After a long workday, cooking for two shouldn’t mean choosing between a quick meal and a good one. The weeknight dinners for two below rely on everyday ingredients, and about half are ready in 30 minutes or less, while the rest are worth saving for nights with a little more time.
Whether you’re planning taco night or a date night, you’ll find easy dinner ideas for two that cover pasta, seafood, stir-fries, and plant-based options. Once you have a few recipes picked out, you can order the ingredients through Instacart.
Table of contents:
Easy pasta and noodle dinners for two
Pasta and noodles are cornerstones of weeknight dinners, with most recipes using ingredients you might already have in your pantry.
1. Garlic and herb cheese pasta
Time: 25 min | Serves: 4
A tub of garlic-and-herb cheese spread does most of the work in this dish, melting into a rich cream sauce that coats every piece of pasta. To make it a full meal, sear half a pound of shrimp in the same pan.
2. Chow mein
Time: 25 min | Serves: 4
Chow mein is a stir-fry loaded with vegetables like sprouts, carrots, bell peppers, and onions. The savory flavor comes from the soy and oyster sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper.
3. Fettuccine Alfredo
Time: 30 min | Serves: 4
You only need 3 main ingredients for this fettuccine Alfredo: butter, cream, and Parmesan. The recipe calls for a pound of fettuccine, which serves up to 4, so cook half the box for 2. If you want to add a vegetable and protein, toss in some sautéed broccoli and chicken.
4. Lemon pasta
Time: 25 min | Serves: 4
When the fridge is close to empty, make lemon pasta. About 7 ingredients, including lemon, garlic, parsley, and Parmesan, turn 12 ounces of pasta into a garlicky dish. Add leftover chicken or shrimp for more protein.
5. One-pot mushroom orzo
Time: 35 min | Serves: 6
Cook orzo right in vegetable broth for this one-pot mushroom orzo. Onion, garlic, a pound of mushrooms, and Parmesan build the flavor. The recipe serves 6, so you’ll have leftovers for 2 more meals. For more one-pot meals, check out these easy dinners.
6. Peanut noodles
Time: 25 min | Serves: 4
Craving something savory with a little heat? Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, and red pepper flakes into a sauce, then toss it with noodles. Add crushed peanuts, cilantro, green onions, and a squeeze of lime on top to finish and serve.
7. Pesto pasta
Time: 20 min | Serves: 4
Make a batch of homemade pesto by blending fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan. Then toss it with 8 ounces of pasta. For a vegan version, swap Parmesan for nutritional yeast.
8. Sheet-pan gnocchi
Time: 35 min | Serves: 4
Leave dinner cooking in the oven with a sheet pan full of gnocchi and mushrooms. Use any mushrooms you like, from shiitake to oyster, and stir in spinach at the end so it wilts.
9. Spaghetti and meatballs
Time: 1 hr | Serves: 4
Plan this one for a night you get home early, since it takes about an hour. Ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and an egg make for tender meatballs. Simmer them in crushed tomatoes as the pasta cooks.
Chicken dinner ideas for two
Chicken cooks fast and takes on any flavor. From Italian-style dishes to honey-sauced stir-fries, most of these meals go from skillet to table with little hands-on time.
10. Chicken stir-fry
Time: 30 min | Serves: 4
If your vegetables are about to spoil, toss them into a chicken stir-fry. Cook the chicken in a soy-honey sauce with bell peppers, broccoli, and snap peas, then serve it over rice.
11. Sesame chicken
Time: 30 min | Serves: 4
Here’s a quick and easy Chinese-American favorite. Coat bite-sized pieces of chicken in cornstarch, pan-fry until golden, then toss them in a sticky sauce of honey, soy sauce, hoisin, ginger, and garlic. Serve them on a bed of rice, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.
12. Skillet chicken fajitas
Time: 30 min | Serves: 4
Slice up chicken and 3 bell pepper colors, then let everything sizzle with fajita seasoning. Stuff the filling into warm tortillas and squeeze in a bit of lime. The recipe calls for 2 pounds of chicken, so use 1 pound to serve 2.
13. Chicken Parmesan
Time: 55 min | Serves: 4
Worth the extra time on a slower night, chicken Parmesan feels like a special meal. Bread the chicken, top it with marinara and mozzarella, then bake until bubbly. The recipe serves 4 and calls for 2 eggs, so halve it and use 1 egg for 2 people.
Beef weeknight dinners
Ground beef and sirloin make a hearty dinner without much effort. Most recipes serve 4–6, which means leftovers for another meal.
14. Beef and broccoli stir-fry
Time: 30 min | Serves: 4
With a short ingredient list, beef and broccoli stir-fry is easy to make on a busy night. Toss beef strips, broccoli, onion, and garlic in a hot pan with soy sauce and brown sugar. Round out the meal with a side of steamed rice.
15. Beef and noodles
Time: 1 hr | Serves: 6
Beef and noodles is a comfort food staple consisting of tender beef chuck in a creamy sour cream and mushroom sauce over egg noodles.
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16. Cheeseburger casserole
Time: 1 hr | Serves: 6
Turn a backyard classic into a bake-and-serve comfort food with this cheeseburger casserole for picky eaters. Bake the pasta with ground beef, diced tomatoes, and ketchup, then add Dijon mustard and 2 cheeses, and top with chopped pickles.
