Simple Healthy Dinner Ideas for Two: You love your significant other. Maybe it’s your first relationship or maybe you’ve been together for a long time. Regardless, you want to do nice things for them. You like cooking, but feel like there isn’t enough food when it’s just the two of you. Time to turn the culinary challenge into something fun instead of stressful!
Are you looking for healthy, tasty dinner ideas for two? We have a “really good list” of ideas to make a home cooked meal that is absolutely delicious.
Our Top-Rated Healthy Dinners for Two Are Must-Makes
Whether you’re looking for a healthy weeknight dinner for two or planning a special meal for two, our yummy recipe ideas will help you get dinner on the table and save you from an overload of leftovers. With appetizers, salads, lunch, dinner, and dessert ideas, this collection features plenty of recipes to make cooking for two easy, healthy, and enjoyable. Dig in!
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Chicken Pot Pie for Two
At just over 350 calories and nearly 30 grams protein, this yummy dinner for two is not only hearty and cozy, but healthy, too! A generous portion of veggies, chicken breast, and a whole-wheat crust transform this individually-portioned pot pie into quite the good-for-you one-dish dinner.
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Scallop and Asparagus Alfredo
This dinner recipe is a great example of a healthy pasta dinner for two. Not only is it a lighter (and still creamy) take on Alfredo, but the dish has a sophisticated addition thanks to protein-packed scallops and crisp-tender asparagus.
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Risotto with Chicken and Spring Peas
Infuse comforting and naturally creamy risotto with a healthy punch via veggies and lean protein for a healthy, yummy dinner for two. Even better, this two-person dinner comes together in 30 minutes or less.
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Southern Style “Fried” Catfish and Green Beans
If you like Southern food, this healthy dinner idea for two is for you. It delivers all of the yummy Southern-inspired flavor you’d expect but gets a healthy twist thanks to the air fryer. Although this meal is light on calories, it will keep you feeling full thanks to a healthy punch of protein and fiber.
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Rosemary-Grapefruit Gin Cocktail
This cocktail recipe for two is beautiful to look at and refreshing to drink. Pair this with your next celebratory meal for an extra special home-cooked meal for two. A homemade herb simple syrup and a sprig of fresh rosemary lend a grown-up, garden-fresh spin to this healthier take on gin and juice.
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Greek Feta Burgers
This delicious, healthy burger dinner recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes total (even less time is spent actively cooking). Both the core ingredient choices, plus the add-ins, keep this recipe lower in calories and brimming with healthy-for-you protein, potassium, and key vitamins.
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Italian Turkey Salad
Loads of veggies (hello, leafy greens, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes) and lean turkey come together for a yummy nutrient-rich dinner for two that’s also low in calories and carbs. Add a slice or two of crusty whole wheat bread to round out this healthy dinner and bump up the healthy carbs.
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Crispy Almond Fish with Potato Crisps
Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, this healthier dinner for two mimics the traditional fish and chips, yet with far fewer calories. Less grease too: To get the potato slices nice and crispy, only a spritz of cooking spray is needed.
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Salmon Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
The DIY strawberry vinaigrette definitely contributes to this healthy recipe’s five-star rating. We also love how it’s bright, slightly sweet, and lower in added sugars than most of what you’d find on store shelves.
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Mediterranean Tabbouleh Salad with Chicken
Mediterranean eating has become synonymous with healthy, and this recipe delivers on that. Streamline this healthy dinner for two even more by soaking the bulgur in water for half an hour instead of cooking it like you would pasta or rice.
Healthy Dinner Recipes for Two
They say one might be the loneliest number, but two can be tricky too — at least when it comes to making dinner.
Whether you’re wooing a crush, sharing with a roomie, or catching up with your bestie, dinner for deux can mean too many leftovers and food fatigue. To save the day, these recipes are perfectly portioned for two servings.
1. Pineapple beef stir-fry
Stir-fries are a staple, but it’s easy to fall into a rut with them. Mix things up with this recipe, which calls for marinating sirloin in a sweet, spicy soy sauce.
Let that get happy while you’re at work, then come home and cook the meat with some veggies. Top over brown rice for a simple yet flavorful dinner.
2. Surf and turf
Sure, you can go out to an expensive restaurant for a seafood-and-steak combo — but you can also make a fantastic one at home.
This recipe pairs silky scallops with juicy filet mignon, though you can definitely comb through the sales flyer and opt for a lesser cut if it’s not a special occasion.
