65 Healthy Dinners For Two Perfect For Your Next Date Night
A home-cooked meal beats an expensive restaurant any day.
Is there really any gesture more romantic than a home-cooked dinner? It's thoughtful, heartfelt, and not to mention a completely delicious gift for you and your special someone to enjoy together. But how about if that same dinner was also better-for-you (or kept any dietary restrictions in mind)? It practically turns us into the heart eyes emoji. Which is why, regardless of diet, we think everyone should feel like they can indulge in a special date night dinner at home with these super easy healthy Valentine's Day recipes. If you're searching for dinner inspo for you and your boo this Valentine's Day, look no further than these 65 healthy meal options for two.
We know health looks different to different people, so we’ve included options for every diet, like low carb, vegan, pescatarian, or gluten-free. We also know that the first time you cook for someone new is a whole different vibe than throwing together a weeknight dinner with a long-term partner. We’ve got you whether you’re lighting candles and setting the mood, or just kicking back together to binge watch your new fave show.
We think almost nothing says classic romance like Italian food, and our lightened-up classics like cottage cheese alfredo or chicken primavera spaghetti squash will make you feel like you’re in your favorite restaurant. Got a vegan or vegetarian sweetie? Our seitan piccata or homemade crunchwraps skip the meat but not the flavor, whether they eat meatless on Mondays or every day. Avoiding red meat but all about chicken, turkey, or fish? We’ve got tons of options, including our recipes for turkey feta meatballs, Greek salmon, and sushi bake. From special occasions to weeknight meals, these recipes are sure to make your health-conscious love feel special.
Looking for more easy, healthy meals? We've got you covered. Check out our healthiest casseroles, slow-cooker recipes, and dinner salads.
Cottage Cheese Alfredo
This classic creamy sauce already had a place in our hearts, but adding cottage cheese and spinach took the love to new heights. The cottage cheese-based sauce comes together in a blender or food processor in a few seconds, then simmered to thick, velvety, cheesy perfection before getting tossed with fresh spinach and al dente fettuccine.
Get the Cottage Cheese Alfredo recipe.
Sesame Tofu & Broccoli
In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With just a few minutes of hands-on time and a side of steamed white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.
Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.
Cabbage Parmesan
If you’re reading this with doubts, please keep them at bay for a few minutes. This veggie spin on chicken Parmesan gives a refreshing twist to the classic, and is a win for anyone looking for a delicious low-carb, vegetarian dinner to impress.
Get the Cabbage Parmesan recipe.
Greek Salmon
We love this meal because it comes with lots of veggies and is perfect over orzo or rice. If you want to earn extra points with your boo, serve the salmon over a bed of arugula salad or spinach.
Get the Greek Salmon recipe.
Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
Here, spaghetti squash is stuffed with chicken breasts and creamy homemade Alfredo sauce before being topped with shredded mozzarella, and baked until bubbly, melty, and golden. The result is a hearty dinner that's low-carb, but doesn't sacrifice on any of the flavor.
Get the Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash recipe.
Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs
To make this a true weeknight winner, spoon the meatballs, vegetables, and sauce over steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles for a filling dinner. The super-flavorful curry sauce will soak into your base, giving sweet and savory heat in every bite.
Get the Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs recipe.
Rainbow Roll
This inside-out roll (or uramaki) has rice on the outside, while the sheet of nori on the inside holds the avocado, cucumber, and crab in place. Top your rolls with sushi-grade fish, or get creative and try thinly sliced avocado, roasted red peppers, or smoked salmon.
Get the Rainbow Roll recipe.
Greek-Stuffed Peppers
Filled with zucchini, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and sharp crumbled feta, these tender stuffed peppers have all the flavors you love from a Greek salad, plus a hearty addition from herby chicken breast and couscous.
Get the Greek-Stuffed Peppers recipe.
