32 Recipes to Cook for Two (2024)

Cooking for two can be a tricky skill to master. While leftovers are practical, eating slow-cooker chili 5 nights in a row can get pretty old, and eating out can get pretty expensive.

These recipes — from breakfast and starters to dinner and dessert — are perfect to enjoy with your girlfriend, boyfriend, mom, dad, or BFF. Each meal is perfectly portioned for two, so grab a sous chef and get cooking.

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1. Spinach burrata omelet with avocado

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Adding greens to every meal can be tough, but this omelet and buttery lettuce combo makes checking off breakfast easy.

Spinach and burrata go inside the eggs, while avocado and butter lettuce (plus an easy olive oil and vinegar dressing) join on the side. It’s just mild enough that you won’t notice you’re eating salad for breakfast.

2. Vanilla overnight oats breakfast bowl

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Overnight oats are just too easy to pass up. Make your morning easier by whipping these up the night before, then customizing with each of your favorite toppings. Nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit are all good options.

Breakfast in bed, anyone?

3. Blueberry peanut butter pancakes

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Is one part of your duo gluten-free? Then they’ll appreciate these pancakes. Peanut butter and blueberries make for a PBJ-like flavor and add enough sweetness that you could probably do without syrup.

4. Banana nut muffins

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Both hearty and healthy, this recipe produces two monster-size vegan muffins made with wholesome ingredients. These babies get bonus nutrition points for the whole-wheat pastry flour, ground flaxseed, omega-3-rich walnuts, and half a banana in each.

5. Healthier cinnamon rolls

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Ditch the can and opt for DIY cinnamon rolls for two, featuring a delish Greek yogurt icing.

Crunchy outside and doughy inside, these honeyed breakfast treats taste like the typical version but focus more on the cinnamon flavor than 12 sticks of butter or powdered sugar-based frosting.

6. Quinoa avocado breakfast bowl

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These savory bowls combine quinoa, green onions, tomato, avocado, feta, and a soft- or hard-boiled egg (we’re partial to the runny kind). Cook quinoa ahead of time to make breakfast prep that much quicker.

7. Vegan blueberry almond muffins

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Skip the coffee shop run and make these homemade muffins instead. Made with oats, almonds, and soy or almond milk, these sweet guys are vegan and a step up from the store-bought kind. Fresh or frozen blueberries keep them moist.

8. Vegan tofu scramble

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Though tofu may not normally be your cup of tea, cooking the budget-friendly protein source just like scrambled eggs is a great way to mask the funky texture while adding tons of flavor.

Scramble it up with peppers, spinach, and onions, top with avocado or hot sauce, and you’ve got yourself a lean, mean breakfast.

9. Black bean, potato, and avocado breakfast burrito

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Vegan breakfast burritos can seem lackluster if not done right, but these pack in tons of hearty (and healthy) ingredients.

Black beans, potatoes, onions, avocado, cabbage, and salsa will keep you full till lunch. Swap the white rice for quinoa to up your fiber or nix it altogether — this burrito is filling enough.

10. Salad lyonnaise

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Nothing warms up a boring old salad like fried egg and bacon. Top frisee or any other salad green with bacon strips, Dijon mustard, chopped shallot, a little salt and pepper, and an egg for a satisfying way to start your meal.

11. Watermelon feta salad

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Simple, fresh, and a little tangy thanks to our cheesy friend feta, this watermelon and blackberry salad is a simple start to any meal. With a three-ingredient dressing (balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and oil), it’s a keeper for when you need a last-minute dinner spruce-up.

12. Black bean and corn quesadillas

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These gooey quesadillas place black beans, corn, peppers, and onions between melty shredded cheese. Add in cumin and chili powder and cut one up for a spicy start to your meal. For healthier ‘dillas, choose whole-wheat tortillas and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

13. Paleo sushi with nori, salmon, and avocado

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We don’t know about you, but for us, sushi falls into the category of foods we love but that don’t fill us up.

Solve that problem by making an easy roll at home and serving it as an app for you and your boo. This one’s foolproof — just grab cucumber, avocado, salmon, and veggies, and roll it on up.

14. Cucumber and artichoke salad

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Dinner salads can be a snooze fest, but this one spices things up with hemp seeds, artichokes, parsley, and basil, plus tried-and-true faves like carrots and cucumbers. It’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

15. Buffalo ranch chickpea taco salad

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Buffalo and ranch are a sauce combo typically paired with bar grub like chicken tenders, but the duo gets a major makeover in this vegan salad.

Make your own homemade ranch dressing or pick up a store-bought kind (such as Tessemae’s or Follow Your Heart). Melt vegan butter and hot sauce and mix in the chickpeas before assembling each salad.

16. Crispy eggplant caprese stacks

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Tomato, mozzarella, and basil are a classic combo that everyone seems to love. This recipe shakes things up a bit by adding in crispy eggplant slices coated with flour (try whole-wheat instead of white) and panko breadcrumbs.

17. Peanut quinoa bowls

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Topped with savory soy and maple baked tofu, these quinoa bowls get double the protein. A homemade peanut sauce goes on top of steamed broccoli, red pepper, chopped roasted peanuts, and freshly grated ginger.

