You get home from work, you’re tired, you’re hungry, and you’re thinking, “How can I make a quick dinner that won’t take forever to cook?” You open the refrigerator, and stare inside, hoping for inspiration. You’re tempted to go for fast food, or reach for the menu from the pizza place. Skip the takeout and make one of these quick dinner recipes for one person instead.
They’re all a single serving, but you can make enough for two, save the rest, and reheat it a day or two later (then you get dinner in 2 minutes!).
Most of these recipes take about 20 or 25 minutes to cook. Cut up some fruit, heat some rice (I always make extra), make a quick salad, or grab some crusty bread, and you’ve got dinner!
Quick Dinner Recipes for One
Single Serving Creole Cabbage with Sausage
This creole cabbage and sausage recipe is quick and easy to put together. You can have the whole thing finished in about fifteen minutes. Great when you’re hungry and you don’t want to stand over the stove for hours
Skillet Chicken Thighs with Mushroom Sauce
Hungry after a long day at work? This chicken with mushroom sauce is the perfect answer to the “Feed me nows!!”
Just pan fry the chicken, slice the mushrooms, onions, and garlic, and let it simmer. All in one pan.
Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
This soup recipe goes from start to finish in about fifteen minutes. It hardly even requires cooking at all. Just dump, pour, and heat and you’ve got a fast, easy soup. It’s great when you don’t feel like fussing.
When I was little, everyone served ham with pineapple. That’s good, but I think this apple glazed ham steak is better.
Apples are less overpoweringly sweet and complement the salty ham better.
Easy Chicken Curry Recipe for One
A few ingredients, a small skillet, and you can put the whole thing together in fifteen minutes. Just perfect when you’re hungry and in a hurry!
Tender eggplant, sauce from a jar, and cheese make a surprisingly quick and easy dinner. Tastes like you worked for hours though.
Pasta Pesto 
with Pistachios and Broccoli
Pesto with a fresh twist. You get the sweet, summery taste of basil, the earthiness of broccoli, and the crunchiness of pistachios.
Salmon with Greek Yog
urt Dill Sauce for One
A super-easy, elegant looking dinner that’s really easy to make. The piquancy of the Greek yogurt complements the rich flavor of the fish beautifully. A pinch of mustard gives it a bit of a bite, without overwhelming the rest of the dish.
Singapore Noodles Dinner Recipe for One
Got leftovers? Clean out your fridge and create an entirely fresh meal with this classic stir fry.
Greek Fish with Lemon and Tomatoes
This has become one of my favorites during the summer. It’s tasty (and quick) when it’s hot and I don’t feel like cooking. Use greenmarket tomatoes (if you can get them).
Cold Leftover Steak Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
A crispy, delicious salad with peppers, tomatoes, and goat cheese. Top it with a red wine vinaigrette and you’ve got the perfect solution for late summer days when the thought of turning on the stove is too much to bear.