Baked Ranch Chicken for Two (An Easy Weeknight Dinner)

 

An easy baked ranch chicken recipe for two made with simple ingredients and baked until juicy and flavorful. A cozy, reliable weeknight dinner that pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes or a simple salad.

Baked Ranch Chicken for Two (An Easy Weeknight Dinner)

Some nights call for a recipe you don’t have to think too hard about — something low effort, comforting, yet still delicious.  Last night was one of those nights.  You know the kind where you're already working late and the dog needs walking, and a sick loved one needs tending, and still...dinner has to get on the table.  This Baked Ranch Chicken is one of those dinners for me. It’s the kind of meal I make when I want dinner to almost take care of itself yet give me such a big flavor payoff.  

I’ve always loved ranch seasoning for its savory flavor, but this version feels a little more special. Butter and olive oil keep the chicken juicy and combined with the seasoning turns into a wonderful sauce.  A hot oven does most of the work, and the ingredient list stays thankfully short. It’s not flashy — it’s just really good.

This recipe is written for two, which makes it perfect for quiet weeknights, small households, or nights when you don’t want leftovers staring back at you from the fridge. Serve it with mashed potatoes, a simple salad, or whatever feels right, and let dinner be easy for once.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe work:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• Ranch seasoning mix

• Olive oil and butter

• Garlic powder and paprika

• Freshly cracked black pepper

This is one of those recipes where the combination matters more than the quantity — each ingredient pulls its weight without overpowering the others.

-- Let’s Make It Together

How to Make Baked Ranch Chicken for Two

Start by preheating your oven and lightly greasing a small baking dish. While the oven heats, pat the chicken breasts dry and, if they’re thick, gently pound them to an even thickness so they cook evenly.

Mix the ranch seasoning with the garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper, then rub it generously over both sides of the chicken. Stir together the olive oil and melted butter and drizzle it over the chicken once it’s in the baking dish.

Bake the chicken uncovered until it’s cooked through and lightly golden on top. Let it rest briefly before serving so the juices stay right where they belong.

-- Perfecting the Cooking Process

The key to great baked chicken is even thickness and a hot oven. Taking a minute to pound the chicken ensures it cooks at the same rate, while baking at 400°F allows the outside to develop flavor without drying out the inside. Don’t skip the resting time — it makes all the difference between good chicken and truly juicy chicken.

-- Add Your Touch

If you want to make this recipe your own, it’s easy to tweak. Add a pinch of smoked paprika for a deeper flavor, finish the chicken with fresh herbs, or swap mashed potatoes for roasted vegetables or a simple salad. This is one of those base recipes that welcomes small changes.

Set the Mood

Want to create a cozy atmosphere when serving this dinner for two? Follow my tips below.

If you’re building a weeknight dinner rotation, this baked ranch chicken fits right in. Pair it with a simple salad using my How to Build a Salad Without a Recipe formula, or serve it alongside my Garlic New Potatoes for a comforting, home-style dinner idea. These are the kinds of meals that make cooking feel steady and satisfying again.

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Before You Start

• This recipe is written for two but can be doubled easily.

• Chicken breasts cook best when they’re similar in size.

• An instant-read thermometer helps ensure perfectly cooked chicken.

• Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy.

 

 

 

Valentine's Day Dinner Date: Skillet Pizza for Two

Delicious cheesy pizza just for two is so much better than takeout, and it's doable on a weeknight!

Yum

Since Valentine's Day falls on a Friday this year why not stay in and have a quiet date night?  That's what we are planning to do and I have the perfect dinner in mind:  Pizza! 


We've eaten a lot of Friday night pizzas so it's only fitting that we make Skillet Pizza for Two at home together.  This pizza is really easy and super quick which is perfect for a weeknight.

Make this two ways:  

• No-yeast dough (recipe below) 
• Store bought pizza dough

Did I mention the secret ingredient in the no-yeast dough is beer? Yes, beer creates a wonderful pizza dough.  So choose your dough, then choose your toppings.

Simple classic pizza toppings such as 4 cheese, that's what we used here, allows the crust to really shine.  So why not cozy up this holiday with your loved one and share a homemade pizza, just for two!

Enjoy!

 Skillet Pizza for Two

 Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup beer

1 Tablespoon olive oil + more for the skillet

1/2 - 1 cup pizza sauce

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fontina cheese
1 oz goat cheese, crumbled

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in food processor.  With processor running, slowly add beer and and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Process until the dough pulls away from sides and forms a shaggy ball, about 1 minute.

Using floured hands, form dough into a tight ball and cover loosely with plastic wrap; let rest for 10 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half. Roll one half into a 10 inch round.  The other half may be placed in the freezer for another use.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat, Transfer dough to the skillet and cook, poking holes with a fork on any bubbles that form, until bottom is a deep golden brown and crisp, 3 – 4 minutes.  Flip dough and add the pizza sauce and the cheese mixture. 

Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 7-10 minutes until crust is browned and cheese is golden.  

Remove pizza from the oven and the skillet and place on a cutting board.  Slice into wedges and serve.

Valentine's Day Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls for Two

A small batch of piping hot cinnamon rolls bursting with all that cinnamony goodness and slathered with a sweet gooey icing is all you need for a sweet Valentine's Day breakfast!  And because these are no-yeast cinnamon rolls these bake up in no time.

Yum

Valentine's Day is coming quick and I love to cherish my man with a little something special for breakfast.  Something like these Valentine's Day Pancakes or these Raspberry Sour Cream Muffins. Today we are going back to an old comfy classic of Cinnamon Rolls.  Who doesn't love a hot cinnamon roll bursting with cinnamon and sugar and topped with a sweet gooey glaze?  Oh man,  I love the smell of cinnamon in the morning!   

Now I grew up with mom making cinnamon rolls using this no-yeast technique and they are done in a pinch and decadent and tasty!  These are the quick way to make cinnamon rolls when you don't have a lot of time but still want a comforting pastry for breakfast!  

I searched high and low for my mom's recipe and came up empty handed.  So I adapted one from a favorite blog (Dessert for Two) that makes small batches of everything, and these are just perfect. 

What better treat to make the love of your life than a breakfast of piping hot cinnamon rolls!  Plus, they are super cute, and you make them in your muffin tin.  Winner!

Enjoy!




Cinnamon Rolls for Two

yield: 4 rolls

Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vinegar
4 tablespoons butter, melted, divided 
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Glaze:

2 heaping tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon milk

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375, and spray 4 cups in a muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a small measuring cup, combine the milk, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of the melted butter.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and stir until a soft dough forms.  Flour a counter or board and dump the dough out onto the board.  Pat the dough into a 6" long rectangle.  Pour the remaining butter on top of the dough covering the entire surface.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Sprinkle over the melted butter.  Roll the dough into a log starting with the long side. Roll away from you. When you get to the end of the dough, pinch the entire seam shut.

Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces, and place them cut side up in the greased muffin tins.  Bake for 14-16 minutes until golden brown.  

Meanwhile, in a small bowl add powdered sugar and milk and stir together until a nice glaze forms.  Check check to see if it drizzles easily.  If not add a tiny bit of milk until you reach your desired consistency.  

Remove cinnamon rolls from the oven and drizzle with glaze.  Serve warm.

Cheesy Potato Soup (Cooking for Two)

I just bought a new slow cooker.  A cute little 2 1/2 qt one.  One for just me and my man.  Small little intimate meals.

Actually that sounds nice and all but I bought with the thought of soups in mind.  Love soups, and during this cold spell we can't shake, they are great to warm your soul.  So while we are out running around during the day I can have a great soup waiting for us when we get home.  Soups on!

So I been cooking soups quite a bit lately experimenting with my new toy.  I typically like clear broth soups.  I just love the flavor of broths.  That didn't last long when I came across this crockpot recipe for Cheesy Potato Soup (Cooking for Two) in a Pillsbury.com email. How perfect is that?  A new tool and a new soup for it's debut.  Something about the fact that there is CHEESE in this potato soup appealed to me.  Sounds like a loaded baked potato with the bacon on the top.  Who wouldn't like that?

So as it turned out this soup was fantastic.  Creamy, cheesy, comfort food.  Perfect on a cold night with some hot rolls and a salad.  So if you are looking for a simple comfort food dish...look below for the recipe.  Oh, and if you want to feed more people, just double the recipe and use the standard 4 or 5 qt crockpot.

Cheers to my new 2 1/2 qt crockpot!  I'll be putting the large one away for another day.

Cheesy Potato Soup (Cooking for Two)

By Pillsbury

serves 3

2 slices bacon

¾ cup chopped onion

2 ½ cups diced peeled russet potatoes (about 3 small)

¼ cup chopped celery

2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from a 32-oz carton)

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

¼ cup all-purpose flour

¾ cup half-and-half

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (from an 8 oz bag)

In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, turning occasionally, until browned and crispy. Remove from skillet, reserving fat in skillet. Drain bacon on paper towel, then refrigerate. In same skillet, cook onion in bacon fat over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.

Spray 3- to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix onion, potatoes, celery, broth, salt and pepper.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 7 hours.

In small bowl, beat flour and half-and-half with wire whisk until well blended; stir into soup. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook about 20 minutes longer or until thickened. Stir in cheese until well melted. Crumble bacon; sprinkle over soup.