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Rekindle the joy of Cooking For Two with our collection of delicious empty nest recipes. Say goodbye to leftovers and hello to healthier, satisfying meals. Explore over 50 easy-to-follow recipes, including main dishes, breakfast delights, delectable sides, and sweet desserts, all perfectly portioned for two. Light the candles, set the mood with music, and savor the pleasure of shared cooking experiences!
Congratulations on embracing your new empty nester status! This exciting phase brings many opportunities, including the chance to rediscover the joy of cooking, but this time, it’s tailored for two. This post is dedicated to all the empty nesters out there, presenting over 50 delightful recipes specifically designed for couples.
Adjusting to cooking for just two can be a bit of a shift, especially if you’re accustomed to preparing meals for a whole family. The tasks of meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking might seem daunting at first, but there’s no need to fret. We’re here to make this transition smoother and more enjoyable with a carefully curated selection of empty nester recipes.
Hold off on hanging up your apron! With a bit of planning and a collection of splendid recipes for two, you’ll soon find yourself whipping up amazing meals with ease. And here’s a bonus: you’ll say goodbye to the days of endless leftovers.
Cooking for two brings its own set of joys. You might even notice a shift towards healthier eating habits. Now that you’re not catering to the diverse palates of your children, you have the freedom to select ingredients and dishes that you truly relish. Embrace this chance to explore new flavors and cuisines, creating memorable meals that are perfect for two.
Cooking For Two: Perfect Recipes For Empty Nesters
While renowned for our single serving creations, we also boast a delightful array of recipes ideally portioned for two. This section is dedicated to those recipes, perfect for empty nesters or anyone looking to cook a meal that serves two with ease.
For those who usually cook for one, these recipes offer the added advantage of yielding delicious leftovers. Take, for example, our roasted chicken and pork tenderloin recipes – they’re fantastic for enjoying now and later.
Below, you’ll find what we’ve affectionately termed our “Recipes for Empty Nesters.” This collection includes a variety of dinner recipes that are just the right size for two, without leaving too much excess. But that’s not all – we’ve also included a selection of breakfast ideas, exceptional side dishes, and, of course, desserts. After all, what’s a meal without a sweet ending? Our dessert recipes are specially designed for two, ensuring that every meal is both complete and delightful.
Dinner Delights For Couples: Recipe Roundup For Two
Embarking on a culinary journey for two? Whether it’s revisiting a cherished classic, marking a special celebration, or setting the stage for a romantic evening, our collection of dinner recipes is curated to cater to you and your partner’s tastes. This roundup is designed to make every dinner memorable, offering a range of dishes that are perfect for a cozy meal for two. Discover the ideal recipe for any occasion, from intimate date nights to relaxed evenings at home.
How To Roast A Chicken For Meal Planning
5 from 2 votes
Roast a whole chicken with ease! Enjoy several days of versatile, delicious meals with this simple, flavor-packed recipe. Ideal for busy schedules.
Enjoy quick and tasty Ham & Cheese Sliders, perfect for snacks or meals. Just right for one or two, they're a delightful mix of gooey cheese and savory ham!
Flavorful Herb Crusted Roasted Split Turkey Breast recipe, easy to make and the perfect size if you're cooking for one or two people. A wonderful alternative to roasting a whole turkey and no basting necessary!
A tender, juicy beef tenderloin steak is seared to perfection in a skillet, then finished in the oven for even cooking. This gourmet dish is ready at home in under 30 minutes.
Indulge in this Twice Baked Eggplant, a creamy and cheesy dish that's both comforting and nutritious. Perfect for low carb and traditional diets alike.
Satisfy your taco cravings with this quick and easy small batch Fish Tacos recipe. Perfect for two, it's a delicious meal that's on the table in under 30 minutes!
This baked catfish recipe is definitely a winner! The fish cooks along with vegetables all in the same pan. An easy recipe that's filled with flavor and ready in minutes!
