The best way to improve your cooking experience is to find the best cookbook cooking for two. These cookbooks have complete recipes designed for smaller households. A few recipes in these cookbooks are great for making delicious food with loved ones while spending quality time together.
Also, get expert food storage advice and share test kitchen tips that will make your meals taste better without much work. Let’s look at these top choices!
1. The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook: 650 Recipes
The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen has 650 recipes that are all made to serve two people. This makes it easy to make standard recipes smaller.
It helps people make meals that are just the right size and don’t waste food. It has useful suggestions for all kinds of meals, like quick meals, healthy options, and desserts, all of which have been tried and tested to work.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 650 reengineered recipes for two, 500+ color recipe photos, 250 step-by-step technique illustrations, quick and light recipes flagged for easy reference.
- Ideal for: Small households, couples, newlyweds, and empty nesters.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7/5 stars from 10,126 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Solves recipe scaling issues, reduces waste, offers diverse cuisines, simplifies meal prep, includes expert-tested techniques.
2. The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, 10th Anniversary Gift Edition
The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, 10th Anniversary Gift Edition by America’s Test Kitchen is an upgraded collection of over 700 recipes, perfectly tailored for two servings.
It helps users prepare small-scale dishes with precision, save time and money, and enjoy diverse cuisines, including vegan, vegetarian, and air fryer favorites, all with expert-tested reliability.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 700+ recipes, including 200 new additions, updated equipment recommendations, nutritional details, and air fryer recipes.
- Ideal for: Couples, newlyweds, college grads, and empty nesters.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 221 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Scaled recipes for perfect results, time-saving strategies, budget-friendly tips, expanded cuisines, detailed nutritional info.
3. 5-Ingredient Cooking for Two: 100+ Recipes Portioned for Pairs
For easy small-scale cooking, Robin Donovan’s 5-Ingredient Cooking for Two cookbook has more than 100 simple recipes that only need five common household items. It saves time, cuts down on waste, and lets people enjoy tasty, healthy meals without having to go through a lot of steps.
This makes it perfect for couples who want quick, tasty solutions that fit their needs.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 100+ recipes with only five ingredients, meal planning tips, shopping advice, and cooking shortcuts.
- Ideal for: Couples, small households, and anyone seeking simple, flavorful meals.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4/5 stars from 3,218 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Reduces prep time, minimizes food waste, uses everyday ingredients, includes budget-friendly tips, offers quick 30-minute meals.
4. Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
Half Baked Harvest Super Simple is a cookbook by Tieghan Gerard that has 125 recipes for easy and quick comfort food. It has one-pot dishes, meal prep options, and recipes for slow cookers and Instant Pots®, which are great for busy home cooks who want to make tasty meals that look great with little work.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 125 recipes with quick prep, one-pot and make-ahead options, vibrant photography, and vegan/vegetarian selections.
- Ideal for: Home cooks seeking stress-free, flavorful meals with minimal effort.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5 stars from 12,895 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Simplifies cooking, features diverse comfort foods, uses fewer ingredients, provides meal-prep options, includes bold flavors and stunning visuals.
5. Healthy Cookbook for Two
Michelle Anderson’s Healthy Cookbook for Two has 175 recipes that are perfectly sized for two people. This makes it easy to make tasty, healthy meals. It saves time, cuts down on waste, and makes sure that meals are well-balanced by giving users tips on how to plan meals and shop smart.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 175 healthy recipes, meal planning guidance, and shopping tips.
- Ideal for: Couples, small households, and anyone seeking nutritious, portion-controlled meals.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 1,942 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Promotes healthy eating, minimizes food waste, saves time and money, simplifies meal prep, offers diverse and satisfying options.
6. Taste of Home Cooking for Two
Taste of Home Cooking for Two has 141 recipes that are perfect for smaller families and help people make meals that are just the right size so that nothing goes to waste. It makes cooking easier for newlyweds, empty nesters, and small families by listing dishes in a variety of categories and including nutrition facts, prep times, and beautiful pictures.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 141 recipes, nutrition facts, step-by-step directions, and full-color photos.
- Ideal for: Newlyweds, empty nesters, or anyone cooking for one or two.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 571 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Reduces food waste, includes diverse recipe categories, simplifies cooking, provides nutritional info, ideal for small households.
7. One Pan, Two Plates
Carla Snyder’s book One Pan, Two Plates has more than 70 full meals for two people that can all be made in one skillet in less than an hour. It helps people make quick, healthy meals with little cleanup, which is great for weeknights or special occasions.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 70+ one-skillet recipes, wine/beer pairings, and diverse options including pasta, grains, meats, and seafood.
- Ideal for: Couples, newlyweds, and small households seeking easy, flavorful meals.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 1,049 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Reduces prep and cleanup time, delivers complete meals, encourages cooking together, offers expert tips, provides a range of flavors.
8. Slow Cooking for Two
Mendocino Press’s Slow Cooking for Two has 101 recipes that are made to fit 1.5- and 2-quart slow cookers. It saves users time and effort by making tasty, home-cooked meals for two. It’s great for people with busy lives or who want easy, stress-free ways to cook.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 101 recipes for soups, stews, casseroles, and desserts, tailored for two, with shopping and storage tips.
- Ideal for: Couples, small households, or anyone using smaller slow cookers.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 1,592 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Saves time, minimizes prep, offers diverse meal options, uses easy-to-find ingredients, delivers comfort food for two.
