Easy Healthy Recipes for Two + Simple Cooking Tips

Are you tired of finding recipes that serve six or eight when you’re usually cooking for just one or two?

I understand. Most cookbooks, magazines and food websites seem to assume we’re feeding a family of four or more.

But that’s not the reality for many of us.

I’m usually cooking for just my husband and myself. My mom cooks for one, and my brother and sister are both in two-person households, too.

For years, I didn’t give this much thought. Then readers began asking for more recipes that make just one or two servings, and I started noticing how often I ended up with more leftovers than we could reasonably eat.

I appreciate leftovers. In fact, I often plan for them. But there’s a difference between having enough for tomorrow’s lunch and finding the same casserole in the refrigerator four days later!

Over time, I’ve discovered that cooking for two doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple strategies, a handful of favorite recipes and a flexible approach to leftovers can make a big difference.

Here are some of my favorite easy, healthy recipes for two, along with practical tips for making smaller meals without wasting food.

Looking for more ideas? Browse my Cooking for Two recipes or Cooking for One recipes for easy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts.

Favorite Easy Healthy Recipes for Two

These are some of my favorite recipes from Simple Nourished Living for smaller households.

Some make exactly two servings. Others make a little more but are easy to scale down or enjoy as leftovers.

Quick Lunches, Sandwiches and Light Dinners

Sometimes a sandwich, salad or simple skillet meal is all you need.

• Open-Faced Tuna Melts for Two – A warm, cheesy tuna melt on an English muffin.
• Cauliflower Rice and Beans Skillet for Two – A quick, satisfying meatless meal.
• Lightened-Up French Bread Pizza – An easy way to enjoy pizza without making a whole pie.
• Easy Classic Egg Salad – Perfect for sandwiches, toast or lettuce wraps.
• Healthy Taco Salad for One – Double the recipe for an easy dinner for two.
• Big Mac Salad – All the familiar cheeseburger flavors in a bowl.
• Easy Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps – A light and portable alternative to traditional Chicken Caesar salad.

Easy Chicken, Turkey, Fish and Shrimp Recipes

Individual chicken breasts, fish fillets and portions of shrimp are especially convenient when cooking for two.

• Crock Pot Salmon with Asian Vegetables – An easy slow cooker dinner for two.
• Foil Pack Shrimp Boil for Two – Shrimp, sausage, corn and vegetables cooked together in a foil packet.
• Easy Shrimp Scampi – A quick skillet dinner that’s delicious with pasta or zucchini noodles.
• Slim and Saucy Chicken Marsala – A lighter version of the restaurant favorite. Make half the recipe for two.
• Easy Healthy Chicken Fajitas – Enjoy them in tortillas one night and use any leftovers for quesadillas or rice bowls.
• Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tenders – A lighter homemade version of a comfort food staple.
• Turkey Tenderloin and Sweet Potatoes Skillet – A satisfying one-pan dinner.

Easy Breakfasts and Breakfast-for-Dinner Ideas

Eggs, pancakes and other breakfast favorites are naturally suited to smaller households.

• Cottage Cheese Power Pancakes – An easy small-batch breakfast.
• Greek Frittata with Spinach and Feta – Delicious for breakfast, lunch or a light supper.
• Scrambled Eggs with Salmon – A simple way to make eggs feel a little special.
• Vintage WW Cottage Cheese Danish – A quick, old-fashioned breakfast favorite.

Easy Desserts and Sweet Treats for Two

You don’t need a whole cake or pie to enjoy something sweet.

• Skinny Berry Yogurt Cups – A simple fruit-and-yogurt dessert for two.
• Microwave Baked Apple – Make one or two for a warm, comforting dessert.
• 3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake – Perfect when you want just a little cake without baking a whole one.
• Creamy Chocolate Yogurt – A quick chocolate treat that’s easy to portion.
• Easy Air-Fryer Apple Cobbler for 1 or 2 – A small yet satisfying alternative to apple pie
• Creamy Pumpkin Yogurt Parfaits – A simple no-bake treat that tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass.

For even more ideas, visit my complete collection of easy recipes and meals for two.

8 Simple Tips for Cooking for Two

1. Cut larger recipes in half

There’s no reason you can’t enjoy your favorite casseroles when you’re cooking for two.

Recipes like Chicken Spaghetti Made Lighter or Tuna Noodle Casserole can be made in smaller amounts.

