• TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
  • Follow
    • Follow
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • google+
    • instagram
    • youtube
Hearst Corporation
  • TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
Forums
  • Register
  • Login
  • Forums
  • General Discussion Forums
  • Food and Drink
Good meals you can cook for one person
Gunner95
06-07-2016
I've just graduated and moving on to for my grad job. I ate fairly decently at uni, but I'd like to increase my repertoire of meals.

I don't tend to cook for people or have people cook with me, so in general I'm looking for meals that are either economical to cook for one person, or more likely meals that are designed for 4 people, where I can split them into portions and freeze 3 portions for another day.

At uni I basically had 4 meals that I'd cook. Chicken/Mince/Bacon in a homemade tomato pasta sauce, and curries where I'd fry the chicken and some veggies and pour a sharwoods jar over them.

This worked well because 4 meals for 4 nights was what I needed. One night a week I'd get a takeaway with my flatmates, I always went to my parents house for Sunday dinner (went to uni in my hometown) and then that just left one more day where I'd make a pot of soup or just get a frozen pizza from iceland.

Basically I'm looking for more meals that are easy to split into portions and freeze as well as being reasonably cheap to make. Recommendations would be much appreciated.
pearlsandplums
06-07-2016
Not sure of you want recipes or ideas. But good things you can make a batch of:
Chilli con carne
Bolognese sauce
Shepards or cottage pie
Irish stew
Goulash
Chicken stew (I make a great one with a roux, stock and veg).
Curry as you said.

Most things saucy freeze and reheat well (apart from Samantha fox). Personally I don't like reheated pasta, but lots of people do.

You could roast a chicken for dinner one night and you'll have Meat for days after for different dishes if you get bored.
Gunner95
07-07-2016
Originally Posted by pearlsandplums:
“Not sure of you want recipes or ideas. But good things you can make a batch of:
Chilli con carne
Bolognese sauce
Shepards or cottage pie
Irish stew
Goulash
Chicken stew (I make a great one with a roux, stock and veg).
Curry as you said.

Most things saucy freeze and reheat well (apart from Samantha fox). Personally I don't like reheated pasta, but lots of people do.

You could roast a chicken for dinner one night and you'll have Meat for days after for different dishes if you get bored.”

I never reheat the pasta itself. I just make the meat/sauce and freeze that, then for each portion of it, when I go to eat it I boil a portion of pasta
LaVieEnRose
07-07-2016
Any casserole or stew type recipe should be suitable. You can tinker with the ingredients and devise your own once you've got the hang of it.

Here's one I make to divide, freeze and reheat. It's very tasty.

Chorizo, Chicken and Chickpea Casserole

I find it's better to fry the chorizo first and set it aside. Then you can use the spicy oil that's run out of it for browning the chicken pieces. Then take out the chicken and use the same pan for the vegetables. It's less to wash up and you'll use less oil.
hairhelp
07-07-2016
Originally Posted by LaVieEnRose:
“Any casserole or stew type recipe should be suitable. You can tinker with the ingredients and devise your own once you've got the hang of it.

Here's one I make to divide, freeze and reheat. It's very tasty.

Chorizo, Chicken and Chickpea Casserole

I find it's better to fry the chorizo first and set it aside. Then you can use the spicy oil that's run out of it for browning the chicken pieces. Then take out the chicken and use the same pan for the vegetables. It's less to wash up and you'll use less oil.”

Mmmmm, just that part would be good in sandwich!!

I freeze loads of stuff, roast meat, roast veg, mash, chilli, bol, curry.
brangdon
07-07-2016
Meat, potatoes, and two veg.

Meat can be pork chop, lamb chops, or beef steak; grilled or shallow-fried. Potatoes can be boiled or steamed or chipped or whatever. Vegetables can be peas, carrots, broccoli, sprouts, sliced beans, broad beans, sweet corn; boiled or steamed or microwaved. Buy the meat fresh and it will wait in the fridge for a few days. You can add sauce from a packet or bottle if you want. I sometimes use onion sauce on pork, mint sauce on lamb, horseradish on beef. Potatoes really need to be fresh, but they keep for weeks. Veg can be frozen or tinned. Doing it for one person just means adjusting the quantities for one person.

