8 Simple Ways to Make Empty Nest Meals for Two

I used to struggle with shopping and cooking smaller amounts for only two people. We got really sick of leftovers and we had a lot of food waste. 

I changed some things up that made meals simpler and more fun.

1. Plan how many nights a week you will cook A few minutes planning makes less waste

I find that my husband will be working late one night or traveling, I’ll be meeting friends out one night, or we have a weekend dinner planned… You may only need meals for a few nights a week. You may want to order in one night, we love apps like GrubHub and DoorDash for a quick meal on a busy evening. Food waste can be a big issue for empty nesters. I find it’s better to look at the week ahead before I shop. My twin sister loves emeals.com to help plan her meals.

2. Cook basics that can be used in multiple recipes Easy Clean up is the best part

A grocery store rotisserie chicken can be a meal one night, turned into chicken salad, a base for homemade chicken soup or shedded for enchilada casserole on another night. We love the Costco $4.99 rotisserie chicken.

A large pan of roast vegetables can be eaten different nights of the week. I only serve a few of them one night and save the rest for other nights. You don’t end up eating the same vegetables every night or having to chop, prep and cook each night.

3. Try foil packet meals for single serving meals Bonus: Super easy clean up

We used to make these ahead for camping trip but they work just well at home. They can be easily prepped ahead and popped in the oven or on the grill when you want a quick individual size meal. I even throw sweet potatoes in the oven at the same time and serve them warmed up another night.

4. Have breakfast for dinner Who doesn’t love breakfast

We used to do this all the time when we were first married. In those days we’d have bacon, eggs and pancakes. Now I use left over veggies and meat in frittatas and omelettes to make it a bit more sophisticated and healthy.

5. Divide and freeze large servings Prep now for easy meals later

I cut or separate into potions and freeze in freezer bags. Some things work better for this than others. I buy flank steak at Costco and slice into servings for two, add flank steak marinade and freeze. When I’m ready I just thaw out one freezer bag and grill. I make a big lasagna and let it cool, slice it up into serving sizes and wrap each piece in foil, sealing ends. When you want to heat it up just throw it frozen into a cold oven and heat to 350 degrees for about 40 min or until warm in the center.

6. Try sheet pan recipes The new one pan meals

I’m a big fan of cooking everything on one pan. The clean up is so easy and you only cook what you need. Sheet pan recipes can be a great way to use up vegetables. We have a bunch of links to these recipes on our Free Resources Page.

7. Cheese and Charcuterie Board This is one of our favorite Friday night meals.

These are all thing I keep in my fridge in case someone stops by or if I don’t have anything to serve for dinner. We have a glass of wine or a beer with it and make it a patio date night. All you need are a few different types of cheese. (wrap them separately in the fridges they stay fresh longer) a few different meats (sausage, pâté, slices of deli meat…), some crackers, and a few nuts, pieces of fruit, or olives, a bit of fancy mustard and honey.

8. Everything but the Kitchen Sink Salad This is a great for Summer meal idea

This was my dad’s favorite meal to make when we were on vacation together. We make each individual salad in a large bowl. You start with a green salad base, add any of your favorite fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and proteins. I like to buy just the amount of seeds, dried fruit and nuts in the bulk section of the grocery store and only get a small amount.

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