12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (2024)

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Enjoy everything from patty melts to miso fish soup with these 12 weeknight dinner ideas for two.

By

Marta Rivera

Marta Rivera

Marta has 25 years of experience in the food service industry and has been developing recipes for 3 years. She is the author of Taste & See Cooks: Recipes to Inspire, Equip and Enjoy.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

and

Sara Bir

Sara Bir

Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated January 12, 2023

12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (1)

It can be frustrating, when look for weeknight dinners to enjoy and all the serving sizes feed 4 to 6 people (or more). These recipes are all about cooking for two: parent-and-child, couples, or roomies, who don't need to feed an army but still want delicious home cooked meals on the table.

If scaling recipes down and having leftovers isn’t in your wheelhouse, no worries! Here are 8 weeknight dinner recipes great to share with one other person.

  • Loaf Pan Lasagna

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (2)

    This is a small batch lasagna recipe made in a loaf size pan (your bread pan will work here). It serves two generous portions and is ready in less time than a large casserole would be. This recipe is also make-ahead friendly. Just assemble the lasagna the day before, stash it in the fridge then, bake as instructed the following day adding an additional 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time.

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  • How to Make an Omelette

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (3)

    Omelettes are not just for breakfast! It’s an ingenious way to make a quick, filling, any-time meal with very little effort. What makes it even more genius is the versatility with which they can be prepared. Fold in fresh greens, chopped proteins, your favorite cheeses, or a handful of fresh herbs to create endless versions of the same dish. A simply dressed side salad is really all you need to make this a complete meal. This recipe serves one but can be doubled as needed!

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  • Easy Miso Fish Soup with Soba

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (4)

    Because fish fillets are often sold in smaller portions, it is an ideal protein to use when cooking in onesies and two-sies. The miso used in this recipe adds profound flavors to the soup despite its short cooking time. Use firm white fish like Atlantic cod, halibut, or flounder for this recipe. Play around with the vegetables you add to the soup, too. Wedges of baby bok choy or spinach are some of my favorite add-ins.

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  • Steak on the Stovetop

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (5)

    Steak is such a couple-friendly dish because you can customize it to your appetite. When it comes to this recipe, any cut of steak will do. Swap out herbs, use flavored butters, and throw onions or mushrooms into the pan after searing the steak to switch things up a bit. Baked potatoes or a medley of vegetables are great sides to serve with these steaks.

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    Continue to 5 of 12 below.

  • Classic Tuna Salad

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (6)

    Want to have dinner for two on the table in under 15 minutes? This is a quick and easy tuna salad that can be jazzed up in so many ways. You can add chopped capers, olives, scallions or pickled peppers to the mix for added texture and flavor. Scoop the tuna salad over a bed of greens and veggies or sandwich it between two slices of your favorite bread (and don't forget the chips).

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  • Easy Salmon Foil Packets with Vegetables

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (7)

    TThis recipe uses harissa, which is a spice paste from the North African country of Tunisia, and when blended with mayonnaise, it gives the salmon a subtle, spicy flavor. If you can't find Harissa paste, use a dried Harissa spice instead. If finding Harissa at all proves to be a feat, replace it with sambal oelek for an Indonesian flare, or you could even use sriracha.

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  • Instant Pot Ginger Soy Tilapia

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (8)

    Did the week get away from you and you have no idea what to make for dinner? These tilapia fillets go straight from the freezer into the Instant Pot for a quick and flavorful meal. The fish is steamed in a mixture of ginger, soy sauce, and mirin. And, you can go ahead and use any other flaky white fish you have on hand. Pollock, flounder, and cod work great in this recipe.

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  • Classic Patty Melt

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (9)

    This Classic Patty Melt is a meatier, more adult alternative to the plain grilled cheese sandwich. You can turn this plain patty melt into a Philadelphia cheesesteak patty melt by adding mushrooms and bell peppers to the sandwich. Serve with simple side of potato chips.

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    Continue to 9 of 12 below.

  • Cacio e Pepe

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (10)

    With the fiery-fruity power of coarsely ground black pepper and the pungency of Pecorino Romana cheese, this pasta is a great one to throw together for an easy yet impressive Italian restaurant meal at home.

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  • Kai Jeow (Thai Omelet)

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (11)

    This umami-packed Thai omelet is quick to whip up and easy to adjust (add as much or as little mined fresh chile as you like). Serve with rice and crunchy raw vegetables. The recipe makes one big omelet, but you can scale it up to make two.

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  • Sheet Pan Cauliflower Nachos

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (12)

    Are nachos a meal? We say heck yes! These low-carb nachos are messy enough to merit enjoying with a knife and fork, but you can also dig in straight from the sheet pan. It's not hard to put away the whole pan in a sitting.

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  • Noodles With Cucumbers and a Lot of Chili Crisp

    12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (13)

    Dinner's on the table in 30 minutes with this one, and you don't really need any sides. The only prep work is slicing the cucumber.

