soy-honey-glazed arctic char Credit: Christina Holmes
Whether it’s a weeknight or a special occasion, cooking dinner for two doesn’t always have to mean taking a recipe that serves four and cutting it in half. Here, we’ve gathered a dozen dinner ideas for two, many of which lend themselves especially well to a smaller number of servings. Think: homemade pizza, because it can be hard to turn out pizzas for a crowd, or a steak dinner that has you split one ribeye, rather than buying two. Or roasted game hen because a chicken is too big but the game hen yields just the right amount for two diners. There are also plant-based dinner ideas for two, because not every couple wants chicken or salmon every night. These smart recipes just might have you thinking two is the new four. Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula View Recipe Grilled chicken can be boring, but not when you top it with an arugula-cherry salad that you’ve tossed with a shallot vinegar dressing. The peppery greens and sweet fruit are a winning combo and a great match for the chicken. sriracha shrimp Sriracha Shrimp View Recipe A hot, dry skillet cooks shrimp that are lightly coated in mayonnaise to a gorgeous golden brown in mere minutes. Serve them over salad or with rice… or both! squash gratin Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin View Recipe This rich vegetarian gratin for two to share is made with no-bake lasagna noodles, which soak up the sauce nicely. Serve it with a bright salad of crisp lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette. dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg Dan Dan Noodles View Recipe Our take on the spicy and tangy thin noodles originating from and popular in Sichuan is a 35-minute dinner you’ll want to make every week. It uses ramen-style noodles, dark leafy greens like spinach or tatsoi, and ground pork with ginger, garlic, soy, and tahini—and you’ll need chili oil for serving. soy-honey-glazed arctic char Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char View Recipe Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes please! Use artic char or salmon fillets and serve with sautéed baby bok choy which you cook at the same time as the fish. Together with steamed rice, it makes a colorful and healthy dinner for two. wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg Cauliflower “Rice” Stir-Fry View Recipe A no-grain cauliflower dish that’s surprisingly hearty. Store-bought vegetable stock makes a quick shortcut if you don’t have time to make your own broth, and you can also lean on pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and red pepper. Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter Skillet Steak with Pink-Peppercorn Butter View Recipe One generous rib-eye makes the perfect steak dinner for two. Here, it’s pan-seared in a cast-iron skillet and finished with a piquant pink peppercorn-and-Meyer lemon butter. Serve with a salad and baguette. wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg Baked Salmon with Coconut Broth View Recipe Coconut milk, lemongrass, and chiles give this salmon dish a beautiful fresh flavor. And a bed of brown rice helps soak up all the delicious broth. tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg Pizza with Yellow Tomatoes and Basil View Recipe What could be cuter than sharing a homemade pizza for dinner à deux? For this summery one, sunny yellow tomatoes provide a sweetness that’s set off nicely by fresh basil. mustard tarragon game hen Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables View Recipe A Cornish game hen is smaller than a chicken, which means it’s great for two people; plus, it cooks much faster. And just as with chicken, the pan juices you’ll get from roasting a hen form a tasty sauce when combined with Dijon, lemon juice, capers, and fresh tarragon. Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate Flounder in Parchment with Asparagus and Shiitakes View Recipe Steaming fish in a parchment packet in the oven, or “en papillote” in French, yields deeply flavorful results and is a messproof way to cook fish–in this case, flounder or sole fillets. Mushrooms and asparagus make a delightful accompaniment and steam right alongside the fish. wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg Stuffed Acorn Squash View Recipe Kale, onion, and white beans are the base for this succulent winter squash dish, where a halved and seeded acorn squash forms two edible bowls. Fresh sage and thyme, plus chopped toasted hazelnuts, add extra flavor and dimension.
soy-honey-glazed arctic char Credit: Christina Holmes
soy-honey-glazed arctic char Credit: Christina Holmes
soy-honey-glazed arctic char
Credit: Christina Holmes
Whether it’s a weeknight or a special occasion, cooking dinner for two doesn’t always have to mean taking a recipe that serves four and cutting it in half. Here, we’ve gathered a dozen dinner ideas for two, many of which lend themselves especially well to a smaller number of servings. Think: homemade pizza, because it can be hard to turn out pizzas for a crowd, or a steak dinner that has you split one ribeye, rather than buying two. Or roasted game hen because a chicken is too big but the game hen yields just the right amount for two diners. There are also plant-based dinner ideas for two, because not every couple wants chicken or salmon every night. These smart recipes just might have you thinking two is the new four.