Spicy Sesame Salmon
If you’re looking for a new way to cook salmon, may we introduce this spicy sesame salmon? Similar to the beloved sesame-crusted tuna, this salmon gets coated in sesame seeds to lend crunch and flavor.
Get the Spicy Sesame Salmon recipe.
Steak & Potato Skillet
In this simple version of the dynamic duo, a skillet of crispy potatoes and tender, seared flank steak gets bathed in a tangy, savory garlic mustard butter sauce. Now that’s what we mean by interesting. Make it a complete meal by adding a simple arugula salad or your favorite oven-roasted veggie.
Get the Steak & Potato Skillet recipe.
Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies
This recipe combines well-seasoned shrimp with red bell peppers, broccoli, and onions for a quick and easy dinner ready in a little more than 30 minutes. Not only is it so simple to throw together, it's extremely versatile. This dinner is all about ease—make it work for you.
Get the Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies recipe.
Turkey Feta Meatballs
These turkey feta meatballs are easy to make and can be served any way you like. They're delicious served with just a simple lemon-yogurt sauce, but they also go well with a good marinara sauce or a Greek pasta salad.
Get the Turkey Feta Meatballs recipe.
Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry
If you're craving a comforting dinner that's also vegan, look no further. This curry is bursting with flavors inspired by chana masala, bolstered by hearty sweet potatoes—it's so delicious, no one will miss the meat.
Get the Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry recipe.
Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi
This easy mahi-mahi recipe comes together in 30 minutes or less. After searing the fish for a few minutes per side, make a super-simple lemon butter sauce with garlicky. We like to sauté some asparagus too, but use whatever vegetable you like.
Get the Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi recipe.
Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken
Get these spicy coconut chicken thighs on the grill, you won’t regret it. They're insanely tender thanks to a tasty duo of coconut milk and tenderizing pineapple juice in the marinade.
Get the Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken recipe.
Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls
Our take on the super-simple Thai dish pad krapow is the perfect protein-packed dinner that’s also a meal prep dream. Accompany it with a runny fried egg for even more protein!
Get the Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls recipe.
Red Curry Shrimp & Noodle Soup
If you're looking for a soup that will warm you up in more ways than one, turn to this red curry shrimp and noodle soup. Marinated shrimp and glass noodles are served in a red curry, coconut milk, and mushroom broth topped with bean sprouts, avocado, scallions, and cilantro. No boring, bland flavors here—this recipe is sure to satisfy each of the five taste sensations.
Get the Red Curry Shrimp & Noodle Soup recipe.
Sheet Pan Burrata Gnocchi
The juices released by the peppers mixed with the olive oil, balsamic and burrata creates a de facto sauce that will have you making this recipe at least once a week.
Get the Sheet Pan Burrata Gnocchi recipe.
Vegan Ground Beef
Searching for a plant-based alternative to ground beef? Look no further! Made with tofu and simple seasonings, this ground “beef” is the perfect substitute in all your favorite recipes, like tacos, pastas, grain bowls, and more.
Get the Vegan Ground Beef recipe.
Indian Butter Chickpeas
Looking for your new favorite way to dress up canned chickpeas? You’re in the right place. Simmered in an aromatic tomato gravy, this vegetarian spin on classic butter chicken will forever change the way you look at a can of beans.
Get the Indian Butter Chickpeas recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
Expertise: Food writing and editing.
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas (rock chalk!)
About Me: As the Assistant Digital Food Producer at Delish, Taylor writes and updates recipe intros with an SEO-focus, co-creates and sends the daily newsletter, and offers team-wide support to ensure that recipes are the best they can be. She worked previously as a Freelance Editor on the Hearst Lifestyle group, where she updated recipes and galleries and contributed ideas for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Prevention, and more. Taylor loves to try out different restaurants and bakeries around Brooklyn and is always hunting for her new favorite coffee shop and wine bar. When she's not writing about everything lemon-blueberry or one of our many margaritas, she can most likely be found reading, browsing her favorite bookstores, or enjoying a little treat.
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