Sometimes cooking for just two people can be trickier than cooking for a crowd. We have a bunch of dinner ideas for two that are easier than you think.
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If you want to cook dinner for two, it can be tough to find the perfect date night dinner ideas that won’t leave you with a fridge full of leftovers. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best dishes for two: everything from savory pasta dishes to chicken dinners.
From the Recipe Creator:
If you need a healthy, keep-it-simple solution to dinner tonight, you just found it. This restaurant-quality tilapia fillet recipe relies on spices you're likely to have on hand to deliver big flavor. This is how to make tilapia. —Dana Alexander, Lebanon, Missouri
If you need a healthy and flavorful recipe for dinner tonight, you just found it. This restaurant-quality tilapia fillet recipe uses spices like thyme, garlic and paprika to enhance the delicate flavor of the fish.
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been loving the subtle spice from curry lately, so I incorporated it into this saucy chicken and rice dish. It's a one-pan meal that's become a go-to dinnertime favorite. —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona
From the Recipe Creator:
Tasty taco ingredients makes this Mexican meat loaf extra special. Serve with sour cream and sliced fresh avocado. —Tena Huckleby, Greeneville, Tennessee
From the Recipe Creator:
Your family is going to gobble up this cheesy, southwestern and easy chicken enchilada casserole…and will ask for it again and again. It’s real comfort food! —Melanie Burns, Pueblo West, Colorado
Here’s a full-flavored dish that will really wake up your taste buds. With fresh jalapeños and picante sauce, you and your partner will get some heat in every bite.
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this ground turkey stir-fry recipe when I began my journey to get fit. Eating well always sounded bland and boring, so I wanted to bring life to the world of healthy eating. I think I did it with this spicy dish. —Jermell Clark, Desert Hot Springs, California
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a very popular dish at restaurants in central Pennsylvania. Prepared sweet-and-sour dressing is good on this salad, too. —Nancy Collins, Clearfield, Pennsylvania
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband likes stuffed peppers, but my original recipe made too many servings. I cut it down to accommodate just the two of us. It helps to use a small casserole dish so the peppers won’t tip over while they bake. For color, I serve steamed carrots to round out the meal perfectly. —Elaine Carpenter, Horseshoe Bay, Texas
From the Recipe Creator:
Here is my favorite slow-cooker recipe. The delicious, slightly spicy sauce will win you over, too! —Yvonne McKim, Vancouver, Washington
From the Recipe Creator:
In spring we look for something light and refreshing on the menu after the heavier comfort food of winter; this salad is a great solution. —Muriel Bertrand, Shoreview, Minnesota
From the Recipe Creator:
A surprising rhubarb sauce makes these tender chops extra special. I like this fruity sauce on the tangy side, but you can always add more honey to sweeten it up a bit if it’s too puckery for your family. —Bonnie Bufford, Nicholson, Pennsylvania
A surprising rhubarb sauce makes these tender chops extra yummy. The fruity sauce is on the tangy side, but you can always add more honey to sweeten it up a bit.
From the Recipe Creator:
I make this dish when I invite my next-door neighbor over for supper. It's just enough for the two of us. The tasty chicken is tender and moist with a bit of crunch from the cashews. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
From the Recipe Creator:
Scallops meet mild tomato in this sublime stovetop supper. Try serving the saucy mixture over rice or angel hair pasta, and garnish with cilantro if you like. —Stephany Gocobacki, San Rafael, California
From the Recipe Creator:
We live in the Yukon bush, so I pick wild cranberries for this incredibly tender comfort food. I sometimes substitute moose for the beef. —Cathy Wylie, Dawson City, Canada
Do cranberries and short ribs go together? We say they do! This recipe is equal parts sweet as it is savory and you won’t be able to resist getting seconds.
From the Recipe Creator:
My Caesar with grilled chicken is a healthier alternative to heavy meat and potatoes dishes. After grilling the kabobs, we serve them family style. —Melissa Adams, Tooele, Utah
This salad with grilled chicken is a healthier alternative to heavier meat and potatoes dishes. If you opt to have this on a date night, you’ll even have room for dessert afterward.
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet, spicy chops can be thrown together in minutes, but they definitely don't taste like it. Serve them with a side of jasmine rice and you'll feel as if you're on a tropical vacation. —Allison Ulrich, Frisco, Texas
These sweet, spicy chops can be thrown together in a matter of minutes but they definitely don’t taste like it. We recommend serving them with a side of jasmine rice.
