Looking for crockpot recipes for two that don't leave you eating the same stew for a week? These slow cooker meals are just right for two people. Toss the ingredients in the crockpot in the morning, and come home in the evening to a house that smells amazing and a dinner that tastes even better.
The slow cooker was my best friend when I was a single working mom raising three kids. All it took to get dinner on the table was a tiny bit of work in the morning, and then we'd all come home to a delicious-smelling house and a meal we could dig into right away. What a win!
My situation has changed a lot since those days. The only people I'm feeding at dinnertime now are my husband and me, but the slow cooker is still one of my favorite tools. I can get everything into the pot in the morning and have dinner ready the minute he walks in the door.
These days I'm using different recipes, though. I can be a little more adventurous since I only have to please two of us instead of three picky eaters. And I cook in smaller amounts. When I was feeding two teenage boys, the first thing I checked on a recipe was how many servings it made, and the more the better. Now the perfect slow cooker meal is tasty, healthy, and makes just enough for dinner with maybe a lunch left over.
So I've rounded up more than 25 of the best slow cooker recipes for two, from our own sister sites and from food bloggers I love. A few are written for exactly two servings, and the rest are easy to halve or are worth making for the leftovers. First, though, a few tips that make cooking for two in a slow cooker so much easier.
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Tips for Slow Cooking for Two
Use a small 2 to 3 quart slow cooker. A big 6 or 7 quart crockpot is great for feeding a crowd, but a half pound of chicken just gets lost in there. A smaller slow cooker heats the food evenly and keeps sauces from cooking off. The Elite Gourmet 3-quart slow cooker is the one our sister site Step Away from the Carbs uses for its recipes, and it's a nice size for dinner for two with a little left over. If you mostly cook for exactly two, the Crock-Pot 2-quart slow cooker is even more compact and doesn't take up much counter space.
Fill it at least half full. Slow cookers work best when they're between half and two-thirds full. Too little food in a big pot can cook too fast, dry out or even scorch around the edges. That's the main reason a smaller slow cooker makes such a difference when you're cutting a recipe down.
Smaller amounts may cook faster. When you halve a recipe, start checking it an hour or so before the original cook time is up. Meat should be fork-tender and chicken should reach 165°F. Keep the lid on as much as you can, though, since every peek lets out heat and adds cooking time.
Freeze or repurpose the leftovers. Even with smaller recipes, you'll often have a portion or two left. Soups, stews, chili and curries freeze beautifully in single-serving containers for easy lunches. Shredded meats like carnitas and pot roast are easy to turn into something new, like tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches or a quick hash.
Make cleanup easy. Reynolds small slow cooker liners fit 1 to 3 quart slow cookers, so there's no soaking and scrubbing the crock after dinner.
Get a good cookbook for two. If you'd like more small-batch ideas, Fix-It and Forget-It Cooking for Two has 150 slow cooker recipes sized for two people. For everyday cooking beyond the crockpot, America's Test Kitchen's The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook is a classic.
25+ Easy Crockpot Recipes for Two
From comfort food classics like pot roast and chicken and dumplings to takeout favorites like beef and broccoli and butter chicken, here are the slow cooker meals I keep coming back to for the two of us.
Crockpot Meals for Two
Slow Cooker Pot Roast for Two
This is my go-to when we want real comfort food without a week of leftovers. There's no need to sear the meat first; just load the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a tender chuck roast and vegetables in a tangy balsamic gravy.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Rosemary and Lemon
A recipe that's actually written for two, so there's no math involved. Bone-in chicken thighs cook low and slow with fresh rosemary and lemon until they're fall-apart tender, and it's naturally low carb, too.
Slow Cooker Lamb with Thyme
Another one sized for exactly two servings. Chunks of lamb simmer with mushrooms and thyme into a rich, cozy stew that feels a little special for a regular weeknight.
Light Thai Yellow Curry in a Crockpot
This slow cooker Thai curry is a little lighter in calories than the usual takeout version. If I'd served it to my kids, someone would have complained about the spice, but it's just right for my husband and me.
Keto Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Creamy, mildly spiced butter chicken without the takeout bill. It makes four servings, so you get dinner for two tonight and an easy lunch (or a second dinner) later in the week.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
My kids would have turned up their noses at this one, but my husband and I can't get enough of it. Serve it over rice with a little warm naan for scooping up the sauce.
Crock Pot Cubed Steak with Gravy
Cubed steak just like Mom used to make, smothered in a simple gravy. I usually serve it over egg noodles, but it's just as good over mashed potatoes.
Crockpot Pizza Casserole with Chicken
All the flavors of pizza without the crust, so it's low carb and gluten-free. It serves three, which works out to two hungry dinners, and a side salad is all you need with it.
Whole 30 Crockpot Pulled Pork and Spuds
Here's your proof that a healthy meal can still be easy and delicious. The pork and potatoes cook together in one pot, so dinner and the side dish are done at the same time.
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
This is my idea of the perfect slow cooker meal. It's all made in one pot, and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day.
Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
The recipe says it serves six, but this is the kind of comfort food the two of us could happily finish. Freeze half if you have more willpower than we do!
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup
A filling, zero-point Weight Watchers soup that's even better the next day. It makes a big batch, so plan on freezing a few portions for easy lunches.
