Small portions, big flavour: 9 cookbooks that celebrate making food for one

Living alone doesn't have to mean subsisting on instant noodles or reheated takeaway. Cooking for one can be efficient, satisfying and even joyful—if you have the right tools. Most recipes aren’t built for solo appetites, often leaving you with too many leftovers or too much effort. That’s where these cookbooks come in. Whether you want low-effort meals, comfort food without waste or smart ways to use what’s already in your fridge, these titles prove that cooking for one isn’t a compromise—it’s a skill worth mastering.

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‘The Pleasures of Cooking for One’ by Judith Jones

‘The Pleasures of Cooking for One’ by Judith Jones (Photo: Alfred A. Knopf)

The late editor of Julia Child brings a touch of elegance to solo dining. Jones’s approach isn’t about downsizing dinner parties—it’s about enjoying the rhythm of everyday cooking for yourself. Her recipes are practical and often include notes on what to do with leftovers, making this one of the few cookbooks that truly understands solo appetites.

‘Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One’ by Anita Lo

‘Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One’ by Anita Lo (Photo: Alfred A. Knopf)

Anita Lo, who once helmed Michelin-starred Annisa in New York, writes with restraint and clarity. Recipes are globally inspired but accessible. From braised duck legs to instant ramen hacks, Lo proves that eating alone doesn’t mean lowering standards—it just means knowing what’s worth the effort. Of all the recent cookbooks written by chefs, this one feels the most grounded.

‘Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself’ by Klancy Miller

‘Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself’ by Klancy Miller (Photo: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

This one leans warm and personal without being precious. Miller writes for the curious, cosmopolitan home cook who doesn’t see solo eating as an afterthought. Her recipes cover everything from breakfast to cocktails, with a few indulgences (pistachio bread pudding) that feel earned rather than excessive. Among cookbooks aimed at single households, this stands out for its versatility.

‘One Pan, Two Plates’ by Carla Snyder

‘One Pan, Two Plates’ by Carla Snyder (Photo: Chronicle Books)

Though technically written for couples, the portion sizes here are perfect for those who don’t mind a next-day repeat. Recipes are straightforward, low-mess and ideal for those evenings when you want something good with minimal washing up. It’s one of the more practical cookbooks for people who value efficiency over perfection.

‘Healthyish’ by Lindsay Maitland Hunt

‘Healthyish’ by Lindsay Maitland Hunt (Photo: Abrams)

This is for the solo cook who’s tired but still cares. Hunt avoids overcomplicated steps and unnecessary gadgets. Her recipes suit people who want to eat better than takeaway but don’t aspire to be amateur chefs. Many meals come together in under 30 minutes, a welcome trait in cookbooks that target busy urbanites.

‘Good and Cheap’ by Leanne Brown

‘Good and Cheap’ by Leanne Brown (Photo: Workman)

Originally developed as a free digital resource for those living on tight food budgets, this book has earned cult status for a reason. The recipes are affordable, flavourful and well-suited to solo households trying to avoid waste. Unlike many budget cookbooks, it doesn’t resort to canned clichés or compromise on nutrition.

‘The Student Vegetarian Cookbook’ by Beverly LeBlanc

‘The Student Vegetarian Cookbook’ by Beverly LeBlanc (Photo: Virgin Books)

Ignore the title if you’re not a student. This is a compact, smart collection of meat-free meals that don’t require fancy tools or hard-to-source ingredients. It’s ideal for people cooking in smaller kitchens or keeping things affordable without sacrificing flavour.

‘How to Cook Everything: The Basics’ by Mark Bittman

‘How to Cook Everything: The Basics’ by Mark Bittman (Photo: Harvest)

A good starting point if you’re new to cooking or trying to unlearn bad habits picked up during your delivery-app era. Bittman keeps it practical, offering just enough technique to make you self-sufficient in the kitchen, without veering into preachy territory. One of the few cookbooks that doubles as both instruction manual and recipe bank.

‘Bake Me a Cat’ by Kim-Joy

‘Bake Me a Cat’ by Kim-Joy (Photo: Quadrille Publishing Ltd)

This isn’t a traditional solo cookbook, but it suits a particular kind of solo cook—the one who finds joy in quiet creativity. Kim-Joy, known from The Great British Bake Off, offers whimsical bakes shaped like cats, from choux pastries to bread rolls. While the book is primarily decorative, the small-batch format makes it unintentionally ideal for people baking alone. It’s not about efficiency—it’s about enjoying your own company through flour, sugar and a bit of play.

Cooking for one doesn’t have to be a compromise. The right cookbooks can help reframe solo meals as something deliberate, even desirable. Whether you’re chasing comfort, ease or experimentation, these titles offer more than just scaled-down recipes—they respect the solo cook’s time, space and taste.

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