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best soup I have ever made, according to my husband, who loves salmon so much that he could eat it every day. It's a treat for both of us, so when I get some, I try to make it a very special dish like this one. —Hidemi Walsh, Plainfield, Indiana
From the Recipe Creator:
One of my absolute favorite meals to eat anytime is lamb chops! My girls, Hanna and Amani, love watching me make my delicious chops, but they love eating them even more. —Nareman Dietz, Beverly Hills, Michigan
From the Recipe Creator:
This fresh rice dish tastes like the Mediterranean in a bowl! It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor. For a hand-held version, leave out the rice and tuck the rest of the ingredients into a pita pocket. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
From the Recipe Creator:
Like a salad with plenty of crunch? Then this refreshing recipe is sure to please. Toasted ramen noodles, almonds and sesame seeds provide the crunchy topping. The chicken makes it a main dish. —Linda Gearhart, Greensboro, North Carolina
This salad has plenty of crunch and texture to it. Trust us, it’s not boring. The toasted ramen noodles, almonds and sesame seeds provide the crunchy topping.
From the Recipe Creator:
I dress up stew meat with noodles and a slightly sweet red sauce for this satisfying main dish. It goes terrific with a salad and garlic bread. —Olivia Gust, Salem, Oregon
From the Recipe Creator:
After tasting a similar dish at the grocery store, my husband figured out how to make this awesome cod topped with salsa and peppers. —Robyn Gallagher, Yorktown, Virginia
While cod tends to be a fish that’s less in flavor, this recipe kicks it up a notch with some salsa. This dinner idea for two is great with salmon too!
From the Recipe Creator:
This easy skillet dish offers a delicious use for leftover taco meat. Garnish it with sour cream and salsa for southwestern flavor. —Sue Schoening, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
From the Recipe Creator:
This quick weeknight meal reminds me of a BLT, with its chunks of bacon and tomato. The whole wheat linguine gives the skillet dish extra flavor and texture. —Edrie O'Brien, Denver, Colorado
From the Recipe Creator:
This spinach-stuffed chicken breast recipe is special to me because it has so much flavor, yet not too many calories. I love Italian food, but most of the time it is too heavy. This is a healthy twist on an Italian dish! —Nicole Stevens, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
From the Recipe Creator:
When our kids are visiting Grandma, I make this recipe for just my husband and myself. It's a recipe my mother-in-law has been using for more than 30 years. I especially look forward to preparing it as part of a special Valentine's Day menu. —Denise McNab, Warminster, Pennsylvania
From the Recipe Creator:
Egg salad is a refreshing, tasty change from lunchmeat or peanut butter sandwiches. The touch of mustard and lemon juice gives it extra zip. —Annemarie Pietila, Farmington Hills, Michigan
If you’re not a fan of peanut butter and jelly, opt for a savory and delicious egg salad. The lemon juice adds a slight tartness to it that you will love.
From the Recipe Creator:
When I’m looking for a fast entree, I turn to this beef and broccoli stir-fry. It features a tantalizing sauce made with garlic and ginger. —Rosa Evans, Odessa, Missouri
From the Recipe Creator:
Expect to get plenty of compliments on these fast, flavor-packed chops. They're tender and juicy. —Billi Jo Sylvester, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
From the Recipe Creator:
It's easy to make a whole chicken in a slow cooker. We save the shredded chicken to use during busy weeks. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
From the Recipe Creator:
Coat tender chicken breasts with seasoned bread crumbs and smother in marinara sauce. Served on a hoagie, they're a real treat! —Sue Bosek, Whittier, California
From the Recipe Creator:
We’ve all heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so when I plan a romantic dinner, this shrimp asparagus pasta with angel hair is one dish I like to serve. It is easy on the budget and turns out perfectly for two. —Shari Neff, Takoma Park, Maryland
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the easiest and tastiest fish you'll serve. Even finicky eaters who think they don't like fish will love it because it lacks a fishy taste and is beautiful and flakey. —Kim Russell, North Wales, Pennsylvania
From the Recipe Creator:
Tuck smoked turkey and a creamy avocado spread into tortilla wraps and add a dash of hot sauce for a little heat. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
With turkey and a creamy avocado spread into tortilla wraps, you’ll be able to make this dish in seconds. These wraps are perfect for a snack, but also for a light dinner for two.
