How does Rest Less make money
We make money through advertising and commission from affiliate links, which enable us to offer Rest Less as a free service to our users. The content on this page may use affiliate links, which track traffic from our website to a third party provider and enable us to receive a commission or payment from any traffic we refer.
* Affiliate links on this page have an * next to them. We place enormous importance on our editorial independence and the integrity of our content which means that we will never change how we write about something as a result of an affiliate link.
While most of us know cooking our own food is generally healthier and cheaper than ready meals or takeaways, if you live alone, it can be tricky to find the motivation to cook. But aside from saving money and being aware of exactly what you’re putting into your body, cooking for one has many benefits.
You can eat what you like, when you like, prepare and cook meals faster than if you’re cooking for multiple people, and there’s usually less waste and clean-up. Plus, cooking for yourself is an expression of self-love: an empowering gesture that can improve your mood and health.
So, if you’re in need of some inspiration in the kitchen, here are 10 easy dinner ideas for one.
1. Prawn and coconut laksa
Laksa is a spicy Malaysian coconut noodle soup – and though its flavours might be complex, making it for one person doesn’t have to be.
Healthy, wholesome, and incredibly comforting, this is an ideal meal to make on a rainy day or when you’re feeling a little under the weather. Not only will the fragrances of lemongrass, ginger, and garlic lift your spirits, but these ingredients are also great for boosting your immune system, as is the fresh lime juice you can squeeze in.
This prawn and coconut laksa from BBC Good Food is fresh, delicious, and has the perfect blend of flavours, and textures. Plus, it takes only 10 minutes to prepare and eight minutes to cook. If you’re veggie, simply swap the prawns for tofu, seitan, or a mock-meat product. Or, if you’re vegan, switch the egg noodles for rice ones.
2. Creamy lentils and rice
Lentils sometimes get a bad rap; many of us know that they’re healthy but find them dull and uninspiring. However, if you’re cooking for one and find the right recipe, lentils are the perfect go-to and can be really tasty.
They’re affordable, filling, and versatile – and if you use tinned lentils or buy them pre-cooked, they’re quick to whip up. Plus, they’re an excellent source of protein, fibre, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
If you’re cooking lentils for one, this creamy lentil and rice dish from BBC Food will hopefully hit the spot – and it takes under half an hour to knock together. The recipe uses ghee (clarified butter popular in Indian cooking), but you can swap it with regular butter – or even margarine.
If you have any extra lentils left over, why not make this lentil salad with beetroot and goats’ cheese, another recipe that’s perfect for one?
3. One-pan Spanish garlic pasta with vegetables
Pasta is the ideal go-to meal when you’re hungry and don’t have many ingredients around. And if you’re feeling a little lazy, a one-pan pasta dish is even better.
Not only is it quick to prepare, but it also means there’s hardly any washing-up. Plus, when you cook the pasta with the rest of your ingredients, its starch gives the dish a wonderful texture and flavour.
This one-pan Spanish garlic pasta and vegetable dish from Spain on a Fork is ideal for a quick weeknight dinner. It’s easily customisable, too, and while the recipe uses peppers, courgettes, onions, and a tin of chopped tomatoes, you can use any ingredients in the fridge.
The recipe serves two people, so there’ll be plenty left over to enjoy the next day. Or simply halve the ingredients if you’d like just enough for one.
To see how quick and easy this delicious recipe is to make, check out the video below.
4. Japanese-style omelette (okonomiyaki)
Unless you’re vegan, there’s a good chance you’ll have some eggs in the house. So, if you get home from work feeling hungry and tired, yet have no idea what to cook, why not put those eggs to good use and make a dinner that’s totally different from usual?
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese omelette that’s moist like a pancake and packed with flavour; it’s a moreish mix of sweet, smoky, and tangy. It’s also very versatile, and you can add any ingredients that need using up.
This okonomiyaki recipe from Delicious uses cauliflower, spring onions, and pak choi to bulk up the omelette, and soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and chillies to add rich, savoury flavours. What’s handy about this recipe is that it uses ingredients that many of us already have in the cupboard.
If you have any meat or seafood that needs eating, you can add them, too, or keep things meat-free and add more vegetables. If you don’t have cauliflower or pak choi, you can always add spinach or peppers instead.
To find out more about cooking okonomiyaki, watch the video below.
5. Fish in a bag
If you’re in the mood for fish, why not try making Jamie Oliver’s fish-in-a-bag recipe?
Cooking fish in an aluminium foil ‘bag’ allows it to steam in its own juices, which helps retain important nutrients. The fish is protected from the heat of the oven, so you don’t need to add oil, which also makes it healthier.
