This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A 1.5 to 2 quart slow cooker is the right size when cooking for one person. If you already own a large one, you don’t need to buy anything, since a small oven-safe dish set inside it works just as well.
Table of Contents
- How I Test Slow Cooker Recipes For One
- What Size Slow Cooker Do You Need For One Person?
- How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Sizes Explained
- How To Adjust Cook Times For Smaller Portions
- Slow Cooker Tips When Cooking For One
- Slow Cooker vs. Crock Pot
- Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
- Frequently Asked Questions
How I Test Slow Cooker Recipes For One
Years ago, when I was starting out with single serving recipes, I heard about setting a small dish inside a large slow cooker. I tested it to see whether it actually worked, and it did. The food cooked the way it should, and I used that method for a good while in the early days.
These days I test our recipes in a 1.5 quart and a 2 quart, since that’s the size the recipes are written for. But I still point readers to the dish method when they write in asking whether they need to buy a mini crock pot. Most of them already own a slow cooker, and it does the job.
What Size Slow Cooker Do You Need For One Person?
A 1.5 to 2 quart slow cooker is the right size for one person. It holds enough for a single serving of soup, stew, or a small roast, with room left over so the food isn’t crowded.
Size matters more with a slow cooker than with most appliances, because these work best when the pot is two-thirds to three-quarters full. That fill level is what creates the steam and even heat the method depends on. Put one portion of stew in the bottom of a 6 quart cooker and it spreads thin across a wide base, cooks faster than the recipe says, and can scorch at the edges before the middle is done.
If you cook for two, or you like having a little extra, a 3 quart handles that comfortably.
Here’s the part worth knowing before you buy anything: you probably don’t need a second slow cooker. If you already own a large one, a small oven-safe dish set inside it gives you the same result. That’s the method in the next section.
How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
You don’t need a second appliance. Set a smaller oven-safe dish inside the large cooker and you’ve made it the right size for one.
- Choose a dish that fits. Any oven-safe bowl or baking dish works as long as there’s room around it for the lid to close and for heat to move. A ramekin or a small ceramic baking dish is about right for one serving. Ours are oven safe to 500°F, so they handle it easily.
- Fill it two-thirds to three-quarters full. Same rule as the cooker itself. Underfill and the food cooks too fast. Overfill and it heats unevenly or bubbles over.
- Set it in the cooker. Place the dish in the center so the heat reaches it from all sides.
- Cover and cook. Keep the lid on. Every time you lift it, heat escapes and the cooking time stretches. Wait until you’re near the end before checking.
- Start checking early. A smaller amount of food cooks faster, so begin checking for doneness 20 to 30 percent sooner than the recipe says.
Slow Cooker Sizes Explained
Slow cookers run from about 1.5 quarts to 8, and the size determines how many people it feeds and what it’s good for.
| Size | Feeds | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 to 2 quarts | 1 person | Single servings, dips, sauces |
| 3 quarts | 2 people | Small roasts, soups for two |
| 4 to 5 quarts | 3 to 4 people | Everyday family cooking |
| 6 quarts | 5 to 6 people | Large roasts, batch cooking |
| 7 to 8 quarts | 7 or more | Entertaining, whole cuts of meat |
Most slow cooker recipes are written for a 4 to 6 quart, which is why a recipe often needs adjusting when you’re cooking for one.
If you’re outside the US, sizes are usually given in litres. A 1.5 quart is close to 1.4 litres, and a 3 quart is about 2.8, so a 1.5 litre model is the one to look for if you cook for one.
How To Adjust Cook Times For Smaller Portions
A smaller amount of food cooks faster, so a recipe written for a full 6 quart cooker won’t hold when you’re making one serving. Start checking 20 to 30 percent earlier than the recipe says, then go by doneness rather than the clock.
| Low | High |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 hours | 3 to 4 hours |
| 7 to 9 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| 8 to 10 hours | 5 to 6 hours |
These are approximate, since every slow cooker heats a little differently. Older models tend to run cooler than newer ones, which are built to reach a safe temperature faster.
Low is usually the better setting when you’re cooking for one. It’s more forgiving with small amounts, and there’s less risk of the edges overcooking before the center is done.
Slow Cooker Tips When Cooking For One
Brown the meat first. Slow cooking doesn’t brown, so a few minutes in a hot skillet before the meat goes in adds flavor you can’t get any other way. It matters more in a small batch, where there’s less of everything to build on.
Cut large pieces of meat smaller. The USDA recommends this so the meat reaches a safe temperature quickly enough. It also helps a single portion cook evenly.
Layer the firm vegetables on the bottom. Carrots and potatoes take longer than everything else, and the bottom of the cooker is the hottest part.
Cut everything to a similar size. Uneven pieces cook unevenly, which shows up faster in a small amount of food.
Season lightly at first. Flavors concentrate over a long cook, and salt especially. Start with less than you think, then taste and adjust at the end.
Thaw frozen food before it goes in. Frozen meat warms too slowly in a slow cooker and spends too long in the range where bacteria grow. Thaw it in the refrigerator first.
Keep the lid on. Every time you lift it, heat escapes and the cooking time stretches. Wait until you’re near the end to check.
Fill it to the right level. Two-thirds to three-quarters full, whether that’s the cooker itself or the dish inside it.
Slow Cooker vs. Crock Pot
Crock-Pot is a brand name, and slow cooker is the general term. The original Crock-Pot came out in 1971 and the name stuck, the way people say Kleenex for tissue. Every Crock-Pot is a slow cooker, but plenty of slow cookers are made by other companies.
They work the same way, with a stoneware pot surrounded by a heating element and a lid that traps steam. Everything on this page applies to either one, whichever brand you happen to own.
Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
Every slow cooker recipe here is written for one person, so you can use them in a small cooker or in a dish set inside a large one.
Main dishes
Mini Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Mini Crock Pot Meatloaf For One
Mini Crock Pot Ribs For One
Mini Slow Cooker Orange Chicken For One
Mini Crock Pot Chicken Piccata For One
Mini Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
Mini Crock Pot Ropa Vieja For One
Mini Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
Soups and sides
Mini Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup For One
Mini Slow Cooker Red Beans And Rice
Mini Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese For One
Mini Slow Cooker Chickpeas For One
Mini Slow Cooker Applesauce For One
See them all on our slow cooker recipes page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two-thirds to three-quarters full. Below that, food cooks too fast and can scorch at the edges. Above it, the pot heats unevenly and can bubble over. This is the rule that makes a large slow cooker awkward for one serving, and the reason the dish-inside method works.
Check the bottom of the base or the underside of the lid, where most manufacturers stamp the capacity. If there’s no marking, fill the pot with water a quart at a time until it reaches the top and count as you go.
Soups, stews, roasts, shredded chicken, beans, and rice dishes all work well for a single serving. Slow cookers suit anything that benefits from long, low heat, especially tougher cuts of meat that turn tender over several hours. They’re less suited to quick-cooking foods like fish or pasta.
Most manufacturers start at 1.5 quarts, and a few make 1 quart models sold as dip warmers. A 1.5 to 2 quart is the practical floor for cooking an actual meal for one person.
You don’t need a new appliance to cook for one. If a small slow cooker fits how you cook, a 1.5 to 2 quart is the size to get. If you already own a big one, set a small dish inside it and you’re set. Either way, our slow cooker recipes are all written for one person.
Use the recipes from this site quite a bit. Have your cookbook but there’s so many new recipes perhaps it’s time for a second cookbook. Would love to see more Mediterranean diet recipe recipes. Keep up the good work
Thank you so much for this. I’m so glad you use the recipes often, and I really appreciate your support of the cookbook. A second cookbook is definitely something we’re thinking about, and I love the idea of more Mediterranean-style recipes.
Thank you for all your ideas and help. Cooking for one or two is difficult.
Thank you for taking the time to share this. I’m glad the recipes and ideas are helpful. Cooking for one or two can feel tricky, and I’m happy to make it a little easier.
As an empty nester and recently divorced, it’s difficult to find recipes for one. I LOVE your website. Thank you.
Thank you!
Love this site, thank you for the great recipes, it so hard to cook for one person and its great for seniors who don’t eat that much! thank you
I’ve looked at the smaller crockpots, and none of them seem to have a timer on them. All I see is the dial for high, low, and off, and some of them have warm. Am I missing something?
I completely understand where you’re coming from. In my experience too, smaller slow cookers typically don’t come with timers. They usually feature basic settings like high, low, and warm. The one I personally use is from Elite Gourmet, which has these three settings. It’s been quite effective for my needs. If you’re interested, you can find the exact model I use on our Store Page. It sounds like your observations about the available options are spot on!
Hi – if I’m cooking for 2, do I need to double the ingredients in your “for 1” recipes? Most of the recipes say either specifically for one, or for one or two. Thank you!
All of our recipes can be doubled successfully and we recommend using larger baking dishes and pans.
I am thrilled to have found your recipes. I am alone now after cooking for a family and find it extremely difficult. I either eat said recipes for days, yes I do freeze, or just don’t bother. I made your fetticine Alfredo tonite and I loved it! Thank you for such easy and awesome recipes.
May I add, I am disabled and your recipes are quite easy for me to make. Oh I am so excited!
Putting a smaller dish in a large cooker is a great idea, thanks for posting it. Definitely will use that idea
If I put a dish in side my large crockpot for a single person meal; do I have to add water down the side
No, you do not need to add water inside your large crockpot. Just make sure the bowl you use inside the crockpot is oven-safe and fill it about two-thirds to three-quarters full.
I have an original “Crockpot”, I think it’s 1.5, but it doesn’t say on it. Can’t find my little book at the moment, but I’m pretty sure. Anyway, it has no dial at all. I used it once for a small pot of beef stew. It just s3med to be on high all of the time so I kept my eye on it. It came out very well! My problem is I’m afraid to try anything else in it unless I’m here all day to keep an eye on it. Any suggestions? Sorry so long..
Hi Jacqui,
The problem with so many small slow cookers is that they don’t come with timers. The ones I use just have a warm, low, and high setting. I think your best bet with yours is to keep an eye on it, unfortunately.
I have a 4qt, if I cook the smaller portion in the oven safe bowl is the cooking time the same? That is my problem…everything is usually overcooked which you mentioned may happen if the slow cooker size is too big.
Hi Andi,
Yes, the cooking time will be the same.
Joanie
The last time I signed up for something (crochet) I started getting all kinds of things popping up on my computer screen. I really don’t want to do that again. Will I only get these recipes from you and nothing else?
You will only receive emails from me. I send out a weekly newsletter on Friday afternoons. Occasionally, a separate email will go out if there is a special giveaway we’re offering but that happens rarely.
Thank you.
Joanie
What is the LOVELY Blue cooker in the picture.
Laurie,
It’s a Hamilton Beach Party Crock and I’m not sure they make them anymore, unfortunately. I did a quick check and it’s not on Amazon or Walmart online. The party crock is a 1.5-quart.
Joanie
It is a thing of beauty!!! I was going to ask about it also! Thanks for all you do!
I have a 4quart insta pot. Will that work?
Gloria,
I’m really not sure that it will work. I haven’t tried modifying the Instant Pot and would not recommend it.