Easy meals for one person can be both a lifesaver and a culinary delight, especially in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives in 2024. As someone who has juggled university assignments, a part-time job, and an alarming number of late-night study sessions, I can confidently say I'm no stranger to the challenge of cooking for one. Imagine my relief when I discovered the magic of whipping up delicious meals for solo diners.
Before diving into the recipes, let's address the elephant in the room: Why is it so hard to find simple single-serving recipes? Trust me, I’ve seen firsthand how most cookbooks and cooking shows tend to cater to families or groups of four or more. But fear not, fellow lone wolves! There's a whole world of quick, easy, and satisfying meals designed specifically for one person. Trust me, it's not just about eating cold pizza or endless bowls of cereal, though they've saved me on more than one occasion!
Another potential point of frustration is the frequent lack of affordable ingredients that don't spoil by the time you’ve had your fill. Over the years, I've learned some ingenious tips to keep those groceries from going bad. Have you ever found yourself staring at a bunch of wilted spinach or forgotten chicken breasts? We've all been there. I once tried to make a "creative" meal out of dubious fridge finds and ended up with something that looked (and tasted) like an experiment gone wrong. Lesson learned.
Not only have I perfected time-saving cooking methods, but I've also stumbled upon some kickass gadgets that make cooking for one a breeze. For instance, who knew a mini blender could transform my weekday breakfast game? Instead of a boring toast, a 5-minute smoothie became my daily ritual, packed with goodness and zero hassle.
In 2024, technology, too, has come to our aid, with countless apps providing easy meal planning and grocery shopping lists tailored specifically for one person. These modern-day miracles have allowed me to explore a variety of healthy and balanced meals without ever feeling overwhelmed.
So, whether you're a college student, a busy professional, or just someone who loves the joy of cooking for themselves, this guide is your ticket to preventing diet monotony and achieving culinary independence. No more languishing over leftovers for days or lamenting complicated recipes! Dive into our curated list of nutrition-packed, flavor-filled meals that you can whip up quickly and enjoy without any fuss. Let's get cooking!
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Garlic Shrimp on Rice
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Photo Credit: mooshee85
Frozen cocktail shrimp are excellent for a quick meal for one. These can be thawed by running them under cold water for a few minutes. I then sauté them in a skillet with minced garlic, diced onions, black pepper, and lots of butter. It only takes about 10 minutes to warm this mix up. The shrimp mix can then be placed on top of cooked pasta or rice, your choice.
Personal Pizza
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Photo Credit: Sakurako Kitsa
I’ve made pizzas with a variety of different crusts; flour tortillas, crust mixes, canned biscuits, and also pre-made pizza crusts. For a thin crispy crust, I like to use the flour tortillas. These also don’t have to be cooked, so the pizza is finished in a matter of minutes. If I don’t mind waiting a bit for a thick crust, then I use canned biscuits. I place the biscuits in a round cake pan and press them together so there isn’t any space between the biscuit dough. This can be baked for 10 minutes, just like regular biscuits, and then all the pizza ingredients are added on top of the finished crust. Using a can of the smaller biscuits makes a perfect personal sized pizza.
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Pasta with Meatballs
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Photo Credit: musicpb
I definitely cheat on this meal. I don’t bother with making my own meatballs; instead I buy a bag of the frozen kind and nuke a handful in the microwave for my pasta dish. Noodles are an excellent food item that can be made in any quantity, so there is little to no amount of leftovers after a meal of pasta. 10 minutes on the stove is all that is needed to cook the noodles to my liking. While these are cooking, I’ll pour some canned sauce in a microwave-safe dish and dump in the frozen meatballs. Heating up the sauce and meatballs in a dish that is fairly large gives me plenty of room to dump my noodles in when they finish cooking too.
Burrito
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Photo Credit: Kat n Kim
I find that burritos themselves are quick and easy, but browning the hamburger is a long process. If you are only cooking a small portion of meat, then it won’t take as long. When I’m in a hurry, I will use refried beans instead of meat or crumble a pre-cooked veggie burger - that I’ve heated up - onto my tortilla and add the rest of the toppings. The great thing about a burrito is that anything goes. Your choice of toppings depends solely on your personal preference.
Eggs Benedict
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Photo Credit: Walter_Ezell
Making this recipe for one person is very easy, since eggs can be cooked in any quantity you want. English muffins are also a food item that can be easily prepared for a single serving. I put the English muffin halves in the toaster, but don’t press the lever down to toast them just yet. Start preparing your Hollandaise sauce, prepare the eggs, and then press the toaster button down when these items are almost finished.
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Potato Pancake
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Photo Credit: sean dreilinger
This recipe can be prepared in a couple of different ways. The potato can be shredded with a cheese shredder or sliced thinly with a knife. I cook both in butter and they take about the same amount of time to make. The appearance will be a bit different, but that’s about it. I usually add some spices to the pancake too. Cook the potato shreds or slices until they are slightly browned and flip the mass just like you would a pancake. I put the finished pancake on a plate and toss some diced tomatoes on top, with a dollop of sour cream on top of them.
Chicken Quesadilla
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Photo Credit: Pillsbury.com
Take an 8 or 10 inch flour tortilla and sprinkle some shredded cheese on top of it. I like to add some chopped onions and some black pepper as well. On top of the cheese mixture, place some shredded chicken. You can also use canned chicken that has been drained of the water, if you want a faster version. Place another tortilla of the same size on top of the mixture and zap in the microwave for 1 minute. Toast both sides of the quesadilla in a skillet until they are a bit crispy and slightly browned. I use a pizza cutter to make my quesadilla more manageable. I find that cutting it into 6 pieces usually is the perfect size.
Having 7 easy meals for one person on-hand will enable you to whip up a quick meal without a lot of waste. Sometimes leftovers are a bonus, but most of the time you don’t really want to eat the same thing for a week. Do you have a favorite recipe for one person that you enjoy making? Is this something you created all on your own? Please share any single-serving recipes you think others will enjoy.
Top Photo Credit: mbyphotography
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