Most of the cost will be in the meat. If you want to bring it down, then buy bigger joints and roast. Have one meal hot, then put a few slices in a sandwich for lunch, then a second meal cold, with potatoes and veg as above. The remainder turn into a curry and freeze.
Smokeychan1
07-07-2016
I used to cook in bulk and freeze but I'd run out of freezer space well before being able to eat its contents. However, if you bottle your homemade sauce it should keep well in the fridge, or you can freeze what you arent using until you need it.

Make meatballs by skinning a couple of sausages, shaping the meat or crumbling it into a pan. Fry off then add your sauce. As a change from pasta you can sit a piece of fish (reduced counter of supermarket) in the sauce and poach till cooked. Or, add chicken and a tin of butter beans for a spanish-type stew.
aggielane
08-07-2016
My son lives alone. He buys those silver takeaway cartons from the pound shop. Slaps a chicken fillet in 4 of them. Shares a jar of salsa between them, he likes the hot one. Sprinkles with grated cheese. Then freezes. Takes one out on the morning to defrost throws it in the oven until cooked and serves with rice or chips.
jackol
19-07-2016
Good quick and easy meal is Liver. Some people find liver a little strong. Pigs liver is strong however chicken or lambs liver isnt
Liver in a pan with onions, mushrooms, bits of bacon peas and carrots . Lovely with some mashed spuds
Elyan
19-07-2016
Sausage casserole.

Sausages.
Colemans sausage casserole mix.
Mushrooms chopped.

Brown the sausages first. Follow the instructions on the mix packet.

Serve with mashed potatoes or just eat it on it's own with some bread.
LaVieEnRose
19-07-2016
I like liver.

Chicken liver salad is really tasty and refreshing and surprisingly filling.
I make a green salad out of a crunchy lettuce like cos or romaine, chunks of celery and cucumber.
Saute some bacon bits until they're crispy, and then the chicken livers.
You can do a bit of chopped chorizo too if you like.
Add a splash of sherry vinegar to the pan juices and mix everything into the salad.
smudges dad
21-07-2016
A quick tuna dish is:
Tin of tuna
Small carton of passata (cheap tomato sauce)
Good sprinkle of dried herbs
Salt and pepper
Any frozen veg or leftover veg in the fridge

Chuck in a pan and cook through. Great with pasta, rice or tatties. Freezes well, just add some more frozen veg for texture when you heat it again
barbeler
21-07-2016
Just stick a large baking potato in the microwave for about ten minutes. Tastes just as good, if not better, than one that's been wrapped in foil in an oven for about two hours.
spectra
21-07-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“Just stick a large baking potato in the microwave for about ten minutes. Tastes just as good, if not better, than one that's been wrapped in foil in an oven for about two hours.”

Why would you wrap a potato in foil for 2 hours? Most like baked pots for the crispy skin as much as anything.
barbeler
21-07-2016
Originally Posted by spectra:
“Why would you wrap a potato in foil for 2 hours? Most like baked pots for the crispy skin as much as anything.”

I never do them in an oven. I'm only repeating what I've seen other people do. Oven baked are okay if you get them just right, but certainly not worth using two hours worth of gas or electric to achieve
stud u like
21-07-2016
You can make anything for one person.

Tuna, sweetcorn, creamy white sauce using cream or creme fraiche and potato crisps topping. I rather like this pie.

Stir fry.

Delia Smith has a few recipes on "Youtube" for her "One Is Fun" programme. Her book is good value. Charity shops have it sometimes very cheap.
stud u like
21-07-2016
Alpine eggs in a small ramekin dish are also good as you can just make one portion.
smudges dad
22-07-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I never do them in an oven. I'm only repeating what I've seen other people do. Oven baked are okay if you get them just right, but certainly not worth using two hours worth of gas or electric to achieve”

Best to cook them in a microwave, then cover in olive oil and salt then bake for 15-20 minutes in a hot oven to crisp them up.
barbeler
22-07-2016
Originally Posted by smudges dad:
“Best to cook them in a microwave, then cover in olive oil and salt then bake for 15-20 minutes in a hot oven to crisp them up.”

I never add salt to anything, but I have sometimes given them a few extra minutes in my halogen oven. I quite like them like that, but not enough to bother with it if I'm hungry.
VIEW DESKTOP SITE TOP

JOIN US HERE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Hearst Corporation

Hearst Corporation

DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK

© 2015 Hearst Magazines UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Complaints
  • Site Map