Heterotrophic cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris was investigated in food waste hydrolysate. The highest exponential growth rate in terms of biomass of 0.8 day−1 was obtained in a hydrolysate consisting of 17.9 g L−1 glucose, 0.1 g L−1 free amino nitrogen, 0.3 g L−1 phosphate and 4.8 mg L−1 nitrate, while the growth rate was reduced in higher concentrated hydrolysates. C. vulgaris utilized the nutrients recovered from food waste for the formation of biomass and 0.9 g biomass was produced per gram glucose consumed. The microalgal biomass produced in nutrient sufficient batch cultures consisted of around 400 mg g−1 carbohydrates, 200 mg g−1 proteins and 200 mg g−1 lipids. The conversion of nutrients derived from food waste and the balanced biomass composition make C. vulgaris a promising strain for the recycling of food waste in food, feed and fuel productions.