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12 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Two (2024)

FAQs

What should I have for dinner alone? ›

  • Tempeh Quesadilla. Rated 5 out of 5.
  • Collard Greens & White Bean Soup. Rated 4 out of 5.
  • Spicy Baja-Style Shrimp Tacos. Rated 3 out of 5.
  • Quick Tandoori Chicken. Rated 4 out of 5.
  • Quick Tomato Sauce. Rated 4 out of 5.
  • Ricotta Mini-Pizzas With Kale Pesto. Rated 5 out of 5.
  • Mushroom & Egg Toast. Rated 4 out of 5.
  • Black Bean Chili.

What is a late evening meal eaten instead of lunch and dinner? ›

Supper may be used to describe a light snack or meal in the evening, either after or instead of dinner.

What to cook for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

13 Emergency Dinners for When You Don't Have Time to Cook
  1. 01 of 14. Broiled Tilapia Parmesan. ...
  2. 02 of 14. Asian Beef with Snow Peas. ...
  3. 03 of 14. Vegetarian Chickpea Tacos. ...
  4. 04 of 14. Sicilian Spaghetti. ...
  5. 05 of 14. Waffle Pizzas. ...
  6. 06 of 14. Shrimp and Peanut Butter Noodles. ...
  7. 07 of 14. Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups. ...
  8. 08 of 14.
Jul 26, 2021

What to cook when you have almost nothing? ›

15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
  1. Buttery, gooey grilled cheese. ...
  2. PB&J because duh. ...
  3. Tuna melt tostadas. ...
  4. Pancakes! ...
  5. Scrambled eggs. ...
  6. Waffles. ...
  7. A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal. ...
  8. Spaghetti carbonara.
Apr 28, 2020

What should I have for dinner tonight for two? ›

Dinner recipes for two
  • Steak Diane. ...
  • Peanut & herb noodle salad. ...
  • Pasta alla vodka. ...
  • Spicy rice noodle salad with smoked mackerel. ...
  • Tahini miso noodles with crispy broccoli & sausages. ...
  • Sticky miso aubergine traybake. ...
  • Crab & asparagus pappardelle. ...
  • App onlyRoasted harissa red cabbage with coriander & almond bulgur.

What meals are considered romantic? ›

Date night recipes
  • Vanilla panna cotta. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Next level spaghetti carbonara. ...
  • Steak Diane. ...
  • Quick honey & garlic pork chops. ...
  • One-pan sirloin steak & creamy mushroom sauce. ...
  • White chocolate & cardamom tart with raspberry dust. ...
  • Baked sea bass with lemon caper dressing. ...
  • Chicken & mushroom wellington.

What to cook if you live alone? ›

Living Alone? 8 Meals That Are A Match Made In Heaven
  • Flattened Chicken With Tomatoes, Olives & Capers. Boneless chicken is a real boon for us non-vegetarian diners. ...
  • Thai Fish & Pumpkin Soup. ...
  • Apple Pie Oatmeal. ...
  • Vegetarian Chilli For One. ...
  • Ketchup Spaghetti. ...
  • Egg Fried Rice In A Mug. ...
  • Egg Curry. ...
  • Healthy Burrito Bowl.

What to eat when you live on your own? ›

Aim for three meals a day, and try to hit general nutrition targets.
  • Fill ¼ of the plate with protein (chicken, fish, legumes, eggs, or cheese).
  • Fill ¼ of the plate with whole grains (wild rice, quinoa, whole-wheat pasta).
  • Fill ½ the plate with vegetables (go for variety and color — kale, squash, carrots, broccoli).
Dec 2, 2015

What meal to make for a lot of people? ›

8 Delicious Dinners That Feed A Crowd
  • Classic Lasagna. ...
  • Pulled Pork. ...
  • White Chicken Chili. ...
  • Sloppy Joes. ...
  • Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes. ...
  • Gail Simmons' Epic Spaghetti Pie. ...
  • Moroccan-Style Brisket with Dried Fruit & Capers. ...
  • The Ultimate Chili Recipe.

What is the best way to structure meals? ›

Repetition is key. Pick two or three breakfast options and two or three lunch options for the week (at most), and add variety through dinner and snacks. Consider what meals you and your family enjoy eating, any food allergies or dietary needs, and how much time you have to prepare food.

How can you simplify meal preparation without using convenience foods? ›

How can you simplify meal preparation without using convenience foods? Simplify and speed-up meal preparation by: 1) Cut meats into smaller pieces before cooking. 2) Prepare one-dish meals such as casseroles, salads, and stir-fries. 3) Serve fish often.

How do I create a dinner menu for the week? ›

Here are six steps to making a meal plan:
  1. Give yourself time to plan. Set aside time each week to make a meal plan. ...
  2. Check what you have. Check what ingredients you already have in your cupboard, fridge or freezer. ...
  3. Include some of your favourite meals. ...
  4. Use up your leftovers. ...
  5. Cook in bulk. ...
  6. Make your ingredients work.

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