These delicious dinners for two feature ingredients like chicken, fish, legumes and leafy greens, which fit into one of the healthiest eating patterns around: the Mediterranean diet. Plus, each dish takes 30 minutes or less to make, so you can whip up a healthy evening meal with ease. These recipes like our Balsamic Chicken Thighs with Arugula-Tomato Salad or our Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens are the perfect meal for two, and they make great leftovers for lunch if you’re dining alone!
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Balsamic Chicken Thighs with Arugula-Tomato Salad
Food: Sammy Mila, Photos: Jason Donnelly, Props: Breanna Ghazali.
This easy chicken dinner is a flavor-packed dish where juicy chicken thighs are cooked until golden, then coated in a tangy-sweet balsamic glaze. They’re served over a crisp arugula and tomato salad. It’s a simple dinner for two that tastes delicious and comes together quickly.
Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Chicken & Fresh Berries
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If you’re packing this grain bowl for work, combine the dressing ingredients in a small container. When you’re ready to eat, shake the dressing well, add it to the salad and toss. If you don’t have time to make a homemade dressing, use 3 tablespoons of store-bought olive oil vinaigrette. Keep prep time short by using rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken) and a pouch of microwavable quinoa.
California Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Inspired by an option at the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger, this turkey burger recipe keeps the carbs in check with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. The side of sweet potato fries bakes while you prep the burgers, so this entire healthy dinner is ready in under 30 minutes.
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili
This satisfying vegetarian chili for two is studded with black beans and sweet potatoes. Serve with some warmed corn tortillas and tossed salad with orange segments and avocado. This recipe was adapted from our popular Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili to serve two instead of four.
Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens
Protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas add staying power to this zesty and healthy salad recipe.
Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
Brie Passano
In this easy weeknight dinner, we combine lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a flavorful meal that is simple and quick. This recipe was adapted from our popular Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan to serve two instead of four.
Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken
Toss the cooked chicken into this healthy salad recipe while it’s still warm to lightly wilt the kale, making it softer and easier to eat. Using store-bought salad dressing saves time, but you could also make your own vinaigrette.
Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken
Ali Redmond
In this healthy copycat of a takeout salad favorite, we combine precooked (or leftover) chicken and poppy seed dressing with fresh greens, strawberries and goat cheese for an easy throw-together meal that’s ready in 10 minutes.
Sweet Potatoes with Warm Black Bean Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle
For a quick and satisfying last-minute supper, it’s hard to beat a sweet potato zapped in the microwave. The fragrant filling of beans and tomato adds protein, making it a nutritionally complete entree. Be sure to eat the potato skin; it’s full of fiber. This recipe was adapted from our popular Sweet Potatoes with Warm Black Bean Salad to serve two instead of four.
Penne with Tuna & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Need a quick pasta dish that’s flavorful and colorful? This penne pasta dinner-for-two combines leeks, baby spinach, tuna and sun-dried tomatoes—and it’s ready in just 20 minutes!
