31 Easy Dinners for One to Cook Again and Again

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. 10-Minute Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, nut free, vegetarian

This quick meal is a childhood dream come true. And it beats digging into a whole pot all by your lonesome with a wooden spoon. (Been there, done that.) With two types of cheddar, butter and heavy cream, the coziest dinner ever is just minutes away.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Mini Chicken Shawarma

Time Commitment: 1 hour 40 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, nut free

If you’re getting bored of the same chicken recipes, here’s one to fix that. The star is a robust homemade herb sauce made with lemon juice, dill, garlic and Greek yogurt. Whether you assemble one to eat with salad or chow down on three, these tiny sammies won’t do you wrong.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. 15-Minute Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, low fat, dairy free, nut free, pescatarian

Feel like a total pro minus the heavy lifting. Once you make the couscous, all that’s left is easy ingredients like canned tuna, cherry tomatoes and capers. This vinegary, savory dish pairs brilliantly with a glass of Chardonnay.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Green Goddess Wraps

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, low carb, low fat, gluten free, nut free, pescatarian

Sometimes treating yourself means chowing down on your daily veggies. And these wraps are pretty much salad tacos, meaning they’re fork-free and fun to eat. Once you try the dressing made with buttermilk, sour cream, chives, basil and lemon, you’ll want to have a reserve in your fridge 24/7.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, low carb, gluten free, nut free, one pan

Fact: Nothing tastes bad in lemon butter. Especially pretty seasonal produce and chicken sausage. Prep ahead for the week or just make what you’re eating tonight.

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Aubrie Pick/Great Tastes

6. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, low carb, gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

Basic caprese just got an upgrade. This one boasts slabs of salty halloumi cheese dressed in olive oil and charred on the grill. (Don’t want to fire up the barbecue? Just use a grill pan on the stove.)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Mini Spanish Tortilla with Zucchini

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, gluten free, nut free, vegetarian, one pan

Let’s go to Madrid for dinner tonight. There, a tortilla is an egg dish loaded with potatoes and more of our favorite things. This one gets thinly sliced zucchini, onion and grated Manchego cheese. Eat it straight from the cutest, littlest skillet you own.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

8. Blackberry-Peach Grilled Cheese

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, nut free, vegetarian

Turn the laziest sandwich in the universe into a fancy, golden-brown masterpiece. Tart, plump blackberries offer pops of juicy sweetness between melted rich fontina, mild Emmentaler and creamy goat cheese. Have it with mixed greens or fries.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, low carb, low fat, gluten free, nut free

We love chicken salad. A ton of globby mayo…not so much. We substitute Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard and rice vinegar to give it creaminess and tang, plus replace boring old plates with bell pepper-bowls. Make just enough for tonight or a batch that’ll cover tomorrow’s lunch, too.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, low carb, dairy free, gluten free, paleo

Consider this a compromise between making dinner and ordering takeout. Dig into the salad version of traditional egg roll filling, complete with seasoned ground pork, shredded cabbage, minced ginger, carrots and scallions. Add double Sriracha for extra heat or serve over white rice.

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Spend with Pennies

11. Asparagus Salmon Foil Packets

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, low carb, gluten free, nut free, pescatarian

Don’t you just love an empty sink? Keep it that way with this recipe that’s practically mess-free. Make a foil packet with a single fillet, asparagus spears and lemon-garlic butter. Bake for 20 minutes, throw away the foil and pat yourself on the back before taking the first bite.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. Chicken Meatballs with Coconut-Herb Sauce

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, dairy free, gluten free, nut free, Whole30

These lean meatballs are packed with protein and bursting with flavor from red onion, garlic and Dijon. Wait until you try the sauce, made with canned coconut milk, scallions and red pepper flakes. Prep and cook a single serving or make a bunch of meatballs ahead for salads, pasta or sandwiches.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. Ginger-Pineapple Shrimp Stir-Fry

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, dairy free, gluten free

No leftovers? You got it. This dish has it all: tender shrimp, vibrant produce and fluffy seasoned rice. Minced ginger, fresh mint and Fresno chile peppers will give you just the right balance of heat and herbs. Squeeze in a lime and a drizzle of hot sauce before taking your first bite.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

14. Make-Ahead Aloo Gobi

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, low fat, dairy free, vegan, make ahead

Cauliflower can do it all, from bread to pasta to pizza. This Indian dish transforms florets and potatoes into a stick-to-your-ribs meal with warm spices like cumin, turmeric and garam masala. A side of naan makes it even better.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, low carb, dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, one pan

Dinner for one often calls for a scramble that’s eaten as quickly as it’s cooked. Level up to this ridiculously-easy sheet-pan dish that’s just as effortless. Roast the veggies in thyme and olive oil before cracking the eggs right on top. Hey there, runny yolk.

