Best Crockpot recipes for two (2024)

FAQs

What size crockpot is best for 2 people? ›

Best Overall: All-Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker with All-in-One Browning, 7-Quart. This is so much more than a slow cooker. The All-Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker can saute, brown meat, simmer stews and cook rice!

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.

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. To form your wall, start with a large sheet of heavy-duty tinfoil.

6 to 7 Quarts

Most crockpot recipes are designed for a 6-quart slow cooker. This size can feed a large family a single meal or give you lots of leftovers. Slow cooker size is also an important consideration if you entertain a lot, like to make meals ahead, prepare large batches of pasta sauce, and so on.

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.

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.

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

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 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.

And for solo cooks or families of two, a small slow cooker or a mini slow cooker offers the convenience of the appliance without taking up too much space in the kitchen. “Small slow cookers such as the 1 to 1.5-quart models are a great option for those cooking meals for one,” says Grainer.

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low.

The 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.

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.

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.

A 5- or 6-quart slow cooker is the most versatile option.

It can be used for everything from dinners to meal prep and more. If you use your slow cooker a lot, you might find it worthwhile to buy both a large and small slow cooker, because the size of the slow cooker called for in a recipe does matter.