25 quick dinners for two
Cooking for two should not mean leftovers for days. These dinners are written for two servings, so there is no awkward halving, and each one is ready in 20 minutes or less.
Updated October 2026 · ranked by popularity
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1. Classic smash burgers
Two thin smashed patties per burger with crisp, lacy edges, melted American cheese, pickles, onion and a tangy burger sauce on soft potato buns.
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2. Chicken parmesan
Thin chicken cutlets in a crisp panko-Parmesan crust, shallow-fried, topped with marinara and mozzarella and broiled until bubbling. Easy chicken parm in 20.
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3. Copycat Panda Express orange chicken
Crisp chicken thigh bites tossed in a sticky, sweet-sour orange sauce with ginger, garlic and a pinch of chili flakes. Our faster take on Panda Express Orange Chicken.
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4. Spaghetti carbonara
Classic Roman carbonara with crisp guanciale, egg yolks, Pecorino Romano and black pepper. No cream: just a silky sauce made off the heat with pasta water.
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5. Beef and broccoli
Tender strips of beef and crisp broccoli florets tossed in a glossy oyster sauce with garlic and ginger. Better than the takeout and ready faster.
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6. Teriyaki chicken
Juicy chicken thigh pieces seared, then glazed in a quick homemade teriyaki sauce of soy, mirin, honey, garlic and ginger. Served over rice in 20 minutes.
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7. Copycat P.F. Chang's Mongolian beef
Thin, crisp-edged flank steak tossed in a glossy sweet soy, brown sugar and ginger glaze with scallions. Our faster take on P.F. Chang's Mongolian beef.
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8. Copycat Olive Garden chicken Alfredo
Our take on Olive Garden's chicken Alfredo: golden chicken over fettuccine in a garlicky butter, cream and parmesan sauce. Rich, silky and on the table in 20.
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9. Chicken piccata
Thin, golden chicken cutlets in a bright lemon, caper and butter pan sauce with a splash of white wine. A restaurant classic for two in 20 minutes.
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10. Chicken tikka masala
Yogurt-spiced chicken thigh seared hard for charred edges, then simmered in a smoky tomato and cream masala sauce. A quick skillet take on the takeout classic.
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11. Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
Our take on the Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme: spiced beef, cheese sauce and a crunchy tostada sealed in a toasted tortilla. Crisp, melty and quick.
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12. General Tso's chicken
Crispy cornstarch-coated chicken shallow-fried in two quick batches, then tossed in a sweet, spicy and tangy sauce with toasted dried chiles.
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13. Marry me chicken
Thin, golden chicken cutlets simmered in a creamy sun-dried tomato and parmesan sauce with garlic and basil. The viral one-pan dinner, done in 20 minutes.
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14. Penne alla vodka
Penne in a silky, blush-pink sauce of caramelized tomato paste, a splash of vodka, cream and grated cheese, with a little chile heat. Made as the pasta boils.
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15. Quick butter chicken
Chicken thigh simmered in a silky tomato, butter and cream sauce built from scratch with garam masala and warm spices. Serve with microwave rice or naan.
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16. Shrimp pad thai
Chewy rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, egg and a sweet-sour tamarind sauce, then piled with bean sprouts, peanuts and lime.
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17. Egg fried rice
Classic takeout egg fried rice: day-old rice fried hot with fluffy scrambled egg, peas, carrots, scallions and soy. Ready in about 12 minutes.
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18. Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
Soft egg noodles stir-fried with cabbage, celery and onion in a savory soy and oyster sauce. Our quick, straight-from-the-wok take on Panda Express Chow Mein.
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19. Copycat Benihana hibachi fried rice
Rice fried hot and fast in garlic butter with egg, onion, carrot and peas, then finished with soy and sesame. Our take on Benihana's hibachi fried rice.
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20. Honey garlic salmon
Pan-seared salmon fillets with a sticky honey, garlic and soy glaze reduced in the same skillet. Crisp edges, tender center, done in 15 minutes.
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21. Kung pao chicken
Tender chicken thigh stir-fried with toasted dried chiles, garlic, scallions and crunchy peanuts in a glossy sweet, sour and savory sauce.
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22. Shrimp fried rice
Takeout-style shrimp fried rice with juicy seared shrimp, scrambled egg, peas, carrots and scallions, tossed with soy and sesame oil in one hot pan.
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23. Copycat Big Mac burgers
Our take on the Big Mac: two thin smashed patties, melty cheese, pickles and a tangy pink burger sauce on a sesame bun. Ready in under 20 minutes.
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24. Garlic butter steak bites
Bite-sized sirloin cubes seared hard in a hot skillet, then tossed in sizzling garlic and herb butter. Juicy, deeply browned steak bites in about 15 minutes.
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25. French dip sandwiches
Thin roast beef warmed in a quick onion and Worcestershire jus, piled into toasted rolls with melted provolone, with extra jus on the side for dunking.
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Need more? Every recipe has a servings control that scales the ingredients up or down for you.