In between the unwrapping of presents, singing of carols, and endless holiday cheer that takes place on Christmas night is the enjoying of good food with even better company. For many, Christmas dinner is a big celebration that includes recipes that are passed down from generation to generation, most of which can feed the whole family and then some. But, for those who are looking to do a smaller and more intimate holiday gathering this year, making recipes that yield the right amount of food for two people is a real Christmas miracle in and of itself.
Complete with dinner items that can be tailored to feed the exact amount of servings you want to delicious bites that'll leave you with some mouthwatering leftovers, these made-for-two meals will perfectly complement your cozy Christmas night. Take a look at the best recipes for two, ahead.
Christmas is the time to make something that's equally impressive and tasty, and these red wine ribs are just that. They're slow-cooked short ribs that are served with fresh herbs, sweet cranberries, and an intoxicating red wine sauce that will leave you wanting more. Just add a side of mashed potatoes, and Christmas will be complete. This recipe was made for six, so just cut it in half to make enough for two.
Fill your dinner table with warm veggies when you make this delightful dish. With a warm honey cider vinaigrette, it's effortlessly sweet and spicy all in one. This recipe makes six servings, so just chop it in half and you'll have the ideal amount for two people. Oh, and did we mention there are bits of bacon in it, too? Yum.
For a one-and-done dinner, serve up this mouthwatering chicken. It's essentially the roasted chicken version of French onion soup, and damn, is it good. Complete with caramelized onions, baby potatoes, and Gruyère cheese-stuffed chicken breasts, this recipe will make Christmas dinner a hit.
Indulge in the creamiest, cheesiest, and richest casserole of your life when you dive into this divine dish. With a crispy Ritz cracker topping and a creamy potato filling, you won't be able to get enough. This recipe feeds eight, but feel free to cut it in half so you have enough for two and then a little extra for leftovers. Trust us, you'll want more than one serving.
If you want to have a lighter Christmas dinner this year, then this salad is calling your name. With a balsamic fig vinaigrette, mixed greens, juicy pomegranates, maple roasted walnuts, and crumbled goat cheese, it tastes as good as it sounds.
Step up your Christmas dinner when you cook up this drool-worthy rigatoni. Now this recipe is fit to feed eight people, and if you like pasta, we suggest making the full recipe even if it's just two of you because it's that good. With Italian chicken sausage, plenty of cheese, and a zesty pesto sauce, you'll want to nosh on this for days to come.
This spaghetti squash recipe is unlike any other, and that's due to the creamy goat cheese-based cream sauce that it's made with. With the rich flavors of pesto and a dash of garlic, this hearty spaghetti squash will fill you up. Feel free to add mushrooms, basil, or even a hint of rosemary if you want to shake things up. Cut this recipe in half, and you'll have enough for two, plus some leftovers.
You can't go wrong with beef tenderloin on Christmas, and this recipe is as good as it gets. With a creamy white wine sauce, every bite brings out rich and mouthwatering flavors. Since this recipe was made to feed eight, we suggest either getting a smaller tenderloin (around two to three pounds) or saving some meat to make some really good leftover sandwiches with.
Imagine: a warm golden puff pastry stuffed with sweet cranberry sauce, rich brie cheese, and crunchy pistachios. That's what you'll get to enjoy with every bite you take of this festive app. Just adjust the serving size by moving the toggle on the recipe, and you can make this for two people in no time.
Asiago, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and gouda work together to make this cheesy recipe one to remember. And the best part is the noodles cook directly in the sauce, which means one less step for you. What could be better? This recipe serves 12, so we suggest cutting the recipe in half and saving the leftovers for an easy-to-heat-up lunch.
The star of any Christmas meal is the turkey, but when there are just two people, a whole turkey seems excessive. This herb-roasted turkey breast is only 190 calories a serving and takes just a few minutes to prepare for roasting.
Craving something sweet for dinner? This recipe is for you. Mashed sweet potatoes are flawlessly paired with brown sugar and warm butter, and topped with marshmallows. Just bake it until it's brown, and every bite will be a treat for your taste buds. You can adjust this recipe to your liking by choosing how many servings you want to make before you start cooking.
Cooked in a cranberry pepper jelly sauce, these flavorful meatballs are a perfect harmony of all the best flavors. To customize how many meatballs you want to make, simply hover your mouse over the number of servings section, and you're good to go.
Make green bean casserole the star of the show when you add roasted butternut squash and sliced almonds to the recipe. Not only is it creamy while still being crunchy, but it also has a rich flavor that's hard to pass up. This recipe serves eight, so our advice is to cut the ingredients in half and make enough for four people — so you can have something to nosh on for dinner the night after.
