12 Cheap Recipes for Two
These cozy, budget-friendly cheap meals are perfect for two.
In some ways, cooking for two can be more difficult than cooking for large families. Everyone loves leftovers, but in a two-person environment, massive amounts of leftovers will only go to waste. You can't keep vast amounts of ingredients in your refrigerator, or they'll spoil, so it's unrealistic to just buy massive amounts of cheap ingredients in bulk. Cheap recipes for two can be difficult to find.
However, that doesn't mean that two-person households or even special, intimate dinners have to be expensive or difficult. These 12 Cheap Recipes for Two are delicious, inexpensive, and creative. These recipes for two on a budget will have a little something for everyone. So, if you're looking for how to cook easy homemade meals for two, look no further. From chicken to pasta to beef, this collection of budget-friendly dinners for two is going to help you make sure that dinner is a breeze.
Table of Contents
Budget-Friendly Recipes for Two
These recipes for two are incredibly easy and very inexpensive. All of these simple, cheap ingredients come together with proper seasoning and care to make meals that are truly special.
Pot roast is a great example of how to make a high-class meal with lowbrow ingredients. This fall-apart-on-the-fork Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast is so simple to make, and you could even throw it into the slow cooker before you leave for work. Imagine coming home to a house full of these mouthwatering smells.
Cheap Healthy Meals for Two
Nobody warns you about how difficult it can be to cook healthy, nutritious meals on a frugal budget. Sometimes fresh ingredients can be much more expensive than we would like, and it gets tempting to go down the street for a $1 cheeseburger. But don't resort to that quite yet. These healthy recipes for two are all completely fantastic. Both the taste and the price point will put a smile on your face, and your wallet will thank you. None of these dinners will be giving you heartburn, either!
This classy baked Herbed Lemon Salmon has only two major ingredients; the rest are spices, salt, and pepper. This flaky salmon dinner is baked in foil packets, so the clean-up is minimal. You'll love having this sophisticated dinner for two on a budget.
A healthy alternative to traditional pizza, these Zucchini Pizza Boats adhere to a vegan, gluten free, and dairy-free diet, but you can change the ingredients to suit your own dietary needs and preferences. Feel free to get creative when gathering your ingredients.
Made with fresh spinach, wild mushrooms and tomatoes, this light, homemade linguini recipe is a great way to enjoy pasta without consuming mountains of carbs.
Chinese Takeout Recipes for Two
What is it that we all crave the most when we don't want to cook? Chinese takeout, of course. But don't go reaching for your debit card. These satisfying Chinese takeout recipes for two will save you the delivery fee.
Of course, any dinner for two should ideally be very quick to make, and this 15-Minute Chinese Chicken for Two delivers on that front. You can throw it together in only a couple minutes--and it'll disappear just as quickly, too!
Budget Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
These tender steak strips are stir-fried with broccoli and simmered in a tangy sauce. Served over rice, this tasty dish from Campbell's Kitchen is one of the easiest and frugal stir fry recipes you'll find.
This Chicken Lo Mein for Two is a delicious Chinese chicken recipe that you'll love. Made with spaghetti noodles, red bell pepper, teriyaki sauce, and cocktail peanuts, this Chinese recipe is sure to be loved. Put it on your dinner menu this week.
Copycat Dinner Recipes for Two
Last but certainly not least is our collection of Copycat Restaurant Recipes for Two. You don't need to go out to a restaurant when you can have the same food for half the price--and eat it in your pajamas!
This Chili's Grilled Chicken Fettucine has the Cajun flair we love with the creaminess of the fettuccine sauce. This is the perfect meal for two!
Just Like Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
The broccoli cheese soup from Panera is one of the most comforting bowls of soup we've ever had. Now we can make our own version of that cheesy, warm soup whenever we want! This is a great easy soup recipe to prepare on a cold night; it's sure to fill you up and leave you more than satisfied.
Applebee's Clubhouse Grille Sandwich Copycat
This is one of the easiest Applebee's copycat recipes from their menu. Made with layers of ham, turkey, cheese, and lettuce on thick Texas toast with BBQ sauce and mayo, this is a flavor explosion you won't be able to get enough of.
Do you have a go-to recipe for two? We'd love to hear about it in the comments!