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Spend with Pennies

16. Easy Homemade Calzone

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, nut free, under ten ingredients

Put down the phone and back away from the pizzeria menu. Getting your fill of saucy-cheesy goodness is easier than you think. Fill a round of pizza dough with your fave sauce, cheese and toppings (this recipe calls for mozz, pepperoni, onion and pepper), crimp the edges and bake until golden. Serve with a side of warm sauce and your work is done.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

17. Shredded Thai Salad with Avocado

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, dairy free, vegetarian, no cook

Isn’t she gorgeous? All it takes is a rainbow of veggies—snow peas! peppers! cabbage! carrots!—a few Asian-inspired garnishes and homemade honey-ginger soy dressing. Top it with fanned avocado slices and let the Instagram likes roll in.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Easy 5-Ingredient Corn Soup

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, gluten free, vegetarian, five ingredients

Nothing beats a buttered ear of corn, and this is its soup form. New potatoes and corn kernels get simmered down and pureed before being crowned with crunchy sesame-seed topping made in brown butter. Comfort food, here we come.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

19. Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery

Why We Love It: High protein, nut free
Time Commitment: 20 minutes

A store-bought rotisserie chicken takes this recipe from simple to totally effortless. Use bottled buffalo sauce or make your own by combining melted butter and hot sauce in a small pot on the stove. The chicken will take tomorrow’s lunch salad up a notch too.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Meal-Prep Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, gluten free, make ahead

OK, we know you said no leftovers. But the only thing better than an easy meal is *four* easy meals. This lean take on spaghetti and meatballs has you covered with ground turkey, marinara and zoodles. Make some for meals to come, or just prep what you’re eating tonight.

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Feed Me Phoebe

21. Easy Mexican Breakfast Pizzas with Avocado

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, low carb, gluten free, nut free, vegetarian, under ten ingredients

Who says you can only eat breakfast in the morning? Each of these cuties is topped with marinara, cheddar and a sunny-side-up egg. They’re also gluten-free, thanks to swapping pizza dough for corn tortillas. Add toppings like red onion, jalapeño or corn.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

22. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce

Time Commitment: 1 hour 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Under 500 calories, high protein, low carb, gluten free, nut free, keto

Here’s that trip to Greece you ordered. Grill up just the right amount of chicken that’ll leave you with room for toasty pita and a few spoons (fine, a gallon) of homemade sauce, made with diced cucumber, lemon, dill and Greek yogurt.

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What’s Gaby Cooking

23. Spicy Salmon Sushi Bowls

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, dairy free, pescatarian

We apologize to your beloved Japanese restaurant in advance, but we’ll take it from here. Start with a bed of sushi rice and cubed sashimi-grade salmon marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, sambal and ginger. Make it pretty with cilantro, green onion, nori and other crispy toppers.

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Foodie Crush

24. Avocado Caprese Salad

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, low carb, gluten free, nut free, vegetarian, no cook, under ten ingredients

If you want to keep your single-serve meal as simple as possible, salad is the way to go. And this one starts with arugula, tomato slices and fresh mozzarella. Drizzle it with honey-balsamic, tear yourself a hunk of bread and settle in for a few hours of Too Hot to Handle.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

25. Linguine with Bacon, Peaches and Gorgonzola

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, nut free

Pasta and solo dinners go together like peanut butter and jelly. Cozy up with a bowl of noodles topped with bacon, bacon-fat shallots and peach slices. Finish it with gorgonzola and fresh thyme. *Chef’s kiss.*

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The Butter Half

26. Vegan Buddha Bowl

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Dairy free, gluten free, vegan

