Discover Irresistible and Healthy Single Serving Recipes to Satisfy Every Craving!

Cooking for one can often feel like a chore, especially when recipes are designed for multiple servings. However, with a little creativity and the right recipes, cooking for yourself can be an enjoyable and nourishing experience. This article provides a variety of single-serving recipes for every meal of the day, along with tips and tricks to make cooking for one easier and more exciting.

Breakfast Recipes

Start your day with these delicious and easy single-serving breakfast options:

Easy Pancakes for One: This recipe is perfect for those mornings when you crave pancakes without the hassle of leftovers. It includes a buttermilk flavor hack, ideal for when you don't have buttermilk on hand.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Yogurt Bowl: A quick and high-protein breakfast option that is both satisfying and easy to prepare.
Easy Microwave Egg in a Cup: A super quick breakfast that cooks in just 1.5-2 minutes, resulting in fluffy, soufflé-like eggs.
Homemade Waffles for One: These waffles are easy to make in 30 minutes (including resting time!) and use pantry ingredients with a buttermilk substitute if needed.
Apple Pie Overnight Oats: Microwaved apples with cinnamon and maple syrup create a syrupy topping for your overnight oats, perfect for a fall-inspired breakfast.
Berry Omelette: A one-egg omelette makes a high protein breakfast. If the brain-boosting berries aren't sweet enough, add 1 tsp honey.
Creamy yogurt porridge: This delicious oaty breakfast is low in fat and calories and will keep you full all morning. Serve with one of our suggested toppings.
Baked Sweet Potatoes: Top baked sweet potatoes with breakfast favorites to power up your morning.

Lunch Recipes

Enjoy a satisfying and healthy lunch with these single-serving recipes:

Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich: Use leftover chicken (or freshly cooked) to make this sandwich in about 15 minutes. Tender chicken, crispy bacon, herby ranch, and gooey cheese create the perfect filling.
Tangy Mediterranean Grain Bowl: Ready in 20 minutes, this bowl is packed with pantry ingredients that can be swapped based on what you have on hand. The dressing is a key element, so adjust it to your liking.
Apple Pecan Chicken Salad: A quick 10-minute lunch or dinner option, using precooked chicken, green apple, pecans, and a Greek yogurt/mayonnaise dressing for a tangy salad.
Veggie Olive Wraps with Mustard Vinaigrette: Eat the rainbow with our simple, healthy, veggie wrap. This olive and veg sandwich makes an easy vegan, low-calorie lunch option to eat al-desko.
Chicken Taco Salad: A crunchy chicken salad that's zesty, healthy and 4 of your 5-a-day.
Curried mango & chickpea pot: Make this spiced mango, red cabbage, spinach and chickpea salad as a speedy packed lunch for one.
Spicy courgette pitta pockets: Treat yourself to a solo supper of grilled vegetables, served in bread pockets with tahini, hummus, broad beans and harissa.
HATS: hummus, avocado, tomato and shallots: These are ingredients I almost always have on hand for a tasty, quick and healthy lunch.

Dinner Recipes

These single-serving dinner recipes are flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for a satisfying meal:

