How To Cook For One Person

Cooking for one doesn’t have to mean boring meals or excessive leftovers. With the right approach, you can create delicious, balanced meals that fit your needs without creating excess food waste. Whether you’re cooking solo or just looking to improve your daily routine, these tips will help you shop smart, plan meals efficiently and enjoy cooking for yourself.

An easy guide to cooking great meals for one person

Smart shopping for solo meals

When cooking for one, strategic grocery shopping is the key to making mealtimes easy and avoiding waste. Buy fresh produce in smaller quantities to prevent spoilage and focus on versatile ingredients that can be used in multiple dishes. Items like eggs, leafy greens, bell peppers and potatoes can be repurposed in several meals — if you like to cook within a certain cuisine, then you’ll find that most meals use the same few base ingredients anyways!

Canned and frozen goods are excellent options for single-serving meals, too. Canned beans, tomatoes and tuna have long shelf lives, are appropriately portioned and can be easily incorporated into soups, salads or grain bowls in a pinch. In the same way, frozen vegetables and proteins allow you to portion out what you need while keeping the rest preserved for later use. 

Another smart strategy is to shop from bulk bins. Buying grains, nuts and spices in small amounts helps avoid waste and saves money. Instead of purchasing large spice jars that might sit unused for months, scoop out just enough for a few meals and keep only what you use often in larger quantities at home. 

Cooking efficiently without waste

Planning ahead can make cooking for one feel much, much easier than trying to figure it out on the spot.

Instead of following recipes meant for four to six people, look for single-serving meals that allow you to prepare just enough food for one (or one serving plus leftovers for lunch). Websites that specialize in solo recipes or provide easy portion adjustments can be incredibly helpful, so look for those as you’re browsing Pinterest for your next meal inspiration.

Keeping pre-portioned foods in your freezer can also make single-serving meals quick and easy. Freeze cooked grains like rice or quinoa in small portions, store individually wrapped chicken breasts or fish fillets and keep frozen vegetables on hand for last-minute meals. This method reduces prep time and helps prevent food waste, all while keeping your freezer stocked with quality ingredients that still taste fresh!

Cooking methods that work best for one

Certain cooking techniques make preparing meals for one more efficient. 

One-pan dishes — like this sheet pan salmon with roasted vegetables — minimize cleanup while allowing you to cook a full meal all at once. 

Stovetop meals like garlic butter shrimp pasta, ramen noodles or vegetable fried rice are also great choices because they require just one pot or pan. Investing in a quality, heavy-based small skillet or saucepan can make cooking single portions easier without feeling like you’re wasting space or ingredients.

Another useful tool is the air fryer, which quickly cooks proteins and vegetables in small batches. A rice cooker can be handy for cooking small batches of rice, too, and many models can also make cakes, breads, vegetables and more!

Meal prep and batch cooking for one

If you enjoy variety but don’t want to cook every night, meal prepping can be a great solution. Instead of making full meals in advance, prepare components that can be mixed and matched throughout the week. Cook a batch of grains, roast a variety of vegetables and grill or bake a few proteins so you can assemble meals quickly. Invest in some good reusable food containers so that you can make lunches, dinners and even breakfasts ahead of time! 

Soups and stews are also great for batch cooking because they freeze well in individual portions. A hearty lentil soup or chili can be made in advance and stored for easy reheating, and a curry base sauce can be used for a variety of different restaurant-style Indian dishes. 

Enjoying the process of cooking for yourself

Cooking for one can be a rewarding experience when approached with creativity and a sense of enjoyment – by no means does it have to be a chore if you don’t want it to be! Experiment with new flavors, try out different cooking methods and take the time to plate your meals beautifully. Eating alone doesn’t mean you can’t make the experience special, so set the table, light a candle and savor your meal as if you were dining out.

By planning ahead, shopping smart and using efficient cooking techniques, you can make cooking for one an enjoyable and sustainable habit. Whether you’re indulging in a homemade pasta dish or simply whipping up a quick stir-fry, there’s joy in preparing meals that are perfectly suited to you.

Enjoy!

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Featured photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash

Second photo by Le Creuset on Unsplash