Cooking for one shouldn’t mean cereal for dinner or a week of the same leftovers. These 20 easy dinner recipes cover cozy chicken, quick seafood, steak-night favorites and comforting casseroles, and most are on the table in 30 minutes or less.
Every recipe below links to the full instructions at Fork To Spoon. Many are written for two to four servings, so simply halve the ingredients, or enjoy tomorrow’s lunch already made.
Save this post to your dinner board so you always have a solo supper idea ready.
Easy Chicken Dinners for One
1. Marry Me Chicken
Golden chicken breast in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan and Italian herbs. It feels like a restaurant dinner but comes together on a weeknight.
2. Tuscan Chicken
Juicy chicken smothered in a rich, garlicky sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Serve it over pasta or with crusty bread to soak up every drop.
3. Lemon Chicken Bites
Bite-size chicken with a bright lemon flavor, ready in about 20 minutes. Toss them over a salad, into a wrap or onto a rice bowl.
4. Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
Tender chicken and crisp broccoli glazed in teriyaki sauce, done in under 20 minutes. Spoon it over white or brown rice for a complete meal.
5. Smoky Chicken Thighs
Budget-friendly thighs with crispy skin and a smoky spice blend. Pair them with roasted veggies or mashed potatoes.
6. Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
Pasta and chicken in a cheesy, creamy sauce under a golden breadcrumb topping. Leftover or rotisserie chicken makes it even faster.
7. Queso Chicken Tacos
Seasoned shredded chicken and creamy queso tucked into warm tortillas with salsa, red onion and cilantro.
8. Orange Chicken and Broccoli
Sticky, sweet orange chicken and tender-crisp broccoli cooked together in one go. A takeout-style dinner in about 20 minutes.
Quick Seafood Dinners for One
9. Bourbon Glazed Salmon
Salmon brushed with a sweet-and-savory bourbon glaze and ready in about 20 minutes. It’s sized for two, so it’s easy to make just one fillet.
10. Simple Salmon Steaks
No marinade needed: just olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, with one flip for even browning. The post includes a handy thickness and timing chart.
11. Teriyaki Salmon Bites
Cubes of salmon glazed in teriyaki and cooked in under 10 minutes. Serve them over rice with a few veggies for an easy bowl.
12. Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp coated in rich garlic butter and ready in about 15 minutes. Spoon it over pasta or enjoy it with a piece of crusty bread.
13. Garlic Parmesan Shrimp
Shrimp tossed with butter, Parmesan, garlic and a squeeze of lemon. A fast, flavorful dinner with almost no cleanup.
14. Lobster Tails with Lemon Garlic Butter
A treat-yourself dinner that’s easier than it looks, on the table in about 15 minutes. Add a baked potato or corn on the cob for a steakhouse-style night in.
Beef, Tacos and Turkey Dinners for One
15. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Tender sirloin bites with a golden sear, tossed in garlic herb butter. Ready in about 15 minutes, with a doneness guide in the post.
16. Classic Patty Melt
A juicy beef patty, caramelized onions and melty Swiss on buttery, crispy rye. The diner classic, made at home in about half an hour.
17. Mushroom and Swiss Burgers
A hearty burger topped with savory mushrooms and melted Swiss. Grab a bun and dinner is done.
18. Chicken Street Tacos
Seasoned chicken in warm soft tortillas with lime and salsa, ready in about 30 minutes. Make a few for dinner and save the rest for lunch.
19. Turkey Tetrazzini
Turkey, spaghetti and mushrooms in a creamy sauce with a bubbly cheese topping. A cozy way to use up leftover turkey.
20. Turkey, Stuffing and Gravy Casserole
Turkey and gravy under a crispy layer of stuffing, all in one dish in about 30 minutes. The perfect after-Thanksgiving dinner.