If you’re halving a casserole that normally bakes in a 9-by-13-inch pan, try an 8-inch square baking dish.

For a quarter recipe, a loaf pan (affiliate link) or small baking dish may work better.

Keep an eye on the cooking time, since smaller portions may cook more quickly.

And remember, many recipe cards here on Simple Nourished Living let you adjust the number of servings to calculate the ingredient amounts automatically.

2. Plan for leftovers you actually want

I love leftovers, but I don’t want to eat the same dinner four nights in a row.

Instead, I try to cook ingredients that can become something different the next day.

We might have chicken with vegetables one night, turn the leftover chicken into sandwiches the next day, and use the remaining vegetables in an omelet or frittata.

Leftover chicken fajitas are especially versatile. They’re wonderful in quesadillas, burrito bowls or salads.

And leftover turkey chili makes a delicious topping for baked potatoes.

The goal is to cook once and make life easier later, without feeling like you’re eating the same thing over and over.

3. Enjoy breakfast for dinner

Some evenings, the last thing I want to do is cook a complicated meal.

That’s when eggs come to the rescue.

A couple of scrambled eggs, an omelet, or a spinach and feta frittata with a simple salad can make a perfectly satisfying supper.

Even cottage cheese pancakes topped with fruit can be a nice change of pace.

4. Think sandwiches, salads and baked potatoes

Dinner doesn’t always need to be a traditional meat, starch and vegetable meal.

A grilled sandwich and a bowl of soup can be wonderful.

So can a big salad topped with chicken, tuna, beans or hard-boiled eggs.

And baked potatoes are one of my favorite easy meal starters. Add cottage cheese and salsa, leftover chili, broccoli and cheese, or whatever sounds good.

These meals are especially handy when you’re cooking for one or two because you can make exactly the amount you need.

5. Buy smaller quantities whenever possible

Take advantage of the meat counter, deli counter and bulk bins when available.

Buying two chicken breasts, a small piece of fish or just a few slices of cheese can make more sense than purchasing a large package.

I also try to choose ingredients I can use in several meals.

A bag of spinach might become a salad, an omelet and a pasta dish before the week is over.

6. Keep your freezer and pantry stocked

Frozen shrimp, vegetables and fruit are especially useful for smaller households.

You can take out what you need and save the rest for another day.

I also like keeping canned beans, tuna, salmon, tomatoes and a few favorite soups on hand.

With a reasonably stocked pantry, you can almost always put together something good without another trip to the grocery store.

7. Make friends with smaller kitchen appliances

A toaster oven, microwave (affiliate link), air fryer or small slow cooker can make cooking for two much easier.

There’s no need to heat up the entire oven for a couple of fish fillets or a small batch of roasted vegetables.

And a countertop grill makes quick work of chicken breasts, burgers and grilled sandwiches.

Use whatever appliances make cooking feel easiest for you.

8. Freeze extra servings for another day

Sometimes I deliberately make a full recipe because I know it freezes well.

Soups, stews, chili and casseroles are particularly good candidates.

I’ll portion the leftovers into individual or two-serving containers, label them and freeze them for another day.

It’s wonderful knowing there’s something homemade waiting in the freezer when I don’t feel like cooking.

A Simple Approach to Meal Planning for Two

Over the years, I’ve learned that meal planning works best for me when I keep it casual.

I don’t need a detailed calendar with every meal mapped out.

Usually, a short list of a few dinners I want to make is enough.

I also think about how the ingredients might overlap. If I’m buying spinach for a salad, perhaps I’ll use the rest in scrambled eggs. If I’m roasting chicken, maybe I’ll make enough for sandwiches the next day.

It’s not about following a perfect plan. It’s about making it easier to eat well while wasting less food.

And that’s really the beauty of cooking for two. You can keep things simple, be flexible and enjoy the foods you love without making enormous amounts.

More Recipes and Resources for Smaller Households

If you’re regularly cooking for yourself or one other person, you’ll find lots more ideas here:

• Easy Healthy Recipes and Meals for Two
• Weight Watchers Recipes and Meals for One
• Cooking Tips and Easy Low-Calorie Recipes for One
• Cook Once, Eat All Week Turkey Breast Meal Prep

Do you regularly cook for one or two? I’d love to hear your favorite recipes, shortcuts and strategies for keeping meals simple without wasting food. Share your ideas in the comments!