How to cook meals for two
Cooking for two takes a little practice – you want to cook enough but not end up with lots of leftovers you won’t get round to eating. Here are a few simple tips:
- Smart portions: When cooking for two, it's not always cost-effective to buy large packs of meat, fish and other fresh ingredients. To avoid a fridge full of odds and ends, look for smaller cuts and opt for loose veg.
- Lovely leftovers: If you do end up cooking more than you need, store leftovers properly – in an airtight container in the fridge or consider freezing, if possible. We’ve got stacks of inspiration for using up your leftovers, tips for reducing food waste, plus freezable recipes.
- Storecupboard staples: Keep your kitchen stocked with dried pasta, rice, noodles, tinned tomatoes and tomato purée, as well as your preferred herbs and spices – they’re the building blocks of so many meals.
How to meal plan on a budget for two
When you’re cooking for two, it’s helpful to think ahead and plan your dinners for the week (and lunches, if you like). This will help trim your food waste, while ensuring delicious variety. Here are a few ideas:
Prepare a batch of sauce that you can make into a few different meals. This batch-cook tomato sauce is great with pasta, pizza and chilli. Read more about meal planning in our how to create a meal prep plan.
Try a ‘cook once, eat twice’ recipe like this chana masala curry. Freeze the remaining two portions and you’ll still have leftover curry for these wraps, meaning two lunches sorted.
If a recipe calls for half a product, such as crème fraîche, plan another meal around this (and other leftover ingredients). Try our what can I make with tool, where you can add ingredients to find mealtime inspiration.
Quick tips for cooking low-cost meals for two
When cooking for two, a question that often crops up is how much food do you need? This is particularly true for rice, pasta and other carbs. It can be easy to overestimate how much you need when you only want two portions, so here are some guidelines:
How to cook rice for two people
You will need 50-75g uncooked rice per person, that’s 100-150g for two people, depending on your appetite and whether the rice is a side or main. Then follow this cooking method:
- Use a sieve to rinse the rice until the water runs clear. This is to remove the starch, which results in stickiness.
- Use a ratio of 1:2 for rice:water for most long-grain white rice types, so 100g rice requires 200ml water.
- Use a ratio of 1:2.5 for brown rice:water, as its outer bran layer requires more water and a longer cooking time, see below.
- In a saucepan, bring the water to the boil. Gently stir in the rice, turn the heat to low and cover with a lid. Allow to simmer for 10-12 minutes without removing the lid or stirring.
- Brown rice takes longer to cook – typically 30-45 minutes. Check on-pack instructions as brown basmati takes less time than regular brown rice, and you can also buy easy cook brown rice.
- Turn off the heat and let it rest, covered, for 10 minutes. The steaming will absorb all the cooking liquid, so no need to drain, plus this step helps the rice become nice and fluffy.
- Fluff up with a fork before serving.
How much pasta to cook for two
You will need around 75g of uncooked, dried pasta per person, so 150g for two people.
- Use plenty of water – around one litre per 100g, so 1.5 litres for 150g pasta, which applies to regular and wholewheat pasta varieties.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil and add the pasta, stirring a couple of times to prevent it sticking.
- The cooking time will vary depending on the pasta shape – usually 8-12 minutes for dried pasta. Try to avoid stirring the pasta too much as it cooks since this will cause it to release too much starch.
- Drain and serve.
Budget dinner for two ideas
Whether you’re cooking for two or more, it’s helpful to keep these budget-friendly tips in mind:
- Eat seasonally, if you can – seasonal veg (and fruit) is usually cheaper than out-of-season produce.
- Go for value cuts of meat and less trendy fish varieties: chicken drumsticks are juicy and full of flavour, while basa fillets are generally cheaper than cod. Frozen fish is also a great, budget-friendly option and you can just take out as many as you need each time you cook.
- Meat-free meals are often the most affordable, featuring lower-cost beans, lentils and peas.
Budget chicken recipes for two
From pasta to stir-fries, chicken is a versatile ingredient when you’re cooking for two, plus it’s easy to pick up smaller packs of chicken breast pieces, drumsticks or thighs. This speedy chicken and sweetcorn soup has crunchy pitta croutons or try this fajita rice bowl using a frozen vegetable and chicken fajita mix. Cooked chicken is ideal for budget-friendly lunches and a tasty way to use up leftovers. Add sliced chicken to an air-fryer gochujang toastie or load roast chicken pesto mayo into an air-fryer baked potato.
