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I have been cooking for 1 now for just over a year now, and it’s taken me some time to adjust; however, I think I’ve cracked the ratio for single serving pasta and felt compelled to share! I know cooking for 1 can be boring. More often than not, after a long day of recipe developing and then teaching, the last thing I want to do is cook, but pasta always rescues me. A hot, delicious, fast and easy meal in no time sounds like a win to me.
This wildly easy chicken pasta comes together in around 25 minutes and is the perfect dinner for one. While the pasta is cooking, you prepare the veggies and the “sauce”. I put that in quotations because there really isn’t a sauce per se. The sauce for this comes together with a little butter, pasta water and cheese. Trust me, it will all make sense once you start cooking. Of course, you can add a touch of cream if you want the sauce dinner richer. Also, go with any medley of veggies you have withering away in your crisper!
And while I say this is a single serve pasta, this recipe actually fed me twice. A larger dinner portion and a smaller lunch the next day. I roasted a chicken on Sunday and have been slowly eating my way through it, and it was perfect for this pasta. I measured out 4 ounces of pasta for this (I use a kitchen scale-highly recommend this one) and 4 ounces of shredded chicken. The recommendation of pasta per person is 2 ounces, but I knew I was going to want leftovers, so I went with 4.
With a handful of ingredients, each one contributes essential flavour and texture. They come together quickly, creating a balanced and satisfying meal. All you need is a medium-sized pot with a lid and deep-sided pan. Check out my favourite cookware if you’re in the market for some new goodies!
Making this single serving chicken pasta is incredibly simple and takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Let’s get into it!
Boil a pot of well-salted water and cook your pasta according to the package directions. Reserve at least ⅓ cup of hot pasta water before draining.
In a deep-sided pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and chilli flakes. Add the shallot and cook until softened and fragrant. Add the mushrooms, and toss to coat them in the oil. They will soften and release liquid. Add the zucchini next and season everything with sea salt and cracked pepper. Add the shredded chicken and Parmigiano. At this stage, the mixture may look dry; that’s exactly right because the sauce comes next!
Pour in the reserved hot pasta water and the cheese, and stir until your cheese is melted and emulsifies into a silky sauce. Add the butter and stir once more.
Fold the cooked pasta into the sauce. If the dish looks dry, simply add a splash more pasta water until you reach a glossy, creamy consistency. Drizzle with a touch of olive oil, sprinkle with extra Parmigiano, and adjust seasoning.
This is one of those recipes that you can swap the ingredients with whatever you have on hand, and it will always turn out deliciously! Consider swapping chicken for chickpeas or sautéed shrimp. Add spinach, kale, or cherry tomatoes for extra vegetables. Want a different flavour for your sauce? Stir in a spoonful of pesto or sun-dried tomatoes for extra depth. When I tell you it’s endlessly customizable, I truly mean it.
Who doesn’t love a quick and easy pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights? This is the kind of meal that feels both elegant and effortless, because you deserve it! Yes, this is a single serve recipe, but leftovers are completely possible and if you really want to, double or triple the ingredients, and you can feed more people.
The flavour is balanced, comforting, and deeply satisfying without requiring a long ingredient list or complicated steps. It’s a beautiful option for a lazy dinner for one, a nourishing work-from-home lunch, or a simple recipe for those evenings when you want something delicious that doesn’t demand much of you.
Cooking for one can feel wonderfully grounding. It gives you permission to slow down, connect with yourself, and create something just for you. Single serving recipes also eliminate waste, save time, and give you the freedom to customize every flavour to your exact preference. Who doesn’t love a meal that cleans out the fridge of leftovers but feels like it was made especially for you.
Whether you call it a healthy single serving recipe, an easy dinner for 1, or simply a cozy night in, these meals remind us that feeding ourselves well is a form of care. Even if you live with others, taking time to make a meal that is just for you, really is special.
How much salt to put in pasta water? The water should taste like the sea. Properly salted water deeply seasons the pasta from within.
Can I make this chicken pasta dairy-free? Yes you can. Replace the butter with olive oil and use a dairy-free parmesan-style cheese or nutritional yeast. The sauce will still come together beautifully with the pasta water.
What’s the best pasta shape for single-serve chicken pasta? Short pasta shapes like cavatelli, penne, fusilli, or rigatoni work best. It keeps the whole pasta dish bite size!
Can I make this recipe without leftover chicken? Of course. If you don’t have leftover chicken, simply pan-sear a small chicken breast or use rotisserie chicken.
Don’t forget to leave a comment and rating below! I would love to hear how you enjoyed this simple chicken pasta for one! Try these recipes next:
Food Photographer and Recipe Developer based in Toronto, Canada.
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*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.
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