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula View Recipe Grilled chicken can be boring, but not when you top it with an arugula-cherry salad that you've tossed with a shallot vinegar dressing. The peppery greens and sweet fruit are a winning combo and a great match for the chicken. sriracha shrimp Sriracha Shrimp View Recipe A hot, dry skillet cooks shrimp that are lightly coated in mayonnaise to a gorgeous golden brown in mere minutes. Serve them over salad or with rice… or both! squash gratin Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin View Recipe This rich vegetarian gratin for two to share is made with no-bake lasagna noodles, which soak up the sauce nicely. Serve it with a bright salad of crisp lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette. dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg Dan Dan Noodles View Recipe Our take on the spicy and tangy thin noodles originating from and popular in Sichuan is a 35-minute dinner you'll want to make every week. It uses ramen-style noodles, dark leafy greens like spinach or tatsoi, and ground pork with ginger, garlic, soy, and tahini—and you'll need chili oil for serving. soy-honey-glazed arctic char Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char View Recipe Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes please! Use artic char or salmon fillets and serve with sautéed baby bok choy which you cook at the same time as the fish. Together with steamed rice, it makes a colorful and healthy dinner for two. wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg Cauliflower "Rice" Stir-Fry View Recipe A no-grain cauliflower dish that's surprisingly hearty. Store-bought vegetable stock makes a quick shortcut if you don't have time to make your own broth, and you can also lean on pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and red pepper. Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter Skillet Steak with Pink-Peppercorn Butter View Recipe One generous rib-eye makes the perfect steak dinner for two. Here, it's pan-seared in a cast-iron skillet and finished with a piquant pink peppercorn-and-Meyer lemon butter. Serve with a salad and baguette. wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg Baked Salmon with Coconut Broth View Recipe Coconut milk, lemongrass, and chiles give this salmon dish a beautiful fresh flavor. And a bed of brown rice helps soak up all the delicious broth. tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg Pizza with Yellow Tomatoes and Basil View Recipe What could be cuter than sharing a homemade pizza for dinner à deux? For this summery one, sunny yellow tomatoes provide a sweetness that's set off nicely by fresh basil. mustard tarragon game hen Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables View Recipe A Cornish game hen is smaller than a chicken, which means it's great for two people; plus, it cooks much faster. And just as with chicken, the pan juices you'll get from roasting a hen form a tasty sauce when combined with Dijon, lemon juice, capers, and fresh tarragon. Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate Flounder in Parchment with Asparagus and Shiitakes View Recipe Steaming fish in a parchment packet in the oven, or "en papillote" in French, yields deeply flavorful results and is a messproof way to cook fish–in this case, flounder or sole fillets. Mushrooms and asparagus make a delightful accompaniment and steam right alongside the fish. wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg Stuffed Acorn Squash View Recipe Kale, onion, and white beans are the base for this succulent winter squash dish, where a halved and seeded acorn squash forms two edible bowls. Fresh sage and thyme, plus chopped toasted hazelnuts, add extra flavor and dimension.
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula View Recipe Grilled chicken can be boring, but not when you top it with an arugula-cherry salad that you've tossed with a shallot vinegar dressing. The peppery greens and sweet fruit are a winning combo and a great match for the chicken.
sriracha shrimp Sriracha Shrimp View Recipe A hot, dry skillet cooks shrimp that are lightly coated in mayonnaise to a gorgeous golden brown in mere minutes. Serve them over salad or with rice… or both!
squash gratin Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin View Recipe This rich vegetarian gratin for two to share is made with no-bake lasagna noodles, which soak up the sauce nicely. Serve it with a bright salad of crisp lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette.
