Healthy Dinners for Two: 9 Homemade Meals Better Than Takeout

Are you and your partner trying to cut down on takeout?

Ditching the to-go bags in favor of fresh, homemade meals is a way to reduce calories, large portions, and unwanted ingredients. There are plenty of fresh, healthy recipe ideas available on the internet, from lightened-up Chinese food to vegetarian curries to bunless burger options.

To help you slim down on choices, we collected some of our favorite healthy meals that are perfectly portioned for two people.

9 Tasty, Healthy Dinner Recipes to Make This Week

If you’re looking for a few healthy weeknight dinners, try one of these n recipes. You'll find healthy variations of some of your favorite dishes, including Mediterranean, light Italian, healthy Indian, and even a surprisingly healthy take on a Thanksgiving dinner.

Lamb Burgers With Feta and Harissa Aioli

If you think “burger night” is a sorry excuse for a dinner for two, you’re doing it all wrong. Ground lamb might just be the most underrated cut at the meat counter, and Mediterranean lamb burgers are the number one dish missing from your weekly menu. Top with feta, arugula, and homemade harissa aioli, then leave off the bun for a low-carb dinner.

One Pan General Tso’s Chicken Recipe for Two

Do you love Chinese takeout, but don’t like the calories (or food coma) that comes with it? If so, you simply have to try this recipe. This lightened-up version of General Tso’s chicken is made in one pan (hooray, no arguing over dish duty!). Serve over brown rice for an easy, healthy dinner for two.

Chicken Cacciatore for Two

Craving Italian comfort food? Pizza, pasta, and other heavy entrees aren’t the only dinner options available. This hearty, traditional dish is served with herbs, tomatoes, bell peppers, and wine (to cook, not to drink — apologies in advance). You’ll smother the sauce over bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, roast in the oven for 25 minutes, then serve over whole-wheat pasta for a light Italian dish.

Easy Shrimp Avocado Salad With Tomatoes

If the thought of salads for dinner has you stifling a yawn, you need to rethink your greens game. This shrimp and avocado salad recipe is simple, refreshing, and surprisingly filling. You’ll layer all your favorite goodies — including shrimp, cherry tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and cilantro — for a gluten-free, low-calorie meal.

20 Minute Golden Chickpea Curry With Spinach For Two

If Indian food ranks as your favorite cuisine in existence but you’ve been too timid to make it yourself, consider this your gateway recipe. This easy chickpea curry contains just five ingredients and takes a mere 20 minutes to prepare. Plus, it’s a light, vegan recipe that pairs easily with white or brown rice for a complete meal.

Braised Tuscan Pork Chops With Pan-Fried String Beans

This flavorful dinner is the perfect meal for a date night in. Boneless pork tenderloins are braised in a balsamic tomato sauce, then paired with a side dish of string beans for a simple, healthy meal. Sound too fancy for your cooking skills? Don’t worry — this simple meal takes just 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes to cook.

Stir Fry Turkey With Sugar Snap Peas

‍This secretly healthy stir fry combines turkey, cashews, sugar snap peas, and onions into a single dish for the perfect dinner for two. Here’s the secret: Since the turkey is marinated prior to cooking you’ll need less oil to actually “fry” your ingredients, cutting down on the overall fat content of the recipe. A marinade made from soy sauce and garlic prevents your dish from drying out while adding the bold, Asian-inspired flavor you’re craving.

Greek-Style Stuffed Peppers

If you’re trying the whole low-carb thing, stuffed peppers are always a go-to solution. You can cut out the sandwich bread and use a halved bell pepper as your “vehicle,” then fill with your favorite ingredients. These Mediterranean stuffed peppers combine artichokes, lemon juice, ground turkey (or chicken), garlic, and mozzarella for a refreshing, easy dinner for two.

Easy Teriyaki Chicken

This easy teriyaki chicken might just be one of the easiest healthy dinner recipes in existence. Simply marinade chicken breasts in a homemade teriyaki sauce, place the chicken on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes. Drizzle with extra teriyaki sauce if you prefer, then service over broccoli or brown rice.

Busy People Can Still Eat Healthy

On busy weeknights, it can be incredibly difficult to eat healthy. If you're pulling late hours at the office, that takeout menu looks a lot more attractive than stopping at the grocery store, cooking ingredients, and having to deal with cleanup.

Tovala does all of the above for you — shopping, chopping, prepping, and cooking — and doesn't dirty any dishes in your kitchen. Plus, steaming your food in your Tovala Oven is an incredibly healthy way to prepare food, keeping each dish juicy and flavorful without excess oil. With Tovala, you get the convenience of takeout with the health consciousness of a homemade meal.