Tag: chicken

Quick Dinner Recipes for One Person

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

creole cabbage and sausageSingle 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

chicken mushroom skillet recipe

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 soupEasy 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.

apple glazed ham steak

Apple Glazed Ham Steak

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.

 

 

 

one person chicken curry

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!

 

 

eggplant parmesan for oneEggplant Parmesan

Tender eggplant, sauce from a jar, and cheese make a surprisingly quick and easy dinner. Tastes like you worked for hours though.

Pasta Pesto pistachio pasta pestowith 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 Yogsalmon greek yogurt dill sauceurt 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.

easy singapore noodles with chicken

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

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

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.




Easy Singapore Noodles with Chicken for One Person

Nobody knows exactly where Singapore noodles came from.  They’re not really native to Singapore, and the curry is more South Asian than North Asian.  I suspect they are no more “Singaporean” than fortune cookies are Cantonese.  In any case, easy Singapore noodles with chicken is a quick, weeknight dinner that’s a great way to “clean out your fridge.”

They don’t work too well as leftovers (especially if you use rice noodles, which tend to clump when they sit), so a recipe for a single serving is essential.  Since it makes just enough for one person, you won’t have leftovers to fill up the fridge again!

I used regular pasta here, because that’s what I had and rice noodles may not be readily available everywhere.  If you do use the rice noodles, get the vermicelli kind.  Soak them in hot water for thirty seconds to soften them and then add them to the vegetables and chicken once they’re cooked.

The recipe is flexible, so you can use chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp if you have that handy, or if you prefer it.

The vegetables are just suggestions too.  I used broccoli, onions, mushrooms, and two kinds of bell peppers (red and green). More suggestions (and variations) at the bottom of the post.




Easy Singapore Noodles with Chicken Substitutions and Variations

  • Use leftover roast pork or raw shrimp (or both) instead of chicken
  • Use a mixture of frozen Chinese veggies, such as Trader Joe’s stir fry, or harvest hodgepodge. Seapoint Farms Oriental Blend is also good; this will also speed up the cooking time
  • Mix and match the vegetables in the dish. Add snow peas, water chestnuts, or sprouts. Use different kinds of peppers.
  • Throw in a hot pepper or two (depending on your tolerance for heat)
  • Add an egg and scramble it

More Asian Noodle Recipes

spicy beef noodle soupSpicy Beef Noodle Soup for One

A quick, and healthy soup, packed with noodles, cabbage, and chili garlic sauce. All right from your fridge and pantry.

 

spicy sesame noodlesSpicy Sesame Noodles Recipe for One Person

Slightly sweet, a little spicy, and refreshing too. This takeout standard is easy to make at home. Add cucumbers for crunchy cool.

 

szechuan chili noodlesSzechuan Chili Noodles Recipe

A streamlined home version of Dan Dan noodles. Add meat (or not).  All you need is noodles, make your own chili oil for heat, sesame seeds for crunch, and bok choy (or cabbage) for color and a little crunch.

chinese chicken noodle cabbage soupChinese Chicken Noodle Cabbage Soup for One Person

The aroma alone is enough to make you hungry. Breathe in the garlic, spicy chili, and honey, and then slurp it all down.

 




Chicken Florentine for One

Sometimes, there are nights when you’ve been working hard all day, and you open the fridge and wonder, “Where’s the magic instant food fairy?” You’re hungry, you want food, and you want it now. But you also want something you’ll enjoy eating. Chicken Florentine sounds fancy, but it’s really easy to put together. It also cooks quickly.  It only takes about 25 minutes to prepare, from start to finish. Just the thing for one you’re tired, hungry, or it’s hot and you do not want to stand over the stove for ages waiting for dinner to hurry up and cook.

All you have to do is do a little bit of chopping, a quick sauté, and toss a few ingredients in a frying pan.  Ta dah! Dinner is ready.

I served this with a simple side dish of spaghetti tossed with olive oil and butter, and topped with grated parmesan cheese (not shown).




