Home Recipes Cooking Style Cooking for Two
Molly JasinskiUpdated: Feb. 18, 2024
Cooking for two? These small-batch slow cooker recipes yield four servings or fewer. Enjoy dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow, or freeze half for another meal. Either way, you won't be chowing stew for days.
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Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken
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I use my slow cooker to prepare these well-seasoned chicken breasts that cook up moist and tender. My daughter shared this great recipe with me several years ago. I now rely on chicken slow cooker recipes for two, like this one, many days a week.—Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Cajun Pork and Rice
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I created this recipe after returning home from my travels and discovering I had little food in the house. I used ingredients that were already available in the refrigerator and pantry. —Allison Gapinski, Cary, North Carolina
Slow-Cooker Italian Chicken
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My father used to love it when I made this slow-cooker Italian chicken. Since it includes a flavorful tomato sauce, it's especially good served over pasta or rice. —Deanna D'Auria, Banning, California
Pork Chops with Sauerkraut
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Pair tender pork chops with sauerkraut for a filling main dish that’s quick and easy to put together. —Stephanie Miller, Omaha, Nebraska
Tangy Tropical Chicken
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In this colorful dish, exotic fruits such as mango and pineapple beautifully complement the chicken and lend a pleasant hint of sweetness that’s balanced by a bit of soy sauce. —Christina Aho, Naples, Florida
Greek Chicken with Green Beans
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My Greek grandmother made the most delicious Greek chicken and green beans with a lemon-tomato flavor. Whenever I make this slow-cooker recipe, I think of her. The juices from the chicken help flavor the green beans, but the beans can be prepared alone as a side dish without the chicken. —Elizabeth Lindemann, Driftwood, Texas
Slow-Cooker Mongolian Beef
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This slow-cooker Mongolian beef uses inexpensive ingredients to offer big flavor in a small amount of time. It's easier than getting takeout! Set your Crock-Pot on high for two to three hours to whip it up even quicker. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Coconut Curry Chicken
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My husband and I love this coconut curry chicken recipe! It’s a breeze to prepare in the slow cooker, and it tastes just like a meal you’d have at your favorite Indian restaurant. —Andi Kauffman, Beavercreek, Oregon
Casablanca Chutney Chicken
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If you enjoy Indian food, you'll love this dish. An array of spices and dried fruit slow cook with boneless chicken thighs for an aromatic and satisfying meal. To make it complete, serve over Jasmine or Basmati rice. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Tomato-Basil Steak
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We grow the basil and bell peppers I use in this dish. It's easy to prepare, yet so rich and delicious. —Sheryl Little, Sherwood, Arkansas
Slow-Cooker Lamb Chops
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These slow cooker lamb chops are, without a doubt, the lamb dish we like best. I usually simmer them on low for hours. The aroma is irresistible, and they come out so tender, they practically melt in your mouth! —Sandy McKenzie, Braham, Minnesota
Smothered Round Steak
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Try less expensive round steak and gravy served over egg noodles for a hearty meal. Meaty and chock full of veggies, this slow-cooker recipe will take the worry out of what’s-for-supper any weeknight. Kathy Garret – Camden, West Virginia
So-Easy Coq au Vin
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Here’s my adaptation of the beloved French dish. I substituted boneless skinless chicken breasts for a lighter, easy coq au vin that still showcases the traditional and memorable taste. —Sonya Labbe, Los Angeles, California
Slow-Cooker Pork Chops
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Everyone will enjoy these fork-tender, slow-cooker pork chops with a creamy, light gravy. Serve with a green vegetable, mashed potatoes and coleslaw or a salad. These are the best slow cooker pork chops. —Sue Bingham, Madisonville, Tennessee
Slow-Cooked Stuffed Peppers
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My favorite kitchen appliance is the slow cooker, and I use mine more than anyone else I know. It does a great job with this good-for-you dish. —Michelle Gurnsey, Lincoln, Nebraska
Tangy Pulled Pork Sandwiches
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The slow cooker not only makes this an easy meal, it keeps the pork tender, saucy and loaded with flavor. —Beki Kosydar-Krantz, Mayfield, Pennsylvania
