The Holiday Collection
The short answer: a great christmas dinner for two is one small main, two sides and one dessert, planned so you cook for two people instead of twelve.
- Mains for two: Cornish hens, a pair of steaks, salmon fillets or a ham steak
- Shop by the piece at the meat counter and buy half-size packages
- Make dessert ahead on Christmas Eve
- Six menus, a day-of timeline and safe cooking temperatures
- Next step: Plan it with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
Our picks for christmas dinner for two
Printables
Christmas Budget & Gift Planner
Set a budget for every person, log each purchase, and watch what's left - plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
Printables
Family Recipe Binder
Section dividers, four recipe page layouts with room for the family story, 4x6 and 3x5 cards and a conversion chart - print it or type into the fillable version.
A great Christmas dinner for two is one small main, two sides and one dessert, planned so you cook for two people instead of twelve. Good mains for two include Cornish hens, a pair of steaks, a small pork tenderloin, salmon fillets, a boneless turkey breast or a ham steak. Shop by the piece at the meat counter, buy half-size packages, and save one make-ahead dish (like dessert) for Christmas Eve. Below are six menus, a small-batch grocery list, a day-of timeline and the safe cooking temperatures to check.
I love cooking and cooking shows, and a dinner for two is the perfect excuse to try that dish you saw on TV. Write your menu and shopping list on the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99), or use the Holiday Menu and Holiday Grocery List pages in the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99). Cooking for a crowd instead? Our Christmas dinner menu ideas scale up to eight complete menus.
Six Christmas dinner for two menus
| Menu | Main | Sides | Dessert | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Two Cornish hens | Roasted potatoes, green beans | Mini apple crisps | Medium |
| Steakhouse | Two ribeye or strip steaks | Twice-baked potatoes, Caesar salad | Chocolate lava cakes | Easy |
| Ham dinner | Ham steak with glaze | Mac and cheese, roasted carrots | Pecan pie bars | Easy |
| Seafood | Salmon fillets or shrimp | Wild rice, roasted asparagus | Cheesecake slices | Easy |
| Pork | Small pork tenderloin | Mashed sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts | Bread pudding for two | Medium |
| Turkey without the whole bird | Boneless turkey breast | Stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole | Pumpkin pie slices | Medium |
Pick a menu that uses your oven once, or split it between the oven and the stovetop so nothing waits for space.
Cook it safely: temperatures for small mains
Small cuts cook fast, so a food thermometer is your best tool. These are the safe minimum internal temperatures from FoodSafety.gov:
| Main | Safe internal temperature |
|---|---|
| Cornish hens, turkey breast, any poultry and stuffing | 165°F |
| Beef or lamb steaks and roasts | 145°F, then rest 3 minutes |
| Pork tenderloin or chops | 145°F, then rest 3 minutes |
| Raw ham | 145°F, then rest 3 minutes |
| Precooked ham (reheating) | 165°F (140°F for hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants) |
| Fish fillets such as salmon | 145°F, or until it flakes easily with a fork |
| Shrimp | Until pearly and opaque |
| Casseroles and leftovers | 165°F |
Check the thickest part of the meat and stay away from bone.
A small-batch Christmas dinner grocery list
Cooking for two means buying smaller, not cooking a big meal and freezing half (unless you want to). The same approach works in November with our Thanksgiving dinner for two guide.
- Meat counter: ask for exactly two steaks, two fillets or one small tenderloin. The butcher counter can often cut a smaller portion if you ask.
- Produce: buy loose potatoes, carrots and green beans by weight instead of big bags.
- Dairy: a half pint of cream and a small block of butter usually covers sides and dessert.
- Bakery: buy two slices of pie or cheesecake, or a small loaf for rolls. (or halve our cheesecake recipe in a 6-inch pan)
- Pantry: a single box of stuffing mix, one can of cranberry sauce and a small bag of rice go a long way.
- Treats: a little hot chocolate or a bottle of sparkling cider for the toast. A small batch of homemade eggnog works too.
If you're shopping for the whole week around the holiday, our Christmas week meal plan uses leftovers on purpose.
Day-of game plan (dinner at 6 p.m.)
Work backward from when you want to eat:
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | Make dessert; chop vegetables; set the table |
| 4:00 p.m. | Prep sides; preheat the oven; take steaks or fish out of the fridge (keep them out under 2 hours) |
| 4:30 p.m. | Cornish hens, turkey breast or pork go in (steaks and fish wait) |
| 5:15 p.m. | Potatoes and vegetables go in or on the stove |
| 5:30 p.m. | Sear steaks or bake fish; check temperatures |
| 5:45 p.m. | Rest the meat; make the sauce or gravy |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| After dinner | Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours |
Cooking times vary by size and oven, so let the thermometer, not the clock, tell you when it's done.
Handle leftovers the easy way
FoodSafety.gov advises refrigerating perishable food within 2 hours and storing leftovers in shallow containers so they cool quickly. Reheat leftovers to 165°F. A Cornish hen becomes chicken salad, steak becomes a breakfast hash, and ham becomes a Christmas breakfast omelet.