Chicken Florentine for One Substitutions and Variations

• Sauté some mushrooms in the sauce
• Replace the onions with shallots
• Use white wine instead of chicken broth
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice (instead of the wine or the broth); this will add a bit of acidity and brighten the flavor

More Chicken Recipes

 

feta brined roast chicken

Feta Brined Roast Chicken Recipe for One

You’ve likely heard of brining turkey. Turns out feta cheese works just as well (and it’s more flavorful too). Marinate, roast, and serve on a bed of fresh spinach.


Vietnamese baked chicken with lime Vietnamese Chicken with Lime and Ginger

Warm and spicy with a ginger kick, mellowed by sweet, citrusy lime.  Just marinate and bake.

 

peruvian roast chicken with green saucePeruvian Roast Chicken in Green Sauce Recipe

Crispy roast chicken topped with a killer green sauce. Flavored with spinach, hot pepper, and just enough creamy mayo to hold it together. Great as a dip too.

 

Shoemaker’s Chicken

Skillet chicken enlivened with a tangy sauce that cooks right in the pan with the chicken.  One pot, minimal cleanup.

 

Single Serving Chicken Recipe with Tarragon and Mushrooms

This single serving chicken recipe flavored with tarragon and mushrooms will make you think you’ve gone to a fine French restaurant (without the big bill at the end of the meal).

I adapted the recipe from Pierre Franey’s 60 Minute Gourmet cookbook. Its official name translates to Fricassé of Chicken with Tarragon.  My friends and family used to call it “cholesterol chicken.”

The original recipe called for three tablespoons of butter and an entire cup of cream!  Much as I love butter and cream, that’s a bit…much.

So, I decided to make it a bit lighter, while also adapting the recipe to make it a single serving chicken recipe instead of the original four.  I reduced the amount of butter and used canola oil instead.  Then, I replaced the cream with a mixture of Greek yogurt and milk.

It’s still a quick and easy chicken recipe and it still tastes great (though it’s certainly not low fat) and I haven’t sacrificed one bit of flavor.

Let’s call it Tarragon Chicken with Mushrooms for One Person instead.

It’s also pretty forgiving. I made a larger recipe for my parents, with a few variations, since mom had different ingredients and onions bothered dad’s stomach.  I used “better than bullion” concentrate, garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, and dried shiitake mushrooms.  My dad was not a big fan of chicken, but he certainly liked this recipe. He licked his plate clean! Mom insisted that I write down exactly what I did so I could repeat it.




Tarragon Chicken with Mushrooms Recipe Substitutions and Variations

  • If you don’t have the yogurt/milk use the cream, or mix butter and milk together and melt it before adding it to the sauce (since butter is essentially solidified cream)
  • The original recipe called for fresh tarragon.  I bought some and found it tasted like licorice.  Since I don’t particularly like licorice, I wasn’t too happy about that! On the other hand, if you do like licorice, or fresh tarragon, use one small sprig.
  • Try using wild mushrooms, like shiitake or chanterelle instead of white button mushrooms; this also works well with dried mushrooms (reconstitute them with hot water to cover and let them sit for five or ten minutes)

More Chicken Recipes

stovetop coq au vinStovetop Coq au Vin Chicken with Red Wine Sauce

Standard coq au vin is complicated and time-consuming. This version speeds that all up and makes it accessible for a home cook.

 

crispy lemon chicken thigh

Crispy Lemon Chicken Thigh Recipe for One

Great hot or cold, with a crispy, slightly sweet flavor, and three kinds of lemon. Think fried chicken with less mess.

 

Chicken Mushroom Skillet Recipe chicken mushroom skillet recipe

Pan fry the chicken, cut the mushrooms and veggies, and simmer. It makes its own sauce right in the pan.

 

shoemaker's chicken for oneShoemaker’s Chicken for One

A classic Italian meal, that’s really not Italian at all.  Minimal cleanup, one pan and a tangy sauce you don’t have to cook separately.