Recipes Everyday Cooking Budget Cooking Recipes 20 Budget-Friendly Dinner Ideas for Two By Kimberly Holland Published on January 30, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Just like families with four, five, or more people, families of two may not have a lot of flexibility in their monthly budgets. But that doesn't mean we aren't looking for delicious, filling, and creative dishes to put on the weekly meal plan. The Allrecipes community of cooks has created dozens of budget-friendly recipes designed for just two people. Here, we're highlighting 20 of those inexpensive dinners so you can make an impressive dinner-date meal, an easy weeknight option, or try something new for you and your roommate. 01 of 21 Open Faced Egg Sandwiches with Arugula Salad View Recipe Eggs are a budget-conscious cook's best protein. They're inexpensive, and they can be used to elevate simple dishes, like rice bowls or a simple open-faced sandwich, like this one. "This was so easy and delicious. I toasted the bread first, and since I had no mayo or arugula, I used yogurt and baby spinach. Yum, I will definitely be making this again!" writes reviewer Lynne Curran. How to Grocery Shop for One Person – On a Budget 02 of 21 Bucatini All'Amatriciana View Recipe "Great flavors and easy to make! I love the serving size for two, it was perfect. This is a recipe that delivers a great range of flavors, and in such a short amount of time. Spaghetti may work for a substitution but the bucatini is the way to go," writes Allstar Howard. Use pancetta or bacon if you can't find the pork cheek. 18 Cheap Pasta Dinners for the End of the Month 03 of 21 Lazy Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese View Recipe If you love the flavors of chicken Parmesan, but need to shave some time off the prep, Cindylee Bloomer's sandwich version of the classic Italian-American dinner will surely hit the spot. 04 of 21 Mushroom and Black Bean Quesadillas View Recipe bd.weld Quesadillas are a great way to make one dish that allows for customization. Keep the filling simple and inexpensive with mushrooms and canned black beans. Then you can add salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or any other of your favorite toppings. 15 Cheap Vegan Recipes for Filling Your Belly and Wallet 05 of 21 Tuna Panini Melt View Recipe bd.weld Elevate the timeless tuna sandwich to a dinner recipe by boosting flavor with balsamic vinegar. Then press it on a grill pan or panini griddle until warm. "I was quite skeptical about the balsamic vinegar but after everything was done it turned out to be a very flavorful panini," writes Allstar bd.weld. 06 of 21 Fresh From the Vine Tortellini View Recipe tonia.st Even if you're trying to keep your meals within your monthly budget, you can enjoy decadent dishes like this tomatoey tortellini. Jarred pesto is a budget-friendly way to boost the flavor in sandwiches, salads, soups, and more. 07 of 21 Zucchini e Pomodori Gratinati (Zucchini and Tomato Gratin) View Recipe Here's another beautiful example of how budget-friendly cooking doesn't have to be just beans and rice. This layered gratin-style dish is stacked with zucchini, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese, and baked until warm and toasted. 08 of 21 Chef John's Chicken and Mushrooms View Recipe Chef John Elegant and rich, Chef John's recipe for a mushroom-studded chicken dish is wonderful for a night-in or a special occasion. Chef John manages to coax immense flavor out of humble (and inexpensive) ingredients. "Succulent and chicken breast are seldom found in the same sentence, but you can find them together here in this delightfully simple recipe, composed of a few common ingredients," writes Allstar Bibi. 14 Nights of Dinner Ideas All Under $2 Per Serving 09 of 21 Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap) View Recipe Whether you buy a jar of the fermented cabbage or you make your own kimchi, you'll soon find this funky, flavor-packed condiment is a terrific way to get a major impact (a little goes a long way) with an inexpensive ingredient. Here, it combines with budget-friendly staples like rice, ground beef, and an egg for a special spin on fried rice. 10 of 21 Cheesy-Crust Skillet Pizza View Recipe The Gruntled Gourmand What does a pizza without a crust look like? This! The all-cheese pizza is great if one of you is avoiding grains, but it's also excellent if you just want to try something different with that stash of shredded mozzarella still in your fridge at the end of the month. 