Make dinner for two feel special
- Set the table with real plates, cloth napkins and a candle.
- Plan one course you've never made before, and one you could make in your sleep.
- Exchange cards at the table. Our Christmas card messages help if you're stuck.
- Start a tradition: a toast, a favorite movie after dinner, or a walk to see lights. More ideas in our cheap family Christmas traditions.
- Cook together. Divide the menu: one person on the main, one on sides.
What a Christmas dinner for two costs
A dinner for two can cost far less than a holiday feast, or the same if you splurge on steaks or seafood. Fill in your numbers:
| Category | Your budget |
|---|---|
| Main | $____ |
| Sides | $____ |
| Dessert | $____ |
| Drinks | $____ |
| Table extras (candles, flowers) | $____ |
| Total | $____ |
Want to plan the holiday money together? See how to budget as a couple and our Christmas budget calculator.
Plan the menu, shopping list and recipes
The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) includes a Dinner Plan & Prep page, a Grocery List and Recipe Cards, which is all a two-person holiday dinner needs. If you're also planning gifts and the holiday budget, the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) adds Holiday Menu, Holiday Grocery List and Holiday Budget pages. Keep your new favorite recipes in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99), which has a Holidays section. Browse the home shop and the holiday shop.
Planning the days after Christmas too? A weekly meal planner helps you turn the leftovers into easy lunches and dinners for the rest of the week.
Our free Holiday Budget Starter Kit is three US Letter pages we email you after you join our list.
See also
- Christmas dinner menu planner (for a bigger crowd)
- How to host Christmas dinner on a budget
- Christmas Eve dinner ideas
- Hot cocoa bar ideas
- Christmas baking list
One pork tenderloin is just right for two, with leftovers for sandwiches the next day. For weeknights, not just Christmas, see our healthy dinner recipes for two.
The Holiday Collection
Give every person a limit and watch what's left
The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner adds up every list for you: a budget for each person, a log of each purchase and the amount left to spend, plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
- Spreadsheet for Excel and Google Sheets
- 11 printable pages, US Letter + A4
- Instant download, 14-day fix-or-refund promise
Planning the whole season? See the holiday sets from $7, with early prices through Cyber Monday
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Christmas dinner for two? A good Christmas dinner for two is one small main, two sides and one dessert. Cornish hens with roasted potatoes and green beans, steaks with twice-baked potatoes, or salmon with wild rice and asparagus all feel special without leftovers for a week.
What main dish is best for a Christmas dinner for two? The best main dishes for a Christmas dinner for two are Cornish hens, a pair of steaks, a small pork tenderloin, salmon fillets, a boneless turkey breast or a ham steak. Each serves two without a whole bird or a big roast.
How do I make turkey for just two people? Cook a boneless turkey breast instead of a whole bird. Roast it until the thickest part reaches 165°F, the safe minimum temperature for all poultry on FoodSafety.gov's chart, then rest it before slicing.
What temperature should Cornish hens be cooked to? Cook Cornish hens to 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh, like all poultry. Use a food thermometer and avoid touching the bone.
How do I shop for a Christmas dinner for two? Buy by the piece at the meat counter, choose loose produce by weight, pick half-size dairy and buy dessert by the slice. The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) has a Dinner Plan & Prep page and a Grocery List to keep it small.
What can I make ahead for Christmas dinner for two? Make dessert, chop vegetables and set the table on Christmas Eve. Casseroles like green bean casserole or mac and cheese can be assembled ahead and baked on the day.
How long can Christmas dinner leftovers sit out? Christmas dinner leftovers can sit out for no more than 2 hours. FoodSafety.gov advises refrigerating perishable food within 2 hours in shallow containers so it cools quickly, then reheating leftovers to 165°F.
How can I make Christmas dinner for two feel special? Use real plates, cloth napkins and a candle, cook one new dish and one favorite, and exchange cards at the table. Starting a small tradition, like a toast or a walk to see lights, makes it yours.
Where can I save the recipes from our Christmas dinner? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) keeps them together. It's a 23-page fillable printable with 4x6 and 3x5 recipe cards and a Holidays section, so this year's dinner is easy to repeat.
How much does a Christmas dinner for two cost? A simple Christmas dinner for two often costs less than a restaurant meal for two, especially if you pick one main, two sides and a homemade dessert. Steaks or seafood cost more than Cornish hens or a pork tenderloin. Write your menu and prices on a list first, check what you already have, and buy small packages to keep the total down.
What can we do after a Christmas dinner for two? Keep the evening relaxed: watch a favorite holiday movie, take a short walk to look at lights, play a card game or open one gift each by the tree. Many couples also start a small tradition, like writing a note about the year or trying a new dessert together, which makes the night feel special without adding cost.
Free printable
Get the free Holiday Budget Starter Kit
A one-page holiday budget, a gift list with a spending limit for every person, and a 6-week countdown so December stays calm and paid for. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple holiday planning, budgeting and hosting tips.
Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperatures foodsafety.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: 4 steps to food safety foodsafety.gov
