Better Homes & Gardens Cooking for Two magazine features 96 delicious, perfect-portion recipes, without all the leftovers. From quick pasta dishes and 5-ingredient soups to sheet-pan suppers and date-night dinners, there's something for every occasion, paired down for your table of two. Also, learn some helpful shopping and storage tips plus recipes for using up leftover ingredients. As for something sweet, the small-batch baking story features delicious treats that are scaled down for dessert today and just enough extra for tomorrow.
Masthead
Shopping for Two • A PARED DOWN SHOPPING STRATEGY HELPS YOU AVOID AN ABUNDANCE OF LEFTOVERS OR AN OVERSTOCKED PANTRY FULL OF FOODS THAT WILL SPOIL BEFORE YOU USE THEM. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS.
The Art of the Cleanup • START TREATING THOSE WILTING CRISPER VEGGIES AND LAST NIGHT’S LEFTOVERS AS THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL.
Morning Boost • JUMP-START YOUR DAY WITH A HIGH-PROTEIN BREAKFAST. MAKE-AHEAD EGG SANDWICHES, WHOLE GRAIN WAFFLES, AND HEARTY OATS GIVE YOU THE FUEL YOU NEED TO POWER THROUGH THE MORNING.
Bounty of Bowls • BOWLS AREN’T JUST FOR SOUP. WE’RE PILING THEM HIGH WITH CARBS, VEGGIES, AND PROTEIN FOR NOURISHING ALL-IN-ONE MEALS. THESE RECIPES MAKE FOUR SERVINGS, PERFECT FOR MAKE-AHEAD LUNCHES OR ADDING TO YOUR DINNER ROTATION WITH SOME LEFTOVERS.
Pack It In • COOKING EN PAPILLOTE (OR PARCHMENT PAPER) IS A TECHNIQUE THAT YIELDS FLAVORFUL, FUSS-FREE DISHES, PERFECT FOR ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK. AND SINCE THE WHOLE MEAL IS COOKED IN PARCHMENT, CLEANUP IS A BREEZE.
Pasta Perfecto • A BOX OF PASTA HAS ENDLESS POTENTIAL FOR A WEEKNIGHT ADVENTURE. AN ARRAY OF SAUCES, VEGGIES, PROTEINS, AND EXTRAS TRANSFORM ORDINARY NOODLES INTO EXTRAORDINARY SMALL-BATCH (AND QUICK!) FULL-FLAVOR DINNERS.
Salads All Day • BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY WITH FRESH SALADS THAT ARE CHOCK-FULL OF COLORS, TEXTURES, AND FLAVOR-BURSTING DRESSINGS AND VINAIGRETTES. THESE TWO-SERVING PLATEFULS ARE THE TASTIEST WAY TO CRUSH YOUR FIVE-A-DAY FRUIT AND VEGGIE QUOTA.
Dip to Dinner • YOU CAN HAVE YOUR DIP AND DINNER TOO. WE’RE SPINNING DIPS (AND A SALSA) INTO FIVE DINNER-WORTHY MEALS. BUT DON’T WORRY, THERE WILL STILL BE DIP LEFTOVER FOR SNACKING!
Slide on Over • THESE CLASSIC SANDWICH COMBOS REINVENT THEMSELVES AS SLIDERS FOR A SNACKABLE SIZE THAT DELIVERS BIG ON FLAVOR. NOW YOU CAN GET ALL THAT BAKED, MELTY GOODNESS IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS THANKS TO YOUR FAST-COOKING AIR FRYER.
Let’s Stay In • SKIP THE DINNER RESERVATION AND ENJOY AN ELEGANT NIGHT IN. TRY ONE OF THESE CURATED MENUS THAT HIGHLIGHT A RESTAURANT-WORTHY ENTREE: PICK FROM CREAMY TUSCAN CHICKEN, PORK CHOPS WITH GRAPES AND ONION, OR BEEF TENDERLOIN IN A PAN SAUCE. JUST MAKE SURE TO SAVE SOME ROOM FOR DESSERT!
Cocktail O’Clock • SHAKE, STIR, AND DRINK! SIP ON ONE OF THESE SMOOTH COCKTAILS FEATURING FRESH FLAVORS AND INGREDIENTS. WITH A VARIETY OF SINGLE-SERVE COCKTAILS, YOU EACH CAN CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE CONCOCTION AND KEEP EVERYONE IN GOOD SPIRITS.
Soup’s On! • HOMEMADE SOUP ON A WEEKNIGHT? IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK. GRAB A CAN OF BROTH, ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER HIGH-POWER INGREDIENTS (PLUS A FEW PANTRY STAPLES), AND GIVE THEM A QUICK SIMMER FOR A COMFORTING FRESH-MADE MEAL IN UNDER 30 MINUTES.
One (Pan) and Done • CRANK UP THE HEAT AND PUT YOUR TRUSTY SHEET PAN TO WORK ROASTING UP ALL-IN-ONE MEALS FIT FOR TWO. SIMPLY TOSS PROTEINS AND VEGGIES IN SOME SEASONINGS OR SAUCES THEN LET THE OVEN WORK ITS MAGIC.
Your Plate, Your Way • EATING HEALTHIER COULDN’T BE EASIER WITH THESE FLAVORFUL AND BETTER-FOR-YOU OPTIONS. FILL YOUR PLATE WITH EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES: NONSTARCHY VEGETABLES, STARCH, AND PROTEIN. MIX AND MATCH AS YOU DESIRE TO BUILD A BALANCED, DELICIOUS MEAL FOR TWO.
Small-Batch Baking • SWEET TREATS DON’T NEED TO COME IN THE...