29 No-Fuss Dinner Ideas For One That Are Actually Practical

Solo cooking never tasted so good.

Cooking for one can be a real challenge because it's difficult to find nonwasteful, practical, and exciting single-serve recipes. But we're here to help. Keep scrolling for 24 solo dinner ideas that you'll actually get excited to make.

1. Old-Fashioned Jacket Potato

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Start with a potato and add whatever toppings you have on hand like bacon or pancetta, store bought queso or shredded cheddar, and scallions or chives.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Jacket Potato

2. Egg, Avocado, and Tomato Toast

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Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, there's no bad time for a fancy avo toast.

Recipe: Egg, Avocado, and Tomato Toast

3. Mug Baked Rigatoni

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You're only five ingredients away from the most satisfying and easiest dinner ever.

Recipe: Mug Baked Rigatoni

4. Bacon, Brie, and Apricot Grilled Cheese

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If you don't have one of the ingredients for this jazzed up grilled cheese, just swap it for what you've got. Any combination of jelly or jam, cheese, and deli meat will taste amazing.

Recipe: Bacon, Brie, and Apricot Grilled Cheese

5. Avocado Alfredo With Zucchini Noodles

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This low-carb pasta recipe is so easy to turn into a single-serve meal. Start with one zucchini or enough pre-ribboned zucchini for one. Follow the recipe for the avocado Alfredo sauce, because you can use the leftovers on just about anything. Get the recipe for avocado Alfredo with zucchini noodles here.

6. Shakshuka

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Tomato, kale, eggs, and some spices are all you need to whip up this breakfast-for-dinner recipe. If you want to jazz it up, add anything from crumbled sausage and peppers to jalapeño and feta cheese. Get the recipe for shakshuka here.

7. Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach, and Cheese Stuffed Chicken

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This recipe makes two servings, so you can either cut the ingredients in half or save the second portion for lunch or dinner the next day. This is a meal you won't get sick of. Get the recipe for sun-dried tomato, spinach, and cheese stuffed chicken here.

8. Turkey Chili for One

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Even if you have to buy a large portion of ground turkey, just freeze the leftovers and use what you need. Ground meat freezes perfectly, and you can use it in the future to make anything from turkey meatballs to turkey lettuce wraps. Get the recipe for turkey chili here.

9. Microwave Hot and Sour Soup

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You could order delivery, or you could whip up this Chinese-inspired soup, which comes together in the microwave. Get the recipe for microwave hot and sour soup here.

10. Orange-Maple Glazed Salmon

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This recipe calls for salmon, pecans, and orange, plus some ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. If you go to any market with a seafood counter, you can buy just enough salmon for one. Get the recipe for orange-maple glazed salmon here.

11. Marinated White Beans With Olive Oil Toast

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Not only can you cut this recipe down so it doesn't make as much, but you can also store the marinated white beans in the fridge and eat it throughout the week. It almost gets tastier as it sits.

Recipe: Marinated White Beans With Olive Oil Toast

12. Pork Stir Fry For One

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This recipe makes just enough for one, but honestly you might want to make extra to eat throughout the week. It's that tasty.

Recipe: Pork Stir Fry For One

13. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Mediterranean Quinoa

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Roast a sweet potato while you make the filling with quinoa, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and spinach. If you don't feel like making the tahini dressing from scratch, opt for a store-bought dressing instead. Get the recipe for stuffed sweet potatoes with Mediterranean quinoa here.

14. Single-Serving Veggie Ramen Bowl

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You could settle for Cup Noodles, but you're an adult, so take things up a notch with this ~fancy~ homemade ramen. Dress it up with any of your favorite Asian vegetables, and a soft-boiled egg is always a good idea. Get the recipe for the single-serving veggie ramen bowl here.

15. Lemon-Garlic Foil-Packet Shrimp

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Baking shrimp (or, really, any seafood) in foil results in perfectly cooked food and very little mess. Toss as much shrimp as you want to eat on a sheet of foil; add butter, garlic, lemon, and red pepper flakes; fold it all up; and bake it in the oven. Get the recipe for lemon-garlic foil-packet shrimp here.

16. Easy Lasagna for One

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When you're craving a plate of hearty, comforting lasagna, don't deprive yourself of those feelings. Whip up a single serving of this cheesy, saucy goodness. Get the recipe for easy lasagna for one here.

17. Chili Shrimp Pasta for One

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If you have pasta, kale, and frozen shrimp, you're halfway to this Thai-inspired meal, which gets a flavor kick from chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and lime juice. Get the recipe for chili shrimp pasta for one here.

18. Easy Fettuccine Alfredo for One

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Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. 

Recipe: Easy Fettuccine Alfredo for One

19. Garlic Butter–Lemon Baked Cod

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This baked fish recipe tastes totally gourmet, but it calls for just a few very simple ingredients. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic; pour it over a piece of cod; and bake it in the oven until flaky. Get the recipe for garlic butter–lemon baked cod here.

20. Balsamic Rigatoni

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Shake up your normal spaghetti and tomato sauce rotation with this grown-up pasta recipe, made with blistered cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Get the recipe for balsamic rigatoni here.

21. Taco Zucchini Boats

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The best thing about zucchini boats is that you can totally customize then. If you're not a huge fan of taco filling, try stuffing zucchini with mozzarella, marinara, and pepperoni or with quinoa and whatever veggies you have on hand. Get the recipe for taco zucchini boats here.

22. Minestrone Soup

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Canned beans, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, pasta, and frozen mixed vegetables form the base of this comforting soup. You might want to consider making extra because you'll want leftovers. Get the recipe for minestrone soup here.

23. Microwave Cauliflower Fried Rice in a Mug

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Not a fan of riced cauliflower? Grab whatever microwaveable rice or grain you like best and take it from there.

Recipe: Microwave Cauliflower Fried Rice in a Mug

24. Easy Individual Chicken Pot Pie

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If you don't own a ramekin, you can make this chicken pot pie in an oven-safe mug or small baking dish. If you want to save time and effort, start with half a rotisserie chicken. This recipe makes two pot pies, but you can save one for another meal or freeze it for a lazy night. Get the recipe for easy individual chicken pot pie here.

25. Low-Carb Eggplant Pizzas

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You can customize these eggplant pizzas with your favorite toppings, from basic tomato sauce and mozzarella to a more inventive creation with olives, mushrooms, or pesto. Get the recipe for low-carb eggplant pizza here.

26. Single-Serve Mac 'n' Cheese

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Sure, you could just reach for the boxed stuff, but this homemade mac 'n' cheese is honestly just as easy, and it tastes seriously indulgent. Get the recipe for single-serve mac 'n' cheese here.

27. Easiest Vegetable Stir-Fry

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Use this stir-fry as a road map, but mix it up to include your favorite fillings. Serve it with lo mein, white rice, or cauliflower rice, and add protein like shrimp, chicken, or tofu if you want something heartier than vegetables. Get the recipe for vegetable stir-fry here.

28. Easy Salsa Chicken

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This four-ingredient meal, made with just chicken breasts, salsa, taco seasoning, and cheese, comes together in a single pan. How's that for easiest dinner ever? Get the recipe for easy salsa chicken here.

29. Small-Batch Broccoli Chicken Soup

Girl Gone Gourmet / Via girlgonegourmet.com

This easy and cozy soup recipe makes just enough for seconds or leftovers the next day. Get the recipe for small-batch broccoli chicken soup here.

Looking for more solo cooking inspiration? Check out 17 Useful Kitchen Products for Anyone Who's Cooking for One and 16 Practical Tips for Meal Prepping for One Person.

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