Best Crockpot recipes for two (2024)

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  1. Alanaon November 3, 2016 at 11:22 am

    Saving these in hopes that hubs (the family cook) will finally decide to use his slow cooker on weekdays.

    Reply

    • Lauraon November 3, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      I hope he does break out the slow cooker. Great way to cook!

      Reply

      • Lornaon March 10, 2023 at 7:10 am

        Best Crockpot recipes for two (4)
        These recipes look ideal for me as I am on my own& this way I won’t have masses of leftovers…. But just a quick question.. I bought a 1.8litre mini Crockpot, which has been great, instead of using my standard sized one for when I’ve had to scale down recipes.. So, would this smaller one be ok for your recipes for two? Thanks so much..

        Reply

        • Lauraon March 10, 2023 at 10:05 am

          I don’t know exactly. 1.8 quarts is almost 64 ounces and all of the recipes have a lot less liquid than that. I do not know how much the meat and other ingredients offset the liquid, especially with the chili and the beef stroganoff. I would love to know how they fit if you try them. When you put something in a slow cooker, you need to leave a few inches at the top for best results. You can also make both recipes on the stove if they do not fit, allowing them to simmer until your meat is tender.

          Reply

    • Louiseon May 2, 2022 at 10:37 am

      Thank you so very much for posting these recipes for two! They sound delish and I am looking forward to trying them!
      Louise

      Reply

      • Lauraon May 4, 2022 at 11:58 am

        I am excited for you to try them. Let me know how they turn out!
        Laura

        Reply

  2. Melissa Ruddyon November 16, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    Great idea to cut it down to something more useable so you don’t have a ton of leftovers. I would have to double it but I will pass this on to my mom as well since this is perfect for her.

    Reply

  3. Carla a.k.a Mrs. Ron November 21, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    Laura, great post! When you have been cooking for a house full for years it’s so hard to scale everything down to meet the needs of just 2 people. Now I use a smaller crockpot (3 qt) and my electric pressure cooker especially in the winter … I make enough that I can freeze the leftovers for another meal. Mainly, chicken, pork roasts and beef. I’m still working on scaling recipes down but I’m slowly getting there lol xo

    Reply

  4. Mother of 3on November 23, 2016 at 6:42 am

    These sound yummy! Pinned.

    Reply

  5. Roseann Hamptonon November 23, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    I’ve never made chili in the crock pot. I’ll have to give that a try! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  6. kathy foreon June 11, 2018 at 11:56 am

    I am making meals for a young mother of one who’s husband just passed away so she can focus on working to provide for her daughter. I would like to have recipes that are freezable and crock pot friendly.

    Reply

    • Lauraon June 11, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      I understand. When my kids were young I would prep meals by putting all of the ingredients in a freezer bag, then freezing. When it was time to cook, I just placed the contents of the bag in the crockpot and it was good to go. Some things can’t go in – like the cream cheese in the beef stroganoff. But everything else can be placed in the bag and taken to your friend.

      Reply

  7. Bradleyon August 20, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    What size slow cooker are you using for these?

    Reply

    • Lauraon August 20, 2018 at 8:43 pm

      I use my 6 quart slow cooker. A big slow cooker works just fine with the smaller recipes.

      Reply

      • Kathyon May 14, 2023 at 4:45 pm

        Would love to find some gluten free for 2! So many crockpot recipes depend on cream of whatever soup.

        Reply

        • Lauraon June 28, 2023 at 11:37 am

          You could probably search for substitutes for the cream soups.

          Reply

    • Ervin Butcheron May 25, 2023 at 6:11 pm

      Can you show some receipts with low carbs and low sodium for one or two people with diabetes and high blood pressure?

      Reply

      • Lauraon June 28, 2023 at 11:35 am

        That is a good idea! I will look into that.

        Reply

  8. Glennaon January 28, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    I’m trying to make smaller meals and have fewer leftovers too. This recipe hit both of those marks. The meat was very tender and this tasted really good. I made it as given. Next time I’m going to add mushrooms, maybe more cream cheese and try beef broth instead of the water. Husband loved it and says he can’t wait to eat it tomorrow for lunch. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • Lauraon January 29, 2020 at 12:19 pm

      Thank you for your feedback. I play with my beef stroganoff recipe as well. I like the idea of adding mushrooms. I will try that next time.

      Reply

  9. Theresa Rifeon April 16, 2021 at 3:29 pm

    Best Crockpot recipes for two (5)
    Tried the beef stroganoff for two and man! It was good! Definitely a keeper for me and my husband.

    Reply

    • Lauraon April 17, 2021 at 10:30 am

      Yay! So glad you liked it. Cream cheese makes everything better 😉

      Reply

  10. Lauraon April 28, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    hello!

    Reply

  11. Anne Luskon March 10, 2022 at 12:16 pm

    What size crockpot do you use

    Reply

    • Lauraon March 10, 2022 at 12:59 pm

      I use my big crockpot. I think it is 6 quarts. Works fine even for smaller recipes.

      Reply

  12. Jennieon April 12, 2022 at 3:29 am

    Hello! I am a new crockpot user, and I have purchased the 2.4 litre size, which is nearly 3 quarts U.S. size) I am wondering, as you are using a 6 quart size pot, will these recipes fit my much smaller pot? Thank you! Regards from Europe).

