36 Must-Try Summer Dinner Recipes for Two

Read Time: 15 mins

36 Must-Try Summer Dinner Recipes for Two2/35 Cod Tacos 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved EMILY DAVIS for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These bright tacos take me on an instant trip to sunny Southern California. The recipe has been on my family’s most requested list for years. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Nutrition Facts: 2 tacos: 506 calories, 38g fat (8g saturated fat), 52mg cholesterol, 852mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein. 3/35 Yellow Squash Turkey Salad 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Yellow Squash

It’s my favorite fast recipe!

Turkey Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With a wonderful mix of flavors, colors and textures, this impressive salad can be made in minutes for lunch with a friend or for a light dinner with your sweetie. It’s my favorite fast recipe! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas Nutrition Facts: 2 cups: 490 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 37mg cholesterol, 1170mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (48g sugars, 7g fiber), 22g protein. 4/35 Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops Recipe

photo by Sheri Silver for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These sweet, spicy chops can be thrown together in minutes, but they definitely don’t taste like it. Serve them with a side of jasmine rice and you’ll feel as if you’re on a tropical vacation. —Allison Ulrich, Frisco, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 470 calories, 26g fat (14g saturated fat), 114mg cholesterol, 1190mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (28g sugars, 2g fiber), 28g protein. 5/35 Crabmeat Boats Test Kitchen Approved Crabmeat Boats Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time

You can also spread the filling on small rolls and serve them as an appetizer

35 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve been making this recipe for more than 40 years. You can also spread the filling on small rolls and serve them as an appetizer. —June Strang, Grand Blanc, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 636 calories, 44g fat (16g saturated fat), 155mg cholesterol, 1003mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 35g protein. 6/35 Penne with Veggies and Black Beans 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Penne with Veggies and Black Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From

In spring we look for

the Recipe Creator: Chock-full of zucchini, tomatoes, sweet pepper and carrots, this hearty pasta dish puts your garden harvest to good use. For variety, I sometimes add one-half cup of salsa or one-half cup of thickened teriyaki sauce.—Vickie Spoerle, Indianapolis, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 300 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 643mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 8g fiber), 14g protein. 7/35 Ground Beef Taco Salad 5 Reviews Ground Beef Taco Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: In spring we look for

In fact, this sauce is so good, you’ll be tempted to eat it with

something light and refreshing on the menu after the heavier comfort food of winter; this salad is a great solution. —Muriel Bertrand, Shoreview, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 2 cups: 469 calories, 28g fat (12g saturated fat), 107mg cholesterol, 1007mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 32g protein. 8/35 Turkey Breast Tenderloins with Raspberry Sauce 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sweet and tangy raspberry sauce is a perfect complement to versatile turkey tenderloins. In fact, this sauce is so good, you’ll be tempted to eat it with

a spoon. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 tenderloin with 1/4 cup sauce: 275 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 425mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 0 fiber), 33g protein. 9/35 Cucumber Salad Boats Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Scoop out the seeds and fill fresh cucumbers with your favorite salad for a crunchy and refreshing light lunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 10/35 Apricot-Orange Salsa Chicken 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 2 hours 40 min Servings 2 servings Go

to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This easy entree is just five ingredients away! Sweet oranges and apricots blend perfectly with zippy salsa in this dish. Keep the heat to your liking with mild, medium or hot salsa. —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half with 1/2 cup rice: 427 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 450mg sodium, 66g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 0 fiber), 31g protein. 11/35 Breaded Sea Scallops 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Breaded Sea Scallops Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe

He says my breaded version is the best he’s ever had

From the Recipe Creator: I never liked seafood until my husband urged me to try scallops, and now I love them. He says my breaded version is the best he’s ever had. A tip I learned was to put them on a paper-towel-topped plate to soak up excess oil. —Martina Preston, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 3 scallops: 454 calories, 23g fat (9g saturated fat), 164mg cholesterol, 1262mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 28g protein. 12/35 Chicken Fajitas for Two 12 Reviews Chicken Fajitas for Two Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2

It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t

servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is the best fajita recipe I’ve ever tried. It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. The servings are hearty, but this dish is so good that my husband and I never have a problem finishing it! —Kathleen Smith, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 383 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 1471mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 29g protein. 13/35 Homemade Fish Sticks 32 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Homemade Fish Sticks Recipe photo by Orly Catz for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings

Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I am a nutritionist and needed a healthy fish fix. Moist inside and crunchy outside, these are amazing with oven fries or roasted veggies and low-fat homemade tartar sauce. —Jennifer Rowland, Elizabethtown, Kentucky Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 278 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 129mg cholesterol, 718mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch. 14/35 Herbed Lemon Pork Chops 19 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Expect to get plenty of compliments

on these fast, flavor-packed chops

on these fast, flavor-packed chops. They’re tender and juicy. —Billi Jo Sylvester, New Smyrna Beach, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop: 200 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 350mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1/2 fat. 15/35 Stuffed Peppers for Two 42 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Stuffed Peppers for Two Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband likes stuffed peppers, but my original recipe made too many servings. I cut it down

to accommodate just the two of us

to accommodate just the two of us. It helps to use a small casserole dish so the peppers won’t tip over while they bake. For color, I serve steamed carrots to round out the meal perfectly. —Elaine Carpenter, Horseshoe Bay, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 stuffed pepper: 405 calories, 20g fat (9g saturated fat), 193mg cholesterol, 1277mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 32g protein. 16/35 Taco Skillet 24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Easy Beef Taco Skillet Recipe photo by Jonathan Melendez for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

Save time and money with this stovetop supper the whole family will love

Busy day? Save time and money with this stovetop supper the whole family will love. It calls for handy convenience products, so it can be on the table in minutes. —Kelly Roder, Fairfax, Virginia Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 415 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 705mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 25g protein. 17/35 Tuna Steak on Fettuccine 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Tuna Steak on Fettuccine Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For something new to do with tuna, I suggest

this tangy dish

this tangy dish. Although I prefer the marinade on tuna or mahi mahi, it’s scrumptious on any fish, grilled, baked or broiled. —Caren Stearns, Austin, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 505 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 518mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 5g fiber), 42g protein. 18/35 Steak and Fries Salad 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a very popular dish at restaurants in central Pennsylvania. Prepared sweet-and-sour dressing is good on this salad, too. —Nancy Collins, Clearfield, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1

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⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

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✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

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