11 of 21 Authentic Thai Basil Chicken View Recipe Deb C If a trip to your favorite Thai restaurant is out of your budget right now, you can still enjoy your favorite dish with this cheaper alternative. "Very tasty and the kids ate it up without any complaints. I did add some grated ginger because I'm a huge fan and it added a great flavor to the dish! This is great for quick weeknight dinners," writes home cook Rashmi Dixon. 12 of 21 Chicken Breasts with Chipotle Green Onion Gravy View Recipe mireiacle This clean-out-the-fridge gravy is a great topping for any chicken you might have on hand to cook at the end of the week. With pantry-staple ingredients like flour, broth, and chipotle chile powder, you really need only supply the chicken and green onions — and the sides, too, of course. "Awesomely delicious and easy prep. I didn't change a single thing. Just wish I had increased the servings. Next time is a sure thing," writes cook Gail Cobile. 13 of 21 One Pan Orecchiette Pasta View Recipe Linda T This pasta recipe from Chef John is great for the end of the month when you need to use up what's left in your pantry and fridge but still need something filling and wholesome. No sausage? Use ground beef. No orecchiette? Try elbows or penne. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese can easily be swapped for Parmesan or mozzarella. 14 of 21 Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops View Recipe sanzoe Give boneless pork chops a boost with Parmesan cheese and Cajun seasoning, and then finish off the whole plate with two of these quick and easy side dishes. 15 of 21 Emergency Chicken View Recipe "Wow! This was very easy to make and sooo good! I am glad I doubled the recipe, because we were definitely hoping to eat this again. It is easy, but very good," writes Allstar Jacolyn. It does indeed easily double if you need leftovers for the next day. 16 of 21 Fusilli with Rapini (Broccoli Rabe), Garlic, and Tomato Wine Sauce View Recipe Heather E Houston Call on a few pantry staples and go-to herbs like pasta, dried Italian herb mix, and diced tomatoes to bring this broccoli rabe-studded pasta dinner together easily and inexpensively. Can't find broccoli rabe? It's more common in the spring, so broccolini will work well. 15 Vegetarian Recipes That Are Easy on the Wallet 17 of 21 Shakshuka (Middle Eastern Breakfast Dish) View Recipe Elizabeth While technically a breakfast dish, shakshuka is warm and inviting and inexpensive enough that you may want to make it a few times per month. It comes down to letting cheap ingredients like garlic, onion, zucchini, and canned tomatoes simmer until well combined and softened. Then top with an egg or two, and grab some crusty bread for swiping up every last drop. 18 of 21 Chicken and Kale in Parmesan Cream Sauce View Recipe Linda T Kale is quite inexpensive — a bundle is about $2. But it helps stretch (and add nutrients) to soups, stews, and pasta sauces. Here, it combines with whipping cream and butter to form a decadent pasta sauce. Some reviewers suggest you can use half-and-half if you happen to have some in your fridge already for your morning coffee. 19 of 21 Ultra Easy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs View Recipe Gayle "We doubled the chicken and the bell pepper, using fresh pineapple and several colors of bell pepper because that's what we had. Delicious. We'll definitely make this again. I'll try it with additional vegetables as suggested," writes recipe reviewer Elle. 20 of 21 Avocado Pesto with Zucchini Pasta View Recipe Buckwheat Queen If you pick any vegetable to turn into a noodle, zucchini is the one you want. Not only is it budget friendly — most zucchini are less than $1 each — but you can use the savings to make the sauce extra decadent. Here, one avocado is combined with flavor-packed pesto and a bit of Parmesan cheese for a special but low-carb dinner option. 21 of 21 More Inspiration Allrecipes Magazine Don't miss these great collections of budget-friendly recipes. These can help you make dinner every night without blowing your family's grocery budget for the month in just one week. Related Content: 20 Budget-Friendly Dinners for Beginner Cooks More Budget-Friendly Recipes 10 Meals You Can Make for Less Than $10 Each Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit