I took it that this was for a party or pot luck dinner. If it just for feeding themselves, get the college student a crock pot. I taught this to my son and he used it for years.
Purchase the biggest, cheapest cut of beef roast he can afford, put it into the crock pot with onions, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, whatever, pour a little red wine over it (or water), plug it in (forgot to do that this week) and turn on low. Start in morning and it will be ready for supper. This is Sunday supper. THEN add more veggies - beans, corn, peas, more carrots, and more potatoes make a gravy to make stew for Monday supper. THEN add more veggies and water to make veggie beef soup for Tuesday & Wednesday supper. A week of meals from one roast that cooked very tender for Sunday..