9. The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook for Two
Gina Kleinworth’s The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook for Two has more than 100 recipes for smaller families that use an air fryer and are perfectly portioned. It has detailed cooking charts and exact serving sizes that help people make quick, healthier meals with little waste and work.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 100+ recipes, detailed cooking charts, portion-specific serving sizes, and quick meal ideas.
- Ideal for: Couples, small households, or anyone seeking air fryer recipes tailored for two.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 6,388 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Saves time and money, minimizes food waste, simplifies air frying, includes diverse meal options, perfect for busy lifestyles.
10. The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Two
Anne Danahy’s Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Two has 100 recipes that are perfectly sized for two people. This makes it easy to enjoy the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. It helps people make heart-healthy, tasty meals with fresh ingredients, quick prep times, and different choices for each meal of the day.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 100 Mediterranean-inspired recipes, detailed health benefits, and accessible seasonal ingredients.
- Ideal for: Couples, small households, or anyone adopting the Mediterranean diet.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 3,400 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Promotes heart-healthy eating, reduces food waste, simplifies meal prep, delivers diverse and delicious options, highlights nutritional benefits.
11. 30-Minute Cooking for Two
Taylor Ellingson’s 30-Minute Cooking for Two has quick and healthy recipes that are just the right size for two people. It helps people make tasty meals in 30 minutes or less, with only 8 ingredients needed per recipe. This makes it perfect for busy couples who want easy, stress-free ways to cook.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 30-minute recipes, quick-reference labels, one-pot meals, and tips for kitchen prep.
- Ideal for: Couples, newlyweds, empty nesters, and anyone seeking fast, healthy meals.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4/5 stars from 825 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Saves time, minimizes ingredients, reduces food waste, simplifies meal prep, delivers diverse meal options.
12. Vegan Cooking for Two
Vegan Cooking for Two by America’s Test Kitchen has more than 200 small-batch plant-based recipes that are made to serve two people. It helps people make quick, waste-free vegan meals without having to scale down recipes. It does this by giving users substitution tips, a list of ingredients that can be used in different ways, and failproof methods for making everything from breakfast to dessert.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 220+ recipes, 140+ ready in 45 minutes or less, and “Use It Up” charts to minimize waste.
- Ideal for: Vegans, small households, or anyone seeking plant-based meals for two.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6/5 stars from 204 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Reduces food waste, simplifies vegan cooking, includes customizable options, uses accessible ingredients, and offers reliable baking techniques.
13. Date Night Cookbook and Activities for Couples
Crystal Schwanke’s Date Night Cookbook and Activities for Couples has 20 full menus with games and activities to make home-cooked date nights more fun and romantic. Couples can get to know each other better while cooking, eating, and having deep conversations. They can create memorable experiences without leaving home.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 20 themed menus, tips for teamwork in the kitchen, and bonding activities for each meal.
- Ideal for: Couples looking to enhance their connection with fun, romantic evenings at home.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5 stars from 347 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Encourages quality time, simplifies meal planning, includes creative recipes, strengthens relationships, provides conversation starters and games.
14. Comfort and Joy: Cooking for Two
Christina Lane’s book Comfort and Joy: Cooking for Two has small-batch recipes that are great for any meal of the day. The recipes are a mix of Southern-style comfort food and dishes for special events. It helps people make meals that are just the right size, so they don’t waste food and can enjoy rich, comforting flavors.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: Small-batch recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts, with 85 full-color photographs.
- Ideal for: Singles, couples, or small families seeking delicious and manageable meals.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5 stars from 213 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Reduces food waste, provides versatile recipes, includes celebration meals, features beautiful photography, offers approachable Southern-inspired cooking.
15. A Couple Cooks
The book A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together by Sonja and Alex Overhiser has 100 easy-to-follow recipes that are perfect for couples who want to cook together. It has helpful task divisions, hosting tips, and fun ideas for all kinds of dinners, from weeknight dinners to date nights and dinner parties. It turns making meals into a fun way to spend time together.
Why it’s a Great Choice
- Features: 100 recipes, vibrant photography, tips for hosting and teamwork, and wine pairings.
- Ideal for: Couples, newlyweds, and anyone seeking collaborative and fun cooking experiences.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5 stars from 94 reviews).
- Top Benefits: Encourages teamwork, simplifies meal prep, offers diverse recipes, provides hosting tips, and inspires memorable kitchen moments.
Final Thoughts
With the best for two cookbook, you can learn how to make tasty meals like pork chops and quick breads, and even a step-by-step instructions on how to make diced tomatoes. For full meals, you can use a loaf pan, a quarter-sheet pan, a food processor, or a slow cooker.
By using up leftover ingredients, these cookbooks cut down on food waste, and they also have tips for meal planning. ATK cookbooks and other recipes have great meals that are great for any event, like a date night. Start right now!
FAQs
What is the best cookbook of all time?
The best cookbook cooking for two includes detailed instructions, great recipes, and options for slow cooker meals.
How many recipes are in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook?
It contains many recipes, including pork chops, quick breads, and complete meal options.
Is there a BBC Good Food recipe book?
Yes, featuring simple recipes, delicious meals, and tips for reducing food waste.
Which cookbook has sold the most copies?
Cookbooks with best ever recipes and America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks remain top sellers.
Which cookbook is best for empty nesters?
A cooking for two cookbook offers meal prep, uses for leftover ingredients, and other recipes perfect for empty nesters.