Chicken Dinners for Two

February 08, 2009
James Carrier
Cooking for two can feel more exhausting than cooking for four! Especially when you can't find recipes to fit your family. All of these chicken recipes yield two servings, so you can forget about unwanted leftovers. Better yet, buy a package of four breasts or thighs, and use it to make TWO of these recipes. It's time to say goodbye to eating the same thing multiple times every week. 
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Skillet Chicken Thighs with Spring Vegetables and Shallot Vinaigrette

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Anna Hampton
Skillet Chicken Thighs with Spring Vegetables and Shallot Vinaigrette Recipe

This elegant single-skillet meal for two is deceptively easy to make. Ready in under an hour, this skillet chicken dinner includes your protein (perfectly golden-crisp chicken thighs), green veggies (peas and asparagus), a starch (baby Yukon gold potatoes), and a whole lot of vibrant flavor (hello, shallot vinaigrette). A great recipe for anyone cooking for one or two, this easy weeknight chicken dinner is one you’re sure to come back to again and again. 

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Orange-Almond Chicken-and-Cabbage Bowls

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
Orange-Almond Chicken-and-Cabbage Bowls Recipe

Make these low-calorie, no-cook bowls ahead for an easy lunch or dinner when time is tight. Change up the fruit, nut, or protein for whatever you have on hand.

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Orange Chicken Skewers with Jalapeño-Mint Yogurt Dip 

Photo: The Food Gays
Orange Chicken Skewers with Jalapeño-Mint Yogurt Dip  Recipe

Packed full of bright citrus flavor, this dish makes for a perfect fuss-free weeknight dinner. Feel free to make the creamy yogurt dip in advance to speed up the prep on this fast and fresh dinner even more. Tangy Greek yogurt and fresh mint are a refreshing balance to the heat of a jalapeño, but to tame the spice a bit more, simply remove the seeds of your jalapeño before dicing and stirring into the yogurt. This recipe serves 2, but is easily doubled to serve more (or if you want to make sure you have leftovers). If you are using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in cold water prior to grilling. 

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Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad with Spiced Pecans

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 
Grilled Balsamic Chicken Salad with Spiced Pecans Recipe

You'll want to double the sweet and spicy sautéed pecans for snacking during the week. Sub fresh summer fruit like blueberries or nectarines for the raspberries.

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Chicken Milanese with Spring Greens

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Chicken Milanese with Spring Greens Recipe
Coat chicken breasts in a breadcrumb and cheese mixture and serve over spring green for a fresh and easy menu for two.

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Orange-Sauced Chicken

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
Orange-Sauced Chicken Recipe
This super-fast supper (think 10 minutes!) is rich with flavor, yet only has around 200 calories per serving.
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Easy Grilled Chicken Tacos

Easy Grilled Chicken Tacos Recipe
Has anyone ever complained about taco night? Make simple, yet tasty grilled chicken tacos for two, and grill the tortillas for added flavor.

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Baked Chicken Breasts with Dijon-White Wine Sauce and Haricots Verts

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen
Baked Chicken Breasts with Dijon-White Wine Sauce and Haricots Verts Recipe
White wine and Dijon mustard are a classic bistro-style pair for chicken. Carrots add body and a touch of sweetness to the pan sauce, but you can leave them out, if you like.

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Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Barbecue Chicken Pizza Recipe
Italian and Tex-Mex combine for a simple-delicious meal for two.
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Chicken Souvlaki

Photo: Karry Hosford
Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
Souvlaki incorporates the fresh-tasting combination of lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil that is so prevalent in Greek cuisine. We recommend serving it alongside a Greek salad of chunked tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese.

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Chicken Thighs with Sweet Red Onions and Balsamic Vinegar

Photo, Styling: Jessica Colyer
Chicken Thighs with Sweet Red Onions and Balsamic Vinegar Recipe
Think chicken, smothered in a thick onion sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes so that not a drop of flavor is wasted.

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Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

Oxmoor House
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Recipe
Wrap each chicken breast in herb-flavored cream cheese and wrap it in bacon. Yep, it IS as good as you think it will be.
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Holy Yum Chicken

Photo: Supermom7738
Holy Yum Chicken Recipe
The name says it all. A creamy sauce is made from the drippings, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and rice wine vinegar.

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Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Lime

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell; Food Kellie Gerber Kelley
Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Lime Recipe
Garlic, cilantro, and lime provide mega flavor for an inexpensive cut of chicken.

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Quick Barbecue Chicken

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
Quick Barbecue Chicken Recipe
Make your own spice paste with common household dry spices and grill. Viola! Chicken that tastes like long, slow BBQ.
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Peanut-Sauced Chicken Pitas

Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Angharad Bailey
Peanut-Sauced Chicken Pitas Recipe
Use 1 cup of shredded chicken, leftover from last night or from a rotisserie chicken, to create these tasty Thai-inspired pitas.

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Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

Howard L. Puckett
Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins Recipe
Studded with fruit and flavored with curry, this chicken salad is a flavorful way to use a cup of chicken. Serve with crackers, in a wrap, or between toasted bread.

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Herbed Chicken and Dumplings

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr
Herbed Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Fluffy herb-flecked dumplings, tender vegetables, and rich dark-meat chicken combine in this soul-satisfying classic–no leftovers required.
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Chicken with Prosciutto and Tomatoes Over Polenta

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell; Food Kellie Gerber Kelley
Chicken with Prosciutto and Tomatoes Over Polenta Recipe
Cheap and tasty, chicken thighs are as adaptable as breasts, but have more depth of flavor. Try them seasoned with sage and white wine and served over polenta. This recipe is fast enough for a weeknight supper yet flavorful enough to win you praise.

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Chicken with Paprika and Potatoes

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell; Food Kellie Gerber Kelley
Chicken with Paprika and Potatoes Recipe
A cheap, satisfying, healthy, and flavorful one-dish meal–what else could you ask for? The chicken is seasoned with thyme and paprika and cooked with red potatoes until tender.

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Bistro Roast Chicken

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Mary Catherine Muir
Bistro Roast Chicken Recipe
For a romantic dinner for two, serve this roasted chicken with basil, thyme, and rosemary. You'll get the intense and comforting flavors of French cuisine without spending all day in the kitchen.
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Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan Recipe
Easy-to-make and a perennial favorite, this Chicken Parmesan recipe for two is a keeper. You can find most of the ingredients in your pantry (especially if you use canned tomato sauce) and preparation is a snap.

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Apple-Sesame Chicken

Photo: Oxmoor House
Apple-Sesame Chicken Recipe
Try a different take on weeknight stir-fry. Pieces of Red Delicious apple add a hint of sweetness and curry powder delivers extra flavor. Serve over a bed of rice and top with sesame seeds.

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Maple Mustard-glazed Hens with Couscous

James Carrier
Maple Mustard-glazed Hens with Couscous Recipe
Get a luxurious meal in less than an hour. This 5-star dinner features roasted Cornish game hens over a bed of couscous.
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