From the Recipe Creator:
This chicken fajitas recipe is definitely on my weeknight dinner rotation. The marinated chicken in these popular wraps is mouthwatering. The fajitas go together in a snap and always get raves! —Julie Sterchi, Campbellsville, Kentucky
From the Recipe Creator:
Grill this eggplant, tomato and goat cheese sandwich to perfection...it makes a delicious meatless meal. —Jennifer Jaras, Corona, California
From the Recipe Creator:
My chicken bundles are simple, clean and comforting. Serve them with wild rice and green beans for one of our favorite meals. —Jim Knepper, Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania
These chicken bundles are packed with robust flavors. They are great on their own, but even better served with a fresh leafy salad or some wild rice with butter.
From the Recipe Creator:
I love this recipe because its simplicity allows me to spend time with my family while not sacrificing taste or nutrition. Plus the fresh spring flavors really shine through! —Allyson Meyler, Greensboro, North Carolina
If you love making simple bowls, you’re going to love this recipe. This dish is nutritious and full of flavor thanks to the tangy balsamic glaze. This is a wonderful option for dinner for two!
From the Recipe Creator:
Barley adds another dimension to an old-fashioned hamburger. My husband and I really enjoy these juicy patties with onion and barbecue sauce mixed right in. —Rosella Peters, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan
From the Recipe Creator:
This yummy chicken gyro recipe is a cinch to prepare. Just take tender chicken, coat it in a creamy cucumber-yogurt sauce, then tuck it into pita pockets. Some folks like lettuce and diced tomato on top. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
From the Recipe Creator:
I never liked seafood until my husband urged me to try scallops, and now I love them. He says my breaded version is the best he's ever had. A tip I learned was to put them on a paper-towel-topped plate to soak up excess oil. —Martina Preston, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a flavorful Greek twist on an Italian classic. It’s an easy weekday meal that’s become one of our favorites. My husband and I enjoy it with garlic cheese toast. —Hetti Williams, Rapid City, South Dakota
Here’s a flavorful Greek twist on an Italian classic that you and your partner are bound to love. It’s an easy weekday meal that is sure to become a staple.
From the Recipe Creator:
Baked pork chop recipes are always handy to feed my hungry family. This entree brightens up the usual routine of roasted pork chops and rice. I reach for this recipe when our appetites are hearty and I feel like baking pork chops. —Dorothy Toben, Blackwell, Oklahoma
These bright tacos take me on an instant trip to sunny Southern California. The recipe has been on my family's most requested list for years. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
From the Recipe Creator:
A flavorful sauce with a hint of orange and sweet apple jelly is perfect over bone-in chicken breasts. Serve with potatoes or rice and a salad. —Barbara Haney, St Louis, Missouri
This dish is bursting with flavor thanks to the sauce that offers a hint of orange and sweet apple jelly. It’s to die for when poured over chicken breasts.
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious and lemony pasta dish is so easy, it's become one of our weekly meal mainstays. But it's also elegant enough to serve to guests. —Donna Thompson, Laramie, Wyoming
This luscious and lemony pasta dish is so easy, it’ll be a hit in your household of two. It’s the perfect meal to have on busy weeknights when you want to make something simple yet satisfying.
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this delightful beef burgundy recipe from my sister-in-law many years ago and have used it ever since. Whenever I serve it to guests, they always request this. The tender beef, mushrooms and flavorful sauce are delicious over noodles. —Margaret Welder, Madrid, Iowa
From the Recipe Creator:
Ham, rice and mushrooms make a tasty combination in this homey stovetop dish. It goes from start to finish in just 25 minutes. —Susan Zivec, Regina, Saskatchewan
From the Recipe Creator:
We're always looking for satisfying vegetarian meals, and this one tops the list. These melts are especially delicious in the summer when we have tons of homegrown tomatoes. —Amy Smalley, Morehead, Kentucky
From the Recipe Creator:
Bacon adds flavor to this comforting stovetop supper my mom frequently made when we were growing up. Now I prepare it for my family. —Kelli Jones, Peris, California.
