meals for one

Chicken egg-fried rice is a quick, easy and cheap way to use up leftovers. Perfect for late-night meals or dinner in a hurry.

Each serving provides 702 kcal, 4g protein, 79g carbohydrates (of which 11g sugars), 24g fat (of which 5g saturates), 6g fibre and 3.5g salt.

Chicken egg-fried rice

vegetable oil

egg,

spring onions, sliced

grams/1¾oz frozen peas

pouch microwavable rice

chicken

sesame oil

tbsp dark soy sauce

This simple pasta salad is perfect for lunch or as a barbecue side dish. To make it vegan, omit the feta.

Each serving provides 567 kcal, 22g protein, 70g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 20g fat (of which 9g saturates), 7g fibre and 2.5g salt.

Easy pasta salad

pasta,

½ unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest and juice

¼ red onion, finely chopped

olive oil, ideally extra virgin

cucumber,

grams/3½oz cherry tomatoes, quartered

grams/½oz fresh basil, roughly chopped

60 grams/2¼oz feta, crumbled (optional)

black olives (optional)

sea salt and black pepper

Why save a good-old roast for the weekend? This mini roast chicken for one rules any day

Roasted chicken breast with pancetta, leeks and thyme

higher-welfare chicken breast

leek

thyme

olive oil

sea salt

black pepper

swig white wine

pancetta

Let us show you how to make a baked sweet potato that's soft and sweet. In this recipe it is balanced with spicy black beans and fresh, crunchy slaw. It's a great healthy meal for one.

Baked sweet potato

sweet potato (about 350 grams/12 ounces), washed and dried

garlic clove, finely chopped

cumin seeds

chilli flakes,

tin black beans,

milliliters/3½fl oz vegetable stock,

salt and black pepper

red cabbage, thinly sliced

radishes,

½ red onion, thinly sliced

coriander,

½ lime, juice only

A simple solo supper of spaghetti, linguine or tagliatelle with Italian basil sauce, ham, crème fraîche and green veg

One-pan pea & ham pesto pasta

long pasta

frozen pea

spring onions

pesto

tbsp half-fat crème fraîche

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, then throw in the pasta. Simmer for 6 mins, add the peas and spring onions, then continue cooking until the pasta is al dente.

Drain everything well, then tip into a pasta bowl (or back into the saucepan). Stir in the ham, pesto and crème fraîche until well mixed, then enjoy.

My twist on a classic New York sandwich, so big you need sticks to hold it together!

Reuben-ish sandwich

rye bread 1cm

mayonnaise

sauerkraut

red chilli deseeded and finely sliced

pastrami

gherkins

60 g Swiss cheese

watercress leaves

This simple chicken pitta makes a filling lunch or a quick and easy dinner when you want a tasty meal that takes less than 10 minutes to cook. 

Each serving provides 854 kcal, 47g protein, 54g carbohydrates (of which 15g sugars), 49g fat (of which 6g saturates), 7g fibre and 1.3g salt.

Chicken pitta 

tbsp red wine vinegar

½ tsp hot smoked paprika

oregano

cayenne pepper

lemon juice

chicken breast, skin removed, cut in half lengthways

garlic clove, crushed

tbsp plain yoghurt

¼ onion, very thinly sliced

bread

lettuce leaves

carrot,

Once you know how to cook golden, crispy halloumi, the options are endless, but pairing it with hummus and salad in an easy wrap is a great place to start. If you like it spicy, add a drizzle of hot sauce.

Each serving provides 790 kcals, 33g protein, 45g carbohydrates (of which 11g sugars) 51g fat (of which 21g saturates), 10g fibre and 4g salt.

Easy halloumi wrap

grams/3½oz halloumi

soft flour tortilla wrap

tbsp hummus

spinach leaves

sweet chilli sauce, Tabasco

olives, diced sundried tomatoes, pickled chillies, sliced red onion

This is a great quick meal at any time of the day. Eggs are a fantastic, affordable source of protein, helping our muscles to grow and repair and helping us to feel fuller for longer. Serve your omelette with wholemeal bread and a simple tomato salad for a healthy, balanced meal.

Simple cheese omelette

eggs

Cheddar cheese

I guess 'recipe' is a bit of a loose term here but come on guys, you just can't beat a classic fish finger sandwich. For me it's simply bread, butter, and a dollop of ketchup, no messing, but how do you do yours?

Fantastic fish finger buttie

fish fingers

butter

white bread

tomato ketchup

If you love fragrant, spicy flavours, this amazing beef and pak choi noodle recipe is for you

Beef with pak choi, mushrooms and noodles

75 g thin rice noodles

beef sirloin

cumin

onion

ginger

mushrooms

chicken stock

choi

The humble toasted sandwich is transformed with super-tasty fillings and a simple salad on the side

Anglo-French toastie

unsalted butter

Comte cheese

g Cheddar cheese

white wine vinegar

rapeseed oil

apple

salad leaves

Salad is not just about lettuce, this zingy noodle salad is perfect for popping in your lunchbox. 

