Looking for a great meal just for the two of you? This collection of recipes is just what you need!
We’ve compiled this list of easy Dinner Ideas for Two to solve your dilemma. From fancy date night meals to simple comfort foods, you’ll find plenty of great dishes to cook.
These recipes for two are sure to keep you coming back for more. From pastas and tacos, to stir frys and elegant seafood dinners, there’s just so much to choose from.
Cook your way through all, and you’ll never wonder “what to cook for two?” again!
1. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Take your beef to a new level with these tasty pan seared garlic butter steak bites. Perfectly cooked bite sized morsels of tender steak drenched in garlicky butter.
2. Flank Steak Fajitas
These flank steak fajitas are the perfect easy option when that Mexican food craving hits. Perfectly marinated, melt in your mouth tender beef strips with colorful peppers. You’re in for a fun meal with this one!
3. Firecracker Salmon
This Firecracker Salmon is a super easy and super delish meal that must become part of your rotation. It has an amazing Asian sauce and whips up in about 20 minutes. If you’re looking for a new recipe to really jazz up your salmon, this is it! It’s salty, it’s sweet, and it’s a little bit spicy! Firecracker salmon just may become one of your new go-to recipes.
Check out our collection of favorite Salmon Recipes!
4. Crockpot Tuscan Chicken
This crock pot Tuscan chicken is drenched in a creamy sauce loaded with great Mediterranean flavors. It’s one easy and delicious make ahead weeknight dinner!
5. Cajun Shrimp Scampi
This Cajun shrimp scampi is so quick and easy you can make it any weeknight. But it is so fancy and tasty you just might want to save it for special occasions!
6. Chicken Provençal (Poulet à la Provençal)
Take a peek into this pot. Beautiful golden brown chicken braised in white wine, nestled between eye catching olives, plump cherry tomatoes, oh-so French shallots, tangy capers and plenty of garlic and herbs. Life can’t be more beautiful!
7. Köttbullar (Swedish Meatballs)
These Swedish meatballs are the ultimate comfort food. Tender, perfectly cooked meat spheres smothered in the most delectable sauce. You’ll keep coming back for more!
8. Mediterranean Fish with Tomato and Olive Tapenade
Your favorite fish, in a Mediterranean avatar! Imagine a nice chunk of white fish, pan seared and top up with the goodness of this bright delicious tapenade. This looks and tastes like a gourmet entrée, straight from some fine restaurant. But you will be amazed how quick it all comes together and how little effort it demands.
9 Portuguese Mussels (Moules à la Portugaise)
These Portuguese mussels are packed with flavor. They’re look so fancy they make a great special occasion meal, but are so easy they’re perfect for any weeknight!
10. Scallop Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This Scallop Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes is one of our favorite new recipes. It’s super quick and easy, in about 20 minutes you have a restaurant quality meal on your table.
Check out our collection of favorite Pasta Recipes!
11. Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Pasta Alla Vodka)
What is Gigi Hadid Pasta? Simple… Pasta made by Gigi Hadid, which broke the internet when it went viral on instagram and tiktok. If you look closely, it’s the same delicious creamy and cheesy pasta alla vodka, with a slight makeover – it gets pleasantly spiked with heat from red chili flakes.
12. Korean Beef Tacos (Bulgogi Tacos)
Korean Beef Tacos, aka Bulgogi Tacos… Thinly sliced, juicy tender steak marinated then flash cooked and wrapped in tortillas with Asian coleslaw and sriracha aioli. They’re a Flavor Bomb!
13. Japanese Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
This Teriyaki Chicken Bowl is absolutely Irresist-A-Bowl! Tender juicy chicken, glistening in tasty sauce, alongside Asian coleslaw and creamy avocado. All atop a bed of hot rice. Yum!
14. Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Shrimp Fra Diavolo – because spicy is Delicious! Spice up your life, embrace this bowl of succulent plump shrimp, tomatoes and a kick of heat… some pasta doused in that sauce or nice crusty bread.
15. Loco Moco (Hawaiian Beef Patty with Gravy)
Say Aloha to this Hawaiian Favorite, Loco Moco… Now who wouldn’t be a little intrigued by a dish named “Loco Moco? Let’s get a little taste of Hawaii going on in your kitchen.
Loco Moco is a fun, yet delicious, thing where a heap of rice is topped with a beef patty, smothered with gravy, and finished with a sunny side up egg. How cool!
16. Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta)
Shrimp Saganaki – This classic Greek dish has some incredible flavors with plump shrimp in a garlicky, savory tomato sauce and finished off with salty feta cheese!
Check out our collection of favorite Shrimp Recipes!
17. Albacore Tuna Tataki Bowl
This quick and easy Albacore Tuna Tataki Bowl is full of your favorite Asian flavors. Skip the sushi restaurant and make this great meal in your own home!
18. Caponata – Sicilian Eggplant Relish
This Caponata is a delicious Sicilian eggplant relish that perfectly combines sweet and tangy flavors. It’s great as an appetizer or as a garnish for meats or seafood.