Create a satisfying single serve Stuffed Peppers in just 30 minutes with our quick, easy recipe. Ideal for busy weeknights or a comforting meal for one, this small batch recipe offers a perfect balance of flavors and nutrients.
This mini vegetarian moussaka is a meatless version of the classic Greek dish. A flavorful and aromatic sauce surrounding layers of sliced eggplant, yellow squash and carrots. Topped with a creamy and delicious Béchamel sauce, Parmesan and Feta cheese.
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
5 from 2 votes
Learn to cook spaghetti squash with ease, and enjoy our special recipe of delicious spaghetti squash tossed with butter, garlic, and Parmesan for a delightful meal.
This tender and juicy turkey roast features both white and dark meat. It's simpler to prepare than a whole turkey and is perfect for a small gathering.
Perfect Pairings: Small Batch Side Dishes For Couples
Enhance your meals with our specially curated selection of small batch side dishes, designed with couples in mind. Each recipe in this collection is crafted to provide the ideal portion size for two, ensuring no food goes to waste while still complementing your main course beautifully. Our roundup doesn’t stop at traditional sides; it also includes an array of small batch sauces, salad dressings, and breads. These accompaniments are perfect for adding that extra touch of flavor and finesse to your dining experience. Dive into our diverse selection and find the perfect pairings to complete your culinary creations for two.
Small Batch Tomato Sauce
4.95 from 17 votes
Enjoy this easy small batch tomato sauce recipe, ideal for one or two servings, adding rich flavor to pasta, meatballs, and other dishes.
Whip up a fresh, flavorful small batch Cucumber Salsa for your next snack or meal. With crisp cucumbers, tangy vinaigrette, and versatile serving options!
This simple roasted Brussels sprouts recipe is a must-try! Halved Brussels sprouts are tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roasted to crispy perfection. They make a flavorful and easy side dish or a healthy, satisfying snack.
Crispy oven baked french fries from one potato. Crunchy crust on the outside, creamy on the inside. Easily make homemade fries with this small batch recipe.
This white queso recipe is our favorite! It's creamy, easy to make, and you only need 3 ingredients. Made without Velveeta, this queso dip is one you'll want to make over and over again. Break out the chips, this queso blanco is sure to become your favorite too!
Discover how to make flour tortilla chips using just three simple ingredients. These homemade chips are quick to make, wonderfully crispy, and golden brown, making them an ideal snack for any occasion.
Whip up a quick, healthy snack with our small batch Black Bean Hummuswithout tahini, ready in 10 minutes! Simple and packed with rich flavors, it's perfect for solo snacks or small gatherings. Enjoy this creamy, flavorful spread for dipping or alongside your favorite dishes.
Crispy Crawfish Beignets Recipe with spicy Remoulade Sauce – this New Orleans inspired small batch recipe yields 5-6 savory, fried crawfish-filled beignets and a side of easy to make Remoulade sauce. A Louisiana tradition, ready in minutes!
Parmesan Cheese Crisps recipe – easy to make and a wonderful one ingredient snack. Also called Parmesan Fricos, they're great to eat by themselves or use as a low-carb "cracker".
Discover a simple homemade BBQ sauce recipe, perfectly portioned. Sweet, tangy, and easy to make with common ingredients. Ideal for all your grilling needs.
Morning Delights: Easy Breakfast Recipes For Couples
Start your day off right with our collection of easy and delicious breakfast recipes, thoughtfully portioned for two. Ideal for couples or empty nesters, these recipes provide the perfect amount for a satisfying morning meal without any excess. From quick weekday breakfasts to leisurely weekend brunches, our selection caters to all tastes and occasions, ensuring your mornings are as delightful as your evenings. Enjoy the simplicity and joy of cooking breakfast just for two with these specially tailored recipes.
Small Batch Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
5 from 6 votes
Bake light and fluffy Lemon Poppy Seed Scones with our easy small batch recipe. Perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea, enjoy zesty lemon and crunchy poppy seeds.