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg Dan Dan Noodles View Recipe Our take on the spicy and tangy thin noodles originating from and popular in Sichuan is a 35-minute dinner you'll want to make every week. It uses ramen-style noodles, dark leafy greens like spinach or tatsoi, and ground pork with ginger, garlic, soy, and tahini—and you'll need chili oil for serving.
soy-honey-glazed arctic char Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char View Recipe Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes please! Use artic char or salmon fillets and serve with sautéed baby bok choy which you cook at the same time as the fish. Together with steamed rice, it makes a colorful and healthy dinner for two.
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg Cauliflower "Rice" Stir-Fry View Recipe A no-grain cauliflower dish that's surprisingly hearty. Store-bought vegetable stock makes a quick shortcut if you don't have time to make your own broth, and you can also lean on pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and red pepper.
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter Skillet Steak with Pink-Peppercorn Butter View Recipe One generous rib-eye makes the perfect steak dinner for two. Here, it's pan-seared in a cast-iron skillet and finished with a piquant pink peppercorn-and-Meyer lemon butter. Serve with a salad and baguette.
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg Baked Salmon with Coconut Broth View Recipe Coconut milk, lemongrass, and chiles give this salmon dish a beautiful fresh flavor. And a bed of brown rice helps soak up all the delicious broth.
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg Pizza with Yellow Tomatoes and Basil View Recipe What could be cuter than sharing a homemade pizza for dinner à deux? For this summery one, sunny yellow tomatoes provide a sweetness that's set off nicely by fresh basil.
mustard tarragon game hen Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables View Recipe A Cornish game hen is smaller than a chicken, which means it's great for two people; plus, it cooks much faster. And just as with chicken, the pan juices you'll get from roasting a hen form a tasty sauce when combined with Dijon, lemon juice, capers, and fresh tarragon.
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate Flounder in Parchment with Asparagus and Shiitakes View Recipe Steaming fish in a parchment packet in the oven, or "en papillote" in French, yields deeply flavorful results and is a messproof way to cook fish–in this case, flounder or sole fillets. Mushrooms and asparagus make a delightful accompaniment and steam right alongside the fish.
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg Stuffed Acorn Squash View Recipe Kale, onion, and white beans are the base for this succulent winter squash dish, where a halved and seeded acorn squash forms two edible bowls. Fresh sage and thyme, plus chopped toasted hazelnuts, add extra flavor and dimension.
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula View Recipe Grilled chicken can be boring, but not when you top it with an arugula-cherry salad that you've tossed with a shallot vinegar dressing. The peppery greens and sweet fruit are a winning combo and a great match for the chicken.
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
View Recipe
Grilled chicken can be boring, but not when you top it with an arugula-cherry salad that you’ve tossed with a shallot vinegar dressing. The peppery greens and sweet fruit are a winning combo and a great match for the chicken.
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
Grilled Chicken with Cherries, Shallots, and Arugula
Grilled chicken can be boring, but not when you top it with an arugula-cherry salad that you’ve tossed with a shallot vinegar dressing. The peppery greens and sweet fruit are a winning combo and a great match for the chicken.
sriracha shrimp Sriracha Shrimp View Recipe A hot, dry skillet cooks shrimp that are lightly coated in mayonnaise to a gorgeous golden brown in mere minutes. Serve them over salad or with rice… or both!
sriracha shrimp
Sriracha Shrimp
A hot, dry skillet cooks shrimp that are lightly coated in mayonnaise to a gorgeous golden brown in mere minutes. Serve them over salad or with rice… or both!
sriracha shrimp
sriracha shrimp
sriracha shrimp
sriracha shrimp
Sriracha Shrimp
A hot, dry skillet cooks shrimp that are lightly coated in mayonnaise to a gorgeous golden brown in mere minutes. Serve them over salad or with rice… or both!
squash gratin Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin View Recipe This rich vegetarian gratin for two to share is made with no-bake lasagna noodles, which soak up the sauce nicely. Serve it with a bright salad of crisp lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette.
squash gratin
Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin
This rich vegetarian gratin for two to share is made with no-bake lasagna noodles, which soak up the sauce nicely. Serve it with a bright salad of crisp lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette.
squash gratin
squash gratin
squash gratin
squash gratin
Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin
This rich vegetarian gratin for two to share is made with no-bake lasagna noodles, which soak up the sauce nicely. Serve it with a bright salad of crisp lettuces and an assertive vinaigrette.
