18 Best Meals for Two

Cooking for two just got easier

By
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Published on 04/20/20
Low-Fat Baked Falafel Recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Cooking for two? We've rounded up the best recipes you can make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when you're eating as a couple. Enjoy these popular and delicious meals for two that will fill you up, without filling your fridge with unwanted leftovers.

  • 01 of 18

    Denver Omelet

    Denver Omelet

    The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

    Enjoy a diner breakfast at home in your pajamas with this easy, filling breakfast egg recipe. It's easy to whip up a Denver omelet for two in 10 minutes, with a few eggs, some bacon or ham, onion, green pepper, and cheddar cheese.

  • 02 of 18

    Avocado Toast

    avocado toasts on a plate

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Make this special-tasting, speedy breakfast for two with just a handful of ingredients. Mashed ripe avocado and warm, toasted whole grain bread create the perfect crunchy, creamy bite. Add a bit of Sriracha for added spice, if you like, or top each toast with a perfectly poached egg for weekend brunch.

  • 03 of 18

    Savory Breakfast Muffins With Sausage, Egg, and Cheddar

    Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Savory Breakfast Muffins

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

    Savory, make-ahead breakfast muffins with sausage, egg, and cheddar are easy, cheesy, and freezer-friendly. Bake up a batch in half an hour, and freeze in airtight baggies for quick microwaving whenever you crave a filling breakfast.

  • 04 of 18

    Shrimp Salad Sandwich for Two

    Shrimp Salad Sandwich recipe

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

    Use thawed frozen shrimp to make these elegant, bistro-style shrimp salad sandwiches for lunch. Don't be fooled by the length of the ingredient list — the filling is basically chopped shrimp and mayonnaise, with some celery, scallions, and pantry spices for flavoring.

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  • 05 of 18

    Chicken Quesadillas

    Chicken Quesadillas

    The Spruce

    Got leftover cooked chicken? Use it to make super-easy, Tex Mex-style chicken quesadillas. They couldn't be easier, with only 4 ingredients needed. For a heartier version, add some salsa, guacamole, and sour cream to the chicken and cheese filling.

  • 06 of 18

    Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

    Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

     Kristina Vanni

    Plan ahead to make these ultra-satisfying chicken Parmesan sandwiches. Marinating pounded chicken breasts for 24 hours in the fridge infuses the meat with incredible flavor. When you're ready to eat, you can fry up the chicken quickly, before broiling it on buns with tomato sauce and cheese.

  • 07 of 18

    Low-Fat Baked Falafel

    Low-Fat Baked Falafel Recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Crunchy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, delicious baked falafel balls are filling and nutritious, without the oil and calories of the fried restaurant version. Pack them inside pita bread pockets with hummus and crunchy raw vegetables for a satisfying sandwich, or enjoy them simple on a bed of greens drizzled with tahini sauce.

  • 08 of 18

    Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    My favorite grilled cheese recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Nostalgic, cheesy, and frankly delicious, the grilled cheese sandwich is a popular American lunch. You need only a few minutes, and 3 ingredients, to achieve the perfect version. Serve with chips, pickles, or baby carrots, for a delicious trip down memory lane.

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  • 09 of 18

    Quick Beef With Broccoli Stir-Fry

    Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

     The Spruce

    Skip delivery and save dollars with this quick, easy beef stir-fry that's every bit as tasty as the take-out version. It takes very little time to saute tender slices of budget-friendly flank steak and colorful chopped vegetables, all tossed in a quick and easy homemade sauce. The recipe can easily be halved if cooking for one or two.

  • 10 of 18

    Pasta With Olives and Feta Cheese

    White Bean Pasta With Olives and Feta Cheese

    Lauri Patterson/Getty Images

    Vegetarians and those wanting to eat meat-free can dine in style with this yummy vegetarian pasta. Assemble it easily with common pantry ingredients, a few fresh vegetables, and feta cheese. Serve it hot for dinner, or cold for a lunchtime pasta salad.

  • 11 of 18

    Zucchini Noodles With Shrimp Scampi

    Zucchini Noodles With Shrimp Scampi

    The Spruce

    Eat well, and stick to your low-carb diet plans, with this indulgent-tasting shrimp scampi dish that replaces traditional pasta with healthy "zoodles". Spiralize fresh zucchini to create spaghetti-shaped vegetable "noodles". They cook in a flash on the stovetop, along with quick-cooking shrimp (use fresh or thawed frozen), butter, garlic, and simple seasonings.

  • 12 of 18

    Sweet Potato Lasagna

    Sweet Potato Lasagna

    The Spruce/Pete Scherer

    Enjoy a filling, delicious, carb-free Italian-style dinner with this genius vegetable lasagna that uses nutrient-rich sweet potatoes instead of pasta sheets. Store cooled leftovers in the fridge for a week for easy reheating, or freeze up to 3 months.

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  • 13 of 18

    Pan-Fried Trout With Garlic and Lemon

    Pan-Fried Trout With Garlic and Lemon

    Annabelle Breakey/Photodisc/Getty Images

    You can use trout, catfish, or Arctic char for this easy, healthy dinner recipe that serves two. Pan-frying fish in a simple, delicate sauce of garlic, lemon juice, and butter allows its natural flavor to shine. Recipe includes instructions for mashed potatoes and roasted tomatoes to accompany the fish.

  • 14 of 18

    Pork Chops and Peppers

    Pork Chops and peppers

    Dziggyfoto / Getty Images

    Pork chops and peppers is a simple, nourishing one-dish meal that takes only 20 minutes to get on the table. You can either halve this recipe to feed two, or cook all 4 chops called for, and use the leftovers for fried rice.

  • 15 of 18

    Easy Vegan Ratatouille

    Easy Vegan Ratatouille

    The Spruce

    Ratatouille is a classic French eggplant, tomato, and vegetable dish that makes a tasty, nutritious, satisfying vegetarian dinner. Serve it over rice or quinoa for a delicious vegetarian lunch or dinner, or pile it onto toasted bread for a snack. Leftovers keep in the fridge up to 5 days, and freeze well up to 3 months.

  • 16 of 18

    Pasta alla Puttanesca

    Pasta alla Puttanesca

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Originating in Naples, this Italian pasta dish makes fantastic use of canned tomatoes, black olives, and anchovies. Don't be afraid of that last ingredient — the anchovies (or anchovy paste) melt into the tangy tomato sauce, creating a robust flavor that is not at all "fishy." Serves two generously for dinner.

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  • 17 of 18

    Quick Stove-Top Beef Fajitas

    Quick Stove-Top Beef Fajitas

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Make this quick,easy, and delicious Tex-Mex dish in your kitchen, with no outdoor grill required. Stovetop beef fajitas are flash-fried strips of beef, tossed with tangy onion and crunchy green bell pepper, and served in warm flour tortillas.

  • 18 of 18

    Vegan Lemon Pasta With Pine Nuts and Broccoli

    Vegan Lemon Pasta With Pine Nuts and Broccoli

     The Spruce/Emily Hawkes

    Add this yummy vegetarian lemon pine nut pasta to your weeknight cooking rotation. It takes just 15 minutes, making it perfect for evenings when you're craving comfort on a plate, but don't feel like cooking all that much. If you don't have fresh broccoli on hand, feel free to use any thawed frozen veggies from the freezer.