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    Home » Recipe Index » Cooking for One

    The Best Single Serving Recipes

    November 20, 2022 Updated February 22, 2023 By Rebecca Cooking for One, Easy Recipes, Nourished Life, Wellness

    4 photos of food, collage

    Cooking for one is hard for lots of people, but with a toolkit of easy single serving recipes, cooking tips, and meal planning tips, it can be easy, enjoyable, and totally doable. No more boring dinners because it doesn't seem worth it!

    4 dishes with text overlay "the best 32 single serving recipes'

    Table of contents

    • Cooking for One Tips
    • Breakfast Recipes for One
    • Chicken Recipes for One
    • Vegetarian Recipes for One
    • Pork Recipes for One
    • Seafood Recipes for One
    • Dessert Recipes for One

    Cooking for One Tips

    These single serving recipes are a great place to get started if you cook for one, but here are a couple easy cooking for one resources to make cooking easy and more enjoyable.

    • Cooking for One Pantry Essentials
    • Chicken Recipes for One
    • Pantry Recipes for One
    • Meal Planning for One
    • Free Cooking for One Cookbook
    • Cooking for One Cooking Hacks
    • Pasta Recipes for One
    • Small Batch Dessert Recipes

    Breakfast Recipes for One

    Peanut Butter Yogurt
    Make this 3 ingredient peanut butter yogurt bowl for a delicious high-protein breakfast. It's great with granola or used as a snack dip for apples and graham crackers.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of yogurt with granola and yellow peach slices
    Microwave Egg in a Cup (or bowl)
    Make this easy microwave egg in a cup (or bowl) for a quick breakfast for one, it can be made in under 10 minutes and is ready to grab and go. It's fluffy, creamy, and you can add so many delicious toppings!
    Check out this recipe
    close up of cooked eggs with spinach, tomatoes
    Baked Oats for One
    Quickly assemble this baked oats for one and let your oven do all the work while you're getting ready for the day.
    Check out this recipe
    one baked oatmeal cup on a white plate with more cups around plate
    Apple Pie Overnight Oats
    Microwaved apples, cinnamon, and maple syrup turn into a syrupy soft, topping for your new favorite fall breakfast: apple pie overnight oats. This recipe still takes just 5-7 minutes to make, and will make your morning so delicious.
    Check out this recipe
    Jar full of oats, yogurt, and cooked apples

    Chicken Recipes for One

    Chicken Pecan Salad with Apples
    This chicken pecan salad, just like other chicken salad recipes are fantastic throw together lunch or dinner. Use precooked chicken, crisp green apple, pecans, and a Greek yogurt/mayonnaise dressing for a tangy salad.
    Check out this recipe
    open faced chicken salad sandwich with sides on plate
    Creamy Mushroom Chicken with Rice
    This comforting, cheesy, creamy mushroom chicken with rice is the perfect fall recipe. It's done in about 25 minutes in just one pot, so you can have a delicious dinner in no time and with just a bit of clean-up.
    Check out this recipe
    mushrooms and chicken over rice on a white and grey plate
    Watermelon Chicken Salad
    Bring watermelon onto your dinner plate with this easy watermelon chicken salad. It's made with sweet juicy watermelon, tender chicken, peppery arugula, salty feta, and chewy barley. This salad is summer on a plate, no doubt!
    Check out this recipe
    large bowl full of watermelon, blueberries, feta cheese on a table
    One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
    Make this 20 minute, pantry ingredient, one pot chicken parmesan pasta with crispy breadcrumbs instead of traditional crispy, cheesy chicken parmesan without the extra time, steps, and mess.
    Check out this recipe
    square photo of spiral pasta with tomatoes on a black plate with a fork
    Chicken Bacon Sheet Pan Dinner
    This easy chicken bacon sheet pan dinner with brussels sprouts is the best way to enjoy fall and winter flavors without much effort at all. I mean, you literally let your oven do all the work. It just takes about 45 minutes from start to finish, and you can let your oven do 90% of the work.
    Check out this recipe
    chicken with bacon on top next to brussels sprouts on a grey plate
    Instant Pot Chicken and Mushroom Soup
    This creamy, comforting chicken and mushroom soup with wild rice is the perfect winter recipe to warm up with. It just takes about 15 minutes hands-on time and is ready to eat in about 50 minutes. Use frozen chicken to make it even easier!
    Check out this recipe
    close up of mushroom and wild rice soup in a bowl
    Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
    This easy buffalo chicken flatbread recipe is tangy, spicy, and cheesy. It's perfect if you've got precooked chicken and a few random vegetables. This pizza, depending on the size of your flatbread, serves 1-2 people.
    Check out this recipe
    buffalo chicken flatbread with ranch on top
    One Pot Chicken Bacon and Mushroom Pasta
    Combine the best salty, earthy, and meaty flavors in this 20 minute creamy one pot chicken bacon and mushroom pasta. Quickly cook your pasta while preparing your mushrooms then add it back after cooking the meat and mushrooms for a super easy one pot dinner for one.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of pasta with mushrooms, bacon, and chicken with a fork in it

