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I might be raising a big family of growing boys, but I know that so many of you are looking for easy dinner ideas for two! Whether you are an empty-nester, a small family with a baby, or a widow on your own, I get emails every day from readers just like YOU — looking for quick-prep meals in smaller quantities. That’s why I’ve put together a list of delicious dinner recipes that are simple to scale down to suit your needs. From chicken to steak, pasta, casseroles, salmon and pork, there’s something here for everyone!
I’m going to make this as easy as possible for you! My goal with this collection is to provide you with a handful of easy dinners for two that you can turn to on your busiest weeknights! These ideas take advantage of a variety of ingredients and cuisines, so I know that you’ll find at least a handful of new recipes to add to your regular rotation.
How do I cut down a recipe if I am cooking dinner for two and the meal is for four (or more)?
As you’ll see, many of the recipes on this list can serve 4 or more people. I’ve chosen options that are easy to scale down, and that include alternative instructions for those folks who are cooking just for 2. Here are my best tips when adapting recipes for a smaller family:
- Cut the ingredients in half: In general, you can typically cut all of the ingredients in half to prepare half as much food. Just make sure that you keep all of the proportions the same. For instance, instead of using 2 pounds of ground beef, use just 1 pound of ground beef (and cut all of the other ingredients in the recipe in half as well).
- Use a smaller dish: If the directions call for a 9 x 13-inch dish, cut all of the ingredients in half and use an 8-inch or 9-inch square dish instead. Similarly, if the recipe calls for a 2-quart baking dish, use a small 1-quart dish. You get the idea!
- Freeze half: Instead of cutting the ingredients in half to prepare a smaller amount of food, you can often prepare the full recipe but divide the ingredients between two smaller pans. Bake one pan now for dinner, and freeze the extra for another meal. This gives you two dinners for one effort!
- Adjust the servings in the recipe card: on my site, each recipe box includes a suggested number of servings. If you click on that number, you can change it to accommodate the number of servings that you would like to prepare. For instance, if the recipe says it makes “4” servings, you can change that “4” to say “2” servings. Once you change the number of servings, the ingredient quantities will automatically adjust accordingly — no special math necessary!
Favorite Dinner Ideas for Two
These are some of our favorite easy dinner ideas for two. In each post, I provide specific instructions for scaling down the recipe for a smaller family, as well as suggested side dishes that pair well with each entrée. As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Chicken
- One Skillet Chicken Dijon
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Pecan Crusted Chicken
- Dump-and-Bake Salsa Chicken
- Chicken and Rice Casserole with Mushroom Soup
- Potato Chip Chicken Strips
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast {Just 4 Ingredients!}
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas
- Marinated Chicken Thighs {Grilled or Baked}
- Strawberry Chicken Salad
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast
- Country Chicken and Biscuits
- Lemon Chicken
- Chicken Broccoli Stuffing Casserole
- Lemon Chicken Piccata
- Chicken and Green Beans Casserole with Rice
- Tender and Juicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast
Pork
- Oven Fried Pork Chops
- Pork Schnitzel with Mushroom Gravy
- Honey Garlic Dijon Pork Tenderloin
- Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin with Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
- One Skillet “Egg Roll in a Bowl” (leftovers are great for lunch the next day!)
- BLT Sandwich with Basil Mayo
- Ham and Bean Soup (freeze any extra soup that you don’t eat for dinner tonight in small containers for easy lunches and dinners at another time)
- Pesto Tortellini with Pancetta and Broccoli
Beef
- Homemade Nachos
- Ground Beef Noodle Casserole
- Mini Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Steak Salad
- Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy
- Reuben Sandwich
- One Pot American Chop Suey
- Stuffed Peppers with Rice (a great way to get veggies in the main course!)
Fish, Shellfish, Seafood
- Perfect 15-Minute Grilled Salmon
- Garlic Butter Shrimp with Old Bay
- 4-Ingredient Brown Sugar Dijon Roasted Salmon
- New England Shrimp Rolls
- Marinated Grilled Shrimp
- One Skillet Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Crispy Fried Fish Sandwiches
- 5-Ingredient Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia
- Easy Weeknight Salmon Sandwich (the Old Bay and tartar sauce add so much flavor!)
Vegetarian and Pasta
- Ravioli Lasagna with Ricotta and Spinach
- Shells and Cheese
- Grandma’s Baked Eggplant Parmesan
- Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes (ready in 20 minutes, but tastes like it’s from a restaurant!)
Romantic Dinner Ideas for Two at Home
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, Valentine’s Day, or just looking for a recipe to cook for a date night at home, here are a couple of my favorite fancier, easy dinner ideas for two:
- Virginia Crab Imperial
- Filet Mignon (just add vegetables, like creamed spinach, and potatoes for a restaurant-quality meal!)
- Crab Cakes
- Spaghetti Carbonara
- Crispy Virginia Fried Oysters
- Grilled New York Strip Steak
- Easy Shrimp Scampi
- Steamed Mussels with Garlic, Herbs, and White Wine (so good with a loaf of crusty bread for dipping!)
- Marinated Flank Steak (delicious on the grill!)
Let Us Know Your Favorite Easy Dinner Ideas for Two
Now it’s your turn, friends! What are some of your favorite dinners for two? Share your ideas in the comments below to help others with even more delicious and easy ideas!
This post was originally published in July, 2017. It was updated in October, 2021.