Noodle salad with chilli nuts

soy sauce

tsp clear honey

¼ red pepper, finely chopped

grams/3½oz egg noodles, cooked according to packet instructions

peanuts

salt

½ tsp chilli flakes

A simple solo supper bursting with flavour. Serve marinated, grilled fish on a bed of brown basmati rice with coriander and lime

Sticky teriyaki salmon rice

tbsp teriyaki sauce

tbsp sweet chilli sauce

salmon fillet

wholemeal basmati rice

pak choi

tsp sesame seed

coriander

lime

Put the teriyaki and chilli sauces in a shallow dish and mix together well. lay the salmon fillet in the marinade flesh-side down. Set aside while you prepare the rice and pak choi.

Put the rice in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 mins until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the water – 6 mins before the end of cooking, put the pak choi in a colander and sit on top of the rice to steam, covered with a lid.

Meanwhile, heat the grill to high and place the salmon fillet, skin-side up, on a baking tray lined with foil. Grill for 4-5 mins, basting with the marinade, then turn over and grill for a further 3 mins. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cook for 1 min more until the seeds are toasted and the salmon cooked through.

Stir the spring onions and coriander through the rice and serve topped with the salmon fillet. Spoon over any excess marinade left in the baking tray, and add a squeeze of lime. Serve the steamed pak choi alongside.

This recipe for an easy, throw-it-all-together supper or bolstering weekend breakfast comes from my long-time kitchen companion, Hettie Potter, and very grateful I am, too. Impressively, she makes this a single portion. I, no modest eater, feel it is perfectly substantial for two, though it is a little tricky to divide. Think of this as a pie that uses flour tortillas in place of pastry. 

Egg tortilla pie

flour tortillas

ham,

free-range eggs,

sea salt flakes

grams/2½oz cheddar, grated

sauce,

Smoked salmon pasta

g fresh lasagne sheets

spinach

60 g smoked salmon (2 slices)

lemon

Parmesan cheese

cottage cheese

extra virgin olive oil

James Martin’s version of this takeaway favourite is fast, easy, uses up your leftovers and goes easy on the washing up.

Special fried rice

tbsp sesame oil (optional)

garlic, chopped

tbsp fresh ginger, chopped

free-range eggs

225 grams/8 ounces pre-cooked chilled long grain rice

spring onions, finely chopped

grams/3½oz peas,

grams/1¾oz cooked ham, diced

grams/1¾oz cooked chicken, diced

salt and pepper

Crazy good pork burger

sweet pear

g mixed spinach, rocket & watercress

pork

soft burger bun

g blue cheese

Think of this couscous salad as a starting point, rather than a fixed recipe, and use it as inspiration to start jazzing up couscous with your own favourite veg or leftovers to create a unique and delicious lunch. Try chunks of roasted squash, pomegranate seeds, fresh herbs, a squeeze of citrus, I could go on….

Super couscous salad

g couscous

broccoli (250 grams)

feta cheese

garlic

sultanas

pine nuts

orange

½ a bunch of fresh mint (15 grams)

The original, and best, simple Sunday supper for one. 

Omelette aux fines herbes

herbs,

The classic combination of tomato and basil makes this simple omelette really sing.

Tomato &amp; basil omelette

basil

cherry tomatoes

Me and my dear friend Pete Begg have two very different approaches to the perfect bacon sarnie. See which you prefer...

Top 29 meals for one recipes from across the web

The most viewed meals for one recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Chicken egg-fried rice

Easy pasta salad

Roasted chicken breast with pancett...

Baked sweet potato

One-pan pea & ham pesto pasta

Reuben-ish sandwich

Chicken pitta

Easy halloumi wrap

Simple cheese omelette

Fantastic fish finger buttie

Beef with pak choi, mushrooms and n...

Anglo-French toastie

Noodle salad with chilli nuts

Sticky teriyaki salmon rice

Egg tortilla pie

Smoked salmon pasta

Special fried rice

Crazy good pork burger

Super couscous salad

Omelette aux fines herbes

Tomato & basil omelette

Ultimate bacon sarnies

Roasted chicken breast with lemony ...

Roasted chicken breast with cherry ...

Gennaro's beautiful leftover brusch...

Roasted chicken breast with creamy ...

Leftovers affogato

Roast chicken dinner for one

Thai green fish in a bag

Top 29 meals for one recipes from across the web

The most viewed meals for one recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Chicken egg-fried rice

Easy pasta salad

Roasted chicken breast with pancett...

Baked sweet potato

One-pan pea & ham pesto pasta

Reuben-ish sandwich

Chicken pitta

Easy halloumi wrap

Simple cheese omelette

Fantastic fish finger buttie

Beef with pak choi, mushrooms and n...

Anglo-French toastie

Noodle salad with chilli nuts

Sticky teriyaki salmon rice

Egg tortilla pie

Smoked salmon pasta

Special fried rice

Crazy good pork burger

Super couscous salad

Omelette aux fines herbes

Tomato &amp; basil omelette

Ultimate bacon sarnies

Roasted chicken breast with lemony ...

Roasted chicken breast with cherry ...

Gennaro's beautiful leftover brusch...

Roasted chicken breast with creamy ...

Leftovers affogato

Roast chicken dinner for one

Thai green fish in a bag

The most viewed meals for one recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Tomato & basil omelette