From the Recipe Creator:
A bit of spice livens up cranberries and turkey while fat-free cream cheese rounds out the bold flavors in this easy dish. You’ll love this recipe! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A bit of spice livens up cranberries and turkey, while fat-free cream cheese rounds out the bold flavors in this easy dish. You’ll love this dinner idea for two!
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm not big on leftovers, so I've pared down my recipes to serve two. This meat loaf is simple and quick to prepare, plus it helps you eat your veggies. It's great served with cheddar-topped baked potatoes. —Judi Brinegar, Liberty, North Carolina
This meat loaf is simple and quick to prepare, plus it’s loaded with beautiful vegetables. It’s great served with cheddar-topped baked potatoes or cheesy rice.
From the Recipe Creator:
I kept prosciutto and sage in this Italian classic, but instead of veal I added turkey. This saltimbocca is so divine, you won't believe how quick and easy it is. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
From the Recipe Creator:
Maple syrup adds sweetness to this yummy stir-fry. I sometimes add a little broccoli, too, for a change of pace. Add a green salad and a crusty loaf of bread for a complete meal in minutes. —Dottie Tarlton, Malvern, Arkansas
From the Recipe Creator:
When days feel rushed, these sandwiches with turkey and green chiles are one of my favorite standbys. They stack up in about 10 minutes, honestly. —Leah Carter, San Pedro, California
If you’re ever feeling rushed on time, don’t hesitate to whip these melts up for an easy and breezy meal. It will be ready in 5 minutes tops and is a great meal for two.
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Can’t get enough of your local Greek restaurant? This one’s for you! Here are some incredible Greek recipes, as well as Mediterranean-inspired recipes, that are sure to satisfy.
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this tempting seafood pasta for my wife. It’s a terrific meal served with crusty sourdough. If you don't like spice, skip the red pepper flakes. —George Levinthal, Goleta, California
If you love seafood, you don’t want to miss out on this beautiful dish. With angel hair pasta, sautéed scallops and shrimp, this dish comes together perfectly.
From the Recipe Creator:
Lean ground turkey makes this a lighter sloppy joe than the standard ground beef version. A hefty splash of hot sauce and optional blue cheese provide an authentic Buffalo-style flavor. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts
From the Recipe Creator:
Savory slow-cooked pork is luscious served in a delightful tomato gravy over noodles. It’s a nice change from regular pork roast. I serve it with broccoli or green beans on the side. —Connie McDowell, Greenwood, Delaware
Savory slow-cooked pork with a delightful tomato gravy over noodles is all you could want for dinner for two. This dish is great for a date night at home.
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and two kids rave over these moist chops. Use the mild sweet-and-sour sauce to make a gravy that can be served over mashed potatoes or rice. Then add a salad and you have a very satisfying meal that didn't keep you in the kitchen for hours. —Robin Czachor, Appleton, Wisconsin
From the Recipe Creator:
This dinner for two is loaded with lots of flavor and color. Red pepper flakes add a little kick to the orange beef sauce, and the tender veggies add a pop of color. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen
From the Recipe Creator:
These special open-faced sandwiches from Donna Bennett of Washougal, Washington have wonderful crab and cheese flavor. "This recipe closely resembles a dish my husband and I enjoyed at a favorite restaurant several years ago," Donna writes.
From the Recipe Creator:
I like food that has a little zip to it, and this Creole chicken recipe hits the spot every time. It’s especially good served over rice. —Dolly Hall, Wheelwright, Kentucky
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a vegetarian, and this is a tasty, quick and healthy lunch I could eat for every meal. At my house, we call these sandwiches HATS: hummus, avocado, tomato and shallots. These are ingredients I almost always have on hand. —Sarah Jaraha, Moorestown, New Jersey
From the Recipe Creator:
My Nebraska-native husband loves Reuben sandwiches and anything with chicken, so I combined his two favorites in a fun roll-up. —Ashli Kottwitz, Hermitage, Tennessee
From the Recipe Creator:
If you have a tiny apartment, zero counter space and only two people to feed, hefty meals are out. This acorn squash with couscous is just the right size. —Jessica Levinson, Nyack, New York
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband used to get home from work before me, and one evening, he cooked this for dinner. We've used the same recipe ever since. It's delicious. —Kathy Kirkland, Denham Springs, Louisiana
This delicious rendition of pork chops is simple yet satisfying. The sauce is heavenly and perfect for dinner for two.
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