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

What size crockpot is best for 2 people? ›

Recommended Slow Cooker Sizes
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 size slow cooker for a couple? ›

If you're most often cooking for one or two people, opt for a 2- or 3-quart slow cooker. These are great for small-batch cooking, as they prep just enough food for a couple of people.

Can I cook 2 different things in a slow cooker? ›

With heavy-duty tinfoil, you can create a makeshift, slow cooker divider that acts like a wall in your device. This tinfoil wall splits your slow cooker into two chambers where you can cook two different dishes simultaneously.

What is the best size slow cooker for a family of 3? ›

A cooker that's 3-5l will serve three or four people. Any more guests than that (or just big appetites) and you'll need a dish with room for 5-6l. A bigger capacity is also a good idea if you prefer batch cooking and freezing meals for another day.

What size slow cooker do most recipes call for? ›

Many slow cooker recipes are written for 6-quart models and can simply be halved for this size. If you'd like a little more room for leftovers or the ability to cook for a few guests now and then, a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2-quart pot is big enough for most medium-sized dishes.

How many people will a 3.5 slow cooker feed? ›

Whether you're cooking for two, or making a meal for the whole family, the slow cooker's generous 3.5 litre capacity can easily cook up to 4 portions at a time.

How many people does a 2 quart crockpot feed? ›

This small slow cooker has a 2-quart capacity that feeds 2+ people and is perfect for making small meals or dips. Use the manual warm setting to keep food warm while you are serving, or for heating up leftovers.

What is the smallest capacity slow cooker? ›

What is the smallest slow cooker I can buy? Most mini slow cookers have a 1- to 3-quart capacity. However, there are some slow cookers and food warmers with a capacity less than 1 quart at just . 65 quarts.

Do small crock pots cook faster? ›

Size of your Slow Cooker

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. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Can you overdo meat in a slow cooker? ›

“If you're cooking meat, you'll know it's done when it is fork-tender, meaning you can cut into it easily with just a fork,” she says. When meat is overcooked, it will be “tough and dry,” while overcooked vegetables will be mushy.

How long can food sit in a crockpot? ›

Don't leave it on 'warm' all day

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

What is the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

What is too full for a slow cooker? ›

To ensure proper cooking, it is important to fill your slow cooker with the appropriate amount of food. Aim for between half and two-thirds full. If the cooker is too full, the food may not cook evenly and could end up being undercooked. On the other hand, if the cooker is not full enough, the food may overcook.

Is a 1.5 litre slow cooker big enough for 2 people? ›

Perfectly sized for 1 or 2 portions of your favourite slow-cooked meals, this handy little slow cooker sits neatly in the cupboard, taking up little room, when not in use and is always close by when needed.

Is a 3.5 l slow cooker big enough? ›

Capacity – As a general rule, a 1.5-3l slow cooker will feed one or two people; 3-5l will serve three or four people; 5-5.5l will feed four to five people; and a 6.5l machine will feed six to eight.

What size pressure cooker do you need for 2 people? ›

4-QUART: A good size for singles or couples; or for making one course for a family, such as potatoes or vegetables. Whole meal recipes for one or two persons can usually be accommodated in a 4-quart pressure cooker. 6-QUART: The most popular size for many families with two or more persons.

What size slow cooker for family? ›

Whether your household includes three or four people, or you're a couple who actually loves leftovers, a 5-quart slow cooker is an ideal size for you. The moderate size accommodates everything from soups and stews to and chilis and casseroles.

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