Do I have to boil broccoli before putting it in a pasta bake?

You should boil the broccoli first for perfectly tender results. It only takes a few minutes, and you can add it straight to the pot with the pasta so you don’t have to break out any extra dishes. If you don’t boil the broccoli first and instead add it raw, it will be too tough when the pasta bake is done cooking.

Do I have to cover my pasta bake before I put it in the oven?

Yes, we recommend covering the baking dish with foil so that the pasta bake doesn’t dry out in the oven. The foil will trap the moisture in, yielding more delicious results!

How do I store and reheat leftover chicken broccoli pasta bake?

You can leave leftovers right in the baking dish and cover it with foil, then store in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also transfer any leftovers to an airtight container if you prefer. Reheat single servings in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Home / Comfort Food Dinners

Dinners For Two

Cooking for two? Us too! These are our go-to recipes for weeknight dinners and date nights at home. Most of these recipes are perfect for 2 servings, plus maybe a bit of leftovers depending on how hungry you are.

Nicole’s Pick: Chicken Parmesan For Two
Alex’s Pick: Shakshuka For Two

A cast iron skillet of spicy shakshuka for two.

Celebratory Dinners For Two

Our go-to recipes for celebrating a special occasion, whether it’s a birthday or our anniversary.

Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta

Penne Alla Vodka With Bacon

Seafood Pasta

Crispy Pork Belly Tacos

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Chicken Dinners For Two

Comforting meals that use chicken as the main protein and won’t leave you with a ton of leftovers.

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

Butter Chicken Pizza

Chicken Shawarma Bowl

Crispy Popcorn Chicken

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Pastas For Two

Cozy pastas we love to make for an easy weeknight dinner for the two of us.

Spinach Cottage Cheese Pasta

Chicken Parmesan For Two

Tikka Masala Pasta

Cast Iron Skillet Mac and Cheese

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Quick Dinners For Two

Need dinner on the table ASAP? These are our favorite recipes for two when we’re short on time.

Vermont Burger

Fried Shrimp Tacos

Burrata Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak

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Mexican For Two

Did someone say taco two-sday? These flavorful recipes are perfectly sized for two, with minimal (or no) leftovers.

Elote Pizza

Spicy Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos

Carnitas Bowl

Chipotle Lime Black Bean Burrito Bowls

View all Mexican recipes →

Easy Dinners For Two

Perfect for when you don’t want dinner to feel like a hassle. Better yet, we even have a list of easy meals for two with leftovers so you can spare yourself the effort of cooking tomorrow!