For such a fancy-style dinner, you’ll be surprised how quickly it comes together. It’s perfect for date night in or simply celebrating life.
3. Guinness shepherd’s pie
Mashed potatoes, ground beef, and veggies, all cooked with Guinness beer? This is comfort food at its finest — and all in one neat pie.
Luckily with this dish, comfort food doesn’t have to mean a calorie bomb. Use lean ground beef and go light on the cheddar to ease up on the calories. Feel free to sneak in some extra vegetables, if you feel like it.
4. Homemade salisbury steak
If salisbury steak makes you think of bad elementary school lunches, it’s time to make this. Bonus: It’s baked in the oven in the same dish as the potatoes, so you can have a full dinner ready in just half an hour.
Swap red potatoes for sweet potatoes for a boost in vitamin A, and toss in sliced carrots for additional fiber.
Healthy dinner ideas for two with chicken
5. Chicken thighs marsala
Chicken marsala is one of those dishes that’s elegant, delicious, and so much simpler to make than you think. Using chicken thighs ensures you’ll have a juicy bird. No fear of dry chicken here.
Combined with Marsala wine (best used for cooking, not drinking), mushrooms, and shallots, this is what you make to impress someone when you’re short on time.
Serve over whole-wheat pasta or with a side salad and crusty bread — you’ll want it to soak up that sauce!
Healthy Dinner Recipes for Two
Find healthy, delicious dinner recipes for two from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili for TwoRating: 5 stars47This satisfying vegetarian chili for two is studded with black beans and sweet potatoes. Serve with some warmed corn tortillas and tossed salad with orange segments and avocado.Quick Chicken Parmesan for TwoRating: 3.5 stars2Ooey-gooey cheese, crispy breadcrumbs and plenty of sauce are the hallmarks of any good chicken Parmesan recipe, and this one-skillet version of chicken parm for two is no exception. We made this recipe easier by skipping the breading on the chicken and loading the top of the dish with cheese and breadcrumbs. Serve it with whole-wheat pasta to soak up the extra sauce.Green Goddess Salad with ChickpeasRating: 5 stars2In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.By EatingWell Test KitchenRoasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced LentilsRating: 4 stars5This earthy bowl of lentils bursting with Middle Eastern flavors is topped with leftover roasted root veggies from a large batch for an easy weeknight dinner. Keep it vegan or add a drizzle of plain yogurt for extra richness.Indian-Spiced Cauliflower & Chickpea SaladRating: 4.5 stars2Lime juice, ginger, jalapeño and parsley are the stars of this curried cauliflower and chickpea vegetarian, main-dish salad.Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean TacosRating: 5 stars4These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.By Sylvia FountaineCalifornia Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato FriesInspired by an option at the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger, this turkey burger recipe keeps the carbs in check with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. The side of sweet potato fries bakes while you prep the burgers, so this entire healthy dinner is ready in under 30 minutes.By Joyce HendleyKale, Sausage & Pepper PastaRating: 4 stars5This healthy sausage and kale pasta recipe cooks in one skillet, so there’s only one pot to clean! Try it with any greens you have in the fridge, such as chard or spinach.By Joyce HendleyLoaded Black Bean Nacho SoupRating: 4 stars1Jazz up a can of black bean soup with your favorite nacho toppings, such as cheese, avocado and fresh tomatoes. A bit of smoked paprika adds a bold flavor kick, but you can swap in any warm spices you prefer, such as cumin or chili powder. Look for a soup that contains no more than 450 mg sodium per serving.By Carolyn A. Hodges, R.D.Air-Fryer ScallopsRating: 4 stars1A quick and impressive dinner, scallops turn succulent and tender in the air fryer. The lemon-herb sauce is the perfect way to bring zest to each bite. Be sure to cook the scallops to temperature. They may not brown in the fryer, so don’t wait for a golden crust to tell you they’re readySweet Potato, Corn & Black Bean HashRating: 4.5 stars15Quick and easy hashes are fabulous one-pot meals for those nights when getting dinner on the table fast is a priorityMaple-Glazed Chicken BreastsRating: 4.5 stars3Here’s an easy main dish that’s sure to set you on your own quest for the best syrup. Start the chicken breasts marinating on a Saturday afternoon for a quick meal later in the day, just about the time you come in from raking the last of the winter leaves off the garden.