26 Fancy and Tasty Dinners Just for Two

Many feel a fancy dinner for two is tiresome with all the preparation and cooking, but I think the opposite because I have these 26 easy recipes right in my hand. I bet you guys want to sit down and share your time, not wearing yourselves out in the kitchen.

All the ideas below are simple and don’t require many cooking skills. You can prepare beforehand for more complex recipes or make them right on the spot with less than an hour with easier ones.

26 Most Flavorful Dishes For Dinner Between You Two

Just because all these recipes are simple, don’t think they aren’t fancy enough for a romantic dinner for two. When you plate them up, I bet your partner would think you spend hours making them.

1. Tuscan Chicken
2. Coconut Chicken Curry
3. Chicken Lettuce Wraps
4. Chicken Francaise
5. Chicken à la King
6. Chicken Marsala
7. Coq Au Vin
8. Chicken and Dumplings
9. Turkey Stir-Fry
10. Filet Mignon
11. Steak Au Poivre
12. Salisbury Steak
13. Beef Ragu
14. Beef Bourguignon
15. Stuffed Bell Peppers
16. Shepherd’s Pie
17. Baked Salmon
18. Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
19. Salmon Curry
20. Broiled Cod
21. Shrimp Scampi
22. Cacio e Pepe Pasta
23. Bucatini all’Amatriciana
24. Lo Mein Noodles
25. Lemon Risotto
26. Mexican Shakshuka

Let’s dig in now!

9 Simple Dinner Recipes For Two With Poultry Meat As The Main Ingredient

Poultry meat like chicken or turkey is a common choice for dinner. And being typical doesn’t mean you can’t make it more fabulous. You only need to be careful about the indications showing your turkey is cooked. Other than that, poultry meat is easy to cook and season to your liking.

Tuscan Chicken

Tuscan chicken is always one of my first choices when it comes to comforting dinners on cold, chilling days. Nothing calms your soul better than the rich, creamy sauce served with seared chicken.

What makes this sauce so good is all the vegetables it has: sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, basil, and artichokes.

If you don’t like sun-dried tomatoes, you can switch to fresh ones, and I recommend cherry tomatoes for this dish. Add some capers, mustard, or cheese for extra flavor. And serve it with some salads or mashed potatoes.

Coconut Chicken Curry

While all the fancy dinner dishes are more suitable to serve in a dinner for two, sometimes I just want to make something simple and filling? At these times, I often think of coconut chicken curry’s richness and creaminess.

And it only takes up to 30 minutes to make, so you can even make this recipe for a mid-week night like Wednesday. I often make it pretty mild, but you can increase the heat as you want. And of course, for a curry pot, you should prepare some rice or naan in advance.

This video will show full visual guidance on how to make coconut chicken curry:

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

First, what is chicken Francaise? Simply put, it is “chicken in French style”. However, that doesn’t mean this dish originated from Italy. In fact, this is an Italian-American recipe. Surprise? It got its name because of the preparation method. Instead of dipping the chicken in egg wash before flour, people do it backward.

And this pan-fried chicken is accompanied by a creamy lemon sauce. And let me tell you, its flavor is overwhelming. So if sourness is not your thing, prepare yourself. You can serve it with pasta, rice, or some veggies to lighten the tarty taste.

Chicken Francaise

First, what is chicken Francaise? Simply put, it is “chicken in French style”. However, that doesn’t mean this dish originated from Italy. In fact, this is an Italian-American recipe. Surprise? It got its name because of the preparation method. Instead of dipping the chicken in egg wash before flour, people do it backward.

And this pan-fried chicken is accompanied by a creamy lemon sauce. And let me tell you, its flavor is overwhelming. So if sourness is not your thing, prepare yourself. You can serve it with pasta, rice, or some veggies to lighten the tarty taste.

Chicken à La King

This recipe sounds like it comes out of a five-star restaurant’s menu. And it tastes just like that. For easier visual imagination, you can consider it crustless chicken pot pie or chicken gravy. Today, some even swap the chicken in the classic recipe with tuna or turkey.

