cookbook recommendations for college-aged kids

Cooks illustrated monthly subscription - I think they're great, they explain why they do stuff in detail and the food is good. I think I have learned more about cooking from CI than any other source. 

since nola is not here, thug kitchen

The first cookbook I bought for myself was How To Cook Everything. 2000+ basic recipes covering most of the standard meals you would find in an American kitchen. Breakfasts, dinners, desserts, baked goods, meats, fish, and poultry, etc.

The Southern Living Cookbook was one of my first (many years ago) and remains a great resource for me today. I have provided both of my adult offspring with these books as they stepped (ok we pushed them) out of the nest. I would highly recommend it. 

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They're already in school and cooking a bunch now?  When I was in school it was just easier and more convenient to go out and grab something or pop in left overs most of the time.  But if they're into cooking, YouTube cooking channels are great starts, most have websites associated with them to learn more and get more recipes.  Some good channels to check out are Hilah Cooking, Jamie Oliver's Food Tube and a lot of his associated people, Sorted Food, Laura in the Kitchen, Everyday Food, Byron Talbott, Donal Skehan, Food Wishes (he's with Allrecipes.com and does a wide range of different things.  

A better option than Youtube and books, if they're serious about cooking and will use it might be a subscription to something like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh.  I tried a free sample from Hello Fresh, it came with everything I needed right to the door for 3 meals I think, with recipe cards with pictures for each step. Very simple and requires no effort other than prep and cooking, ideal for college kids honestly.  They can save the cards in a binder to the meals they liked and make their own cook book.

 Another vote for "How to Cook Everything." I gave it to my sister when she decided she wanted to learn how to cook at the age of 45. She absolutely loves it.  

Based in your target audience...  A Man, A Can, A plan.

By no means is this a quality cookbook.  Nor is the food overly healthy.  But it is a step more than heating up hot pockets.  I gave this to my brother in law when he went to college.

There is also a microwave and a grill book in the series.  I have never actually looked at those.

When my youngest son moved off campus, I bought him a few book's from Cook's Illustrated. They have a line of "Best" books. I recall I gave him "Best Skillet Recipes," and "Best under 30 Minute Recipes." They used to have a small series of "How-To," which seem to be out of print. I got him "How To Sauté," which not only had methods for various items, but also how to make quick pan sauces from the residue.

Also let him have a small Le Creuset enameled CI pan, which he had been using at hom for fried eggs, grilled cheese, etc.

Saved him a good bit of money, and he got to eat better.

i used a cheap version of this potlifter, no pot needed. open can, eat 1 inch cold, put can on burner and slowly heat, eat from can using potlifter as a handle    roommates tend to leave all the dishes dirty in the sink. you eat the 1 inch to avoid boil over. 

I was given a copy of The Starving Students Cookbook when I moved out. Everything in it was very simple and most could be done on a cook top or with a toaster oven. It was great for when I moved into a studio apartment with a very small kitchen.