15 Healthy Dinner Recipes For 2 To Kick Off The New Year

The new year is the perfect time to embrace fresh, wholesome meals that are both satisfying and nutritious. If you’re cooking for two, it’s easy to create delicious dinners that are scaled just right, leaving you full of energy and free from food waste.

These 15 healthy dinner recipes are packed with vibrant ingredients and balanced flavors, making them perfect for kicking off your year on a positive note.

Helpful Tips for Healthy Cooking for Two

• Plan Ahead: Prepping ingredients in advance, like chopping veggies or marinating proteins, saves time and keeps you on track for healthier meals.
• Focus on Whole Foods: Use fresh produce, whole grains, and lean proteins as the foundation of your recipes to create dishes that are both nutritious and flavorful.
• Portion Smart: Cooking for two means less food waste, but be mindful of portion sizes to ensure you’re eating just enough without overindulging.

Chicken Caprese Pasta

You will love this recipes because it’s simple to make and it uses ingredients you always have in the kitchen. This Chicken Caprese Pasta is made with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese, then piled on top of a bed of spaghetti for a super simple weeknight meal.

Japanese Risotto & Pan Fried Salmon

This Japanese Risotto & Pan Fried Salmon is a sophisticated dish that marries creamy risotto with the umami-rich flavors of Japanese cuisine, topped with perfectly cooked salmon. It’s a unique and delicious combination that makes a pretty impressive dish.

Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe is a pasta dish that hails from Rome. It means “cheese and pepper” and for such a simple dish, it is incredibly delicious. The ingredients of the dish are very simple: grated Pecorino Romano cheese, cracked black pepper, and spaghetti.

Salmon Sushi Bowls

If there’s ever been a perfect combination of ingredients and flavor, these are them. It’s why we love California rolls so much. Avocado and salmon go together so well. It’s almost a shame to eat one without the other. These Salmon Sushi Bowls are both healthy and irresistibly tasty.

BBQ Chicken Tostadas

BBQ Chicken Tostadas are quick and easy to make as a meal or a snack and they’re so tasty you’ll be wanting a few more. They are made with shredded chicken, slathered with BBQ sauce and loaded onto a crispy corn tortilla with beans and melted cheese. Perfect!

Sweet & Sour Pork Chops

Sweet & Sour Pork Chops are doused in a delicious sauce made with balsamic vinegar and maple syrup that is so irresistible on pork and served with bell peppers and pineapple. The sauce is so good – a really “WOW” sauce – but it’s really just two ingredients and some spices.

Beef & Broccoli Noodles

This Beef & Broccoli with Noodles dish combines delicious beef in a savory sauce with tender broccoli and noodles for a great, quick stir fry dish. The addition of noodles takes regular beef and broccoli to a new level.

Thai Chopped Salad with Peanut Sauce

This Thai Chopped Salad with Peanut Sauce is a delightful medley of crisp vegetables, crunchy nuts, and a rich, creamy peanut sauce that ties it all together. Perfect as a light lunch, a side dish, or even a satisfying dinner, this salad offers a delightful balance of textures and tastes that will leave your taste buds dancing with its colorful presentation and bold flavors!

Teriyaki Chicken Tacos with Cucumber

Teriyaki Chicken Tacos with Cucumber combine the sweet and savory flavors of teriyaki-glazed chicken with the refreshing crunch of cucumber, all wrapped up in a soft tortilla. This fusion dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun weekend meal. You’ll love how the tender chicken pairs with the crisp cucumber and the punchy flavor of teriyaki sauce.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta

You won’t be able to resist this Buffalo Chicken Pasta that combines your favorite pasta with chicken, buffalo sauce, blue cheese dressing, and cream cheese, to make the dreamiest, creamiest pasta ever. If you like buffalo chicken sauce as much as we do, you’re going to love this pasta recipe. The sauce is so creamy and bursting with flavor. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make.

Lazy Skillet Lasagna

Lazy Skillet Lasagna is just as good as the classic but it takes a lot less time to make in a skillet. Instead of spending all that time delicately layering your lasagna, just throw it all in the skillet and watch it bubble into a delicious meal.

Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta

This Chicken Garlic Parmesan Pasta recipe is a delicious combination of tender chicken, aromatic garlic, creamy Parmesan sauce, and al dente pasta that creates a dish that’s both comforting and satisfying. It’s a versatile dish that can be made in a variety of ways depending on what you have on hand.

Chicken & Shrimp Fried Rice

Chicken & Shrimp Fried Rice is a flavorful fried rice dish made with succulent shrimp and chicken, mixed vegetables, and leftover rice that is done in 20 minutes for an easy weeknight meal. Chicken and shrimp fried rice is a delicious and satisfying dish that can be easily prepared using leftover rice. 

Pasta with Pistachio Pesto

This Pasta With Pistachio Pesto uses a deliciously unique pistachio basil pesto as a sauce for any pasta you love, like spaghetti or pappardelle. This recipe is easy to make and requires only a few simple ingredients. The pistachios adds a unique, nutty flavor to the sauce, while the fresh basil and garlic create the beloved fragrant and aromatic taste.

Easy Carne Asada Quesadillas

Carne Asada Quesadillas are filled with tender cuts of grilled carne asada steak, stretchy cheese, and smoky green chilies. It’s a delightfully easy Mexican-inspired meal. The outside of the tortilla gets super crispy, and the meat inside is so tender and juicy. These wonderful textures are only made better with a hefty helping of melted cheese! 

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