Weeknight Dinner for Two - Canadian Beef | Canada Beef

Cooking for one or two people can be a little tricky. We’ve create 12 delicious and simple recipes designed for two people. If you’re one, it’s perfect as you now have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day!

* Check out our tips below on how to store ingredients and leftovers. What types of kitchen equipment to use and how to prevent food waste.

Couple Cooking Together

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Doubled-Up Simple Beef and Spinach SoupWhat the heck is stoup? Well, it’s somewhere between soup and stew with extra-thick broth and chunky veggies. Everyone loves one-pot meals and nothing makes a person happier than a warm bowl of nourishing beefy goodness! NOTE: this recipe makes a big batch for just two, so there will be extras for another meal (see Tip).

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Skillet Beef GnocchiIt’s easy to turn store-bought potato gnocchi into pillows of goodness with this simple and speedy dish. And the bonus… this makes 4 portions and the welcome leftovers are delicious reheated for lunch another day!

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Steak HashTime to clean out the fridge! Everyone has one red pepper, a lonely zucchini or other random vegetable(s) on hand and some leftover steak or roast from a dinner on the weekend. They’re all just waiting to come together into this delicious and healthy recipe for two!

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Personal Taco PizzasThese personal-sized taco pizzas are easy, crispy and delicious! Another bonus is that each person can choose their own toppings!

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Patty MeltsPatty melts are hearty sandwiches that are pure comfort food. The juicy ground beef patty is tasty on its own and the slow-cooked caramelized onions give it even more crave-worthy flavour. Serve with a crispy side salad and your favourite grilled cheese accompaniments.

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Speedy Gyro Beef SaladIf you love a classic Greek gyro, you’re going to love this speedy weeknight dinner for two! The star of the show is the delicious ground beef that is combined with gyro must-haves: feta cheese, tomato, Greek olives and cucumber dressing. The same great restaurant flavours, fast and easy at home!

Tips for Cooking for One or Two People

Use recipes specifically designed for 1 or 2 people. The 12 recipes on this page are all suited to 2 people.
Invest in kitchen equipment that accommodate smaller amounts of ingredients.
Use your freezer! It’s help from wasting food and you don’t have to cook each night.
Get creative with leftovers – check out this article Plan-over Beef Recipes

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Korean-Style Pan-Fried Steak StripsThese Korean-style seasoned steaks strips are delicious all on their own over steamed rice, or tucked in big romaine lettuce leaves for wrapping and munching, taco-style. Steamed broccoli makes a nice side dish.

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Baked Scotch EggsThese are big, meaty and delicious. Enjoy them as a meal with steamed veggies or a side salad. Don’t forget to serve with some pickles and dipping sauce.

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Pan-Seared Steak Salad with Strawberries and Blue CheeseThis healthy salad is a huge blast of summer colour! Perfect for a simple weeknight dinner for two, this is a delicious choice for a mid-summer meal on the deck. If you don’t have strawberries on hand, substitute any summer fruit such as blueberries, cherries or sliced peaches.

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Grilled Steak with Barley SaladBarley has a unique chewy texture and nutty flavour. Cooking barley is easy and can be ready in under 30 minutes. This recipe is super speedy if you are using leftover steak or roast beef – a tip: cook an extra steak when you barbecue for a meal short-cut at the ready. Barley can also be cooked ahead, cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months – another short-cut for speedy cooking.

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Beef Stroganoff Open-Faced SandwichesWho doesn’t love beef stroganoff? How about a simple weeknight dinner for two that packs all the flavour, but is on the table in a lot less time? Delicious ground beef smothered in a sour cream mushroom gravy is the perfect solution!

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Micro Meat LoafIn this recipe the title “Micro” does mean small, however this meatloaf is also cooked in the microwave! The microwave is an amazing time-saving tool in the kitchen for steaming veggies, melting chocolate, and, in this case, baking personal-size meat loaves for 2.

To help you save time and dollars check out our tips on shopping, storing, freezing and thawing Canadian beef.

Storage

Proper Storage of Beef in Refrigerator