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg Dan Dan Noodles View Recipe Our take on the spicy and tangy thin noodles originating from and popular in Sichuan is a 35-minute dinner you'll want to make every week. It uses ramen-style noodles, dark leafy greens like spinach or tatsoi, and ground pork with ginger, garlic, soy, and tahini—and you'll need chili oil for serving.
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg
Dan Dan Noodles
Our take on the spicy and tangy thin noodles originating from and popular in Sichuan is a 35-minute dinner you’ll want to make every week. It uses ramen-style noodles, dark leafy greens like spinach or tatsoi, and ground pork with ginger, garlic, soy, and tahini—and you’ll need chili oil for serving.
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg
dan-dan-noodles-034-d113087.jpg
Dan Dan Noodles
Our take on the spicy and tangy thin noodles originating from and popular in Sichuan is a 35-minute dinner you’ll want to make every week. It uses ramen-style noodles, dark leafy greens like spinach or tatsoi, and ground pork with ginger, garlic, soy, and tahini—and you’ll need chili oil for serving.
soy-honey-glazed arctic char Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char View Recipe Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes please! Use artic char or salmon fillets and serve with sautéed baby bok choy which you cook at the same time as the fish. Together with steamed rice, it makes a colorful and healthy dinner for two.
soy-honey-glazed arctic char
Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char
Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes please! Use artic char or salmon fillets and serve with sautéed baby bok choy which you cook at the same time as the fish. Together with steamed rice, it makes a colorful and healthy dinner for two.
soy-honey-glazed arctic char
soy-honey-glazed arctic char
soy-honey-glazed arctic char
Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char
Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes please! Use artic char or salmon fillets and serve with sautéed baby bok choy which you cook at the same time as the fish. Together with steamed rice, it makes a colorful and healthy dinner for two.
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg Cauliflower "Rice" Stir-Fry View Recipe A no-grain cauliflower dish that's surprisingly hearty. Store-bought vegetable stock makes a quick shortcut if you don't have time to make your own broth, and you can also lean on pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and red pepper.
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg
Cauliflower “Rice” Stir-Fry
A no-grain cauliflower dish that’s surprisingly hearty. Store-bought vegetable stock makes a quick shortcut if you don’t have time to make your own broth, and you can also lean on pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and red pepper.
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg
wk1-d-stirfry-020-mld109440.jpg
Cauliflower “Rice” Stir-Fry
A no-grain cauliflower dish that’s surprisingly hearty. Store-bought vegetable stock makes a quick shortcut if you don’t have time to make your own broth, and you can also lean on pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and red pepper.
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter Skillet Steak with Pink-Peppercorn Butter View Recipe One generous rib-eye makes the perfect steak dinner for two. Here, it's pan-seared in a cast-iron skillet and finished with a piquant pink peppercorn-and-Meyer lemon butter. Serve with a salad and baguette.
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter
Skillet Steak with Pink-Peppercorn Butter
One generous rib-eye makes the perfect steak dinner for two. Here, it’s pan-seared in a cast-iron skillet and finished with a piquant pink peppercorn-and-Meyer lemon butter. Serve with a salad and baguette.
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter
Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter
Skillet Steak with Pink-Peppercorn Butter
One generous rib-eye makes the perfect steak dinner for two. Here, it’s pan-seared in a cast-iron skillet and finished with a piquant pink peppercorn-and-Meyer lemon butter. Serve with a salad and baguette.
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg Baked Salmon with Coconut Broth View Recipe Coconut milk, lemongrass, and chiles give this salmon dish a beautiful fresh flavor. And a bed of brown rice helps soak up all the delicious broth.