These moist and flavorful banana muffins are made with just 2 bananas! This easy small batch recipe is perfect for a quick breakfast or snack and bakes in just 20 minutes.
Bake heavenly, buttery small batch white chocolate strawberry scones using our simple, fail-proof recipe. Delight your taste buds with these irresistible treats!
This incredible french toast casserole is made with bits of sweet apples and pecans. Perfect for breakfast or dessert and can be ready in minutes! This breakfast bread pudding recipe can serve one or two people.
Indulge in Triple Chocolate Scones, ready in 30 minutes. Perfectly portioned for a luxurious treat, our recipe combines rich cocoa and melted chocolate.
If you've ever wanted to make a small batch of biscuits, this recipe is for you. See how quick and easy it is to make fluffy & delicious biscuits for one (or two).
This homemade Butter Pecan Granola recipe is the only granola recipe you need! Perfectly sweet, crunchy and full of so much flavor. This butter pecan granola can be ready in minutes and tastes so good!
You won’t believe how easy it is to make homemade cinnamon rolls! No yeast and ready in 30 minutes. These cinnamon rolls are heavenly, they’re sweet, gooey, fluffy, and incredibly delicious. Made with refrigerator biscuits.
Buttery Apple Cinnamon Scones filled with bits of sweet apples and toasted pecans and topped with a delightful maple glaze. This wonderful small batch recipe will yield 4 tender scones.
This Mini Orange Oat Breakfast Cake is a dream, it's tender crumb perfumed with oranges makes it ideal for breakfast, an addition to your brunch table or as an afternoon snack or dessert. Made with oats, orange juice and a few other ingredients. Bake in a small baking dish or use the batter to make 2 muffins.
Explore easy, delicious Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats for a single serve breakfast. Learn to master overnight oats with tasty variations and upgrade your mornings.
Sweet Endings: Dessert Recipes Perfect For Couples
Explore our selection of exquisite desserts, each thoughtfully crafted for two. These delightful dessert recipes are the ideal way to round off any meal, providing just enough sweetness to satisfy without overwhelming. Perfect for couples or those enjoying a cozy dinner, our desserts ensure a beautifully complete dining experience. Indulge in these perfectly portioned treats and make every meal memorable with a special sweet touch.
Mini Banana Upside Down Cake
5 from 37 votes
Indulge in the perfect Mini Banana Upside Down Cake! Sized just right for one or two, this simple yet luxurious dessert features caramelized banana atop fluffy cake.
Make delightful, buttery Small Batch Shortbread Cookies with our easy recipe. Perfect for satisfying sweet cravings without excess. Each cookie melts in your mouth, with an option for a chocolate drizzle. Ideal for sharing or a personal treat.
Conquer your sweet cravings with this easy small batch Lemon Bars recipe! Perfect for a quick, tangy treat with no leftovers. Simple, delicious, and just right.
Enjoy freshly baked cookies in no time with our perfect small batch oatmeal cookie recipe! These chewy, delicious treats are quick to make and full of homemade goodness.
Celebrate Mardi Gras with this Mini King Cake recipe. A perfectly sweet, festive, tender and delicious king cake drizzled with icing and topped with colored sugar. Easy to make and the perfect size for serving one or two people.
Try our easy small batch Sugar Cookies recipe, making six soft, buttery treats topped with creamy buttercream frosting. Simple recipe for cookies that melt in your mouth!
These Small Batch Flourless Chocolate Pecan Cookies are THE BEST chocolate cookies! No flour, no butter, no oil needed. They're fudge-like, rich, chewy and easy to make too! Made with cocoa powder, powdered sugar and chopped pecans. This small batch recipe yields 5-6 delicious chocolate pecan cookies. The perfect amount for one or two people!
Small Batch Lace Cookies Recipe – delicate, crispy oatmeal cookies that are easy to make and incredibly delicious! These thin cookies are a holiday favorite. This small batch lace cookies recipe yields 4-5 large cookies.