Plus, the foil keeps the flavours wonderfully intense, and because you’re cooking everything in one parcel, there’s little washing-up afterwards.
Jamie’s recipe uses white fish fillets – like sea bass, haddock, or halibut – and adds potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and black olives. But there are dozens of this type of recipe that are perfect for one person.
You might like to try this couscous fish-in-a-bag recipe from BBC Good Food, which uses haddock, couscous, courgettes, and pine nuts. Alternatively, check out this salmon recipe from Nourish, which can be ready in 25 minutes.
6. Bánh mì
If you’ve had a long day and don’t fancy cooking on a hot stove, it can be tempting to make a sandwich for dinner. But if you’re going to do this, why not make it a bánh mì?
The late Anthony Bourdain called the bánh mì (or Vietnamese baguette) “a symphony in a sandwich” – and that’s no exaggeration. The bánh mì is the perfect marriage of tastes and textures: crusty, chewy bread, salty vegetables, crunchy cucumber, fresh herbs, and a sweet, spicy sauce.
This bánh mì recipe from Delicious uses leftover beef, fresh carrot, cucumber, onion, and a sauce made from mayonnaise, hoisin, and sweet chilli. However, the beauty of the bánh mì is that it can be adapted for every preference and diet.
If you don’t eat meat, simply swap the beef for crispy marinated tofu. This recipe from EatingWell is vegetarian and only requires 15 minutes of prep.
7. Leek and sage risotto with bacon
Making risotto is often seen as a labour of love; the act of repeatedly feeding it with stock and stirring can seem laborious and time-consuming. So it’s often thought of as something you wouldn’t bother making for just one person.
But if you love risotto, it doesn’t have to be a long process. You can make and cook yourself a delicious risotto from scratch in under half an hour.
This leek and sage risotto with crispy bacon from BBC Good Food takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook – plus, with only eight ingredients, it’s certainly not fussy either.
To make this recipe veggie, simply omit the bacon and add two or three large, grilled mushrooms. To use entirely plant-based ingredients, swap the parmesan for a vegan alternative or leave it out altogether.
Quick, easy, and delicious, this risotto makes a perfect comforting weeknight supper.
8. Chicken stir-fry
Stir-fries are super quick to prepare, and they’re also incredibly easy to adapt to your taste preferences or to use ingredients you already have.
This chicken basil stir-fry from Delicious is tasty, fast, and easy – and healthier and cheaper than ordering a takeaway.
An even simpler version of a chicken stir-fry recipe can be found on the BBC website. Just remember to slice your chicken thinly so it cooks evenly and quickly.
If you don’t eat meat, simply swap the chicken for tofu or plant protein. For more quick chicken stir-fry inspiration, watch the video below.
9. Special fried rice
Fried rice is known for being a quick and easy comfort food, but it’s also the perfect meal for one – especially if you haven’t got much food in the house or you’re not in the mood to cook anything complicated.
Making fried rice is also a great way to use up leftovers – whether that’s the leftover rice from your Indian takeaway or any meat or vegetables in the fridge. If you have eggs that need eating, you can throw them in, too.
You might like to make BBC chef James Martin’s special fried rice for one, which uses chicken, ham, peas, eggs, and spring onions. It only takes around 15 minutes and creates very little washing up.
Or, you can keep things veggie with this easy fried rice recipe from One Dish Kitchen, which uses whatever veg you have in the freezer.
10. Berry cobbler
For some reason, dessert is often viewed as something that should be shared. But if you live alone, why should you wait for company to justify a pudding? And the good news is that plenty of desserts are ideal for one.
This five-minute microwave berry cobbler from Domestic Fits is delicious, yet incredibly simple to make – and, as the name suggests, it’s ready in minutes. To make things even easier, use frozen berries instead of fresh ones and, if you prefer, swap strawberries for raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
Not really a cobbler person? Just head over to Brit + Co to check out 16 other ideas for indulgent single-serving desserts. From crème brûlée to peanut butter cookies, there are plenty of options for those evenings when you’re craving something sweet.
And if you’re a bit of a chocoholic, why not try Rest Less member Mandy’s 5-minute chocolate mug cake recipe?
Final thoughts...
As you can see from these 10 tasty suggestions, there are plenty of easy recipes that are perfect for cooking a delicious and nutritious meal for one.
For more cooking inspiration, why not head over to our food and drink section? Here, you’ll find a range of articles, including 20 healthy 30-minute meals and 8 recipe ideas from around the world.
Do you have any favourite recipes that you enjoy cooking for yourself? Are you planning to try any of our suggestions? We’d love to hear about your favourite meals for one in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Read our full commenting terms and guidelines