These easy healthy dinner recipes for two are cheap and ready in up to 30 minutes, simplifying cooking, saving time, and with no leftovers to worry about!
Table of Contents
Watch me to make one of our easy healthy dinners for two step-by-step!
Forget the daunting 'What's for Dinner Tonight?' question.
Whether you are a new couple, a family of two, or your children have flown the nest, you can find delicious, simple healthy dinner ideas for two people here.
Quick and Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes for Two on a Budget
Dinnertime doesn't have to be stressful, agree? Knowing what to cook in advance and planning to get the necessary ingredients for quick dinner meals will make dinner for two a breeze.
In addition, you won't have to worry about leftovers to care for or get wasted in your fridge.
To lend you a hand, I prepared this collection of 25+ easy healthy dinners for two that are quick to make and cost up to $3 per person.
It includes dishes made with simple ingredients such as chicken, sausage, ground beef, rice, beans, and pasta, quickly cooked in the oven, air fryer, Instant Pot, or stovetop. Ready to cook the best healthy meals ever?
Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas for Two with Chicken
Is chicken one of your favorite proteins? Mine too! In addition, it is budget-friendly and versatile! You can make an array of easy healthy dinner meals with it in the blink of an eye.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Made in less than 30 minutes, with either bone-in or boneless thighs, this busy weeknight dinner yields 2 thighs per person and costs up to $1 per thigh. They are crispy, lower in fat, tasty, and super simple to prepare. Serve it with this baked feta pasta, rice pilaf, or quinoa bowl!
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Cut this Asian chicken dinner recipe in half, and you will have 2 drumsticks to feed each of you two for just $1 per drumstick. They are crispy, yummy, and ready in just 30 minutes. I love to serve them with this air fryer asparagus for a light dinner meal.
Baked Chicken Breast
Looking for a healthy weeknight meal? With just 3 ingredients and less than $1 per chicken breast, you can have a flavorful and light dinner for two ready in 30 minutes. You can easily cut down our recipe in half to prepare 2 breasts (one per person). You may shred them to make chicken tacos or have them with these hearty smashed potatoes and steamed green beans.
Brazilian Chicken and Saffron Rice
This is a complete dish made with rice, chicken thighs, and veggies in 30 minutes. Cut down our recipe in half to feed two people for $2.50 per person. It is like having a comforting restaurant-quality meal at home.
Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff Recipe
Made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs smothered in a flourless creamy mushroom gravy, this comforting dinner is low-carb and ready in 30 minutes if cooked on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot. It is another restaurant-quality dinner meal for two that costs $3 per person. Easily scale down our recipe in half to cook it only for two people!
Chicken Salsa with Peppers and Onions
No fuss chicken bites with peppers, onions, and salsa. Finished in 30 minutes, this healthy dinner recipe is affordable, simple, quick, and satisfying to the taste buds. Make it for $2.25 per person and serve it with mashed cauliflower for a comforting yet light dinner.
Healthy Pasta Dinner Recipes for 2
What can be more comforting and satisfying than a good pasta dinner? It is my go-to meal for busy weeknights and one of the most requested by my family. To make them healthier, I use whole-wheat or low-carb pasta.
Cheesecake Factory Four Cheese Pasta
Are you on a tight budget? No worries! You can make this copycat Cheesecake Factory pasta dinner at home and save big bucks. It has penne tossed in a creamy healthy marinara sauce and four kinds of cheese, making a super yummy 30-minute vegetarian dinner meal for two for just $ 1.25 per person. Make sure to scale down our recipe by a third.
Creamy Vegan Spinach Pasta Recipe
Dunked in freshly made Spinach pesto, flavored with garlic and black pepper, this vegan Spinach Pasta is amazingly delicious and a perfect dinner meal for a lazy weekend or busy weeknights! You can make it for $1.50 per person.
Sausage Pasta Recipe
This creamy Italian sausage pasta is smothered in a creamy sauce, making a cozy dinner meal for two. In addition, it is ready in 28 minutes, costing less than $2 per person. To make it healthier, you can use a lean turkey or chicken sausage. Scale down the recipe by a third to have no leftovers.
Tuna Mac and Cheese
This creamy pasta with tuna makes one of the best easy dinner recipes for two. It is high-protein, ready in 25 minutes, and quite delicious. Just scale down the recipe by a third and you'll have a meal fit for two without leftovers for a dollar per person.