Slow-Cooker Sweet Sour Meatballs
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For a meal on busy days, I pop ready-made meatballs in the slow cooker to make this tantalizing Asian-style specialty. Nothing is more convenient than walking in the door to dinner. —Lisa Stepanski, Munnsville, New York
Country Ribs Dinner
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Ribs slow-cooked with carrots, celery, onions and red potatoes are pure comfort food for us. To add a little zip, we sometimes sprinkle in cayenne. —Rose Ingall, Manistee, Michigan
Simmered Turkey Enchiladas
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I discovered a different way to serve economical turkey thighs. I simmer them in tomato sauce, green chiles and seasonings until they're tender and flavorful, then serve them in tortillas with our favorite fresh toppings. —Stella Schams, Tempe, Arizona
Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken
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This is a go-to slow cooker recipe when I know I’ll be having a busy day. My family loves it served over rice or noodles, and then top it with tortilla chips and sour cream. —Deborah Pennington, Falkville, Alabama
Beef in Onion Gravy
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I double this super slow cooker recipe to feed our family of four so I’m sure to have leftovers to send with my husband to work for lunch. His co-workers tell him he’s lucky to have someone who fixes him such special meals. It’s our secret that it’s an easy slow cooker dinner! —Denise Albers, Freeburg, Illinois
Butternut Beef Stew
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I tweaked this crockpot recipe for two that I found in a magazine to suit my taste for sweet and spicy. I found that pureeing the tomatoes added a thicker consistency without using flour.—Erin Lembke, Monroe, Washington
Veggie Meatball Soup for Three
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This hearty soup is a snap to put together before I leave for work. I just add uncooked pasta when I get home, and then I have a few minutes to relax before supper is ready. —Charla Tinney, Tyrone, Oklahoma
Molten Mocha Cake
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When I first made this decadent slow-cooker recipe, my husband’s and daughter’s expressions said it all. Now it’s one of my daughter’s favorites. Later, I gave one of these cakes to our next-door neighbors. Turns out their teenage son, who’d answered the door, ate the whole thing without telling anyone else about it! —Aimee Fortney, Fairview, Tennessee
Slow-Cooker Veggie Lasagna
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This veggie-licious alternative to traditional lasagna makes use of slow-cooker convenience. I suggest using chunky spaghetti sauce. —Laura Davister, Little Suamico, Wisconsin
Spiced Acorn Squash
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Working full time, I found I didn't always have time to cook the meals my family loved, so I re-created many of those dishes in the slow cooker. This treatment for squash is one of our favorites. —Carol Greco, Centereach, New York
Slow-Cooker Chicken Tagine with Pumpkin
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I first discovered tagines—Moroccan stews—when my oldest son was a baby, and I've loved them ever since. I used a slow cooker for my first version and since I'm a mom with two active boys, that has stayed my preferred method. The pumpkin mixture is supposed to be thick, but if you like a thinner consistency, stir in chicken broth. —Necia Blundy, Bothell, Washington
Italian Spaghetti Squash
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This is a unique and easy way to cook spaghetti squash. Be sure the squash is on the small or medium side so that it fits into the slow cooker after being cut in half. —Melissa Brooks, Sparta, Wisconsin
Slow-Cooker Tropical Pork Chops
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Pork and fruit go so nicely together and when you add fresh herbs, you get this fresh, light and bright main dish that everyone loves. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Red Clam Sauce
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This crockpot recipe for two tastes like an Italian restaurant specialty and cooks while you take care of other things. What a marvelous way to jazz up pasta sauce! —JoAnn Brown, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
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Everyone in my family loves when I make this dinner…even my kids! What’s great about this slow cooker recipe is that you can add vegetables you have on hand to make it heartier, such as corn, peas, or diced red bell pepper. —Monica Werner, Temecula, California
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When I want to jump-start supper, I opt for these tender pork chops. The sweet and savory cherry sauce makes the recipe a keeper. Try serving it with wild rice pilaf. —Stephanie Ray, Naples, Florida
Slow-Cooked Tex-Mex Flank Steak
