We’re still home alone, and there are more holidays we’ll have to celebrate Easter or Passover for one, or else join our friends and family on Zoom. While we can’t go to mom’s or grandma’s or even eat in a restaurant, we can still eat well and celebrate. Even if those celebrations look a bit different than usual.
Since the two holidays have entirely different traditions, with different dietary rules and customs, I’ve chosen dishes that are low-fuss, but still pack plenty of flavor. The side dishes are suitable for either holiday, and obviously, if you observe Easter, you can eat anything on the page!
Because having a one person Easter or Passover doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious festive meal.
One Person Easter Main Dishes
Apple Glazed Ham Steak Recipe for One Person
Sure, everyone serves ham with pineapple, but this is better. The sweet/tart apple is a better foil to the salty ham. And, it’s easy too. Since it cooks quickly (the fastest main dish on this page), it’s great if you don’t feel like waiting to eat!
A hands-off recipe that requires very little effort. Just prep it, marinate, and then forget it. Slow-roasting deepens the flavors and warms your home too. Throw in some potatoes to bake for a really low-fuss (but delicious) meal. Or try one of the side dishes below. Incidentally, some Jewish traditions are a definite “no” to lamb on Passover; others are OK. If you are a “yes,” you can eat this!
One Person Slow Roasted Lamb Breast Provencal Recipe
An easy hands-off main dish. Just put it together, and let it cook slowly in your oven while you do something else. Your home will smell wonderful as the garlic and rosemary permeate your house!
One Person Passover Main Dishes
Stovetop Coq au Vin Chicken with Red Wine Sauce
A weeknight friendly version of a classic French dish. The standard version takes a lot of time and effort. This one doesn’t!
The recipe does call for flour, but you can use potato starch instead. There’s also butter, but you can use neutral oil if you’d rather not mix meat and milk.
Small Batch Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Much less work than the standard version! Mine is layered, like lasagne; no rolling, no stuffing. Still delicious. I used red cabbage (as I had bought it for something else), but green is fine too.
Jewish Chicken Curry Chitarnee
A festive Sephardic Jewish recipe that’s zippier than the usual Ashkenazi fare. Not to worry, it’s not super-spicy. It’s flavored with onion, garlic, ginger, mild chilis, and cardamom, all of which become warm and mellow as they cook. The wine vinegar is OK for Passover too. And only one pot!
One Person Easter or Passover Side Dishes
Oven Roasted Lemon Garlic Broccoli
Roasting broccoli transforms broccoli. The bitterness disappears, tenderizing it, and giving the broccoli a sweet, almost nutty flavor.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar and Vanilla
The side dish that thinks it’s a dessert! A touch of sugar, enhanced with vanilla, and then roasted in the oven until it becomes nutty and sweet.
This does have butter in it, so if you don’t want to mix that with a meat dish, try the broccoli or the potato bites.
Crispy Garlic Basil Potato Bites
Tiny bite-size bits of starchy goodness, these potato bites are crispy outside and tender inside. Almost like fries (but a lot less messy). Not to mention the extra garlic kick.
One Person Easter Desserts
Small Batch Brownies with Cocoa Powder
Warm, slightly gooey, and super-chocolatey brownies sized for one person. And, only one bowl required! Be decadent and top them with chocolate syrup and/or some ice cream.
Usually, making anything pie-like is a bit of a slog. This recipe is different. There’s no pre-baking or crimping. And only a few steps to make it. But, you end up with a sweet, buttery dessert that’s a perfect holiday delight.
Triple chocolate (cake, chips, and ganache) cake that’s decadent, rich, but not too rich (it’s got yogurt!) The ganache adds extra chocolatey oomph (and it’s easier than you might think).
One Person Passover Desserts
End your meal with these sweet bananas, lightly dusted with cinnamon. Ready in minutes.
Brandy is OK (check the label to make sure if you are observant).]
Single Serving Double Dark Chocolate Pudding Recipe
A single serving of rich, indulgent pudding. Cook it less and you get thick, hot chocolate. So, it’s really two recipes in one!