You can even make this dish with the leftover chicken in your fridge to save some time. Chicken à la king tastes best when served with some homemade biscuits. But toast or noodles still are appropriate choices to complement this dish.

You will rule this dish like a king after watching this video:

Chicken Marsala

If you want something fancier for a romantic dinner between two, let’s try chicken marsala. This dish includes chicken and mushrooms cooked in a sweet sauce made from Marsala wine. The sauce is the reason why it’s called chicken marsala.

Besides the wine, remember to add some heavy cream to thicken the sauce. If the rich flavor is not your thing, change it to evaporated milk. Finally, pour the chicken marsala over pasta, potatoes, or rice to enjoy it. Cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles are also preferable choices if you are on a diet.

Coq Au Vin

All traditional dishes from France may scare all the nonprofessional cooks for their complexity. But I assure you, that doesn’t happen with this dish. Coq Au Vin, which means rooster in wine, is a classic recipe with chicken simmered in red wine.

Though the original recipes mostly choose Burgundy, other French regions have their own variants using the local wine. White wine is also another option when you run out of red ones.

Chicken and Dumplings

When the temperature starts to drop, I would think of cooking chicken and dumplings for a hot dinner. You can do the same and share it with your partner. Dumplings may remind you of Chinese wonton soup. However, in fact, this dish comes from South America.

It’s like a creamy chicken stew with numerous dumplings inside. That’s why you don’t need to serve it with other side dishes as dumplings are enough to fill your stomach. Also, make sure you use canned biscuits to make chicken and dumplings for the best result.

Let’s see how they perfect this creamy dish!

Turkey Stir-Fry

When you want to enjoy other poultry meats besides chicken, turkey is a decent choice. Its flavor is somewhat familiar to the former but richer and juicier, thus more satisfying. You must have eaten roasted turkey at festivals.

However, a whole turkey may be too much for two people, and roasting it takes time. So, I suggest stir-frying it with veggies for a healthy dinner. You can use either ground or diced turkey meat. And add any vegetables you want like asparagus, bell pepper, cauliflowers, carrots, onions, etc.

7 Awesome Meat Dinner Ideas For You Two To Enjoy

When talking about meat, people would immediately think of pork and beef. And both of them are versatile ingredients that you can apply thousands of recipes with.

Filet Mignon

Talking about filet mignon reminds me of those high-class restaurants. But now, you can make this five-star dish right in your kitchen with the same quality without spending a fortune on it. Just follow my lead!

The best way to cook a filet mignon is by pan-searing the meat and putting it in the oven. A cast-iron skillet is perfect for this method because you can put it in the oven without worrying. After that, you can make some mushroom sauces to go with it, or just a cheese cube is enough.

Steak Au Poivre

This steak may cost you two a fortune in a classy French restaurant. However, you guys can save all that money by making it on your own at home. And let me assure you, it doesn’t taste any less delicious.

You can understand Steak Au Poivre as a steak with peppercorn sauce. The first part requires a bit of sauteed skills so that your steak will turn crisp on the outside while staying medium-rare.

And to accompany this juicy meat, you’ll need a luscious sauce. Besides peppercorns, heavy cream, and cognac, there’s another ingredient you’ll need. That’s the meat fat, which gives the sauce a rich body different from other gravy or roux.

Want to know how to make this restaurant-quality steak? This video is for you!

Salisbury Steak

While a whole beef fillet has a fantastic look, many prefer ground beef for its versatile use. You can use minced beef to make all kinds of dishes, such as soups, stews, burgers, and many more. One of those tasty recipes is Salisbury steak.

And homemade ones are much better than those frozen. You have my words

However, Salisbury steaks can’t be completed without its onion and mushroom gravy. The secret to a fantastic sauce is using beef broth or onion soup instead of the ready-made gravy mix. Serve this with mashed potatoes or green peas, and your dinner will disappear in no time!

