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Learn how to make cooking for one easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable. These simple tips will help you save money, reduce waste, and get meals on the table with less effort.
Cooking for one doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Whether you live alone, your partner travels often, or you’re simply preparing your own meal, these tips will help you waste less food, save money, and enjoy the process. Here’s how to make cooking for one simple and satisfying.
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The Joy Of Cooking For One
Many recipes are made for families, leaving those that cook for themselves with too many leftovers. But with a little creativity and the right tips, you can enjoy meals that are just the right size, without sacrificing flavor or variety.
At One Dish Kitchen, we focus on adapting classic recipes for single servings. These tips will help you cook smarter, waste less, and enjoy the process – whether you’re chopping vegetables with music playing or experimenting with your favorite ingredients.
- Plan Around One Main Ingredient
Choose a main ingredient like chicken, then plan 2–3 meals using it. For example:
- Roast Chicken: Use leftovers in
2. Check What You Have First
Before shopping, take inventory of your pantry and fridge. Use what you already have to avoid buying duplicates and save money.
- Keep Basic Ingredients Stocked
Having a few pantry and fridge staples on hand makes single serving cooking quicker and easier. Stock items like canned beans, diced tomatoes, rice, pasta, and chicken broth, these ingredients are versatile and last a long time. Check out our collection of canned beans recipes for ideas.
Spices are another must. Keep a few blends ready to go, like small batch taco seasoning, small batch Creole seasoning, or small batch garam masala.
These homemade versions are easy to mix, full of flavor, and perfect for seasoning small meals.
Don’t forget the fridge basics: eggs, milk, and cheese can be used in dozens of ways throughout the week.
- Shop The Bulk Bins
Buy only what you need, especially for:
- Spices
- Grains
- Pasta
- Nuts
It’s a great way to experiment with new flavors without wasting money.
- Get Creative In The Kitchen
Try simple, flexible meals using what you enjoy. A few ideas:
- Roast cabbage or roast Brussels sprouts and toss with buttered noodles and cheese.
- Load a baked potato with homemade chili, cheese, and sour cream.
- Buy Meats And Cheese In Small Amounts
Skip pre-packaged portions. Ask at the meat, seafood, or deli counter for exactly what you need. This reduces waste and saves space.
- Use The Salad Bar
Need just a small amount of vegetables, fruit, or toppings? Pick up a handful from the salad bar, perfect for one-person portions.
- Don’t Skip Dessert
Treat yourself to a quick, single serving dessert like:
- Freeze Smart, Use What You Freeze
When cooking for one, your freezer can be your best friend. Portion and freeze leftovers, sauces, broth, bacon, or extra vegetables in small containers so they’re easy to use later. Label everything with the date and contents to avoid waste and make meal planning easier. You’ll always have building blocks for a quick meal ready to go.
- Use Our Leftover Ingredient Recipe Finder
Not sure what to cook with what you’ve got on hand? Try our Leftover Ingredient Recipe Finder. Just enter the ingredients you already have, and we’ll show you single serving recipes that use them. It’s a great way to reduce waste, save money, and build a personalized meal plan around what’s in your kitchen.
Bonus Tip: Make It Enjoyable
Cooking for yourself can be a rewarding part of your day. Light a candle, play music, pour a glass of wine, it’s your time.
Explore more single serving recipes on our site, including:
Perfectly portioned and made just for you.
Thanks Joanie. I check your site most days. Although I have been a one for more years than you have probably been alive. I still have difficulty occasionally — especially with the meal planning. I should do that and I just look and grab.
Glad you are around!!
Hi Donna,
Thank you for your kind words. Have you seen our meal plans? Here is a link to go directly to them – https://onedishkitchen.com/cooking-for-one-meal-plan/
‘m glad you found our site, please let me know if you have a favorite dish that you would like to see converted to a single serving.
Have a wonderful day!
Absolutely love your site. Have been looking for one person websites. Your’s is the best.
Thanks for all that you do.
Hi Donna, thank you so much for letting me know you are enjoying the recipes. If you have a recipe that you’d like to see scaled down to a single serving version, please let us know and we’ll try to work on it for you. Have a wonderful day!
I really enjoy reading your website and trying some of your recipes. Have you published a print cookbook. I haven’t found mention of one. I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Just sent the link for busy college girl recipes to my granddaughter. Hope she’ll try some them. Thanks so much for this great resource.
Hi Lucinda, I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipes and thank you so much for sending a link to the recipes to your granddaughter! I hope she finds a few recipes that she loves. We are currently working on our cookbook and hope to have it published soon. I’ll keep you posted. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for these amazing tips and your recipes also look delicious.I would love to share your tips with my mom. Your post is really very useful keep sharing such posts.
Looking forward to your recipes!
This is a great site and so are your recipes! I do enjoy cooking and recipes that serve 4-6 just aren’t easy to cut down to 1-2. I hate to make more just in case I don’t like it! Your site has saved me. Great recipes, healthy food, and just the right amount! Thanks!!
Thank you so much, Jan. I’m so happy you found us and are enjoying the recipes!
Thank you do very much for these recipes for one! I’ve been single for 8 years now after cooking for a family or hungry husband. Truth be told I refuse to cook for one. Up to now that is. I do love to cook but not have 3 or more leftover meals from one. I am looking forward to actually cooking great meals my two cats will fight me for! 🙂
I just found your site and I’m looking forward to the emails. I really need the recipes and tips. Thanks for onedishkitchen.
I’m so glad you found us, Linda and hope you enjoy the recipes!
Love your site and recipes. Am a recent widow so cooking for one is not easy to do at this time in my life, but you are a lifesaver. Eating way better now then in the past. Thank you.
Thank you, Chris. I’m so happy we can be a resource for you.
This is what I have been looking for! I have lived alone most of my adult life. It has been a struggle to try and balance healthy cooking and convenience. I have relied so much on convenience because it was always so difficult and uninspiring to make a recipe for 4 or more and eat on the leftovers. I have tried meal box services, CSA half-share or just going to the farm market for what I need. Yet I end up wasting hundreds of dollars of food and produce. Thank you for finally doing the work! Now I will have single serve recipes to try.
Hi Wendy,
I’m so glad you found our site and hope you enjoy the recipes.
Thank you.
Joanie