Written by Emily Nickerson Published on
As a newlywed, I had a hard time finding easy dinner ideas for two! I went from being in a big family and cooking for 6 or more people to then having to cook for just the two of us.
It’s funny how sometimes it’s harder to cook an easy dinner for just two people than it is cooking a dinner for a big family!
After a year and a half of being married, I’m finally starting to figure out how to cook dinner for two 🙂
Sometimes, we like to make dinners for two together for a date day/night! It’s so much more budget-friendly and working together in the kitchen can be a fun bonding time for the two of us. There’s something romantic about a yummy pasta dish or a decadent chocolate dessert made at home.
We’ve really been enjoying trying out new recipes for holidays and working on those together. It makes our holidays so much fun!
These easy dinner ideas for two will have you enjoying cooking for the two of you (whether you do it together or just whip up something for a weekday dinner) – from scrumptious entrees to healthy side dishes to decadent desserts, this collection of easy dinner ideas perfectly portioned for two covers all your bases.
A collection of various recipes perfectly portioned for two - from entrees to side dishes to desserts!
Photo Credit:www.forkinthekitchen.com
Shrimp Scampi for Two
A delicious and easy shrimp dish for two. It's light, buttery, lemony, romantic - and ready in twenty minutes!
Photo Credit:www.wrytoasteats.com
The Best Creamy Cauliflower Soup (For Two!)
A healthy, filling cauliflower soup that you can make with just six ingredients and under 30 minutes! It's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
Photo Credit:bakingmischief.com
Easy Chicken in Cream Sauce for Two
Crispy chicken served over a bed of orzo (or rice) and smothered in a creamy basil parmesan sauce!
Photo Credit:www.fromachefskitchen.com
French Onion Soup For Two
Delicious carmelized onions with an herby beef broth, served with a crusty and cheesy slice of bread on top - a perfect cozy dinner for two.
Photo Credit:www.recipetineats.com
Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls
This would be such a fun at-home date night dinner to make with your spouse! It's healthy and fresh and absolutely beautiful.
Photo Credit:www.skinnytaste.com
Perfect Filet Mignon for Two
Learn how to get the perfectly cooked filet mignon for your special night in with your boo. What a great Valentine's Day dinner idea 🙂
Photo Credit:kalynskitchen.com
Vegetarian Seven-Layer Tostadas
Mexican is always a big hit in our household - this is a budget-friendly dinner that you can customize to your liking. Make it 4-layer, 6-layer, or even 10-layer if you really want to go wild with the toppings!
Photo Credit:www.feastingathome.com
Easy to Make Pad Thai w/ Chicken, Shrimp or Tofu
It's like a romantic takeout dinner, but made at home! Delicious pad thai that only takes 15 minutes to make, once you have your ingredients prepped. Serve it up with some egg rolls or dumplings and you have the perfect date night meal.
Photo Credit:minimalistbaker.com
Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes
An easy 30-minute vegetarian meal packed with flavor and protein - sweet potatoes finished off with a bright parsley salad and a creamy garlic sauce!
Photo Credit:www.halfbakedharvest.com
Crockpot Crispy Caramelized Pork Ramen Noodle Soup
Start your pork in the crockpot before you leave for work in the morning. Then, when you come home that evening, finish up the ramen soup and ta-da! you have a delicious ramen that everyone is sure to love.
Photo Credit:www.girlgonegourmet.com
Creamy Gruyere Spaghetti for Two
A carb-loaded guilty pleasure of a meal - perfect for a date night in. Creamy gruyere cheese sauce paired with herbs and breadcrumbs and parmesan with just a touch of spinach.
Photo Credit:lemon.press
Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers
Here's a healthier option for an easy weeknight dinner for two. This recipe makes six patties so cook two of them and freeze the rest for next week! These only take about 15 minutes to come together which is great for your busy week.
Photo Credit:sundaysuppermovement.com
Easy Sausage Lasagna for Two
I love making lasagna in a loaf pan for me and my husband - it's the perfect portion size for us for dinner with leftovers for the next day. This is an easy and yummy lasagna recipe for two.
Bring home that charming bistro kitchen taste in to your kitchen with this homemade tomato soup bursting with flavor. Serve it up with some crusty bread, a warm crispy grilled cheese, or a fresh garden salad.
Photo Credit:choosingchia.com
Easy Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe
Risotto may seem like a dish you can only enjoy at your favorite restaurant but with this recipe, you'll find it's easy to make at home. And just as tasty! This is a creamy and flavorful dish that can stand alone as the main dish or it can be served along side a delicious steak or seafood.
