Easy dinner ideas for two: recipes and cooking tips

When it comes to dinner ideas for two, easy options abound. In other words, you won’t need to look far before coming across great meat and seafood recipes for two. These sorts of recipes are ideal for beginners or if you simply don’t have much time. They’re also perfect when you just want something a bit different from more run-of-the-mill dinner recipes. Read on for easy dinner ideas for two that will leave you inspired.

Dinner ideas you’ll want to make again and again

Many of the most convenient home-delivery meals are ideal for two people. With the right ingredients, you can make any meal work for a pair, even if you have to bulk up a meal for one so that it can be shared. 

Quick, easy dinner ideas for two

This roasted chicken breast recipe takes just 20 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook, making it a superb option if you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. If you are looking for easy, quick dinner ideas for two, here are some tips to help you track down suitable recipes:

• Don’t choose recipes that involve baking or roasting since they take time. Instead, choose meals you can cook on the hob, which tend to be faster.
• Check whether you can use an air fryer for a particular recipe since this will often speed up the cooking time involved.
• Some recipes have processes that can be done in the microwave, such as steaming vegetables. Rice and quinoa supplied in microwave-friendly packets can be extremely handy to have in the kitchen cupboard.
• Recipes that rely on simple sauces are a good option. For instance, when selecting a quick recipe for two, choose an easy stir-fry recipe that uses only soy sauce.
• Chicken breast and diced pork will cook quicker than meat on the bone. Recipes that include these ingredients are always worth seeking out when assessing easy dinner ideas for two.

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Cheap, easy dinner ideas for two

Easy dinner ideas for two need not a lot of money. If you want a selection of cheap, easy dinner ideas for two, consider the following tips to help you stick to any culinary budget:

• Use freeze-dried pasta rather than fresh. It only takes a few minutes more to boil freeze-dried pasta, but it is often less than half the price of fresh and still tastes great.
• Choose seasonal vegetables since they are much less costly compared to produce grown overseas and flown to the UK. Adapt a meal for two with the vegetables you already have on hand rather than buying more.
• Cheap, easy dinner ideas for two can include salads, which require no cooking.
• If you’re making a casserole or stew, then cook it in batches. This way, you can prepare a meal for six or eight, for example, and split it up into two-person portions to freeze and serve later in the week.
• Use cheaper cuts of meat when researching easy dinner ideas for two. For instance, ground beef, pork shoulder and chicken thighs are usually less expensive than premium fillets.

Easy dinner ideas for two vegetarians

For pescetarians, this prawn spaghetti recipe is a good one to try out, even if you haven’t prepared a vegetarian meal before. Tofu is a great meat substitute and can be used in virtually any casserole or stew recipe for two. It’s easy to handle and something that shouldn’t only be reserved for stir-fries. That said, vegetable stir-fries and vegetarian curries are also easy to prepare. Since they often pack a punch with flavour, these are great options when you want easy, meat-free meal ideas for two.

Romantic, easy dinner ideas for two people

When choosing easy dinner ideas for two on Valentine’s Day or for a date night in, consider a straightforward pasta recipe. Accompany the pasta with a Caprese salad made from torn-up mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar. Such a salad takes moments to prepare but is sure to impress. Dipping strawberries in melted chocolate is another really simple idea that will work well in any romantic setting. For a romantic starter idea, serve pate on toast, which takes only a few minutes to prepare.

FAQs

What should you eat for dinner for two people?

Satisfying meals for two people have protein, vitamins and carbohydrates, so chicken with greens and potatoes or tofu with rice and peppers are good ideas. Spaghetti bolognese is another go-to option for two-person mealtimes.

How do you plan for a simple yet special dinner for two at home?

Even if the meal you’ve chosen is simple to prepare, it can be made even more special by serving it under candlelight with the right music. A half-bottle of wine can also help save money and still give the meal a lift.

What are some easy, budget-friendly dinner ideas for two?

Vegetable stir-fry served with rice is a great option for a low-cost meal for two. It can also be easily scaled up for more if wanted. Spaghetti tossed in olive oil with garlic and chilli flakes is also a terrific idea, as is chickpea curry.

What ingredients should you have on hand for a quick dinner for two?

Easy, quick dinner ideas for two typically have pasta or rice as the base. Since both can be stored indefinitely, it’s a good idea to keep them on standby. Frozen prawns, vegetables and beef mince, which you can defrost within hours, are also worth having set aside.

How can you scale a recipe to make it perfect for just two people?

If you have a recipe for one, double the quantities of ingredients to make it for two people. Note that the cooking time will usually be longer, so you may need to adjust accordingly. However, don’t double it, as this will result in overcooking.