    Reply

    • Lauraon April 12, 2022 at 9:55 am

      A 3 quart crockpot will be plenty big for these recipes. Happy cooking! Laura

      Reply

  13. Lisaon April 22, 2023 at 1:24 pm

    How much egg noodles for beef stroganoff recipe? There’s no quantity

    Reply

    • Lauraon April 22, 2023 at 3:04 pm

      Make the amount of noodle servings you want by following the directions on the noodle package.

      Reply

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Best Crockpot recipes for two (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook 2 things in a slow cooker? ›

Heat Two Things At Once

Use tin foil to create a divider in the center of your crockpot. Place a slow cooker liner over the top and push it down into the two cavities. Now you can use your crockpot to cook or heat up two dips or soups!

What size crockpot is best for 2 people? ›

What a Crock Portion-Based Recommendations
Number of PortionsRecommended Slow Cooker Size
Two PortionsUse a 3-4.5 quart slow cooker. 4 quarts is the optimal size.
Three PortionsUse a 4-6 quart slow cooker. 5 quarts is the optimal size.
Four PortionsUse a 5-7 quart slow cooker. 6 quarts is the optimal size.
2 more rows

What is best to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Soups, stews and chilis are tailor-made for slow cooking. Since moisture can't evaporate, there's no concern they'll reduce too much, and flavors have a chance to develop and blend during the long cook time. See for yourself with our recipe for Slow-Cooker Irish Stout Beef Stew.

Can you cook small amounts in a slow cooker? ›

Efficient Cooking: Using a smaller dish within the slow cooker allows for efficient and even cooking of smaller meals. No Need for Additional Appliances: Avoid the cost and space of an extra small slow cooker. Versatility: Easily adapt a wide range of recipes to suit your smaller portion needs.

What does putting a towel in the slow cooker do? ›

You will often see in recipes that people will state to lay a tea towel (the cloth you dry your dishes with) between the inner slow cookerbowl top and the lid of the slow cooker (see photo below). This is to absorb condensation and stop it from dripping down into the dish inside.

Can you put a pyrex dish in a slow cooker? ›

Can you put a Pyrex dish in a slow cooker? Yes, of course. Pyrex was developed to withstand heat and to be shatter-resistant. Even better - there are commercially available slow cooker liners that are disposable after each use.

What is the most popular size slow cooker? ›

The 6- or 7-quart models are among the most popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best choice for everyone. (By the way, here's our favorite slow cooker brand.) Find yourself among the descriptions below to learn which slow cooker we'd recommend for you.

What size slow cooker for a couple? ›

The compact Lakeland 1.5L slow cooker is ideal for individuals and couples with small kitchens while the 3.5L slow cooker is perfect for making meals for two to four people. When it's time for those big family get-togethers or batch cooking to freeze meals for later, then the 6L slow cooker is the one you need.

Does size of crockpot affect cooking time? ›

The size of your crockpot can affect the outcome of your meal. If your crockpot is smaller than what we recommend, you may need to cook your meal a little longer. If it's larger than what we recommend you may need to shorten the cooking time.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make In A Slow Cooker
  1. Dairy. Adding milk, cream, cheese, sour cream, or yogurt to a slow cooker will curdle them. ...
  2. Couscous. It'll only get mushy and completely unappetizing. ...
  3. Rice. ...
  4. Pasta. ...
  5. Boneless Chicken Breast. ...
  6. Raw Meat. ...
  7. Extra Fat. ...
  8. Delicate Vegetables.
Feb 2, 2017

Can I leave the slow cooker on overnight? ›

It all depends what you are cooking if you are cooking soup you could put the cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours if you are cooking meat 10 to 12 hours to 24 hours . Leaving a slow cooker on overnight is generally considered safe as long as it is used properly and in good working condition.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Technically you can cook raw meat in a slow cooker, but it's tricky and requires a bit of preparation in order for it to be really worth it. If you simply pop some raw meat in your slow cooker, it won't have a chance to brown, which adds some much-needed flavor and cuts down on plenty of unappealing grease.

What are mini crock pots good for? ›

This little slow cooker can cook up delicious dips, sauces, appetizer and even single-person meals.

Can you overcook in a slow cooker on low? ›

Can you overcook something in a slow cooker? Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

What is the smallest slow cooker you can get? ›

What is the smallest size slow cooker? Generally, the smallest size you're likely to find is around 1.5 quarts, though some brands might have a 1-quart size. At that size, that extra half quart doesn't make much difference.

Can you cook 2 different meats together in a slow cooker? ›

You can cook chicken and beef together in a slow cooker. You can cook chicken and lamb together in a slow cooker. You can cook chicken and goat together in a slow cooker.

Can you cook two things at once? ›

Juggling multiple dishes at once often means pairing sides, desserts or entrees in the oven that don't typically bake at the same temperature. You can bake several dishes at once by setting your oven to the average temperature called for across recipes.

Can you half fill a slow cooker? ›

Make sure your foods fit. The slow cooker should be half to two- thirds full to ensure your food cooks thoroughly. 8. Layer your food properly.

Can you stack food in slow cooker? ›

Layer wisely: For even cooking, cut food into uniform-size pieces. Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top.

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