The Best Cooking for Two Cookbook

Over the course of several months I tested 9 recipes from “The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook.” With over 650 recipes scaled for two servings and pages of tips for shopping, storing, using leftovers, tools, and ingredient prep in the kitchen of a smaller household, I am convinced “The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook” is the best cooking for two cookbook available.

More Cooking for Two Posts:

Crockpot Meals for Two

20 Recipes for Two

Tips and Tricks to Make Cooking for Two Easy

The Best Cooking for Two Cookbook

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The best cooking for two cookbook is The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook from American’s Test Kitchen.

Breakfast Recipes for Two

Fish and Shellfish Recipes for Two

Other Dinner Recipes for Two

Dessert Recipes for Two

I also made the Chicken and Rice recipe from the chicken section, but failed to take a picture of it!! A great comfort food for two!

“The Complete Cooking for Two” cookbook is the best Cooking for Two Cookbook available. It is published by America’s Test Kitchen. Every recipe has been tested and scaled for two servings. “Cooking for Two is a lot more complicated than dividing by two,” they say in the preface. Some amounts do not divide exactly by two and cooking times and temperatures need to be adjusted. This book would make the perfect gift for a bridal shower or a newly empty-nested couple.

Let me know your suggestions for the best cookbooks for two in the comments below.

Tips and Tricks to Make Cooking for Two Easy

Cooking for Two can try your patience. Most recipes serve at least 4 people and finding small amounts of perishable ingredients can be difficult. Cooking and eating at home is cheaper and healthier than going out, but no one wants to eat a pot roast 5 nights in a row. The Tips and Tricks to Make Cooking for Two Easy will have you in and out of the grocery store with just the right amount of food and help you reduce your favorite recipes to more manageable amounts. Great for Empty Nest Cooking for Two!

For some recipe ideas for Cooking for Two see:

The Best Cooking for Two Cookbook

Crockpot Meals for Two

20 Recipes for Two

Empty Nest Cooking for Two

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar.

How to Find Small Amounts of Ingredients:

• Check the salad bar for small amounts of fruits and vegetables. (An added bonus: they are already chopped).
• Purchase individual-sized servings of things like cottage cheese, yogurt, soup, fruit, etc.
• Check the bulk bins and measure out the amount you need of the ingredient.
• Buy frozen produce. Frozen produce is just as healthy as fresh produce and may be “fresher” because it was frozen right after harvest. It is easy to measure out the amount needed and place the bag back in the freezer.
• Buy your meat at the meat counter. Only need two chicken breasts, then you only have to buy two chicken breasts.
• Get over calculating the unit price for your purchases. It does not save money to buy a larger quantity if much of it will be thrown out.
• If a recipe calls for fresh herbs, use what you need, then dry the remainder. Fresh sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, and marjoram may be dried for future use. Lay the herbs in a single layer between 2 paper towels. Microwave 1-3 minutes until dry and brittle. Crumble, discard any tough stems, and store in an airtight container for 3 months. Use 1/3 of the amount called for in a recipe using fresh herbs.

How to Freeze Ingredients and Leftovers:

• Purchase and use freezer quality containers to avoid freezer burn. I have never liked bread stored in the freezer. It gets freezer burn and has hard spots, but it is challenging for two people to consume an entire loaf of bread in a week. In my research I have learned that bread can be frozen without these side effects in heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Label everything with what it is and the date you placed it in the freezer.
• Many ingredients will freeze without issue. You can freeze chopped onions. Butter will safely freeze for 4 months.

How to Divide Recipes:

• To divide a recipe with 3 eggs, use 2 eggs, but remove 2-4T of other liquid from the recipe.
• Add seasonings gradually. Half of the amount of seasoning from the original recipe may be too much.
• A 9″x2″x13″ pan holds 14-15 cups. For a half recipe, use an 8″x8″ square pan or a 9″x2″ round pan.
• When using a different pan size, try to keep the depth the same.
• Check for doneness 5-10 minutes earlier than the original recipe.

Do you have any Tips or Tricks to Make Cooking for Two Easy?  I learned quite a bit when I was researching empty nest cooking for two and would love to learn some more. Looking for a great cookbook? Try America’s Test Kitchen’s: The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook: 650 Recipes for Everything You’ll Ever Want to Make

20 Recipes for Two

One of the challenges of the newly empty nest is learning to cook for only two people again. One of the awesome things about cooking for two people is that you can try new things and sometimes eat healthier because you no longer have to satisfy the tastes of children. These 20 Recipes for Two are a collection of healthy recipes, chicken recipes, beef recipes, vegetarian recipes, and more (even some desserts). They are perfect empty nest recipes!!

Also check out 5 Weeknight Recipes for Two

For even more recipes for two: Crockpot Meals for Two

You will also love: Tips and Tricks to Make Cooking for Two Easy

and The Best Cooking for Two Cookbook

Empty Nest Recipes

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar. 

Thank you to the amazing food bloggers who shared their recipes for this post!

Beef Recipes for Two Main Dishes

Southwest Steak Salad with Spicy Avocado Dressing by Low Carb Yum

Slow Cooker Chili Lime Beef Tacos with Mango Salsa by The Fit Blog

Asian Beef Salad by The Petite Cook

Chicken Cooking for Two Main Dishes

Chicken in a Lemon, Rosemary, and White Wine Sauce by Emma Eats and Explores

Pressure Cooker Apricot Glazed Herbed Chicken Thighs by This Old Gal

Fish Cooking for Two Main Dishes

Tilapia with New Potatoes, Peas, and Pesto Mayonnaise by Sidewalk Shoes

Smoked Salmon Salad with Avocado by A Lady in France

Thyme Rubbed Salmon with Cauliflower “Risotto” by Sidewalk Shoes

Shrimp Cooking for Two Dishes

Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Cilantro Lime Sauce by Pepper Bowl

Tomato Salsa Shrimp and Rice by Happy Foods Tube

Other Cooking for Two Main Dishes

Fried Cabbage and Potatoes with Bacon by Savory Tooth

Pressure Cooker Super Simple BBQ Pork Spare Ribs by This Old Gal

Vegetarian or Side Cooking for Two Dishes

Barrata Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette by Geeks who Eat

Creamy Buttermilk Pasta by Pepper Bowl

One Pot Spaghetti Aglio e Olio by Savory Tooth

Cooking for Two Desserts

Irresistible Petit Gateau by The Cookware Geek

40 Layer Tiramisu for Two by The Starving Chef

Mini Chocolate Layer Cake by What the Fork

Breakfast Cooking for Two Dishes

Cinnamon Swirl Mug Muffin by Wholesome Yum

Fresh Fruit Smoothie Bowls by Organized Island

Recipes for Two on Almost Empty Nest

Crockpot Recipes for Two

5 Weeknight Recipes for Two

I love cooking for two. It has become one of the best things about empty nesting. I love being able to buy quality ingredients. Another thing I love about cooking for two is eating the leftovers for lunch the next day. Some recipes make slightly more than portions just for two and allow just enough for a good quality and tasty lunch the next day.

Thank you to the bloggers who shared their recipes for 20 Recipes for Two. Be sure to visit their blogs for more recipes and check out my post Crockpot Meals for Two for more recipe ideas. Do you have favorite recipes for two? Where do you find them? What are they? Drop them in the comments below.