Five Simple Dinners For Two With Five Ingredients Or Less
In our last post, we said cooking simple meals can be less expensive, healthier, and easier to prepare. Today, we’re sharing five simple dinners for two that use five ingredients or less.
Okay, so I may be cheating just a little when I say “five ingredients or less.”
I’m not including salt, pepper, spices, or oil in the five ingredients. But I think you’ll still agree that these are some easy, quick meals that would be considered pretty simple dinners for two. So let’s dive right in.
1. Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers For Two
I prefer to use the milder red, yellow, or orange peppers for this dish. But you can use whatever you like, including poblanos, cubanelles, or jalapeños.
The ingredients are simple. For two people you need 2 large peppers, 1/2 pound of ground chicken (or beef or turkey – whatever you prefer), 1/2 cup chopped onion, 2 cups of cooked rice (we use microwaveable whole grain brown rice), and an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce.
Preheat your oven to 325F. Cook the ground chicken and onion in a skillet; drain. Stir in the cooked rice and season to taste. (I like to use salt, pepper, and some Italian seasoning.) Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place them in a 9 X 9″ baking dish sprayed with olive oil. Fill with the meat mixture, then pour the tomato sauce over stuffed peppers. Add about 1/4 cup of water to the pan, and bake for 60 minutes or until the peppers are tender.
2. BBQ Bites and Sweet Potato Fries
While we’re on the topic of stuffed things, this was one of our kids’ favorite meals. We still love them today. Back then, I usually served these with frozen French fries. I’ve “healthified” this meal a little by subbing homemade sweet potato fries in their place.
You will need 1/2 pound of lean ground beef (you can use chicken or turkey, but I feel like these are better with the ground beef), a small can of refrigerator biscuits (the five biscuit size – you’ll each get two, plus a bonus one to share!), your favorite barbecue sauce, shredded cheese, and two small sweet potatoes.
Preheat your oven to 400F. Peel and slice the sweet potatos into steak fry-sized pieces, and place on a small baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil over the fries and season with salt and pepper. Spread them out evenly on the pan. (You can also cook these in an air fryer if you prefer)
Cook the ground beef in a skillet and drain. Mix in enough barbecue sauce to coat the meat well, but not be too wet. Spray five cups in a muffin pan with oil, then press one biscuit into each cup, making sure the sides come all the way to the top of the muffin cup. Fill with the ground beef mixture and top with shredded cheese.
Place the sweet potato fries in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and flip fries, then put back in the oven, along with the BBQ Bites. Bake for about 10 minutes longer, until the fries are done and the edges of the biscuits are browned and the cheese is melted.
3. Sausage & Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Sheet pan dinners are some of my favorite meals to cook because they’re so easy. One pan and you’re done! Don’t be alarmed when you see a whole lot of food on the pan before it cooks down. This version makes just enough for two people.
Prep these ingredients while you’re heating your oven to 400F: 1/2 pound of smoked sausage or kielbasa (peeled and cut into 1/2″ slices), 10-12 baby potatoes (cut in half), 1 large bell pepper (any color – cut into 1 inch pieces), 1 head of broccoli (cut into florets), and 1 cup of grape or cherry tomatoes.
Spread out all the ingredients except the tomatoes on a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove pan from oven, and flip the sausage and veggies. Add the tomatoes, then return to the oven and bake 15-20 minutes more or until the veggies are tender. (You could sprinkle some parmesan over everything when you take this out of the oven and serve it with a crusty French bread, but that would add more ingredients. It’s up to you!)
4. Smoked Turkey Jalapeno Wraps
Here’s a quick, cold dinner for a hot summer day. We used to order these from Einstein Bagels years ago. When they took them off their menu, we made up our own version. You can serve these with some fresh fruit, veggie sticks, or a summer side dish (like the broccoli salad in the picture), but they are surprisingly filling by themselves.
All you need is two large whole wheat or flour tortillas, jalapeño-flavored cream cheese (softened), smoked turkey (sliced, from the deli), shredded romaine or spring mix lettuce, and French dressing.
Assembling these is super quick and easy. Lay a tortilla on each of your plates and spread them with the jalapeño cream cheese. Add a layer of sliced turkey, then a good amount of lettuce. Drizzle the French dressing over the lettuce, and roll the tortilla up tightly, tucking the ingredients in as you go. Slice each wrap in half and enjoy!
5. Naan Sausage and Mushroom Pizzas
We discovered the versatility of mini-naan breads a while back. You can top them with just about anything and they’re delicious! Here’s one of our favorite ways to use them.
(One naan pizza is usually enough for us with a side salad, but we like to make them four at a time so we have leftovers for lunch the next day. Make four – you won’t regret it!)
So, start with four mini-naan breads (plain or garlic flavor – your choice), your favorite marinara or pizza sauce, Italian sausage (2-3 links, removed from the casings), sliced fresh mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese.
Preheat your oven to 425F. Cook the sausage and mushrooms together in a little olive oil until the sausage is browned; drain. Lay the naan breads on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread each with marinara or pizza sauce, then top with the sausage and mushrooms. Sprinkle cheese on top and place in oven. Bake for 7-8 minutes until the bread is crispy on the bottom and the cheese is melted. (I sometimes turn on the broiler for a minute or two if the cheese isn’t melting enough.)