Easy, Delicious Recipes to Share Tonight – Happy Muncher (2024)

Dinner ideas for two can transform your evenings into special, intimate moments with your partner or friend. Whether it’s a cozy date night or a simple weeknight meal, choosing the right dish is essential for enjoying your time together.

In this article, we’ll explore a variety of dinner options that cater to different tastes and dietary needs. From seafood and steak to vegetarian and vegan options, discover easy, flavorful recipes designed to make your nights in both memorable and delicious.

Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
2. Butterfly and halve each chicken breast.
3. In a shallow dish, whisk the egg. In another dish, mix bread crumbs, salt, and pepper.
4. Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then coat with bread crumbs.
5. Place chicken on a lined baking tray.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden.
7. Top each chicken with marinara and mozzarella.
8. Return to oven to melt the cheese.
9. Serve over pasta and enjoy your delicious Chicken Parmesan dinner for two!

Lasagna

Lasagna for two is a cozy, comforting meal you can easily prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Choose an 8×5-inch loaf pan for the perfect portion size. Cook lasagna noodles as per the package instructions and set aside.

In a skillet, cook the ground beef with garlic and herbs. In a separate bowl, combine ricotta, egg, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil. Layer sauce, lasagna sheets, ricotta mixture, and beef in the loaf pan. Sprinkle with additional mozzarella. Bake for 40 mins, and enjoy this delicious, satisfying dish!

Pizza Bread

Quick and easy: Transform a loaf of French or ciabatta bread into a delicious dinner for two.

1. Preheat oven (375°F for French, 425°F for ciabatta)
2. Slice bread horizontally
3. Spread pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings
4. Bake (10-20 minutes depending on bread size)

Voila! Enjoy your homemade pizza bread with your favorite side.

Pizza

Pizza night just got better! Elevate your meal with these tasty side dishes, perfect for your pizza date. Consider pesto sauce or BBQ sauce for great dipping options¹. Try pairing a refreshing Caesar Salad with garlic butter breadcrumbs instead of croutons². Enjoy the perfect balance of flavors on your mouth-watering pizza night.

Tortellini

Tortellini Carbonara: Cook bacon until crispy. Add store-bought tortellini, heavy cream, and Parmesan. Cook until pasta is tender.

Tuscan Tortellini: Boil tortellini, then stir in sausage, spinach, and tomato sauce. Season with black pepper. Enjoy your delicious, easy dinner for two!

Hard Tacos or Tostadas

For a quick and delicious dinner, consider hard tacos or tostadas. To prepare:

1. Choose protein: minced beef, shredded chicken, or black beans.
2. Season with spices: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Top with fresh ingredients: lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado.
4. Add sauces: salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
5. Serve on corn tortillas (hard or soft). Enjoy your meal!

Huevos Rancheros

Here’s a delicious huevos rancheros dinner idea for two! First, prepare warm refried beans and set aside. Then, fry two eggs per serving to your desired firmness. For the base, use corn tortillas or crispy tostadas.

Layer each tortilla with:

• Refried beans
• Fried egg
• Salsa or ranchero sauce
• Queso fresco
• Cilantro

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Stir Fry

Stir-frying is a quick and versatile option for dinner. A basic formula: protein + veggies + sauce. Choose from chicken, shrimp, beef, or tofu. Opt for crisp veggies like asparagus, carrots, and scallions¹. Create a sauce using soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a hint of red pepper flakes².

Pair with rice or noodles and enjoy a flavorful meal for two in under 30 minutes³.

Burritos

Burritos offer a delicious and customizable dinner option for two. Combine seasoned meat (beef, chicken, or shrimp) with fillings: rice, beans, salsa, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions¹. Assemble in a warm tortilla and serve². Experiment with variations like mixing refried beans into the meat³. Enjoy!

Fajitas

Fajitas are a fantastic dinner idea for two. Choose from chicken or steak, marinate in a mixture of spices, then cook in a hot skillet.

Here’s a simple process:

1. Slice meat and vegetables (typically onions and bell peppers).
2. Marinate meat in spices, such as chili powder, oregano, and cumin.
3. Heat oil in a skillet, cook meat and veggies separately.
4. Serve on warm tortillas and enjoy!

Remember to adjust cooking times according to your protein choice and desired level of doneness.

Burgers or Hotdogs

Burgers offer delectable versatility for dinners for two. Opt for classic beef patties or try veggie burgers for variety. Add your favorite cheeses, toppings, and condiments. Complement your meal with crispy fries or onion rings, and serve with refreshing coleslaw.

Switch things up with hotdogs. Satisfy your cravings by grilling or boiling your choice of franks. Experiment with different buns, toppings, and condiments to create your perfect hotdog. Pair them with savory baked beans or healthy grilled vegetables for a balanced meal.

Quesadillas

Looking for a quick yet delicious dinner for two? Quesadillas are the answer. First, gather your ingredients: two 6-inch flour tortillas, cheeses like cheddar or Colby jack, and fillings such as chicken, beans, corn, avocado, and pico de gallo.

1. Lay out tortillas on a table.
2. Spread cheese and chosen fillings.
3. Fold in half, brush with oil.
4. Cook on medium heat until crisp.

Serve with sour cream, hot sauce, or guacamole. Explore fun variations like smoked salmon, chorizo, or shrimp for a delightful meal.

Meatballs and Rice

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 10 frozen meatballs
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. In a baking dish, combine rice, marinara sauce, and water.
3. Add the frozen meatballs without submerging them. Cover with foil.
4. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with cheeses. Bake for 5-10 more minutes.