    Vegetarian Recipes for One

    Protein Mac and Cheese
    Craving a high protein mac and cheese recipe that's silky, creamy, and cheesy? One secret ingredient in this pasta recipe adds silkiness and protein without changing the taste of this delicious macaroni and cheese.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of protein mac and cheese in a bowl
    Coconut Green Lentil Curry
    This easy and delicious lentil spinach curry recipe for one is a great way to try out a vegan recipe with lentils. It's bursting with flavor and takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.
    Check out this recipe
    lentil curry on white and pink plate
    Pantry Rice and Bean Soup
    Throw together this 30 minute rice and bean soup with a handful of pantry ingredients. This soup can be made in one pot, with uncooked rice, salsa, broth, seasonings, and whatever beans and veggies you have.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of tortilla soup with cheese
    Refried Bean Tacos
    These refried bean tacos are hands down the easiest and most delicious 10 minute dinner. All you need to do is scour your fridge and pantry for a few essentials like refried beans, taco seasoning, veggies, cheese and salsa.
    Check out this recipe
    two tacos with red cabbage and cilantro on a plate
    Delicata Squash Soup
    Switch up your fall soup game with this easy 30 minute delicata squash soup. It's vegetarian (vegan if you want!), hearty, and bursting with flavor. Serve it with a grilled cheese for a delicious cool weather dinner.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of vegetable soup in a white bowl
    Chapati Roll with Summer Vegetables
    This chapati roll, or rolex as it's called in Uganda is the perfect super easy lunch or dinner recipe. All you need is an uncooked tortilla, eggs, cheese, and your fave seasonal vegetables.
    Check out this recipe
    slices of eggs rolled in tortilla
    Warm Harvest Bowl with Crispy Tofu
    This vegetarian harvest bowl with tofu, apples and maple glazed winter squash is a great make-ahead meal for lunches during the week, or a delicious vegetarian dinner. Batch cook each ingredient to use it in even more recipes for the week.
    Check out this recipe
    warm harvest bowl with apples and squash with wild rice and barley on table

    Pork Recipes for One

    Pan Seared Pork Chop
    This pan seared pork chop are the perfect one pan weeknight meal for one. It's delicious, easy, and quick.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of pan seared pork chop, green beans, potatoes and a lemon on a plate
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Vegetables
    These easy pan fried pork chops with apples are the perfect easy meal after a long day. They cook up in 15 minutes and just in one pan.
    Check out this recipe
    skillet pork chops with apples and vegetables on a white plate

