30+ Easy Meal Ideas for Two (to Enjoy After the Kids Are in Bed!) (2024)

Let’s be honest here: once the kids are finally asleep, the last thing you want to do is spend forever in the kitchen concocting an elaborate meal—but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice enjoying a hearty homemade dinner. Choosing something you can simply simmer on the stove or bake in the oven while putting your little ones to bed is one way to solve this dilemma. Fortunately, we’ve found some delicious dinner recipes for two that fit the bill and that you’ll want to try ASAP.

These recipes are perfect for enjoying a peaceful dinner with your partner without needing to spend a ton of extra time cooking at the end of a long day. From comforting classics to unique must-trys, we have something to suit every taste and mood. So kick back, relax, and let us take care of dinner tonight. Below, we’re sharing 30+ easy-to-make dinner recipes for two that you can whip up after the bedtime routine is complete.

30+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Two

Chicken Dinner Recipes

1. One-Pot Chicken Tomato Tortellini Soup

This delicious recipe uses super simple ingredients and is perfect to keep simmering on the stove while you take care of your nightly bedtime duties.

2. Red Chicken Enchiladas with Veggies

Enchiladas are a 10/10 go-to meal for something you can quickly throw together and toss in the oven. Plus, they always make for amazing leftovers—I know we’re talking dinner recipes for two, but who doesn’t love delicious leftovers?

3. Greek Sheet Pan Chicken

Kick your oven-baked chicken up a notch with this one-pan Greek-inspired recipe that pairs perfectly with a glass of red wine for a divine dinner for two.

4. Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Butter chicken is absolutely delicious, and this effortless Instant Pot recipe will allow you to make it in no time at all. Bonus tip: serve it with Trader Joe’s frozen naan!

5. Chicken and Green Bean Stir Fry

With nothing more than a single pan and a couple stirs here and there, this recipe will satisfy that take-out craving you have after a long day.

6. Easy Lemon Chicken Piccata

Simple and elegant, this lemon chicken piccata comes together in just 30 minutes. The recipe can be easily halved to feed two, or you can save the extras for leftovers later in the week.

7. Quick Chicken Noodle Soup

If you and your partner are craving the quintessential comfort meal, you can’t go wrong with a classic chicken noodle soup that requires nothing more than a handful of ingredients and a good long simmer.

Beef & Pork Dinner Recipes

8. One-Pot Roasted Red Pepper and Sausage Alfredo

If you and your partner are in the mood for Italian, try out this recipe that’s ready to go after just 30 minutes of stovetop simmering.

9. 5-Ingredient Beef Satays

Some finger foods can infuse just the right flair of romance to an otherwise everyday meal—and these sliced flank steak satays will do just that! Bathed in a delectable marinade, pair them with rice, soba noodles, some easy egg rolls, and you’re all set!

10. One-Pan Pork Tenderloin with Veggies

We absolutely love the simplicity of a one-pan meal, and this to-die-for pork tenderloin and veggies recipe keeps things easy with a 25-minute cook time.

11. Philly Cheese Steak Pizza

This is a pizza with personality that will no doubt liven up your after-hours meal together. The toppings are a tasty blend of Philly cheese steak-inspired flavors, and you can make it extra easy by skipping the homemade pizza dough and grabbing a premade crust instead.

12. Skirt Steak Salad with Blue Cheese

Trying to go low-carb or simply incorporate more daily greens as a couple? This salad pairs the sophistication of a tasty skirt steak with fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, and a drizzle of honey dijon vinaigrette. Plus it can be prepped and assembled in a breeze!

13. Crockpot Honey Teriyaki Meatballs

With a couple hours, some frozen meatballs, and a few simple ingredients for the glaze, you can have a sweet and tangy entree ready to serve with any side of your choosing.

14. Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Shells

Tacos and pasta? Yes, please. You’ll love this funky pasta recipe that practically cooks itself in your Instant Pot.

Seafood Dinner Recipes

15. Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Shrimp Pasta

The name pretty much says it all: a lovely shrimp pasta dish for the ultimate dinner date night in! Using cilantro rather than basil and pistachio rather than pine nuts for the pesto brings vibrant new flavors to the forefront for a meal to remember, too.

