5 Dinner Recipes for Two

We’ve featured recipes designed to feed a crowd, and meals that will meet the standards of picky kids. But these recommendations are for two adults who want to enjoy a special meal together. Whether you forgot to make reservations for Valentine’s Day or you’ve planned a romantic evening at home, we have five ways to make it delicious.

If you did forget to make reservations, don’t forget to make dessert. Click that link to see our ideas for that too.

Dinner Recipes for Two: Pasta

Pasta is already a romantic meal, and making it together is even more romantic. This might be a prime opportunity to try making homemade pasta. We know it sounds intimidating, but it’s a project you can tackle together. Plus, you only need to make enough for two people. Whether you make it homemade or opt for dried pasta, remember to keep our tips for cooking pasta in mind.

You can toss your pasta with any sauce you like, but we’ll offer two recommendations. First, Alfredo sauce is a classic, and it’s far easier than you might think. If you really want to substitute ingredients, use half and half instead of heavy cream. There’s no substitute for butter. Grate that Parmesan; don’t shake it from a can.

Or you can try your hand at carbonara, which goes well with long thin pasta noodles (which are some of the easiest to make yourself). Remember to whisk the eggs and cheese in advance and save some pasta water to help loosen up the sauce. Some recipes call for tossing the pasta and sauce in a bowl over simmering water, but you can simply turn off the burner and remove the pan from the heat. Don’t worry about raw egg; the heat from the pasta and the water will cook the eggs.

Dinner Recipes for Two: Beef

A hearty cut of beef and some red wine is another romantic combination. Even if you don’t want to drink the wine, you can cook with it. It’s always an option to sear a ribeye or tenderloin in a smoking hot skillet, but we suggest braising instead. The smell of the beef simmering away will drum up anticipation.

You can wing it if you feel confident, or try this recipe from Epicurious with a smaller chuck roast. We recommend accompaniments that you can cook on the stovetop or make ahead and reheat, such as couscous, polenta, or mashed potatoes.

Dinner Recipes for Two: Pork

If you prefer pork over red meat, try these boneless pork chops. Halve the quantities in the recipe. The sauce combines apricot preserves and balsamic vinegar with red pepper and garlic. You’ll briefly simmer the seared chops in the sauce, and then serve it with more sauce on top. These pork chops come together faster than you’d expect.

This sweet and savory combination pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Try baked or roasted potatoes, which won’t compete for space on the stovetop. The timing will coordinate well too.

Dinner Recipes for Two: Risotto

Risotto is one of those dishes that sounds like a much bigger ordeal than it really is. It takes time and attention to repeatedly add stock, stir, and monitor, but it isn’t difficult. This recipe for lobster risotto takes an already-impressive dish and elevates it.

We understand if your budget doesn’t allow you to top your risotto with a lobster tail (or you’d rather put that cash toward a bottle of wine). Try adding crab cakes to your risotto instead. This recipe makes four crab cakes in total — two for each of you.

Dinner Recipes for Two: Pizza

Don’t scoff at the idea of pizza; it’s a delicious way to share a meal. However, we recommend making pizza at home rather than ordering takeout or heating up a frozen pizza. While you can always top it with old favorites like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, and olives, we would opt for premium toppings.

One recipe that caught our eye is this one featuring prosciutto and fresh figs. If it’s not grilling weather, feel free to bake the crust on a pizza stone in your oven. You can pop it back in the oven after topping it, but only for a few minutes to melt the cheese. You can also repurpose that Alfredo sauce and spread it on pizza dough instead of red sauce. Then add pre-cooked shredded or cubed chicken, mozzarella or a blend of Italian cheeses, and whatever seasonings and extras you like. Want a recipe to help guide you? We’re partial to this one from Cooking Classy.