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Need mealtime inspiration? These easy dinner ideas for two are healthy, mouthwatering and simple to whip up for meals together.

Easy Dinner Ideas for Two
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Need mealtime inspiration? If you’re anything like us, we always need new ideas. So we’ve compiled this list of our top easy dinner ideas for two: designed for couples by a couple! Each recipe linked below is easy, healthy and delicious: and easy to scale down or saves well as leftovers. Plan to either make a half recipe or a full recipe and save the leftovers. There are options for seafood, vegetarian, and vegan options. Either way: you’ll be head over heels by these delicious options to cook…together!

And now…the top easy dinner ideas for two!

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dinners

These ideas include some of our favorite vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free dinner recipes. But need more? We’ve got dedicated recipes just for you:

Side dishes to pair

Need sides to pair with these healthy and easy dinner ideas for two? We’ve got lots of side dish inspiration. Here are some of our favorite easy sides to serve with various recipes:

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20 Easy Dinner Ideas for Two (Baked Salmon & More)

Pistachio crusted salmon
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Try this delicious Pistachio Crusted Salmon for Two, or any of the recipes linked above! It’s the perfect easy dinner to impress, topped with a crunchy topping of nuts and Parmesan cheese.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 pound salmon fillet or fillets, skin on (wild caught if possible)
  • 1/4 + ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped pistachios
  • 1 tablespoon Italian panko (or Italian breadcrumbs)*
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  2. Bring the salmon to room temperature and pat it dry. Season the salmon with the salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix the Dijon mustard and honey, then brush it on to the fish in an even layer. 
  3. In another small bowl, mix together the finely chopped pistachios, Italian panko, and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the pistachio mixture on top of the fish.
  4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until the salmon flakes with a fork; the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the center. Serve immediately. 

Notes

*We recommend Italian panko or Italian breadcrumbs because they’re already seasoned. Panko is best since it’s the lightest and crunchiest. If all you can find is regular panko, mix 2 tablespoons panko with 1 pinch kosher salt and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (or ¼ teaspoon each dried oregano and dried basil).

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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3 Comments

  1. Beth says:

    Nice list, but about half of these are salmon/shrimp – those aren’t really affordable meals to make half the time! :o

  2. E’lisha Colòn says:

    I really enjoyed the vegan cauliflower tacos. They are truly everything of AMAZING!!!! Definitely can’t wait to try some more recipes 😊

  3. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!