18. Spicy maple glazed salmon

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This salmon sounds like it belongs in a restaurant but can be made at home in less than 30 minutes.

Maple syrup, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, chili powder, and cayenne combine to make a sweet and spicy glaze for flaky fish. Serve with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries, or whatever veggie you’ve got.

19. Baked honey mustard chicken with lemon

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Made mostly of ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, this easy date-night dish is a cinch.

Chicken breasts get a big flavor boost thanks to lemon, Dijon mustard, honey, and paprika. Serve with broccoli and lemon slices on the side.

20. Sautéed beef with onions over creamy polenta

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This quick, home-cooked meal is perfect for when it’s chilly out. Lemon- and garlic-marinated strips of beef and red onion complement polenta — aka cornmeal cooked into a comforting, porridge-like consistency.

21. Seared shrimp vindaloo with vegetables

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With carrots, broccoli, onions, garlic, wilted kale, and collard greens, this dinner blends just about every veggie from the produce drawer.

Shrimp and vindaloo seasoning (a mix of turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, cayenne, and other spices) finish off the meal.

22. Pesto chicken caprese flatbread

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While we’ve got a caprese salad stack on the list too, this is a much more substantial version with baked chicken and a flatbread as the base.

Thick slices of fresh mozzarella, halved cherry tomatoes, pesto, and chopped basil make for an awesome Italian-inspired meal.

23. Baked acorn squash with quiche filling

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How can something so effortless be so pretty? This recipe looks fancy enough to take time and effort, yet it takes just minutes to prepare.

Whip up eggs, milk, tomatoes, cheese, and chives and pour the mix into seeded acorn squash halves before tossing in the oven to bake.

24. Broccoli, brie, and walnut rotini

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This rich dish combines walnuts, broccoli, and creamy Brie, and can be customized with whatever nuts or veggies you prefer. With only five ingredients and a combined prep and cook time of just 15 minutes, this easy meal is as uncomplicated as it gets.

25. Greek stuffed red peppers

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While traditional stuffed peppers have a ground beef filling, this version uses ground chicken instead, plus quinoa for even more protein. Artichokes, tomato, fresh dill, lemon, and mozzarella add a Mediterranean touch.

26. Peach crisp

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A couple of ramekins, a couple of peaches, and you’ve got yourselves two perfectly portioned desserts.

The oat- and coconut-oil-based topping is nutty and sweet with just a touch of maple syrup. Serve with a dollop of yogurt or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (we love Vixen Kitchen) for an even sweeter treat.

27. Carrot cake chia pudding

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Vegan cream cheese frosting? Umm yeah, we’re sold. Soaked cashews make it possible, and taste deeeee-lish on top of carrot cake pudding made with almond milk, carrot juice, cinnamon, cardamom, and chia seeds.

28. Raspberry molten lava cake

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These rich, gooey lava cakes are a must. Coconut sugar, buckwheat flour, and fresh raspberries give them a #healthyish spin, and since they’re dairy- and gluten-free, you won’t feel like it’s OTT after digging in with your SO.

29. Chocolate peanut butter muffins

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PB lovers will go nuts for these sweet muffins, made with whole-wheat flour, cacao powder, dairy-free milk, and cacao nibs. If you can’t find peanut flour, powdered or regular peanut butter works too, though regular will make the filling a bit thicker.

30. Paleo brownies

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For those times you’d rather not whip up a full batch of brownies (way too tempting to eat leftovers for breakfast all week), this recipe makes just two in record time.

Avocado and cocoa powder makes the brownies super rich, while maple syrup and dark chocolate chips keep ’em sweet.

31. Vegan blueberry tarts

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With only five ingredients, these super pretty tarts are surprisingly easy to make, despite looking like they belong on the Food Network.

Put almonds through a food processor, mix with maple syrup and coconut oil, then press into two ramekins. Put ’em in the fridge for about an hour, then fill with blueberries and coconut powder. Boom! You go, Top Chef.

32. Avocado chocolate pudding

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Upgrade your pudding from powder boxes to homemade with this rich dessert. Instant espresso, sea salt, and vanilla bean seeds add big-time flavor.

Plus, coconut cream and chocolate almond milk instead of whipped and heavy cream help keep the dessert in healthy-ish territory.

Recognize this circular conversation? “Where do you want to go for food, babe?” “I don’t know, where do you want to go?” “I don’t know, where do you want to go…”

Listen friend, ain’t nobody got time for that. Instead, bring sexy back and light the spark (literally and figuratively) by cooking at home. In fact, you can make a whole thing of it. Turn on the tunes, bust out some candles, get a little dressed up, and bring back that sweet, sweet romance.

Don’t forget to save room for dessert — if you can keep your hands off each other for that long.

32 Recipes to Cook for Two (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest food that can feed a lot of people? ›

Pasta is one of the cheapest and most filling pantry staples you can buy, and that's exactly why it's the perfect food to feed to a crowd! Plus, everyone loves a good pasta dish. Grab yourself a buffet server warming tray so you can pop your cooked pasta inside and keep it warm all evening long!