19. Shrimp de Jonghe (Butter Garlic Shrimp Casserole)
Shrimp de Johnge… This is a classic Chicago restaurant appetizer. Sizzling jumbo shrimp laced in butter, garlic and sherry, adorned with a crispy bread crumb topping.
20. Psari Plaki – Greek Baked Fish with Onions & Tomatoes
This Greek baked fish, Psari Plaki, is a great addition to your recipe collection. Flaky white fish with light, fresh and vibrant Mediterranean flavors.
21. Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)
Are you looking for a really fast meal that’s really tasty? Not only is this Thai Basil Chicken (or Pad Krapow Gai) bursting with flavor, you can whip it up in 15 minutes or less. This might be your easiest recipe yet!
22. Bistec Encebollado (Steak & Onions)
Bistec Encebollado, simply meaning steak and onions in Spanish. If you don’t know Bistec Encebollado… well, it’s about time you learn this Latin flavor bomb!
Check out our collection of favorite Steak Recipes!
23. The BEST Hunan Shrimp
These fiery Hunan shrimp are super quick and super tasty. Don’t worry, you can always adjust the heat level if you’re not into too much spice..
24. Baked Salmon with Mango Salsa
Are you tired of eating your salmon with just salt and lemon? This vibrant and tropical recipe will take your favorite fish to a whole new level of deliciousness!
25. The BEST Crock Pot (or Instant Pot) Pork Chops
These crock pot pork chops, AKA Islander pork, are your new weekday best friend. Melt in your mouth tender meat in a delectable sauce. If you can spare 10 minutes, your crock pot or instant pot will do the rest!
26. Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)
How does a sizzling platter of garlicky, seafoody goodness sound? Grab some crusty bread for sopping and whip up this famous Spanish tapa, Gambas al Ajillo in your very own kitchen!
27. Salmon Patties (AKA Salmon Cakes)
These salmon patties are tasty, nutritious and budget friendly. And just look at them. Who said pantry staple meals can’t be fancy?
28. Zuppa Toscana
This hearty and comforting soup is based on the version made famous by Olive Garden. But I don’t want to call it a copycat… because this home made version is much better!
29. Korean Ground Beef Bowl
This Korean Ground Beef Bowl has just the right combination of sweet, salty, umami and just a touch of spicy. Try it when you crave some Asian flavors, or just need something super quick!
30. Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken – it’s savory, it’s sweet, it’s tangy, and those dried chilis give it just a bit of kick! Don’t be intimidated by the number of ingredients, you can whip this up in half-hour or less. Perfect week-night meal!
Check out our collection of favorite Stir Fry Recipes!
31. Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
Sweet and savory, these tacos are so tasty you will want to go back for seconds, maybe thirds! And they are so quick, they just might become a weeknight staple. Whenever you see a mango, think about these colorful tacos!
32. Caribbean Coconut Mussel Curry
Creamy… coconutty… seefoody… Extra yummy Caribbean Coconut Mussels. Easy, delicious, and sure to please any crowd! Try this delicious Caribbean style curry, but be warned, you will get hooked!
33. Creamy Lemon Chicken
Easy and delicious! This chicken can make for a relatively easy week night meal, but looks and tastes so good it will impress guests as well. I love it with orzo, pearled couscous or bread! On it’s own, great for the keto crowd!
34. Blackened (AKA Cajun) Shrimp and Grits
A Lowcountry classic. For this version, we use Cajun spices to give it a little kick! For the creamiest grits, go with slow cook!
35. Jägerschnitzel (Hunter’s cutlet with mushroom gravy)
Jägerschnitzel, translated as Hunter’s Schnitzel, is about as “comfort foody” as you can get. It’s rich. It’s fried. And, oh, that gravy! Originating in Austria, though also commonly associated with Germany, this treat will leave a satisfied smile on your face!
There you have it, thirty five delicious and easy dinner ideas for two! Pin or bookmark this collection of great dishes so you always know where to find it.
The 35 BEST Dinner Mains for Two
This great collection of Dinner Ideas for Two is just what you need, whether you're looking for a fancy date night meal or simple comfort food for a pair. For something super easy, try this 20 minute firecracker salmon:
Ingredients
- 2 8oz salmon fillets
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sambal oelek
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 heaping Tbsp chopped garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp chopped ginger
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Make firecracker sauce: mix together soy sauce, sambal oelek, brown sugar, ginger and garlic in a bowl.
- Rub 1 Tbsp olive oil on flesh side of salmon. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Add salmon, skin side down, to skillet and cook 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Flip salmon back over, pour firecracker sauce into skillet and coat the salmon well with the sauce. Cook until sauce is hot.
Notes
- Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!
Check out these other great recipe collections!
Seafood Recipes
Picnic Food Ideas
Chicken Breast Recipes
Sheet Pan Dinners
Fish Taco Recipes
Steak Recipes
Pizza Recipes
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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