    Seafood Recipes for One

    Jerk Shrimp Pasta
    Make this jerk shrimp pasta if you're in the mood for a 20 minute dinner that's spicy, creamy, and bursting with flavor! It's similar to the Jamaican Italian fusion Rasta Pasta, but can be adapted to use up ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
    Check out this recipe
    close up of jerk shrimp pasta in a bowl
    Instant Pot Fish from Frozen
    This Instant Pot steamed white fish recipe is the easiest way to cook fish. Not only is it easy, but it comes out tender, flaky, and perfect in less than 15 minutes. Oh and did I mention that you can cook cod, tilapia, or halibut this way from frozen? No need to plan ahead or defrost it before cooking.
    Check out this recipe
    cod with lemon on top next to couscous and broccoli
    Cajun Foil Packets
    Whether you're camping or need a really easy dinner that requires zero clean-up, these super simple cajun foil packets are perfect. They're filled with shrimp, potatoes, corn and other seasonal veggies.
    Check out this recipe
    corn, zucchini, potatoes, and sausage in a bowl
    Easy Baked Salmon in a Bag
    This easy baked salmon in a bag recipe is bursting with flavor and moisture, you wouldn't believe how easy it is, or that it's done in less than 25 minutes. It's cooked in parchment paper to maintain moisture without any effort. Plus, it's got the easiest clean up ever.
    Check out this recipe
    salmon with broccoli and lemon slices in parchment paper
    Fish Tacos with White Sauce and Orange Salsa
    Enjoy fresh and flavorful fish tacos with white sauce during the winter by topping them with a sweet and tangy orange salsa made with Cara Cara oranges. What's even better is that this easy fish taco recipe has only 10 ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of fish tacos with white sauce and orange salsa on a plate

    Dessert Recipes for One

    Biscoff Milkshake
    This 4 ingredient Biscoff milkshake is the perfect easy dessert when you're in need. Caramel and cinnamon flavors of Biscoff cookies and butter, blend together with creamy vanilla ice cream for this delicious treat.
    Check out this recipe
    Milkshake with crumbled Biscoff cookies on top
    Strawberry Banana Milkshake
    This 6 ingredient strawberry banana milkshake is a pantry staple for all strawberry ice cream lovers. It's packed with bright strawberry flavor and made with ingredients you can find in your fridge and freezer.
    Check out this recipe
    whole strawberry and whipped cream in glass
    Single Serving Apple Crisp
    This single serving apple crisp is the perfect easy fall dessert for one. It takes just 10 minutes to assemble, and about 30 to bake. It's good out of the oven, but honestly really shines at room temperature-if you can wait!
    Check out this recipe
    close up of apple crisp with ice cream
    Butterscotch Milkshake
    Easy milkshakes, like this butterscotch milkshake are a great spring/summer dessert to cool down with. This 3 ingredient milkshake takes just 5 minutes to make too
    Check out this recipe
    milkshake with caramel in glass
    Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie
    Make this single serve chocolate chip cookies when you're in the mood for chocolate chip cookies, but don't have freezer or counter room. It's really easy, delicious, and will leave you with one big crispy, gooey, chocolatey cookie.
    Check out this recipe
    broken chocolate chip cookie
    Skillet Peach Crumble
    You're just 15 minutes away from a warm dish of peach crumble. This peach dessert is made on the stove, and is the perfect quick summer dessert for one.
    Check out this recipe
    peach crumble in a bowl with ice cream

    Did you make any of these single serving recipes? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!

    Want to get more single serving recipes delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

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    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      November 21, 2022 at 5:36 pm

      It's always hard deciding what to make when you're on your own. This list will definitely come in handy. Bookmarking now.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        November 27, 2022 at 5:48 pm

        great! enjoy

        Reply
    2. Sara Welch says

      November 21, 2022 at 6:22 pm

      Such a great round of of dishes for one! Looking forward to enjoying most of these over the Thanksgiving break; especially after cooking for many friends and family!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        November 27, 2022 at 5:48 pm

        awesome! enjoy

        Reply
    3. Anjali says

      November 21, 2022 at 7:13 pm

      Love all of these single serving recipe ideas!! They all look so tasty I can't decide which one to try first - but it might have to be the Chapati Roll with Summer Vegetables - looks like a delicious lunch recipe!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        November 27, 2022 at 5:48 pm

        it's so good! enjoy

        Reply
    4. Tara says

      November 21, 2022 at 11:00 pm

      Bookmarked this for later! Thank you so much for sharing. My husband and I tend to disagree on what to eat so this is perfect. So excited to try the butterscotch milkshake!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        November 27, 2022 at 5:49 pm

        oh perfect, enjoy the milkshake

        Reply
    5. Ieva says

      November 22, 2022 at 2:01 am

      Thank you so much for this beautiful collection of recipes! My husband travels with work quite a bit, and I always find myself struggling to find things to eat on my own. Cannot wait to try some of these recipes 🙂

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        November 27, 2022 at 5:49 pm

        oh perfect! enjoy

        Reply

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    Rebecca, MS, RDN
    of Nourish Nutrition

    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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