Best Crockpot recipes for two (2024)

FAQs

What size crockpot is best for 2 people? ›

The Small-Batch Queen: 2- or 3-quart slow cooker

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.

Size Matters: Choose an oven-safe bowl that fits inside your slow cooker. This bowl should be big enough to hold your meal but small enough to allow space around it. Filling Right: Aim to fill the oven-safe bowl two-thirds to three-quarters full to ensure even cooking.

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.

If you're cooking for one or two, a 1.5-3 litre pot should give you plenty of space to create some tasty meals. 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.

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.

The 4-quart capacity feeds 4+ people and is perfect for making family meals.

We put this slow cooker at the top of our list because it's a sturdy and super compact option. Plus, it holds just 1.5 quarts, so it's the perfect size for making dips or meals for one to two people.

“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.

Should you stir things in a slow cooker? ›

Due to the nature of a slow cooker, there is no need to stir the food unless it specifically says to in your recipe. In fact, taking the lid off to stir food causes the slow cooker to lose a significant amount of heat, extending the cooking time required. Therefore, it is best not to remove the lid for stirring.

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

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.

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.

The smallest of our range of slow cookers, the 1.5 Litre Slow Cooker is ideally sized for smaller portions of slow-cooked meals, perfect if you're just looking to serve 1 or 2 people.

You can easily fit around 5 lbs. of boneless chuck roast in the seven quart, probably 7–8 or more for pulled beef, and easily cook 2–3 lbs. of chuck for beef stew and still have tons of room for potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms, beef stock, etc.

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.