fall quarter around the holidays)

How to Make Cheap and Delicious Chinese Food at Home:

1. Cook the Popcorn Chicken: Follow the baking instructions on the Tyson popcorn chicken package for the perfect crispy texture.
2. Cook the Rice: While the chicken is baking, prepare the jasmine rice. This will make the base for your meal.
3. Sauce It Up: Once the chicken is cooked, place your choice of Panda Express sweet and sour or orange sauce in a bowl and coat the chicken pieces evenly.
4. Assemble the Dish: Scoop some rice onto a plate, add the coated chicken, and throw in some broccoli with Hoisin on the side. Pour yourself a refreshing glass of grape Crystal Light or your choice of drink to complete the meal.

Why This DIY Chinese Meal is Perfect for Broke College Students:

• Cost-Effective: We love that we can make this meal for a fraction of the price of ordering out, and we still have leftover ingredients for future cravings.
• Quick & Easy: With minimal prep time, you can have a homemade Chinese meal ready in no time.
• Customizable: You can mix and match sauces, vegetables, or even swap out the chicken for other proteins to suit your taste.

This homemade Chinese food hits all the right notes—delicious, affordable, and easy to prepare. Plus, we know we’ll have enough ingredients left to make more the next time the Chinese food cravings strike, and our wallets will stay tucked away!