Photo Credit:bakingmischief.com
Mashed Potatoes for Two
A classic side dish - easy, creamy, buttery mashed potatoes for two.
Photo Credit:aflavorjournal.com
Small Batch Homemade Biscuits for Two - A Flavor Journal
If you're looking to make biscuits for two, this recipe is perfect! Serve them up with some sausage gravy for a breakfast dinner night or as a side dish with some honey butter or jam.
Photo Credit:zonacooks.com
Cold Broccoli Salad
This is a delicious creamy broccoli salad with crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, and crunchy onion - smothered in a creamy mayo dressing!
Photo Credit:www.fromachefskitchen.com
Au Gratin Potatoes For Two
A comforting cheesy American side dish that pairs well with chicken, ham, pork chops, steak . . . a perfect dish for a cozy night in.
Photo Credit:www.chocolatemoosey.com
Deep Dish Brownies For Two In Ramekins - Homemade In The Kitchen
Yes, yes, yessssss! I love a gooey brownie in a ramekin - topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pin this recipe to make this weekend!
Photo Credit:onedishkitchen.com
Pound Cake Recipe | Mini Version of Classic
A classic pound cake recipe but only a quarter of the size - a "quarter pound cake" so to speak. It's buttery, tender, and golden, and perfect for two people. Enjoy a slice of this cake with a cup of coffee or tea, or top it with some powdered sugar or fruit and whipped cream!
Photo Credit:www.yellowblissroad.com
Chocolate Trifles for Two
You really can't get more chocolate-y than this! From the chocolate mousse to the chocolate whipped cream to the chocolate cookies . . . this dessert just screams rich and decadent 🙂
Photo Credit:bakingmischief.com
Easy Small-batch Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls have become a classic holiday breakfast for me and my husband BUT we definitely don't need a dozen or more cinnamon rolls in our house. This recipe makes four cinnamon rolls - perfect for holiday breakfast and the next day's breakfast!
Photo Credit:zonacooks.com
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Where I live, they serve strawberry pretzel salad at every function. It's a staple dessert around here! This is a great recipe for making just two servings of strawberry pretzel salad instead of an entire 9x13 pan.
Photo Credit:www.bakingenvy.com
The Easiest Chocolate Lava Cake Ever (No Eggs!)
Lava cake is a classic romantic dish. This recipe can be split between two small ramekins or it can be made in one larger ramekin for you and your special someone to share. It's a delicious chocolate cake with a gooey, fudgy center that spills out when cut into. Serve it dusted with powdered sugar or with ice cream, fruit, whipped cream . . .
Photo Credit:cheneetoday.com
Easy Mini Vanilla Cake Recipe from Scratch - Perfect for Two!
Are you looking for a mini cake recipe? This yummy vanilla cake with a classic vanilla buttercream frosting is a great size for a birthday celebration for two!
Photo Credit:bakingmischief.com
Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies for Two
Calling all peanut butter lovers - here is a yummy, fudgy brownie (mixed up in one bowl) swirled with a rich peanut butter filling. This is a small batch recipe so it's great for two people, plus a couple leftover brownies.
You might be wondering –
“What can I make for an easy dinner for the two of us that won’t cost too much?”
- I know when I first got married and started out with a pretty bare pantry and freezer, I was always on the lookout for recipes that didn’t require too much grocery shopping, since I hadn’t acquired much in the way of basic pantry staples. Some easy budget-friendly meals are pasta and jarred sauce, rice dishes, goulash, simple sandwiches . . . grocery stores offer many cheap and ready-to-cook options nowadays! One of my favorite easy and inexpensive meals to make is a simple veggie fried rice with frozen cauliflower rice and frozen mixed veggies! It comes together quickly and easily and isn’t expensive.
“What can I make for $5 or less per serving?”
- If you’re looking for some dinner ideas that are a little more exciting than a simple pasta with a jarred sauce, and are less than $5 per serving, here is a list of some fun and inexpensive recipes to try!
“How can I save money when preparing dinner?”
- Honestly, one of the best ways you can save money when preparing dinner is to avoid buying pre-made foods at the store. Try making your own bread, growing your own veggies, canning your garden harvest for winter, cooking your own pasta sauce, using dry beans instead of canned, etc. You’ll find you will save money that way and start to enjoy eating homemade dinners more!
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