Beef Ragu

On chilly days, I just want to share something hot with my partner. And what’s better than beef ragu? While it doesn’t require much skill, this dish needs a long cooking time for the beef to be simmered entirely in the tomato sauce.

So, you should put all the ingredients in your slow cooker in the morning or, better, the previous night, so they will taste perfect when served for dinner. Of course, pasta and cheese are the best partners for beef ragu. However, since the sauce is pretty robust, you should use large pasta like rigatoni or penne.

Beef Bourguignon

Beef stew is an appropriate choice for a family meal, but you need something fancier for dinner to share with your partner. And beef bourguignon is just what you’re looking for due to its deep and complex flavor coming from the broth.

A traditional bourguignon requires beef stock and red wine, Burgundy to be exact, as its main ingredient. From there, you can add other components like bacon, carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms. However, if you don’t prefer alcohol in the evening, feel free to leave out the wine.

This video will make you want to make beef bourguignon right away!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

These stuffed bell peppers not only taste delicious but also make your dinner table look vibrant with their colors. And the fillings are everything you could ask for. Make it classic with rice and ground beef or Italian style with sausages, tomatoes, and cheese.

Anything goes well with the slight bitterness of bell peppers. Also, what makes me love this dish is that you don’t have to worry about the clean-up afterward. They are all in your stomach already. One more thing, remember to cook the meat before stuffing it into the bell peppers.

Shepherd’s Pie

There’s nothing wrong with classic recipes. They’re confirmed to be delicious by millions of people. And shepherd’s pie is a typical example. Ground meat and vegetables topped with rich, creamy mashed potatoes can satisfy anyone no matter how picky they are.

Traditional shepherd’s pie uses ground lamb. But you are not used to lamb’s flavor, feel free to change it to beef. Or, for a healthier version, you can make this pie with only vegetables instead.

5 Easy Seafood Dinner Dishes That Will Capture Your Hearts

When you are tired of all these meat dishes, why not try some seafood? Though these ingredients can cost more, their quality is worth the price.

Baked Salmon

Salmon is my favorite ingredient for simple yet tasty meals. And baked salmon is one of these recipes. You can wrap all the slices in foil or leave them on the baking tray, the result will turn out delicious.

Moreover, you can make various sauces to brush the salmon before baking. For example, a mixture of garlic and butter can smother these slices, or honey and butter will increase the dish’s richness. You can even dry rub salmon with a combination of chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and sugar.

You’ll never fail this dish if following this video:

Teriyaki Salmon Bowl

When you want some healthy Asian meal, teriyaki salmon bowl is a must-try recipe. Just like its name, this dish contains salmon glazed with teriyaki sauce, rice, avocado slices, edamame, carrots, broccoli, and many more. All sit in a bowl.

Extra nori strips and sesame seeds will provide a more Asian feeling when eating. You can use either homemade or store-bought one, but I recommend the former since it’s easier to alter the flavor to your palate.

Salmon Curry

Seafood curries are on another level compared to meat ones as they are packed with the umami flavor from the sea. And among them, you must not skip the salmon one. While some worry about the salmon flavor getting clouded by all the spices, it’s actually the opposite.

The two most common choices for this dish are Thai style with coconut milk and Indian one with more spices. If you can’t handle the heat too well, go with the former. It’s also my favorite as coconut milk keeps the salmon tender.

Click here to see one example of salmon curry:

Broiled Cod

While salmon is a typical seafood choice for its fancy flavor, cod can change your mind right away, especially when you are not in favor of the fish smell. Cod doesn’t have much fishy taste, but instead, it’s tender and flaky.

And I promise this is one of the easiest recipes you’ve ever seen. You don’t even have to marinate cod with a complex spice mixture. Just butter, garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs are enough. Also, it goes with almost any sauce like the creamy mushroom one.

Shrimp Scampi

Serve this shrimp scampi with some pasta, and people would think you took hours to make it. But guess what, this recipe only needs about half an hour. The most crucial part of this dish is the scampi sauce.