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This flavorful, tender beef dish has been a go-to crockpot recipe for many years; it’s a meal lifesaver on days when I’m going to be late getting home.—Anne Merrill, Croghan, New York
Farm-Style BBQ Ribs
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Inspiration struck when I saw a recipe similar to this one in a newspaper. My version was an instant hit with my husband and our friends. It got even better when I discovered how easy it is to make in the slow cooker. —Bette Jo Welton, Eugene, OR
Slow-Cooker Pad Thai
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I love pad thai, but I hate standing over a hot stir-fry—especially in the summer. This slow-cooker recipe for two lets me keep my cool and enjoy pad thai, too. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
Red Pepper Chicken
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Chicken breasts are treated to black beans, red peppers and juicy tomatoes in this Southwestern supper. We love it served with rice plumped up in chicken broth. —Piper Spiwak, Vienna, Virginia
Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan
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I love making this satisfying dish—it’s easy and elegant, and the slow cooker minimizes my time in the kitchen. I make this during football season too. For game days, I skip the pasta and serve the chicken on submarine rolls with a bit of the sauce and some chopped lettuce. It’s also good cut in half and served on smaller buns as sliders. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Simple Poached Salmon
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I love this crockpot recipe for two because it’s healthy and almost effortless. The salmon always cooks to perfection! —Erin Chilcoat, Central Islip, New York
Beef ‘n’ Bean Torta
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This zesty recipe for two is a favorite of mine because it has a wonderful Southwestern taste and is easy to prepare. I serve it on nights when we have only a few minutes to eat before running off to meetings or sports events. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Slow-Cooked Moroccan Chicken
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Herbs and spices really work their magic in this crockpot recipe for two. The dried fruit adds an exotic touch. —Kathy Morgan, Ridgefield, Washington
Slow-Cooked Peach Pork Chops
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“I played around with many variations of this recipe until I came up with one that was just right. The warm peaches make an excellent side dish for the pork.” —Bonnie Morrow, Spencerport, New York
Sausage-Stuffed Flank Steak
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As part of a prize I won for a recipe contest, I received a slow cooker. I hadn’t used one in years, so I didn’t have any recipes on hand. This tasty beef was my first creation, and it was a hit with my family. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
Weeknight Goulash
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With this recipe, you can put in a full day’s work, run some errands and still get dinner on the table in hardly any time. Make it extra-special by serving the meat sauce over spaetzle. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Rosemary Pot Roast
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Come home to a comforting, ready-to-eat entree with this slow-cooker recipe for two. It’s so easy, and it fills the house with a wonderful aroma. —Marcia Schroeder, River Edge, New Jersey
Peppery Chicken with Potatoes
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We like this crockpot recipe for two because while we go to church on Sundays the chicken cooks and is ready for us when we get home.—Lori Draves, Highland, Wisconsin
Lamb and White Bean Chili
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I created a fresh take on chili using lamb and Moroccan seasoning with a feta and almond garnish. It was so exciting and tasty to my husband and son, I made a second batch almost right away. If you like a spicier chili, add harissa paste or use medium salsa instead of mild. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
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Everyone loves these potatoes and always comes back for more. I like the comforting main dish because it uses only seven ingredients and is finished in the slow cooker.—Traci Meadows, Monett, Missouri
Apricot-Orange Salsa Chicken
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Sweet oranges and apricots blend perfectly with zippy salsa in this five-ingredient entree. Keep the heat to your liking with mild, medium or hot salsa. Served over rice, it's a dinner we've enjoyed time and again. —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Creamy Polenta with Balsamic Glaze
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This delicious, easy crockpot recipe for two goes incredibly well with braised meat. It makes any meal feel a little more elevated. —Sarah Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire
Originally Published: October 18, 2018