Panko Chicken: This recipe is very easy to make. Throw some potato wedges and vegetables in with it to make a one-pan dinner in about 30 minutes.
Mushroom Chicken with Rice: A comforting, cheesy, creamy dish that is perfect for fall. This 30-minute dinner is flavorful, colorful, and full of different textures and flavors.
Watermelon Chicken Salad: Enjoy the best summer flavors with this salad made with sweet, juicy watermelon, tender chicken, peppery arugula, salty feta, and chewy barley.
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta: A 20-minute, pantry-ingredient meal that is both easy and delicious.
Vermicelli Chicken Bowl: Full of juicy chicken with sweet, tangy, and salty flavors, paired with crisp vegetables.
Chicken and Mushroom Soup with Wild Rice: A creamy, comforting winter recipe that takes about 15 minutes of hands-on time and is ready to eat in about 50 minutes.
Buffalo Chicken Flatbread: Ready in 15 minutes, this flatbread is tangy, spicy, and cheesy.
Creamy One Pot Chicken Bacon and Mushroom Pasta: Combine salty, earthy, and meaty flavors in this 20-minute dish. 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.
Protein Mac and Cheese: Silky, creamy, cheesy, and ready in 20 minutes.
Sticky Tofu: An easy tofu recipe with a flavorful sauce. Pan fry the tofu in cornstarch for crispy edges, then add the soy sauce-based sauce to thicken it up and add lots of flavor to your tofu.
Lentil Spinach Curry: A great way to try out a vegan recipe with lentils.
Rice and Bean Soup: Throw together this 30-minute soup with a handful of pantry ingredients.
Italian Beans: An easy one-pot vegetarian dinner that's cooked in the Instant Pot. Cook white beans from dried to get tender, richly flavored beans.
Refried Bean Tacos: The easiest and most delicious 10-minute dinner. Scour your fridge and pantry for essentials like refried beans, taco seasoning, veggies, cheese, and salsa.
Delicata Squash Soup: Switch up your fall soup game with this easy 30-minute soup. It's vegetarian (vegan if you want!), hearty, and bursting with flavor.
Vegetarian Harvest Bowl with Tofu: A great make-ahead meal for lunches during the week, or a delicious vegetarian dinner, featuring tofu, apples, and maple-glazed winter squash.
Meatloaf for One: Made with ground beef, turkey, or a combination, and baked in just 20 minutes.
Chili without Tomatoes: Perfect if you don't have or don't like diced tomatoes in your chili. In about 30 minutes, you've got a hearty chili full of ground beef, beans, onion, green bell pepper, and warm comforting spices.
Swedish Meatballs: Made with ground beef and/or pork, and simmered in a creamy sauce. Serve over noodles.
Panko Pork Chop with Vegetables: A 20-minute, one-pan meal with crispy panko breading adding a nice crunch to a tender pork chop.
Pan Fried Pork Chops with Apples: The perfect easy meal after a long day.
Pork Stir Fry: An easy, flavorful dish that's great over rice.
Jerk Shrimp Pasta: If you're in the mood for a 20-minute dinner that's spicy, creamy, and bursting with flavor!
Instant Pot Fish: The easiest way to cook fish, resulting in tender, flaky, and perfect fish in less than 20 minutes. Serve hot with lemon herb couscous.
Shrimp Foil Packet: Make this single-serving shrimp foil packet in the oven for a 20-minute dinner.
Baked Salmon in a Bag: Bursting with flavor and moisture, and done in less than 25 minutes.
Fish Tacos with White Sauce: 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.
Miso mushroom & tofu noodle soup: Rustle up this miso, mushroom and tofu noodle soup with just six simple ingredients.
Sweet & sour tofu: Enjoy our sweet and sour tofu for one. With pineapple, red pepper, onion and Chinese flavourings, it’s vegan and healthy, delivering three of your 5-a-day.
Vegetarian ramen: Rustle up this warming veggie ramen in just 15 minutes. Think of it as healthy fast food - it's low-fat, low-calorie and low-cost as well.
Miso broccoli, egg & quinoa salad: Pack a lunch that will power you through the afternoon with this healthy miso and lime-dressed salad with broccoli, peas, boiled egg and radishes.
Chicken meatballs with quinoa & curried cauliflower: If you're looking for a healthy bowl of flavourful chicken and veg to re-energise after a workout, these meatballs with quinoa and curried cauliflower will do the job.
Quick gazpacho: Packed with vitamin C, low fat and counts as two of your five a day - this should be on the menu every week!
Mussels in red pesto: Mussels are full of omega-3, iron and protein - try yours cooked in red pesto and wine.
Punchy spaghetti: Eat pasta and stay healthy with this punchy spaghetti with courgette, tomatoes and anchovies.
Brothy Chicken With Ginger and Bok Choy: Even steaming can overcook chicken. I’m all about creating recipes that are easy, healthy, and delicious. I especially love one-pan cooking. It not only makes meal prep a breeze but also keeps cleanup simple, giving you more time in the evening for things you enjoy.