16. Honey Mustard Balsamic Roasted Salmon

Toss this tasty salmon in the oven and pair with the accompanying couscous salad for an easy dinner you and your partner are sure to enjoy.

17. One-Pot Seafood Alfredo

Turn the elegance up a notch with this special pasta recipe. Creamy Alfredo sauce marries tender sautéed shrimp and lump crab meat resulting in a yummy final dish.

18. Pistachio Crusted Baked Salmon

Soft, succulent salmon meets a gently crunchy pistachio panko parmesan crust in this top-notch recipe that can seamlessly be built for two.

19. Red Curry Shrimp with Coconut

If you’re looking for some bright and bold flavors, try out this one-pot curry that practically does all the cooking for you. Pro tip: use frozen shrimp to make it even easier!

20. Mojo Salmon Bowls

Make it a tropical night with these Cuban-inspired salmon bowls loaded with grilled pineapple and plantains, avocado, black beans, fresh seasonings, and, of course, its zesty-wonderful mojo sauce. If you’re feeling extra carefree for the night, sip on a mojito or daiquiri while you’re at it!

21. Shrimp Stir Fry with Ramen Noodles

This festive stir fry satisfies all the criteria: it’s easy to make; it’s packed with protein, grains, and fresh veggies; and it’s got a homemade stir fry sauce that’s delish!

22. One-Pot Easy Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

Comforting, flavorful, and hassle-free, there’s no better way to end your day than with this one-pot gumbo that will definitely become a new go-to in your household.

Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

23. Creamy Lemon Cacio e Pepe

Simple, satisfying, and brimming with romantic Italian dinner vibes, this creamy cacio e pepe recipe with a lemon kick is a vegetarian-friendly fave. If you know you’ll both be arriving to dinner with an appetite after an especially busy day, you can always add your favorite protein to bulk it up a bit more.

24. Easy Tofu Pad Thai

Feeling creative? Try your hand at this traditional Thai noodle dish, ready in 30 minutes or less. Full of warm spices and a nourishing combo of tofu, bean sprouts, sesame oil, and rice noodles, you might not be inclined to go back to your takeout version ever again!

25. One-Pot Pasta Primavera

This healthy and unique pasta dish only takes about 10 minutes to cook and can sit on a low-heat stove to keep warm so it’s ready to eat when you’re done putting the kiddos to bed.

26. Gluten-Free Baked Cauliflower Parmesan

This is a fun vegetarian option that’s much easier to make than it may seem, with a super easy prep process and the ability to quickly pop it into the oven.

27. Zucchini and Cannellini Tomato Stew

All you have to do for this tasty one-pot stew is let the ingredients cook for about 20 minutes, then toss in your spinach and serve.

28. Potato Curry

Toss this recipe’s completely plant-based ingredients in a pot and turn on your rice cooker to have a fragrant, healthy, and hearty dinner waiting for you once the kids are asleep.

29. Baked Feta Pasta

This recipe went viral on TikTok for good reason. By tossing just a handful of ingredients in the oven, you’ll have a rich and savory dish that’s sure to become a dinnertime go-to for you and partner.

30. Stovetop Mac and Cheese (with Two Secret Ingredients!)

Elevate mac and cheese with a unique twist. Of course, you’ll have to check out the recipe itself to discover the secret to what makes this mac and cheese extra delicious—and easy to throw together!

31. Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto

Take classy mushroom risotto to the next level with this 30-minute recipe that not only shows you how to perfectly caramelize the mushrooms, but how to make the dish entirely plant-based as well. It’s a couple’s dinner that’s healthy, comforting, and romantic Italian dinner-inspired to boot.

32. Vegan Meatloaf

Meatless meatloaf? It may sound unusual, but don’t knock it ’til you try it. For anyone following a plant-based diet, this recipe is a great pick for a quick and easy hearty meal.

33. Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Soup is the perfect dish to let cook as you’re tucking the kiddos into bed, and this roasted sweet potato recipe is ideal as an effortlessly tasty weeknight dinner for two.