Budget pork recipes for two
The most affordable pork recipes for two include pork mince (great for burgers), pork meatballs, sausages and pork stir-fry strips. You can also transform leftover roast pork into a tasty meal for two. This speedy sausage orzotto is made with quick-cook orzo pasta, and you can always freeze the remaining sausages from the pack. Alternatively, go for a pork fillet, which can make two dinners: try our five-spice pork stir-fry and our delicious pork Milanese.
Budget veggie recipes for two
If you’re cooking a veggie meal for two, the possibilities are endless. Veggies and pulses are generally more affordable than meat, so you can get creative with flavours while sticking to a tight budget. This arrabbiata sauce is made from storecupboard ingredients – the pasta is homemade, but you can easily swap in shop-bought pasta. If you love the bold flavours of Greek food, try these vibrant tomato and feta fritters – team with new potatoes and veg for a satisfying meal. For something warming on a cold day, this 30-minute broccoli Cheddar soup makes two perfect portions, serve with crusty bread for a hearty lunch.
Vegan meals on a budget for two
Plant-based ingredients lend themselves to budget-friendly meals, especially when there are only two of you. These brown rice bowls pack in the flavour and are ready in 20 minutes, or if you fancy a curry, this recipe features chickpea dumplings and creamy coconut milk. For lunch or a light evening meal, this warming soup includes quick-cook seven grains and provides 3 of your 5-a-day.
Cooking for more than two or fancy some leftovers? We’ve got plenty more affordable dinner recipes to choose from, including meat, fish, veggie and vegan options.
Healthy meals and recipes for two on a budget
Health and budget can go hand in hand when you’re cooking for two. Our favourite healthy meals for two on a budget include this simple aloo gobi traybake that provides 2 of your 5-a-day, plus this turmeric chicken and lentil soup that’s a great any-time meal. Tinned sardines make a convenient, great-value addition to a meal, and this Sicilian-style spaghetti is a delicious example.
Budget protein meals for two
Eggs are a source of protein, which supports the maintenance of normal bones and muscle mass. They also make quick and tasty meals for two: think omelettes and scrambled eggs on toast, or try these high-protein speedy omelette wraps for brunch, lunch or supper. Tinned tuna is a really affordable source of protein and these tuna tacos make a delicious high-protein lunch.
Browse our healthy recipes and healthy family ideas for lots more mealtime inspiration, whether you’re cooking for 2, 4 or more!
Quick and easy meals for two on a budget
Cooking budget meals for two when you’re short on time is easy with some smart shortcuts, the right kitchen kit and recipes. Stir-fries, one-pots (see tips below) and traybakes are great throw-it-all-in meals. Bowl food, featuring microwave rice, couscous, tinned beans or lentils, are also brilliant for fast and fresh eats. Soup and sandwich combos make speedy, filling meals – ring the changes with quesadillas or flatbreads. If you’re happy cooking more than two portions, we’ve got lots of 30-minute meals to give you ideas.
Budget one-pot meals
One-pots – or one-pans mean less cooking (and less washing up!). Rustle up this puttanesca rice in your frying pan in just 15 minutes. Using thrifty storecupboard ingredients, it’s brimming with bold Mediterranean flavours. Pasta makes a speedy meal, but cook it in one saucepan like our one-pot tomato pasta for dinner in a flash! Great value, 1 of your 5-a-day and low in fat, this recipe ticks so many boxes. Explore our one-pot meals for more fuss-free dinner inspiration.
Easy air-fryer meals for two on a budget
Air-fryers have taken fast food to a whole new level. Super-speedy with delicious results, your air-fryer can whizz up crispy chicken, perfectly cooked fish and the best roasties. One of our top-rated air-fryer meals for two is this homemade falafel wraps. Ready in just 25 minutes, enjoy with flatbreads, houmous, salad and pickles. You can even cook up a frittata in your air-fryer – this simple recipe uses a handful of ingredients for a cheap and tasty meal. Take a look at our air-fryer recipes, from meals to snacks and bakes.