Tomato Basil Steak
Tender steak simmered with tomatoes and fresh basil makes an easy dinner that still feels a little special. Serve it over rice or noodles to soak up all the sauce.
Crock Pot Beef Stew for Two
Imagine coming home to the smell of this beef stew filling the house. It's written for two servings, so there's no guesswork about scaling it down.
Crock Pot Three Bean Turkey Chili
Chili is one of my favorite things to make in the slow cooker. This one starts out healthy with lean turkey and three kinds of beans, so you can pile on your favorite toppings without feeling guilty.
Slow Cooker Carnitas
Juicy, crispy-edged pork carnitas with almost no hands-on work. Use them for tacos tonight, then turn the rest into burrito bowls or quesadillas later in the week.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Why order takeout when you can come home to this and eat right away? Just add a side of rice and you're ready to go.
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
French dip sandwiches are one of my favorite comfort foods, so I love being able to make them at home. The beef comes out tender and juicy, with plenty of jus for dipping.
Slow Cooker Creole Cornish Hens
Cornish hens are naturally portioned for two, which makes them perfect for a romantic dinner at home. A Creole spice rub gives them lots of flavor with very little effort.
Crock-Pot Red Beans and Rice
You'll probably have some leftovers with this recipe, but they won't last more than a couple of days. It's hearty, budget-friendly and full of flavor.
Uncooked Macaroni Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
You don't even need to boil the noodles first for this one. It's easy, creamy and the perfect mac and cheese to serve as a main dish.
Ranch Onion Chicken and Potatoes
A great meal for those days you wake up with no idea what to make for dinner. You probably have most of the ingredients on hand already; just thaw two chicken breasts and you're good to go.
Broccoli Cheese Casserole for Two
This cheesy casserole is downright decadent, and it's sized for two. Serve it as a meatless main or alongside a simple roast chicken.
Crock Pot Steak Fajitas
I've made these for my husband and me a few times. The recipe says it serves six to eight, but somehow there's usually only enough left over for lunch the next day.
Slow Cooker Indian-Spiced Chickpeas and Red Potatoes
A meatless option that's hearty enough for dinner and cheap to make. It's warmly spiced rather than hot, and the leftovers taste even better the next day.
Make Once, Eat Twice
Some of my favorite slow cooker recipes make four servings, and honestly, that's not a bad thing for two people. You get dinner tonight and a no-effort dinner (or a couple of lunches) later in the week. You can also cut any of these in half if you're using a 2-quart slow cooker. These are a few from our sister sites that are worth making in full:
- Low Carb Bolognese in the Slow Cooker: a rich meat sauce for zucchini noodles tonight, with a second batch to freeze for a busy night.
- Slow Cooker Boneless Short Ribs: melt-in-your-mouth beef that's just as good reheated the next day.
- Healthy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Gumbo: a hearty, meatless gumbo that freezes well in single portions.
- Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Porter Chili: a cozy fall chili that tastes even better on day two.
Slow Cooker Recipes for Two: Questions and Answers
What size slow cooker is best for two people?
A 2 to 3 quart slow cooker is the sweet spot for two people. A 2-quart is perfect for recipes written for two servings, while a 3-quart gives you room for a small roast or a recipe with a lunch's worth of leftovers.
Can I use my big 6-quart crockpot for a recipe for two?
You can, but keep an eye on it. A small amount of food in a large slow cooker cooks faster and can dry out or burn. If that's the only slow cooker you have, make the full recipe and freeze the extra, or check on a halved recipe early.
How do I cut a slow cooker recipe in half?
Halve all of the ingredients, use a smaller slow cooker so the pot is still at least half full, and start checking for doneness about an hour earlier than the original recipe says. Liquids can be reduced a little less than half, since a smaller pot loses less to evaporation.
What are some healthy crockpot recipes for two?
The rosemary and lemon chicken thighs, lamb with thyme, light Thai yellow curry, three bean turkey chili and chicken fajita soup in the list above are all lighter choices. For more ideas beyond the slow cooker, take a look at my healthy dinner recipes for two.
What are some cheap slow cooker meals for two?
Beans, chicken thighs and tougher cuts of meat are budget-friendly and get better with long, slow cooking. Red beans and rice, turkey chili, the Indian-spiced chickpeas and potatoes, and the ranch onion chicken and potatoes are all easy on the grocery budget.
More Easy Meals for Two
If you love these crockpot meals for two, you might also like these ideas for cooking (and treating yourselves) in a smaller household:
- Healthy dinner recipes for two
- Easy Valentine's dinner ideas for an at-home date night
- A single-serving microwave cinnamon roll for when you want something sweet without a whole pan
- Thanksgiving charcuterie board ideas, a fun, low-stress option for a small Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving
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Im says
I saved quite a few of your recipe I'M wondering if you can do pot in pot in a crock pot. I have a big pot which would be too big for your recipes for two. If i put a small rack down first and then a smaller casserole dish with the ingredients in it would it cook like that too? I'm a one person family so i'm trying to alter my cooking. Thanks for your recipes
Katy Kozee | Midlife Rambler says
That should work just fine. Just make sure that the rack and the casserole dish are both oven safe!
lois m price says
would love to be able to print recipes
lois m price says
oops sorry saw where I was able to print recipes, seems like a lot for 2 people with the cube steaks
Rehoboth says
Wonderful post