While cooking for large families and cooking for small families both have their pros and cons, there is something to be said about how difficult it is to cook meals in some batches. The fact that the majority of recipes out there are designed to have a relatively high output doesn’t help matters, either. Who wants to spend a lot of time adjusting the quantities of a recipe?
If you find that you have been stuck without dinner inspiration for quite some time, then we are here to help you out. In this article, you will find creative meal ideas that will force you to think outside the box and try out new recipes that may have previously been outside of your comfort zone!
Vegetable Recipes for Two
Whether or not you are a vegetarian, it is good for your body and for the planet to have a meal that focuses on vegetables as the main dish elements. If you remain unconvinced, here are some delicious meal ideas to persuade you!
Broccoli Quinoa Cakes
You know about broccoli, and you know about quinoa, but did you know about broccoli quinoa cakes? This clever meal idea from Feasting at Home can be easily made in small batches, which makes it ideal for an intimate and delicious dinner for two. The best part? This meal idea is as healthy as can be!
Open Faced Eggplant Sandwiches
If you have spent any time in Northern Europe, then chances are that you are familiar with the concept of the open-faced sandwich. After all, who decided that sandwiches have to consist of two pieces of bread combined together? Why can’t a sandwich simply be a piece of bread with some ingredients placed on top? That description is exactly what you’ll get if you make these open faced eggplant sandwiches, which come packed with their own specific kind of deliciousness.
Black Bean Quesadillas
Quesadillas do not keep as well as other types of meals, but that’s okay when you are only making them in a small batch to begin with. These black bean quesadillas from Budget Bytes are the perfect weekday meal, as they can be made in a pinch from minimal ingredients.
Greek Brown Rice Bowl
“Bowls” have become more and more popular over recent years, both as a make-at-home recipe and as a restaurant menu item. You can make your own delicious bowl at home with a Greek twist thanks to this recipe from Taste of Home.
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Okay, so maybe this recipe isn’t the smallest batch of all the recipes on this list, and maybe it isn’t the healthiest either, but who is keeping track? We haven’t tried them all, but we thought that this meal idea from Delish would be a contender for the best mac and cheese recipe on the entire internet.
Seafood Recipes for Two
What is not to love about seafood? Whether you’re feasting on shrimp, lobster, of any type of fish, seafood is a healthy alternative to regular meat options and also opens up the gates for creative recipe ideas.
Shrimp and Asparagus Stir Fry
This shrimp and asparagus stir fry from Home Cooking Memories is made with a delicious lemon sauce. Although it may leave you with more servings than two people can handle on their own, it is sure to make for delicious leftovers!
Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
You’ve heard of a portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese, but how about a portobello mushroom stuffed with crab? This recipe from the Sophisticated Caveman may be ideal for feeding only two, but you could always double or triple the recipe size if you really want to impress your guests.
Simple Salmon Chowder
We know that salmon tastes wonderful when it is paired with a lemon glaze and a side of rice, but did you know that it is also great in a chowder? That’s right — it’s not just about clams! Get the delicious recipe over at Feasting at Home.
Seafood Paella
If you are not familiar with the classic Spanish dish of paella, prepare to fall in love! This famous dish can come in many forms, but we think that this simple recipe from A Couple Cooks is hard to beat. It is also totally manageable for somebody who is only cooking for two.
Beef Recipes for Two
Beef is one of the most popular kinds of meat out there, and a local delicacy for many. However, a beef meal doesn’t have to be fancy! There are many simple beef dishes that you can make at home for two.
Easy Beef Enchiladas
There is so much to love about Mexican dishes. Not only are they tasty, filling, and nutritious, but they also usually work well for a quick and easy dish for two! This is certainly the case with these easy beef enchiladas from Pillsbury that use ground beef to create a delicious dish.
Beef Bourguignon
Beef bourguignon, or beef burgundy, is a French dish most closely associated with Julia Childs. It consists of a beef stew that is made from beef stock, carrots, garlic, onion, and of course, red wine sauce. While it may not be the dish that you first think of making on a Tuesday night, you can easily pull a simple beef bourguignon together for two from this recipe at Tablespoon.com.
Chicken Recipes for Two
Chicken just might be America’s favorite kind of meat. We love it as chicken fingers, we love it in pasta dishes — we love it just about anywhere. Here are some chicken dishes that are ideal for two people.
Tuscan Chicken
Italy is known for having some of the best cuisine in the world, and the northern region of Tuscany is certainly no exception. Learn how to make a healthy and lean grilled Tuscan chicken for a simple dinner for two from this recipe from Taste of Home.
Tropical BBQ Chicken
And now for something a little bit different! A combination of ketchup, orange juice, and brown sugar make for a delectable sauce for this unique tropical BBQ chicken recipe. It will make enough for a meal for two, but what could be wrong with having leftovers?
Grilled Chicken Wrap
This one is for those nights that you are feeling like something similar to, but not exactly like, a burger or a sandwich. This chicken hummus wrap from Cooking Classy is a great way to ensure that you are getting the protein and nutrients that you need without breaking the break.
Easy Baked Potatoes and Chickens
Sometimes it’s just best to get back to basics — and in this case when we say basics we mean chicken and potatoes! If there is anyone who knows how to do chicken and potatoes well, it’s Betty Crocker. You can see for yourself here.
Tofu Recipes for Two
Tofu may have been underrated in recent years, but more and more individuals are slowly learning of this healthy meat alternative’s worth. If you’re new to the tofu scene, here are some interesting recipes that you can try your hand at.
Quick Tofu Stir Fry
A stir fry is probably the first thing that you think of when you think about a meal that you can incorporate tofu into, so we thought we would start off the tofu section of this article with a basic but delicious stir fry. This recipe from Budget Bytes uses some familiar ingredients like cabbage and carrots, as well as some less conventional ingredients like chopped peanuts!
Crunchy Tofu Tacos
Even if you are no stranger to cooking with tofu, it may surprise you that tofu works super well in a taco! Don’t take our word for it, though. Try it for yourself with this amazing recipe for two from the Woks of Life.
Tofu Scramble
Okay, so maybe this one is cheating a bit, as it’s more of a breakfast meal than a lunch or dinner one. However, there was nothing about this list that specified that the meal for two couldn’t take place at breakfast time! Plus, who says that we can’t eat breakfast for dinner sometimes? Learn how to make a classic tofu scramble over at Delish.
Tofu Bibimbap
Have you ever had bibimbap? If not, here is a brief introduction: bibimbap is a delicious Korean dish made from rice, vegetables, and a fried egg in a flaming hot stone bowl. Usually, the dish will also include some kind of protein such as chicken or beef. It can also include tofu, though! Here is a great bibimbap tofu recipe from Korean Bapsang.
So there you have it —just because you are cooking for a small group does not mean that you can’t make your mealtimes fun, delicious, and unique! What do you have on your meal plan for this week?
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