17. Ground beef tacos
Time: 45 min | Serves: 4
Ground beef tacos are the easiest way to make taco night happen. You just need a pound of ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato, and tortillas.
18. Philly cheesesteak
Time: 25 min | Serves: 4
Switch up the usual dinner rotation with a Philly cheesesteak. Sear thinly sliced sirloin and onions, pile them onto sub rolls, then top with provolone and broil until melty.
19. Stuffed peppers
Time: 1 hr 30 min | Serves: 6
For a slower weeknight, try stuffed peppers. Carve out the centers of bell peppers and fill them with ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and herbs, then bake them under cheddar. They’re easy to reheat, so lunch is covered for the next 2 days.
20. Taco skillet
Time: 45 min | Serves: 6
If you’re not up for traditional tacos, a Mexican ground beef taco skillet is a nice alternative. It’s a hearty meal you can cook in a single pan by adding in ground beef, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and jalapeños. Top with cheddar and serve on tortillas.
Seafood dinners for two
Seafood can make an ordinary weeknight feel special. Each of these meals is ready to serve in just 15–40 minutes.
21. Baked salmon and spinach
Time: 40 min | Serves: 2
Designed for 2 people, this baked salmon and spinach recipe leaves nothing to halve. Bake 2 salmon fillets over fresh spinach with a creamy garlic-and-Parmesan sauce. It's one of those recipes for special nights that feels worth dressing up for.
22. Fish tacos
Time: 40 min | Serves: 4
If you want a fresh take on taco night, try these fish tacos. Marinate a pound of white fish in chili, cumin, and lime, then grill until flaky. Throw it into some tortillas with shredded cabbage and chipotle-sour cream sauce.
23. Honey garlic salmon
Time: 30 min | Serves: 4
A simple glaze of honey, soy sauce, and garlic gives this salmon a sticky, savory finish. Round out the meal by serving it with rice and broccoli or green beans, which can roast alongside the salmon at 400°F. Bake 2 fillets and halve the sauce for 2, or bake all 4 and toss the extra over a salad for lunch.
24. Shrimp scampi
Time: 15 min | Serves: 4
Shrimp scampi is one of the fastest meals on the list, ready in about 15 minutes. Sauté a pound of shrimp in garlic butter, then toss it in a quick white wine and lemon sauce for a restaurant-style meal at home. Serve it over linguine or with bread, and if you’re 21 or older, pair it with one of these mixed drinks for an easy date night.
Vegetarian and vegan dinners for two
Plant-based dinners on this list lean toward lentils, tofu, cheese-filled pasta, and an assortment of vegetables. The list covers both vegetarian and vegan options, so you can pick recipes based on how you eat.
25. Green goddess salad
Time: 15 min | Serves: 2–3
This vegan green goddess salad needs no cooking at all. Shred cabbage and add tofu, cucumber, and edamame, then toss with a dill-and-parsley dressing. Serve it with some tortilla chips for crunch.
26. Loaded baked potatoes
Time: 1 hr 5 min | Serves: 4
Baked potatoes can be a full dinner if you make a generous portion. This recipe calls for baking russet potatoes for an hour, then topping them with sour cream and chives. Add other toppings like broccoli and shredded cheese for more flavor.
27. Red lentil dahl
Time: 1 hr | Serves: 4
Red lentil dahl is a recipe built on red lentils and a can of coconut milk. Sauté onion, garlic, and ginger, stir in cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder, then add the lentils and broth and simmer for about 20 minutes.
28. Thai green curry
Time: 45 min | Serves: 4
Try a Thai green curry for a warming dish loaded with vegetables. Brown tofu in green curry paste, add carrots and bell pepper, then simmer everything with eggplant in coconut milk. Spoon it over jasmine rice to serve. If you want to keep the dish vegan, check the ingredients in the curry paste, as some brands contain shrimp paste.
29. Tortellini soup
Time: 45 min | Serves: 6
For a cozy comfort food, simmer cheese tortellini with carrots, celery, zucchini, red bell pepper, and peas in vegetable broth. Finish with cream and a vegetarian Parmesan-style cheese, since traditional Parmesan (and some tortellini) is made with animal rennet.
FAQs
How can I cook for two without wasting food?
Halve recipes that can serve more than 2, and pick meals that will reheat well, like soups and curries. Plan easy weeknight dinners for two that share similar ingredients. Spinach can work for both the baked salmon and the sheet-pan gnocchi, and ground beef can be used for tacos one night and for a taco skillet the next.
How can I make a cheaper homemade dinner for two?
Choose recipes built around pantry staples, like pasta, rice, or lentils, and a single protein. Dishes such as lemon pasta or red lentil dahl rely on ingredients you may already have, so you’ll buy less for each meal.
What are some good dinner recipes for two people?
Good dinner recipes for two people depend on your plans for the night. For something quick, shrimp scampi takes 15 minutes. For date night, baked salmon and spinach serve exactly 2. For a plant-based meal, try red lentil dahl.
Order ingredients for weeknight dinners for two through Instacart
These weeknight dinners for two make it easy to switch between pasta, tacos, seafood, and plant-based meals throughout the week. Choose a few recipes, add the ingredients to your cart, and order for delivery or pickup through Instacart. For busier nights, ask Clementine, Instacart’s AI shopping assistant, to build a cart of easy dinners for two. For more inspiration, check out these dinner ideas for two.