Dessert Recipes

Treat yourself to a single-serving dessert without the temptation of leftovers:

Read also: The Hoxsey Diet

Biscoff Milkshake: Takes 5 minutes and 4 ingredients, perfect for when you need a quick dessert.
Single Serving Apple Crumble Tart: The perfect cool-weather dessert. To save time, add a few ingredients to half of the shortbread-like crust recipe to make the crumble topping.
Single Serve Brownie: Satisfy your chocolate craving with this recipe that takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
Strawberry Banana Milkshake: A satisfying, quick dessert for one that takes just 5 minutes and 6 ingredients.
Single Serve Apple Crisp: An easy fall dessert that takes just 10 minutes to assemble and about 30 to bake.
Creamy Butterscotch Milkshake: Made with just 3 ingredients when you use store-bought butterscotch sauce, or make it with an easy butterscotch recipe.
Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie: Perfect with crispy edges and a gooey middle, great when you're in the mood for chocolate chip cookies but don't want leftovers.
Peach Crumble: Made on the stove in just 15 minutes, this is the perfect quick summer dessert for one. All you need are fresh or canned peaches and a couple of pantry ingredients for the tasty crumble topping.

Additional Single Serving Recipes

Here are some more single-serving recipe ideas:

Crispy Tofu With Maple-Soy Glaze: Draining the tofu and squeezing out as much water as possible (without smashing it) is the key to the crispiest cubes.
Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini: A quick sear gives corn kernels caramelized edges and concentrated flavor.
Lamb Chops with Tomato Salad: Allow the lamb fat to render out gently to become part of the sauce.
Spiced Baby Eggplants: The farmers’ market in high summer is the best bet for finding the small, inky-purple, round eggplants used in this recipe.
Crisp and Crunchy Chicken Salad: Change up the crunchy vegetables as you wish-any sturdy veggie that you enjoy eating raw will be equally good.
Ginger Scallion Ramen Noodles: Double the batch of this savory, gingery, simple weeknight sauce, and you’ll always have a way to brighten up simple grilled or pan-roasted chops, roasted veggies, or grain bowls.
Eggplant and Cabbage Dinner Frittata: Transfer it to a 350° oven to finish cooking through if you aren’t sure about inverting it to get it out of the pan.
Grilled Scallops With Lemony Salsa Verde: Choose scallops that are “dry” (not stored in liquid preservatives). Larger is better; small ones could overcook before browning.
Fattoush With Queso Fresco: Toasty pita chips, crisp romaine, and cool cucumbers make for a Middle Eastern-style salad that comes together on the fly.
Roasted Squash and Grains with Tahini-Honey: Make a double batch of the tahini-honey sauce at the beginning of the week to use on salads, as a dip for crunchy vegetables, or drizzled over seared salmon.
Seared Steak with Cipolline Onions and Radicchio: Your butcher might know bavette cut as “flap steak”; if not, go with sirloin, hanger, or flank instead.
Sambal Chicken Skewers: This spicy, sticky glazed chicken features sambal oelek, a bright and punchy chile-packed condiment.
Creamy mushrooms on toast: Make these creamy mustard mushrooms on toast for a quick and healthy vegetarian breakfast, served with a light cream cheese sauce and a sprinkling of chives.
Egg & soldiers: We love this spin on the traditional using asparagus soldiers for your dippy egg - a great low-fat, gluten-free snack or light lunch.

Healthy Snack Recipes

Crab-Filled Phyllo Cups: If you're out of crab, water-packed tuna works well too.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Kick them up a notch with instant coffee and cocoa powder for a mix that’s mocha genius at any time of year.
Homemade Crackers: These homemade crackers are decidedly light and crispy. An addictive snack on their own, they also pair well with a sharp white cheddar.
Mini Peppers: Mini peppers are so colorful and are the perfect size for a two-bite appetizer. They have all the crunch of pita chips but without the extra calories.
Rosemary Walnuts: The use of cayenne adds an unexpected zing to the savory combo of rosemary and walnuts. When you need a good housewarming or hostess gift, double the batch and save half for yourself.