Skillet Chicken with Tomatoes, Pancetta, and Mozzarella

Preheat your oven to 400°F. In an oven-proof skillet, brown pancetta and set aside. Cook seasoned, patted-dry chicken in the skillet. Add garlic, anchovies, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, and basil to create a thick sauce. Return chicken and pancetta to skillet, and bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy your flavorful, oven-baked skillet chicken for two.

Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe is a simple yet delicious Italian pasta dish. Here’s how to prepare it for two servings:

1. Cook 8oz of pasta (preferably spaghetti or bucatini) in salted boiling water. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 tsp freshly cracked pepper and warm it up for a minute.
3. Add ⅔ cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet, let it reduce and thicken. Add the cooked pasta, stirring to coat.
4. Off the heat, add 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Toss vigorously to create a creamy sauce.

Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful, homemade Cacio e Pepe!

Bucatini All’Amatriciana

Bucatini All’Amatriciana is a delicious and easy-to-make Italian dish perfect for a cozy dinner for two.

Here’s a quick recipe:

1. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep skillet, add 6 oz guanciale/pancetta and sauté until crispy.
2. Add 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, sauté briefly, then add sliced onions.
3. Cook onions until softened and golden.
4. Add tomato sauce, salt, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, cook bucatini in a pot of boiling salted water, following packet instructions (usually 11 mins).
6. Drain pasta and combine with the sauce in the skillet.

Serve with a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano cheese. Enjoy your flavorful Bucatini All’Amatriciana.

Penne Alla Vodka

Penne alla vodka is a delicious and elegant option for a dinner for two. Start by sautéing onion, garlic, and bacon until slightly crispy. Deglaze the pan with vodka, allowing the alcohol to evaporate. Add tomato passata and simmer until thickened.

Cook penne pasta al dente according to package instructions. While pasta cooks, add half & half to the sauce and stir to combine. Drain pasta and toss with the sauce. Serve your dish garnished with chopped prosciutto and enjoy your flavorful meal!

Sesame Seed-Crusted Chicken Parm

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tsp mustard
• Salt
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• ½ cup flour
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup Parmesan
• 1 tsp baking powder

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk buttermilk, mustard, and salt. Add chicken, coat, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In another bowl, mix sesame seeds, flour, cornstarch, Parmesan, salt, and baking powder.
4. Coat chicken with sesame mixture and bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy your Sesame Seed-Crusted Chicken Parm!

Marry Me Chicken

Marry Me Chicken is a flavorful and romantic dinner idea for two. Start by patting the chicken dry and seasoning it with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, and sauté the chicken until golden brown, around 4-5 minutes per side.

Create a sauce with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, scraping the pan for browned bits, then add the chicken back into the skillet, coating it with the sauce. Cook until the chicken is cooked through. Enjoy this delicious meal with your loved one!

Butter Chicken

Butter chicken is a flavorful and satisfying dinner idea for two. To prepare this dish, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Chicken (cut into pieces)
• Onion (chopped)
• Garlic (minced)
• Ginger (minced)
• Tomato paste
• Butter
• Spices (garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, salt, and pepper)
• Chicken broth

In a large skillet, sauté onions, garlic, and ginger in oil and butter until fragrant. Add the chicken, tomato paste, and spices, stirring to coat. Add chicken broth, lower the heat, and let it simmer to combine flavors. Serve over rice, and enjoy!

Arctic Char with Pistachio Gremolata

Arctic Char and asparagus make the perfect dinner combination for two. Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare a baking dish. Season char with salt and add asparagus. In a medium bowl, mix parsley, pistachios, garlic, lemon zest, juice, salt, and olive oil. Stir, and set aside. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Sprinkle gremolata on cooked char before serving. Enjoy!

Creamy Steak Fettuccine

Ingredients: Steak, fettuccine pasta, garlic, butter, flour, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, salt, and pepper.

1. Cook fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Season steak with salt and pepper, then sear in a large skillet.
3. Rest steak, then slice thinly.
4. Melt butter and cook garlic in the skillet. Whisk in flour and gradually add heavy cream.
5. Stir in Parmesan cheese and add cooked mushrooms.
6. Combine sauce with fettuccine and top with sliced steak. Enjoy your delicious meal for two!

Coconut Curry Salmon

Looking for a delicious dinner for two? Try Coconut Curry Salmon! Start by preheating your oven to 475°F. Pat your salmon fillets dry and season with salt & pepper. Combine olive oil and curry powder to make a paste, then coat the salmon.

Cooking:

1. In a skillet, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat.
2. Cook salmon skin-side down for 5 minutes.
3. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until almost done.

Pour in the coconut milk and simmer briefly. Add your desired veggies (e.g., peppers, carrots) to the sauce and cook for 3-5 minutes. Nestle the salmon into the sauce, and enjoy your coconut curry salmon dinner with your loved one!

Miso Farro Salmon Bowl

Miso marinade: Whisk together 2 tbsp miso paste, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp sesame oil, and 1 tsp grated ginger. Coat 2 salmon fillets and let marinate for 30 minutes.

Farro: Cook 1 cup farro in 2 cups chicken stock for 25-30 minutes.

Assembly: Broil marinated salmon for 7-10 minutes until cooked. Serve over cooked farro and add your favorite vegetables, like roasted mushrooms or sauteed snap peas. Enjoy your healthy and flavorful Miso Farro Salmon Bowl!