Make a delicious and decadent fudge in minutes with this easy microwave fudge recipe! This small batch recipe is perfect for sharing with friends and family, and it's sure to become a new favorite.
Keto Fat Bombs – this small batch fat bombs recipe requires only a few ingredients! Cream cheese, cream, and a sweetener. Fat bombs taste just like mini crustless keto cheesecakes and are perfect for anyone following a ketogenic diet.
This small batch pumpkin bars recipe gives you a tender pumpkin cake topped with creamy cream cheese frosting, sliced into just the right amount of squares. It’s the perfect way to satisfy a sweet craving without making a large batch.
This tropical Small Hummingbird Cake recipe is a wonderfully moist cake made with a banana, pineapples, and chopped pecans. It's a delicious scaled down version of a southern classic and is frosted with an irresistibly rich cream cheese icing!
Enjoy two homemade vanilla cupcakes with this easy small batch vanilla cupcake recipe. Delightful, melt-in-your-mouth texture with rich buttercream frosting.
Enjoy our Small Batch Baked Apples, warm and comforting with a cinnamon-oat filling. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, they're simple yet full of flavor!
This is the best Texas sheet cake recipe! An incredibly moist chocolate cake baked in a mini baking dish and topped with a warm chocolate topping. Easy to make and the perfect amount to serve one or two people.
Bake up a hearty small batch of Laura Bush Cowboy Cookies today! This cowboy cookie recipe gives you jumbo cookies packed with oats, chocolate, and nuts.
Indulge in a fuss-free mini Cherry Dump Cake, perfect for a quick sweet treat. A delightful small batch dessert blending sweet cherries with moist cake.
Traditional New Orleans Bread Pudding made with French bread, milk, eggs, sugar and spices served with a rich and creamy Whiskey Sauce to provide a little zing!
In conclusion, our carefully curated collection of recipes, tailored for two, is designed to bring ease, variety, and enjoyment to your cooking experiences. From savory dinners and complementary side dishes to delightful breakfasts and irresistible desserts, each recipe is crafted to suit your needs as a couple or empty nesters. Embrace this new chapter of cooking with recipes that are just as suited for everyday meals as they are for special occasions. These dishes will not only satisfy your taste buds but also create memorable moments around the table. Happy cooking and here’s to many delicious meals ahead, perfectly portioned for two!
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Make 100+ Recipes With This Dish!
Ideal for home chefs, this individual square ceramic baking dish is safe for oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. Simple to use & easy to clean!
I’m Joanie and I’m incredibly happy you’re here! Our aim is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes, education, and a supportive community that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul.
I am absolutely in love with these fabulous recipes for empty nesters! Some of my favorites from this essential recipe collection include: Refrigerator Jam, Chocolate Cake for Two, and Banana Muffins. So darn scrumptious!
I really needed these recipes! I always joke with my husband that I make enough to feed 20 people even though its just us two! I cannot wait to try the oatmeal butterscotch cookie!
My husband an I are empty nesters (but only because we don’t have kids yet!) I always end up cooking WAY too much. I love these recipes!
Mila
This all look so delicious!
Great resources, not just for empty nesters, but singles and date nights too!
I am absolutely in love with these fabulous recipes for empty nesters! Some of my favorites from this essential recipe collection include: Refrigerator Jam, Chocolate Cake for Two, and Banana Muffins. So darn scrumptious!
I’m not near this point yet. However, I look forward to it in so many ways. Amazing recipes.
All these recipes look so good. Definitely want to try the butterscotch skillet and the cinnamon rolls. Yum!
xoxo
Annie
These would be great ideas for couples without kids too!
I really needed these recipes! I always joke with my husband that I make enough to feed 20 people even though its just us two! I cannot wait to try the oatmeal butterscotch cookie!
Great recipes, I could test some of these some day! 🙂 Thank you for sharing these.
Wow! All of these look so amazing. I’m a sucker for desserts 🙂