10 Dinner Recipes for One That Are Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

Cooking for yourself can be fun.

Published on March 8, 2025

Two halves of a BLT sandwich stacked on top of each other on a plate — Photo:
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Key Takeaways

Cooking for yourself can be a great opportunity to try out new recipes.
Some of our favorite quick and easy recipes for solo meals include air-fryer salmon, baked mac and cheese, steak, and a BLT sandwich.

Cooking for one can be fun, especially if the recipes are quick and delicious. To make things easier, we picked out 10 top-rated dinner recipes that are ready in 30 minutes or less. From decadent mac and cheese to perfectly cooked salmon, these dishes are perfect for a hearty solo meal any night of the week.

01 of 10

Air Fryer Salmon for One

Air Fryer salmon fillet with edamame — Chef Mo

"Simple, flavorful and delicious! Made as written, but my salmon pieces were a bit thinner, so I adjusted the time accordingly," says reviewer Christina. "The whole family loved this!"

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02 of 10

Easy Tortilla Pizza

"This tortilla pizza is extremely easy to make," says Allrecipes member LPMUSTANG. "It is light enough to be a snack, serves well as an appetizer, or is so good that it can be devoured alone! You can use any sort of topping variation."

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03 of 10

Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air-fried chicken breast with roasted broccoli and mashed potatoes. — Allrecipes / Qi Ai

"Easy, easy, easy. I used to only cook chicken on the grill but the air fryer could NOT be easier," says reviewer Mom On Fire. "I use this recipe as the starter for chicken salad."

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04 of 10

Grilled Cod with Spinach and Tomatoes

"I came up with this grilled cod with spinach and tomatoes recipe because I could not find the one I was looking for," says Allrecipes member tcasa. "This is a very simple, easy, and quick dish to put together. I always make this for myself when I grill steaks for my family."

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05 of 10

Spicy Asian Noodles for One

”This quick ramen recipe will have you enjoying a spicy combination of flavors in this no-cook sauce in under 15 minutes," says Chef Mo. "Deep flavors in such a simple sauce. Sweetness from the apricot preserves and heat from the peppers, but you'll keep going back for more!"

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06 of 10

Baked Mac and Cheese for One

close up view of Baked Mac and Cheese in a white bowl with a spoon — Fitzy

"Mac and cheese for one is quick and easy to prepare," says Allrecipes member amydoll. "Once you try this homemade mac and cheese, you'll never want the boxed stuff again. I cook mine in a soup crock."

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07 of 10

Charcoal-Grilled Ribeye Steak

Sliced, medium-rare cooked ribeye steak on a plate. — ALLRECIPES /JULIA HARTBECK

"Ribeye steak, seasoned salt, and pepper are all you need for a perfectly grilled steak," says Allrecipes Allstar Yolanda Gutierrez. "Make sure your briquettes are red hot."

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08 of 10

Low-Carb Zucchini Pasta

close up view of Zucchini Pasta with yellow tomato slices and cheese in a bowl — Allrecipes Magazine

"Zucchini noodles for keto and low-carb diets are much more similar to spaghetti than spaghetti squash," says Allrecipes member DinnerMomma. "If you're a pasta lover and need a low-carb version, try this quick and versatile recipe for one. Serve with your favorite sauce."

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09 of 10

Zesty Tomato Soup for One

"This was great, especially since I was alone for the weekend and needed a quick dinner," says one Allrecipes member. "I did add about 1 clove of minced garlic to the mix just to give some more flavor. Really tasty and really quick!"

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10 of 10

BLT

"This BLT is classic: bacon, lettuce, and tomato — nothing fancy, just delicious," says Allrecipes member MOTTSBELA. "(I use fake vegetarian bacon these days, and it's still really good!)"

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A bowl of pesto pasta with chicken next to a striped napkin and a glass of sparkling water — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

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