Festive, fun, and ultracheesy, this pull-apart bread is a dream come true. You can stuff the bread with any kind of cheese you like and top it off with the season's best spices. You can adjust this recipe to your liking by choosing how many servings you want to make before you start cooking.
Forget the over-the-top recipe! If you have a hash brown casserole that's as creamy, cheesy, and crunchy as this recipe, you'll forgo other dishes altogether. We suggest adding extra Corn Flakes to really give it a kick. Since this recipe serves 12 people, we suggest dividing the ingredients by four so you can feed two people, plus have a little extra since it's just that good.
This apple-stuffed acorn squash is a major holiday win because it can be made partially in the microwave, and the sausage in the recipe can be omitted to make the dish vegetarian. The original recipe makes eight servings, so cut everything down by four to make two servings, or by half if you want leftovers for the next day.
Cauliflower is a great low-carb substitute for potatoes, so this cheesy cauliflower au gratin is a must at your (small) Christmas feast this year. The recipe serves six, so cut all of the ingredient measurements in half to make a more manageable amount for two.
Warm, savory, and sweet, this pull-apart bread is a dream come true. Just cut the bread to create a crosshatch pattern; stuff it with butter, brie, pecans, and cranberries; and bake until warm. It's almost too easy not to make! Since this recipe makes six servings, you can enjoy it for nights to come.
Complete with a homemade cheese sauce and a buttery cracker topping, what could be better than this hearty broccoli casserole? Every bite offers bold broccoli flavor that pairs effortlessly with the rich cheddar and cream cheese sauce. The best part about this recipe is that you can customize how many people you want to feed, and the ingredient list automatically adjusts to the number you picked!
Creamy, hearty, and comforting are just a few ways to describe this Southern casserole. It's topped with crispy cornbread crumbs, so you'll be scraping the bottom of your bowl for more. Adjust the amount of servings you want to make at the top of the recipe before you start cooking so you don't make too much!
Give the classic casserole a makeover with this buttery and bourbon-y recipe. Rich bacon pecans are layered on top of hearty potatoes, meaning your taste buds will get the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Just cut this recipe in half and you'll have the ideal amount of food for dinner, plus a little extra for leftovers.
Light, fluffy, and topped with a dreamy honey butter, these rolls pair well with gravy, mashed potatoes, and so much more. Feel free to make as many as you please — the recipe is easy to tweak!
Don't overcomplicate mashed potatoes — cream, butter, and salt are really all you need to impress even the pickiest eater this holiday season. Trust us, this pared-down recipe will result in simple, delicious mashed potatoes that are more than worthy of your Christmas dinner table. Did we mention how easy it is to make?
Take artichoke dip to the next level when you make these divine rolls. Just stuff biscuits with a hefty scoop of artichoke, jalapeño dip, and some jack cheese, and top 'em off with butter. This recipe makes eight rolls, so cut the recipe in half and you both can enjoy a roll for dinner one night and another the following night.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
These finger-licking pops are juicy and divine. Let's just say that the mint-pistachio pesto that's on top of the lamb pairs wonderfully with buttery white wine. Yum, yum, yum.
You've heard of twice-baked potatoes, but have you heard of twice-baked acorns? These cute little cups are filled with all the best flavors of the season, along with creamy maple butter and crunchy pecans. Feel free to make as many as you please — the recipe is easy to tweak!
Half roll, half garlic knot, these bread bites are what your taste buds have been dreaming of. With hints of cheese, garlic, and herbs, you'll want to make these even when it's not the holiday season. This site allows you to customize the recipe to the amount of people you want to feed, making a dinner for two easier than ever.
If you're feeling lazy this holiday, let the Crock Pot take over. This creamed corn recipe only requires five minutes of prep, and the results are more than mouthwatering. Add a dash of cilantro on top to make it look like a true masterpiece. Since this recipe is made to feed six people, just chop the amount of ingredients you need in half, and it'll be the perfect recipe for a small group.
This completely vegan stuffed squash is filled with wild rice, cranberries, and chickpeas. It can be a Christmas dinner side dish, or an entire meal on any other weeknight. The recipe makes six servings, so cut everything in thirds to make enough for just two.
There's no denying it — crescent rolls are irresistible. Buttery, flaky, and melt-in-your-mouth good, this recipe will put carb-lovers into a tizzy. Douse them in butter, gravy, cranberry sauce, or even mashed potatoes. To customize how many rolls you want to make, simply hover your mouse over the number of servings section, and you're good to go!
