Do you rotate the same meals for dinner with your partner? Sometimes, when you’re cooking for two, you can get stuck in a rut. If you’re like most DINKs, you don’t have a lot of time to devote to cooking. The good news is that you can still make delicious meals in 30 minutes or less. Here are five of our favorite recipes for two.
1. Stir-Fry Noodles
Stir-fries are the perfect meal for two and only require one pan. You can add any kind of protein that you like, such as tofu, chicken, steak, or pork. You’ll want to add lots of veggies like broccoli, water chestnuts, snap peas, and carrots. With a little soy sauce or stir-fry sauce, you can toss your noodles and veggies and make a delicious and quick dish. Make sure to add generous amounts of ginger and garlic for flavor. If you like spice, you can add some chilis. To finish the dish, toss with a little sesame oil, sesame seeds, and chopped scallions. You’ll keep going back to this dish over and over again. The nice thing is that you can change it up with different ingredients each time you make it.
2. Marry Me Chicken
Have you ever made a pan sauce? It’s very easy to make and adds creaminess to any dish. In the viral Marry Me Chicken dish, you use a pan sauce to amp up the flavor. First, you sear the chicken on both sides. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter and garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and sun-dried tomatoes. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Then, you combine it all and let it simmer so the flavors marry. Garnish with parsley and you’re ready to eat! This can be made with a variety of proteins, like pork and salmon.
3. Enchiladas
Enchiladas are a fun way to introduce a Mexican night to your weekly routine. If you’re making chicken enchiladas, a good hack is to shred up a pre-made rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. You’ll want to add enchilada sauce, crushed tomatoes, cumin, and paprika to the chicken. You can add in chilies, beans, and corn to the mix for additional flavor. In a baking dish, you’ll want to lay out tortillas and your mixture. Then, you roll the tortillas and fill your dish tightly. Lastly, top with more enchilada sauce and liberal amounts of Mexican shredded cheese. Bake in the oven and broil the cheese for a minute or two at the end for additional crisp. You can top with sour cream and cilantro.
4. Dense Bean Salad
For a lighter meal, you can easily throw together a dense bean salad in under 30 minutes. Chop up veggies like cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. Then, rinse and drain different beans like black beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans. Combine all of it in a bowl with feta cheese and add in any protein you desire, like cubed chicken. For the dressing, you can make an easy dressing with olive oil, lemon, Dijon mustard, garlic, honey, and salt and pepper to taste. There are many different varieties of bean salad for you to try!
5. Chili
Chili nights are a staple during the winter months. It’s an easy meal to make in under 30 minutes. Combine your ground beef, turkey, or chicken in a large pot. Then, add in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, onions, garlic, and lots of seasonings. Some people like to use hot sauce or chili for heat. You’ll want to season with oregano, paprika, chili powder, and cumin. You really can’t go wrong with chili. Just keep tasting and let the mixture simmer until you’re happy with it! You can top with shredded cheese, avocado, and sour cream.
Easy Meals in Under 30 Minutes
There really is no limit to what kind of meals you can make in under 30 minutes. With a little creativity, you can make easy dishes and have leftovers! What is your favorite meal to make for two? Let us know in the comments.
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Teri Monroe
Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
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