Creamy Vegan Pasta with Peas
Looking for a tasty pasta dinner dish? This 15-minute creamy pasta with peas is packed with plant-based protein and fiber, making one of those easy healthy dinner recipes for two on a budget!
Gigi Hadid Spicy Vodka Pasta
If you're looking for bold flavors, this internet sensation pasta recipe fits the bill! For a dollar per person, you can savor this 25-minute pasta dinner on busy weeknights. It is effortless so there will be no need for a takeout! Making it healthier is easy: Use a low-carb or whole wheat pasta and swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt.
Chili Mac and Cheese
With just 5 ingredients you can make dinner for two that is pure flavor and comfort in 15 minutes! It has macaroni, lean ground beef, lots of cheddar cheese, canned black beans, and chili seasoning mix easily cooked in the Instant Pot for a dollar per person. My husband and I can't get enough of it!
Easy Pasta Bolognese
Making this 25-minute pasta Bolognese for dinner is an easy task. You can prepare it with lean ground beef in one pot on the stovetop or the Instant Pot for a mess-free dinner recipe for two. Scale down the recipe in half and pay only $1.50 per person for a tasty Italian meal that is also high-protein.
Mediterranean Pasta
This 15-minute whole wheat pasta with Mediterranean vegetables and a creamy feta sauce will become your new favorite healthy dinner meal for two. It is packed with fiber and Mediterranean fresh flavors, costing $1.50 per person.
Soups for Two
Soup is a must for busy weeknights. It makes a complete quick meal, usually prepared with simple ingredients in one pot. It can carry lots of flavors too!
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
This Mexican dinner meal has bold flavors yet is light and comforting. Twenty minutes and a pressure cooker are all you need to prepare a heavenly pot of this budget-friendly soup.
Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup
This cheap Asian instant soup has rice noodles, low-carb veggies, and shredded chicken cooked in a delicious broth in just 15 minutes. It is quite satisfying and light!
Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Savor my Grandma's healing soup for just $1.50 per person. It is rich in protein and vitamins, packed with flavor, and perfect for chilly days. In 30 minutes you can have a complete meal for two. Brown rice makes a great replacement for white rice. Awesome, right?
Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe
Twenty-five is all you need to prepare this Italian dinner recipe for two on a budget. It is simple, rich in lean protein, and fulfilling!
Carrot Sweet Potato Soup
This vegan creamy soup is packed with vegetables and coconut milk, making one of those quick and easy healthy dinner recipes for two on a budget. It is one of my favorite meals!
Instant Pot Tomato Soup
This vegetarian creamy tomato soup is prepared in 30 minutes in the pressure cooker, making an easy, quick, healthy, and delicious meal for less than $2 per person. I enjoy it with a super crispy and cheesy grilled cheese!
Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup
This creamy French soup is loaded with comforting veggies and costs a dollar per person. Unlike several French dishes, this one is ready in 26 minutes. Pair with hard-crusted bread or toast for a complete vegetarian meal!
Norwegian Fish Soup Recipe
Salmon and low-carb veggies are cooked in a rich broth for 26 minutes, making a delicious dinner for busy days. To make it even more affordable, you can swap salmon with tilapia or fresh cod.
Salads for Two
Salad is a satisfying yet healthy affair, making it ideal for those on a diet or who enjoy a light dinner. I am a big fan of salads for dinner. How about you?
Mediterranean Cucumber Chickpea Salad
You can prepare this salad dinner meal in just 20 minutes without cooking a single thing. It has canned chickpeas, avocado, fresh veggies, and feta cheese tossed with a tasty vinaigrette. Spend less than a dollar for this amazing vegetarian dinner.
White Bean Salad Recipe
This 15-minute Mediterranean salad is packed with creamy Cannellini beans, fresh herbs, vegetables, and a zesty Mediterranean salad dressing, making a cheap, fresh, satisfying, and vibrant dinner for busy weeknights! Sliced air-fryer hard boiled eggs make a great addition to this healthy supper!
Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
You can prepare it in 20 minutes as a side dish or a complete dinner meal by adding bacon or another pre-cooked protein. It has whole wheat bowtie pasta, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and basil leaves tossed with a tangy balsamic dressing, making a cheap and easy healthy dinner for two.
Butternut Squash Salad Recipe
This complete vegetarian dinner in 30 minutes is everything you want in a meal. Using seasonal ingredients such as roasted butternut squash, kale, corn, pomegranate seeds, blackberries, walnuts, and goat cheese, tossed with an apple cider vinaigrette, our nutrient-dense, cheap dinner simplifies cooking without compromising flavor.
