In the kitchen, one can be the loneliest number. The fear of leftover fatigue or doing the math to modify recipes for a single serving (why do so many recipes make so much at once?) can drive anyone to order out or eat a sad bowl of cereal rather than cooking. After all, spending time making a dish that requires pans and utensils isn’t worth it when you’re dining alone, right? Wrong. Not only can cooking healthy recipes provide some much-needed alone time, but the best part is that it's a lot quicker than cooking for a crowd. Here are six lunch meals perfect for one person.
1. Chicken Bruschetta Pasta Salad (pictured above)
When you're craving Italian but not the six servings a restaurant dish usually comes with, try this Italian-inspired recipe at home. More pasta than salad, it combines spelt noodles, chicken breast, red onion, tomato, and basil leaves. The sauce? A super-easy olive oil and balsamic combo.
Unless you want leftovers for the week (which isn't a bad idea), soup is another tough solo dish. This recipe solves the problem when you just want soup once by giving us a single-serving portion: Two cups of chicken broth, loads of beans and veggies, and two strips of crumbled bacon will have you warm and fuzzy in no time.
3. Mediterranean Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Take your grilled cheese from late-night drunchie to full-on meal with this Mediterranean-inspired version. Creamy feta isn't as gooey as the standard mozzarella or cheddar, but it sure is rich, and tastes amazing paired with red onions, tomato, kale, and black olives.
4. Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potato
Corn, black beans, chipotle chili powder, and lime juice come together to create mega southwestern flavor. Stuff it all inside a baked sweet potato (cook it the night before for quicker assembly) and top with cashew crumbles. If you're not vegan or dairy free, try goat cheese crumbles for a tangy flavor.
5. Tart Cherry Tuna Stuffed Avocados
Is it us, or do stuffed foods just taste better? Take this stuffed avocado, for instance, which is packed with tuna, dried cherries, and chopped pecans. This recipe takes just a few simple ingredients and turns them into a filling meal.
6. Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Sandwiches
Drizzle olive oil on two pieces of ciabatta bread (or any crusty slice). Top with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil, and sprinkle black pepper, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper on top. If you're not vegetarian, add in your favorite Italian meat, like prosciutto or salami. Cook the sandwich in a pan over medium heat, flattening with a spatula, until cheese is totally melted. Aw yeahhh.