How to feed 6 people cheaply? ›

25 Cheap Meals for Large Families
  1. 01 of 26. Hungarian Goulash. View Recipe. ...
  2. 02 of 26. Simple Chicken and Noodles. ...
  3. 03 of 26. Easy Taco Casserole. ...
  4. 04 of 26. Winter Lentil Vegetable Soup. ...
  5. 05 of 26. Salisbury Steak. ...
  6. 06 of 26. Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs. ...
  7. 07 of 26. Black Beans and Rice. ...
  8. 08 of 26. Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Feb 22, 2024

What is one of the hardest recipes to make? ›

1. Consommé Devilish dish: A clear soup made from meat, tomato, egg whites and stock, slowly simmered to bring impurities to the surface for skimming. Techn-eeek: Even some of the most experienced chefs cannot master the complex clarification process required to make consommé.

What can I make with very little food? ›

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

What's the cheapest food you can live on? ›

Cheapest Foods to Live On:
  • Oatmeal.
  • Eggs.
  • Bread.
  • Rice.
  • Bananas.
  • Beans.
  • Apples.
  • Pasta.

What is the cheapest meal to make? ›

68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  • Buffalo Chickpea Wraps. tasty.co. ...
  • Garlic Veggie Rotini Pasta. tasty.co. ...
  • Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With Avocado Crema. tasty.co. ...
  • Energy-Boosting Buddha Bowl. ...
  • Chicken & Biscuit Bake. ...
  • Pesto Chicken Bake. ...
  • Healthier Veggie Fried Rice. ...
  • Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry.
May 3, 2024

What is the easiest food in the world to make? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
  1. 15-Minute Lo Mein. Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com. ...
  2. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. ...
  3. Honey Balsamic Chicken. ...
  4. Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ...
  5. White Bean Soup With Vegetables. ...
  6. Smoked Gouda and Mushroom Quesadillas. ...
  7. Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet. ...
  8. One-Pot Pasta With Spinach and Peas.
Jan 2, 2019

What is the most easiest to cook? ›

From noodles, stir-fries, soups and salads, you'll find something for everyone.
  • 1Kung pao chicken noodle tray bake. ...
  • 25-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  • 310-minute cheat's fried rice. ...
  • 4Easy beef stir-fry. ...
  • 5Easy tuna, sweetcorn and rice slice. ...
  • 6Quick fish finger burgers. ...
  • 7Japanese-style pork and soba noodle stir-fry.

What is the easiest type of food to make? ›

20 Easy Dinner Recipes for Beginners
  • 01 of 21. Easy Chicken and Stuffing Bake. ...
  • 02 of 21. One-Pot Rice Cooker Sausage and Peppers. ...
  • 03 of 21. Easy Creamy Chicken Ramen. ...
  • 04 of 21. Easy Beef Bourguignon. ...
  • 05 of 21. Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken. ...
  • 06 of 21. Soy-Honey Glazed Salmon with Asparagus. ...
  • 07 of 21. Shrimp Scampi with Pasta. ...
  • 08 of 21.
Jan 22, 2024

What to cook with barely any food? ›

These simple dinner ideas use only a handful of ingredients so you can still whip up a meal using whatever you have in the cupboard.
  • 15-ingredient sausage rolls. ...
  • 2Creamy mushroom gnocchi. ...
  • 3Fast falafel bowl. ...
  • 45-ingredient satay beef skewers. ...
  • 55-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  • 6Speedy wild rice and salmon salad.

Which 5 food items that you don t like? ›

"It's Like Eating Crispy Water": People Are Revealing Food And Drink Items They're Completely Disgusted By
  • Even if you tried it a billion times, sometimes you just can't stomach a certain kind of food. ...
  • "Black licorice. ...
  • "Peeps, the Easter sugared candy. ...
  • "Wine. ...
  • "Olives. ...
  • "I know this is a drink, but sparkling water.
Sep 6, 2023

What is a cheap way to feed 100 people? ›

Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.

How can I feed 50 guests cheaply? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  1. Mexican Lasagne. A spicy lasagne for those of us who love Mexican and Italian food. ...
  2. Cheese Cob Dip. ...
  3. The Best Burger in Oz. ...
  4. Kangaroo Casserole. ...
  5. Sausage Casserole. ...
  6. Nanna's golden sausage casserole. ...
  7. Quiche Lorraine. ...
  8. Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne.

What food can feed the most people? ›

Cereal grains and tubers are the most common food staples. There are more than 50,000 edible plants in the world, but just 15 of them provide 90 percent of the world's food energy intake. Rice, corn (maize) and wheat make up two-thirds of this.

What is the cheapest meat to feed a crowd? ›

10 Budget-Friendly Cuts of Meat
  • Ribs (pork or beef)
  • Flat steak (flank, hanger or skirt)
  • Ground beef or ground turkey.
  • Beef brisket.
  • Pork shoulder.
  • Chuck eye steak.
  • Whole chicken.
  • Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) or drumsticks.

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