Healthy Side Dish Recipes

Sauteed Chard: Stir up these good-for-you greens with garlic and red onion.
Zucchini Salad: Fresh zucchini gets a shave and a drizzle of lemony goodness in this fab salad. Sprinkle the goat cheese or feta on top and dive in.
Cucumber Salad: This fast, fresh salad is a winner at every get together. It's an easygoing, healthy side dish for kabobs, chicken or anything hot off the grill.
Brussels Sprouts: They were seasoned to perfection and lightly sweetened. It has just the right amount of garlic and sweetness.
Sugar Snap Peas: Lemon-pepper seasoning and garlic make these crisp-tender sugar snap peas flavorful and an ideal accompaniment to a variety of entrees. You'll come to rely on this five-ingredient dish.
Cajun Eggplant: Thanks to the Cajun seasoning, the zesty eggplant gets more attention than an ordinary veggie.
Radishes and Green Beans: Green beans and wax beans round out this dish.
Warm Potato Salad: Sometimes I use Yukon Gold potatoes to make it even prettier.

Recipes with Nutritional Information

Tilapia with Herb Crust: 1 fillet: 256 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 251mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 34g protein.
Rosemary Pork: 3 ounces cooked pork: 163 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 488mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein.
Grilled Chicken with Plum Sauce: 1 fillet with 1/2 plum and 2 tablespoons sauce: 325 calories, 18g fat (3g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 460mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein.
Jicama Salad: 3/4 cup: 76 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 123mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 1g protein.
Nicoise Salad: 1 serving (calculated without olives): 233 calories, 8g fat (0 saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 583mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 16g protein.
Carrot Salad: 3/4 cup: 184 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 157mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein.
Frittata: 1 serving: 160 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 372mg cholesterol, 299mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein.
Cod with Bacon: 1 fillet with 1/4 cup tomato mixture and 1 tablespoon bacon: 178 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 485mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein.
Kale with Tomatoes and Garlic: 2/3 cup: 137 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 216mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
Chicken Breast with Pesto: 1 stuffed chicken breast half: 374 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 582mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 44g protein.
Salmon with Basil: 1 salmon fillet: 294 calories, 18g fat (3g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 381mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein.
Beet and Nectarine Salad: 1 cup: 84 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 371mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein.
Oranges with Vanilla: 3/4 cup: 86 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 7mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Roasted Beets: 3 beet wedges: 92 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 328mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein.
Melon Salad: 1-1/2 cups: 159 calories, 14g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
Homemade Yogurt: 1 cup: 151 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 107mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 8g protein.
Steak with Salsa Verde: 1 serving: 263 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 571mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.
Strawberry Salsa: 1/4 cup: 19 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
Salmon with Tomato Mixture: 1 fillet with 3/4 cup tomato mixture: 318 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 674mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 28g protein.
Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese: 2/3 cup: 81 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 205mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
Egg Omelet with Goat Cheese: 1 omelet: 143 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 489mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein.
Fruit Salad: 3/4 cup: 56 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
Whole Wheat Pancakes: 2 pancakes: 155 calories, 4g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 293mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 7g protein.
Grilled Chicken with Tomato Blend: 1 serving: 177 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 171mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein.
Fruit Salsa: 1/4 cup: 48 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
Lemon Chicken: 1 serving: 141 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 184mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein.
Fruit and Yogurt: 3/4 cup: 97 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 22mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein.
Chicken Souvlaki Wrap: 1 wrap: 239 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 560mg sodium.
Superfood Salad: 1 cup: 207 calories, 14g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 235mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 7g protein.
Grilled Chicken: 1 each: 207 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 105mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 34g protein.
Cooked Fish: 3 ounces cooked fish: 220 calories, 15g fat (3g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 377mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 19g protein.

Tips for Cooking for One

Plan Your Meals: Planning your meals in advance can help you avoid food waste and ensure you have all the necessary ingredients on hand.
Embrace Leftovers: While these recipes are designed for single servings, don't be afraid to scale them up and enjoy the leftovers for lunch the next day.
Stock Your Pantry: Keep your pantry stocked with staples like grains, beans, canned goods, and spices to make cooking easier and more convenient.
Freeze Ingredients: Freeze individual portions of meat, poultry, and seafood to thaw when you plan on using them. Buy managers special or sale items to store for later.
Get Creative with Ingredients: Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create your own unique single-serving recipes.
Make it Enjoyable: Put on some music, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy the process of cooking for yourself.

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