Dinner ideas for two that are easy, cheap, and very tasty. You’ll find pasta, salads, and more quick meals perfect for weeknights & even special occasions.Multi-step elaborate dinners can be great. You have leftovers, they’re tasty, and they can be fun to make. But then you’re left with a whole bunch of ingredients you might not even use again, and sometimes you don’t wanna be in the kitchen for an hour straight.
So you start looking for dinner ideas for two and now you’re here. 😌
These weeknight dinner options are easy and will probably be a lot more satisfying (and budget-friendly) than ordering delivery for those busy nights.
And if you wanna save on time and money and still have a satisfying meal, then these easy dinner ideas for two are here to make your week a whole lot simpler.
So put a few of these dinner recipes for two in your recipe rotation list and enjoy!
1. Crispy Buffalo Tofu with Caesar Salad
I feel like this is the perfect easy, fast dinner if you craving something tangy, crunchy, savory, and maybe a bit creamy. Also, the recipe list is simple and perfect for an easy dinner at home. There’s no extensive list and a lot of the ingredients are things you probably already have in your pantry.
So if you want something just a bit healthier and packed with some good flavors, then this should be on your weekly rotation. GET THE RECIPE
2. Easy and Delicious Carbonara
Carbonara has always been one of my go-to’s for cheap and easy dinners which is why I love recommending it. It’s rich, creamy, and has some wonderful savoriness from the bacon (or pancetta if that’s what you decide to use). And if you’re a pasta lover, then you’ll want this on your personal list of cheap dinner ideas .GET THE RECIPE
3. Chicken Marsala
This is the kind of dinner you make when you wanna feel like you’re eating out at a restaurant (without the price tag). It’s one of those quick dinner ideas for 2 that looks incredibly satisfying and like the whole house would smell really good as it cooked.
Also, there are a good number of ingredients that you probably already have on your kitchen counter, cupboard, or pantry which makes life a lot simpler! GET THE RECIPE
4. Caramelized Onion Pasta
I can personally attest to this one. And while the onion caramelizing process can take a bit of time, the dish isn’t hard to make. You can just do other cooking tasks or relax in between stirring the onions.
I’ve made this dinner for two more than once for me and my husband and we fell in love with it.
A couple of quick notes about this recipe: The first is that you don’t need chili oil. I couldn’t get it where I was and the recipe still tasted great. The second note is that I highly recommend putting in a lot more parmesan than what the recipe called for. You don’t have to, but it tastes pretty good! GET THE RECIPE
5. Millionaire Gnocchi
A lot of people really liked this recipe! It’s the perfect date night recipe, or just a really tasty weeknight dinner for when you wanna feel a little extra special.
It takes a bit longer than some of the other quicker dinners on this list, but a lot of it is spent simmering and there are additional toppings you don’t necessarily need to make (unless you really want to).
6. Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes
Looks and tastes like a restaurant recipe, but is super simple and isn’t going to run up your grocery bill. Also, being ready in 30 minutes or less, it’s one of those great easy dinners for two that makes the weeknights just a bit more fun.
Also, I recommend the Barilla brand for pesto; I did an a/b test and this one definitely tastes better!
7. Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro with Shrimp
I’ve really been enjoying shrimp recipes lately and this one looks like a great option if you’re creating a list of weeknight dinners.
The ingredients list is small but promises a lot of flavor, and it’s kind of a nice way to impress your significant other. GET THE RECIPE
8. Make-This-Right-Now Greek Bowl
One of my first original recipes and it is indeed quick and easy.
This Greek bowl is great if you want something healthy but super savory and flavorful. I packed it full of easy-to-prep ingredients, it just requires a little bit of oven time for the chickpeas and sun-dried tomatoes. Feel free to add more protein if you want! GET THE RECIPE
9. Marry Me Chicken
Marry me chicken was super popular last year and it hasn’t died down yet. And on top of it being viral, this dinner is also super easy! The prep time is just 10 minutes, the cook time is 25 minutes, and a lot of the spices are probably already in your spice cupboard. GET THE RECIPE
10. Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon
While this dinner is easy, this one might be more of a date night at home kind of meal. It’s not something you’ll be having every week, but it is a dinner for 2 that will definitely satisfy, and it doesn’t take you an hour or more to make. GET THE RECIPE
11. Sausage Rigatoni Pasta Recipe
With just 5 minutes of prep time, I feel like this is one of those cheap meals for 2 that’ll taste like a restaurant dinner. You get that nice savory, sweet, and spicy Italian sausage, and some satisfying pasta. It really is a good quick and easy dinner to add to your weekly meal plan. GET THE RECIPE
12. Saucy Apple Pork Chops
The total time spent on this dinner is 25 minutes which means you’re gonna have a meal that’s better than just ordering some ok takeout. Or that really lazy dinner that’s tasty, but you’ve already had it at least 20 times in the last couple of months.
Add some veggies, potatoes, rice, or pasta, and you’ll have a much more filling dinner. GET THE RECIPE
13. Tomato Shrimp Scampi
Whether it’s summer or not, it’s always time for shrimp scampi. Also, I feel like it would pair so well with some lemony, garlicky, parmesan pasta.
And with it being done in just 15 minutes, it’s kind of the perfect easy dinner for 2 that’ll make it so that you’re not headed out to a restaurant. GET THE RECIPE
14. Baked Kimchi Cauliflower Rice
I am in love kimchi rice. It’s so easy and the savory tanginess of the dish is perfect.
And if you’re not a kimchi person, then I’d still recommend trying this easy dinner and see how you feel. The flavors change in the cooking process and it tastes so good with a runny egg on top. GET THE RECIPE
15. Authentic Mexican Tostada
This was a tostada recipe I first had in Mexico, and it used to be one of my favorite go-to’s when I lived there. It’s super quick, flavorful, and the queso fresco on top works so well with this dish.
Also, it’s one of those easy cheap dinner ideas that’ll make your week a bit more fun and give you something new to try! GET THE RECIPE
