Top 20 ‘Cooking for One’ Recipes
Reading Time: 6 minutes 
If you want to improve your health and save some cash, cooking from scratch in your very own kitchen is the way to go. But sometimes, you don’t want to make umpteen portions of chili or curry you’ll have to chip away at for four days straight, especially if you’re only cooking for one or two. And there is only so much you can freeze, right?
That’s where single-serving, ‘cooking for one’ recipes come in. These are the kind of healthy, whole food meals and snacks you can pull out of your hat when you need to hustle up something quick and easy, or are craving an elegant, tasty meal that won’t leave you with a ton of unwanted leftovers.
Here are our favourite ‘cooking for one’ recipes. We hope you love them as much as we do.
10-Minute Vegan + Gluten-Free Fried Rice for One
10-Minute Vegan + GF Fried Rice for One by Whisk and Shout
This quick and easy gluten-free recipe can be thrown together with whatever veggies you have lying around. A great option for when you need to clean out the fridge!
Savory Turmeric Chickpea Oats
Savory Turmeric Chickpea Oats by The Full Helping
You probably already know how to heat up a pot of sweet oatmeal – but have you ever tried savory oats? This simple gluten-free and vegan recipe is packed with beans ‘n greens to fill you up for the morning.
Toaster Oven Kale Chips
Toaster Oven Kale Chips by Toaster Oven Love
Kale chips are so easy to scarf down – and using a toaster oven instead of dehydrator will bring this snack to you much, much sooner.
Mustard-Crusted Salmon with Roasted Asparagus
Mustard-Crusted Salmon with Roasted Asparagus by Cook Eat Paleo
A simple, one-pan meal that is perfect for those days when you don’t feel like doing a lot of prep in the kitchen.
Giant Gluten-Free Brownie Cookie for One (or Two)
Giant Gluten-Free Brownie Cookie for One (or Two) by Fooduzzi
While you could eat this gigantic gluten-free and vegan cookie on your own, it’s big enough to share with a friend – and we highly recommend you do so!
Green Goddess Smoothie Bowl
Green Goddess Smoothie Bowl by Cozy Eats
Start your morning off with a bowl of sunshine-y green deliciousness. This simple vegan green smoothie bowl is sure to brighten your day!
Tummy Healing Soup for One
Tummy Healing Soup for One by Strength and Sunshine
Packed with anti-inflammatory herbs, spices and veggies, this comforting one-bowl meal will help you feel better as you slurp.
Asian Sesame Salad for One
Asian Sesame Salad for One by In Sonnet’s Kitchen
Your coworkers with gaze at your plate with envy when you bring this light and refreshing Asian-inspired salad with a creamy dressing to the lunchroom.
Fast and Easy Miso Power Soup
Fast and Easy Miso Power Soup by Meghan Telpner (*ACN Founder and Director)
Struggling with sugar cravings? That might be a sign that you need something protein-rich and mineral-heavy, not your closest vending machine. This fast and easy vegan miso power soup is sure to nourish and satisfy you.
Vegan Buddha Bowl
Vegan Buddha Bowl by Well and Full
With protein-packed quinoa and spiced chickpeas, greens, creamy avocado and a bright roasted red pepper sauce, this vegan buddha bowl has a variety of textures and flavours to make your taste buds dance.
Blueberry Cacao Acai Smoothie Bowl
Blueberry Cacao Acai Bowl by Spices in My DNA
How many superfoods can you pack into one breakfast? A lot – especially if you top your vegan smoothie bowl with extra nutrient-rich ingredients like hemp seeds, nuts and cacao nibs.
Japanese Chicken Curry
Japanese Chicken Curry by Shrinking Single
If you love curry but don’t want to make a whole pot, this is the recipe for you. And no need to buy curry powder – the post also includes a recipe for homemade curry spice mix!
Paleo Breakfast Cookie Dough
Paleo Breakfast Cookie Dough by Big Man’s World
Eat Paleo and vegan cookies for breakfast without having to share – muah-ha-ha!
Quick Kale and Broccoli Bowl
Quick Kale and Broccoli Bowl by Sondi Bruner (*ACN Head Program Coach)
Got 10 minutes? Then you can make this veggie-packed recipe for a light breakfast, lunch or dinner. For an extra protein boost, add beans or salmon on top.
Spring Pea Quinoa Salad
Spring Pea Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette by Eat, Spin, Run, Repeat
The only thing that needs to be cooked in this vegan recipe is the quinoa – making it the perfect salad for when you’re in the mood for something crisp, cool and refreshing.
Paleo Egg Drop Soup for One
Paleo Egg Drop Soup for One by Wicked Spatula
Egg drop soup isn’t the most appetizing when reheated – that’s why we love this single serving recipe that can be made with any type of broth your heart desires.
Creamy Mushroom Ris-oat-to
Creamy Mushroom Ris-oat-to by Oatgasm
Forget the rice and cream and wine and cheese – try this dairy-free mushroom risotto instead. It’s incredibly flavourful and you won’t miss all the ‘traditional’ risotto ingredients at all.
Banana-Free Green Smoothie
Banana-Free Green Smoothie by Benjal’s Veg Kitchen
When you’re not in the mood for a super sweet smoothie, this banana-free green smoothie recipe will delight you with its tart flavour and creamy texture. Get mean and green!
Vegan Chickpea Flour Omelette
Vegan Chickpea Flour Omelette by Vegan Does It
Omelettes made with chickpea flour are seriously life-changing – check out this gluten-free and vegan omelette recipe that is stuffed with veggies and high in protein to get your morning going.
Single Serving Cinnamon Streusel Muffin
Single Serving Cinnamon Streusel Muffin by Hold the Grain
Can’t trust yourself with an entire batch of muffins? Bake just one then – and this grain-free cinnamon streusel muffin is the perfect candidate.
Free Resource Library
Enjoy more than 40 downloadable guides, recipes, and resources.