Sweet potatoes, warm spices and tahini over quinoa salad is a dinner that you and your trainer can get behind. Roast the veggies while the quinoa cooks, then sprinkle on crunchy bits like beet chips and sesame seeds. This recipe makes either two side servings or one full serving, so pair with grilled curried chicken thighs, miso-glazed fish or have it all on its own.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

27. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, nut free, vegetarian

If you avoid making soup from scratch because canned soup is just too convenient to pass up, this one’s is for you. Dump cukes, lime juice and parsley in the blender, bake a cheesy piece of bread for dipping and call it a night.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

28. Salmon Bowl with Farro, Black Beans and Tahini Dressing

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, dairy free, pescatarian

Omega-3s never looked so good. This bowl has just the right amount of farro and black beans, not to mention browned salmon seasoned in smoked paprika, turmeric and coriander. Go ahead and make a big batch of tahini-lemon dressing; you’ll be craving it all week.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

29. 15-Minute Cheater’s Pad Thai

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, dairy free, gluten free

You have a lot of TV to catch up on tonight, so time is of the essence. Rice noodles and ground pork come together in minutes in a savory soy-sriracha broth. Top with bean sprouts and peanuts for that restaurant-quality look.

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Brown Sugar & Vanilla

30. Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Pesto

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, dairy free, vegetarian, under ten ingredients

Does dinner get any easier than making a sandwich? Nope. Slather ciabatta in Dijon mustard and pesto before browning eggplant, zucchini and bell pepper in olive oil. Top it with dressed mixed greens and have it with your favorite potato chips (we’re putting ours right on the sandwich).

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Averie Cooks

31. Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie for One

Time Commitment: 17 minutes
Why We Love It: Nut free, vegetarian, one bowl

One of those days, huh? Same. We’re moving dessert up a few hours because there’s nothing a crispy-edged, melty cookie can’t fix. And no, we’re not sharing.

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31 Easy Dinners for One That Are Too Delicious to Share

1. 10-Minute Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

2. Mini Chicken Shawarma

3. 15-Minute Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini

4. Green Goddess Wraps

5. Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage

6. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs

7. Mini Spanish Tortilla with Zucchini

8. Blackberry-Peach Grilled Cheese

9. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers

10. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls

11. Asparagus Salmon Foil Packets

12. Chicken Meatballs with Coconut-Herb Sauce

13. Ginger-Pineapple Shrimp Stir-Fry

14. Make-Ahead Aloo Gobi

15. One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes

16. Easy Homemade Calzone

17. Shredded Thai Salad with Avocado

18. Easy 5-Ingredient Corn Soup

19. Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery

20. Meal-Prep Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles

21. Easy Mexican Breakfast Pizzas with Avocado

22. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce

23. Spicy Salmon Sushi Bowls

24. Avocado Caprese Salad

25. Linguine with Bacon, Peaches and Gorgonzola

26. Vegan Buddha Bowl

27. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup

28. Salmon Bowl with Farro, Black Beans and Tahini Dressing

29. 15-Minute Cheater’s Pad Thai

30. Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Pesto

31. Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie for One

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31 Easy Dinners for One That Are Too Delicious to Share

1. 10-Minute Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

2. Mini Chicken Shawarma

3. 15-Minute Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini

4. Green Goddess Wraps

5. Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage

6. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs

7. Mini Spanish Tortilla with Zucchini

8. Blackberry-Peach Grilled Cheese

9. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers

10. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls

11. Asparagus Salmon Foil Packets

12. Chicken Meatballs with Coconut-Herb Sauce

13. Ginger-Pineapple Shrimp Stir-Fry

14. Make-Ahead Aloo Gobi

15. One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes

16. Easy Homemade Calzone

17. Shredded Thai Salad with Avocado

18. Easy 5-Ingredient Corn Soup

19. Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery

20. Meal-Prep Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles

21. Easy Mexican Breakfast Pizzas with Avocado

22. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce

23. Spicy Salmon Sushi Bowls

24. Avocado Caprese Salad

25. Linguine with Bacon, Peaches and Gorgonzola

26. Vegan Buddha Bowl

27. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup

28. Salmon Bowl with Farro, Black Beans and Tahini Dressing

29. 15-Minute Cheater’s Pad Thai

30. Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Pesto

31. Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie for One

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