You’ll need white wine, oil, butter, and lemon juice to create its complex flavor. You can replace wine with chicken broth if you want, but the taste will change slightly. And don’t ever forget to add cold butter in the last step when making scampi sauce. Cold butter will thicken the sauce and give it a smooth, velvety texture.

As I’ve said above, shrimp scampi is a perfect match with pasta, especially long ones like linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine. But rice and gnocchi are appropriate choices if you want to stray from the traditional way.

Want to know how a Michelin-starred chef makes this dish? Here is your answer:

How About These 5 Tasty Noodles And Vegetarian Dinner Meals For Two?

Not many think noodles or vegetarian foods are suitable for a romantic dinner between two. But, if you think so too, those recipes below will prove you otherwise.

Cacio e Pepe Pasta

At first look, Cacio e Pepe seems too simple for dinner for two. But you know what? Sometimes the best quality lies in simplicity. Cacio e Pepe means “cheese and pepper”, and it contains only these ingredients, besides pasta.

However, it’s precisely because Cacio e Pepe is so basic that every component in this dish needs to be high-quality. The cheese should be freshly grated Pecorino Romano. You can use Parmesan as a replacement, but it will taste less salty.

For the peppers, you’d better go with freshly cracked ones to get enough heat. Traditional pasta choices are bucatini, tonnarelli, or dried spaghetti. And you should leave out all the butter, cream, and olive oil in order not to ruin this dish’s delicate flavor.

Bucatini All’Amatriciana

Bucatini all’Amatriciana is one of the most well-known pasta dishes in Italy. And just like its fellow countrymen, this pasta is modest and graceful at the same time. Containing whole tomatoes, guanciale (cured pork cheek), and cheese, bucatini all’Amatriciana is Italian cuisine at its finest.

While following traditional recipes secures the best result, it’s hard to obtain all those ingredients. So, it doesn’t hurt to make some good changes. For example, you can replace guanciale with diced pancetta (cured pork belly) found in multiple supermarkets.

Check this video and make an authentic one yourself!

Lo Mein Noodles

Say goodbye to Italy with their pasta recipes, I will introduce you to another well-liked noodle dish: Chinese lo mein. Basically, lo mein is egg noodles stir-fried with various ingredients such as vegetables and meat. It’s perfect for slurping this while watching TV with your partner.

Although this recipe contains no meat, it’s not for you to try if you wonder whether lo mein is suitable for veganism. The main reason is because the noodles are made from eggs.

There are no fixed recipes for lo mein, so you are free to be as creative as you can. Some traditional Chinese eateries serve this dish with a wonton soup. And don’t worry if you don’t have a wok like other restaurants. Lo mein tastes just as delicious when made with a skillet.

Lemon Risotto

I love lemon’s tangy taste, especially when it combines with creamy dishes like risotto. And this perfect side dish for seafood is full of flavor from lemon zest, lemon juice, which keeps you craving for more and more.

This risotto can stand alone as a simple evening meal. But you can add other ingredients to this recipe for extra protein. My suggestion is grilled shrimps as they make a perfect match with lemon.

Mexican Shakshuka

Simply put, shakshuka is a Mexican version of eggs in purgatory but more satisfying. Its main ingredients contain poached eggs with tomato sauce. However, this sauce has more heat with Mexican spices like smoked pepper, cumin, chili powder, and paprika.

If you want extra protein, add chorizo, avocados, and cheese to the dish. Shakshuka tastes the best when going with warmed corn or tortillas and hominy corn.

A step-by-step description is waiting for you in this video!

What Recipe Is Your Favorite?

You should never be nervous when preparing a romantic dinner for two. Remember, you’ve got to enjoy it, too. Don’t overthink. You just need to double the number of ingredients compared to when you cook for yourself.

So, which one of those above recipes is your favorite? Do you have any other ideas? Please write down your thoughts via commenting for other readers and me. And if you think this article is helpful, you can share it with your partner so that you two can prepare a dinner meal together.