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg
Baked Salmon with Coconut Broth
Coconut milk, lemongrass, and chiles give this salmon dish a beautiful fresh flavor. And a bed of brown rice helps soak up all the delicious broth.
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg
wk2-d-salmon-002-mbd109440.jpg
Baked Salmon with Coconut Broth
Coconut milk, lemongrass, and chiles give this salmon dish a beautiful fresh flavor. And a bed of brown rice helps soak up all the delicious broth.
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg Pizza with Yellow Tomatoes and Basil View Recipe What could be cuter than sharing a homemade pizza for dinner à deux? For this summery one, sunny yellow tomatoes provide a sweetness that's set off nicely by fresh basil.
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg
Pizza with Yellow Tomatoes and Basil
What could be cuter than sharing a homemade pizza for dinner à deux? For this summery one, sunny yellow tomatoes provide a sweetness that’s set off nicely by fresh basil.
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg
tomato-basil-pizza-0911mbd107580.jpg
Pizza with Yellow Tomatoes and Basil
What could be cuter than sharing a homemade pizza for dinner à deux? For this summery one, sunny yellow tomatoes provide a sweetness that’s set off nicely by fresh basil.
mustard tarragon game hen Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables View Recipe A Cornish game hen is smaller than a chicken, which means it's great for two people; plus, it cooks much faster. And just as with chicken, the pan juices you'll get from roasting a hen form a tasty sauce when combined with Dijon, lemon juice, capers, and fresh tarragon.
mustard tarragon game hen
Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables
A Cornish game hen is smaller than a chicken, which means it’s great for two people; plus, it cooks much faster. And just as with chicken, the pan juices you’ll get from roasting a hen form a tasty sauce when combined with Dijon, lemon juice, capers, and fresh tarragon.
mustard tarragon game hen
mustard tarragon game hen
mustard tarragon game hen
mustard tarragon game hen
Roasted Game Hen with Root Vegetables
A Cornish game hen is smaller than a chicken, which means it’s great for two people; plus, it cooks much faster. And just as with chicken, the pan juices you’ll get from roasting a hen form a tasty sauce when combined with Dijon, lemon juice, capers, and fresh tarragon.
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate Flounder in Parchment with Asparagus and Shiitakes View Recipe Steaming fish in a parchment packet in the oven, or "en papillote" in French, yields deeply flavorful results and is a messproof way to cook fish–in this case, flounder or sole fillets. Mushrooms and asparagus make a delightful accompaniment and steam right alongside the fish.
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate
Flounder in Parchment with Asparagus and Shiitakes
Steaming fish in a parchment packet in the oven, or “en papillote” in French, yields deeply flavorful results and is a messproof way to cook fish–in this case, flounder or sole fillets. Mushrooms and asparagus make a delightful accompaniment and steam right alongside the fish.
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate
Flounder en Papillote with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms on decorative plate
Flounder in Parchment with Asparagus and Shiitakes
Steaming fish in a parchment packet in the oven, or “en papillote” in French, yields deeply flavorful results and is a messproof way to cook fish–in this case, flounder or sole fillets. Mushrooms and asparagus make a delightful accompaniment and steam right alongside the fish.
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg Stuffed Acorn Squash View Recipe Kale, onion, and white beans are the base for this succulent winter squash dish, where a halved and seeded acorn squash forms two edible bowls. Fresh sage and thyme, plus chopped toasted hazelnuts, add extra flavor and dimension.
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Kale, onion, and white beans are the base for this succulent winter squash dish, where a halved and seeded acorn squash forms two edible bowls. Fresh sage and thyme, plus chopped toasted hazelnuts, add extra flavor and dimension.
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg
wk3-d-squash-quinoa-031-mbd109439.jpg
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Kale, onion, and white beans are the base for this succulent winter squash dish, where a halved and seeded acorn squash forms two edible bowls. Fresh sage and thyme, plus chopped toasted hazelnuts, add extra flavor and dimension.