Brussels Sprout Salad Recipe
Twenty-five minutes and a dollar per person are what you need to prepare a delicious wholesome dinner loaded with Brussels sprouts, apples, pomegranate seeds, pecans, pepitas, cranberries, and feta cheese tossed with a tangy citrus salad dressing. If you want, you can add shredded turkey breast or rotisserie chicken to make it even more protein-rich!
Thai Mango Salad Recipe
Light, vibrant, and refreshing, our Thai salad prepared in 20 minutes makes a budget-friendly dinner that is packed with sweet, tangy, savory, and spicy flavors. To make our healthy recipe even more delicious, add cooked shrimp, shredded chicken, or crispy tofu to it.
FAQs
Dinner should be the smallest or lightest meal of the day because our metabolism tends to slow down at night. In addition to a small to moderate portion, we should prefer one-quarter of lean protein, one-quarter of whole grains, and one-half of vegetables which are the components of a balanced healthy meal plate.
Some of the cheap and easy healthy dinners to cook in 30 minutes or less consist of lean soups, balanced salads, or a plate containing a lean protein (e.g. skinless chicken, fish, reduced-fat ground beef) with a whole grain (such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, or quinoa) and seasonal vegetables.
More Dinner Recipes
- 15 Birthday dinner ideas
- 20 Easter dinner ideas
- 50 Easy healthy crockpot meals for dinner
- 50 Easy gluten-free dinners
- 30 High-protein dinners
- 55 Easy beef recipes for dinner
- 80 Low-calorie dinners
- 70 Easy chicken recipes for dinner
- 70 Easy one-pot meals for dinner
- 30 Quick and easy low-carb dinner recipes
- 75 Easy dinner ideas
- 35 Easy pantry recipes
- 21 Easy summer dinners
PIN AND ENJOY!
25+ Easy Healthy Dinners for Two
Equipment
- 2 Mason jars 24-ounce each
- 1 cutting board
- 1 Grater
- 1 Chef's knife
Ingredients
- 1 large chicken breast cooked and shredded (or shredded rotisserie chicken or skinless chicken thighs)
- 4 teaspoons gluten-free soy sauce or liquid aminos if you're on a keto diet
- 4 teaspoons Sriracha or hot sauce. Skip it if you don't enjoy spicy/hot soup or add some freshly ground black pepper, about ½ teaspoon per jar.
- 1 Tablespoon grated ginger root for making this soup tastier, you may add 2 teaspoon garlic powder to this soup but NOT fresh garlic
- 1 ½ Tablespoons lime juice
- ½ cup julienned carrots
- 1 ⅓ large julienned bell peppers one red and one yellow, or just one color
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- 5.3 ounces palmini noodles or rice vermicelli noodles or cellophane noodles which don't take long to cook -- Palmini is the heart of palm noodles, perfect for keto dieters. Drain the liquid before adding palmini to the soup.
- 4 cups homemade chicken broth or store-bought or chicken stock, boiled (you may do it in the microwave if you prefer)
- Chopped cilantro and sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Divide the shredded chicken evenly into each of the 2 large mason jars, then add 2 teaspoon of soy sauce, 2 teaspoon Sriracha, ½ tablespoon grated ginger root, and 1 tablespoon lime juice to each jar.
- Divide evenly and layer the carrots, bell peppers, and green onions in each jar. Then, divide and add the noodles evenly between each jar. Close the jars with the lid and chill in the fridge until ready to eat. If you prefer to eat it immediately, skip the 10-15 minutes in the step below!
- Take the jar out of the fridge about 10-15 minutes before eating and let it sit at room temperature. Then, pour about 2 cups of boiling chicken broth into each jar, or just enough to fill each. Do not skip these 10-15 minutes or your chilled ajr may bread when you pour in the boiling broth.
- Carefully stir the contents, close the jar with the lid, let it sit for about 3-5 minutes, and enjoy garnished with sesame seeds and chopped cilantro! Be aware you may need to microwave the jar for 1-2 minutes depending on the type of vermicelli noodles you used because some varieties are harder than others.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- FRIDGE: Store your gluten-free chicken noodle soup jars in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- FREEZER: After cooling, transfer the cooked soup to an airtight container for up to 2 months. To reheat it, microwave from frozen for 6-7 minutes (or more depending on the potency of your microwave), stirring halfway through.
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Just looking at your wonderful photos has made me hungry. Thanks for recipes that are perfect for two.