In search of recipes to remain in and prepare dinner? These Valentine’s Day dinner concepts make an excellent date evening or romantic dinner!
What’s higher than an evening in for Valentine’s Day? We love dinner out, however there’s one thing cozy about staying in and cooking dinner with the folks you’re keen on. Whether or not it’s a romantic dinner for 2 or a dinner with the entire household, there are such a lot of concepts to make a particular meal!
And who higher to listen to from than us, a pair who cooks collectively? We’re two cookbook authors and recipe writers who’ve made a profession of sharing the kitchen. Right here we’ve compiled all our favourite Valentine’s Day dinner concepts and recipes for cozy evening in. Every recipe has a little bit of a romantic vibe, however works for the entire household too!
In search of drinks? Strive 20 Enjoyable Valentine’s Day Cocktails!
And now, Valentine’s Day dinner concepts and recipes!
One in every of our prime Valentine’s Day dinner concepts to impress: this creamy Tuscan salmon! It’d end in a number of marriage proposals, which is why we additionally prefer to name it “Marry Me Salmon.” The tender fish is bathed in a luscious cream sauce with garlic, solar dried tomatoes, spinach, and capers, making every chew brilliant, salty, and opulent.
Right here’s a basic dish that impresses each time: hen piccata! Tender, golden-brown hen cutlets are bathed in a vibrant lemon-butter sauce with pops of briny capers. This basic Italian American dish has captured hearts and stomachs world wide, and it’s an enormous favourite over right here. Don’t be intimidated by its fancy identify; it is surprisingly easy to make at dwelling!
Do this romantic creamy pasta recipe, starring chewy al dente pasta and an irresistible Parmesan garlic cream sauce! The best way the creamy sauce and garlic intensify the leafy greens makes it one in every of our prime vegetarian pasta recipes thus far. Cozy as much as a bowl and it’s positively life-giving. You’ll by no means love spinach extra!
Shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon, and white wine: what may very well be higher? Sure, it’s the Italian American shrimp scampi, a basic that’s been stealing hearts and minds for many years. This model is fairly stellar: juicy, garlicky shrimp swimming in a wealthy, tangy butter sauce. Sop it up with crusty bread, or pour it over pasta: both approach, it’s divine.
Right here’s a recipe that couldn’t be extra delectable. Strive these spinach artichoke Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! Sure, that’s proper. It combines the deliciousness of spinach artichoke dip with the meaty, savory goodness of a baked portobello mushroom. Prime it off with crunchy Italian breadcrumbs, and also you’ll amaze everybody on the desk! It’s vegetarian however will please each kind of eater: we promise.
This cozy, flavor-packed recipe satisfies each time: Penne Pomodoro! The basic pairing of pomodoro sauce and short-cut pasta exemplifies the simplicity of Italian delicacies: juicy tomatoes, garlic, greens and herbs simmered till they meld right into a pure, wealthy sauce.
This superb crab cake recipe makes patties which can be golden and seasoned, crispy on the surface and tender on the within. Previous Bay, Dijon mustard and tarragon intensify the juicy lump crabmeat completely, and served with creamy tartar sauce, they’re a bit of little bit of heaven in every chew!
An ideal vegan dinner thought? Strive Vegan Crab Muffins (that are simply nearly as good, in our opinion!).
Subsequent up in our record of Valentine’s Day dinner concepts: Cacio e Pepe: cheese and pepper pasta! Pasta is mega romantic, proper? This Italian cheese and pepper spaghetti couldn’t be easier; the recipe is from our pal Ashley Rodriguez’s ebook Date Night time In. Alex and I ate a killer cacio e pepe final time we have been in Rome, and we had probably the greatest one’s of our life in NYC. It’s a very easy recipe that’s elegant in its simplicity.
Additionally attempt: Straightforward Pasta Puttanesca
If we might eat only one dinner for the remainder of our lives, this could be it: a skillet of creamy Tuscan hen! In case you’ve by no means had Tuscan hen, allow us to be the primary to inform you: this meal delivers. What’s it that makes it so outrageously good? Perhaps it’s the dreamy sauce of solar dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and Parmesan. Or possibly it’s the savory taste explosion from the superbly seasoned and pan seared hen breast.
Subsequent up in our record of Valentine’s Day dinner concepts: Pistachio Crusted Salmon! This methodology for cooking fish looks like one thing you’d get at a restaurant, however it’s so easy to make. The aroma wafting from the oven can have you salivating earlier than the meals even reaches your plate! Every chew of tender fish and the crunchy, Parmesan pistachio topping makes you instantly need to take one other.
Additionally attempt: Fast Broiled Salmon or Lemon Dill Salmon
This is a creamy pasta good for Valentine’s Day dinner: Creamy Solar Dried Tomato Pasta! There’s main wow-factor to this pasta, which comes collectively in simply half-hour. Earthy, fruity sundried tomatoes lend a meaty high quality to this straightforward vegetarian dish, which is bathed in a Parmesan cream sauce.
If there’s one recipe that’s a certain hit in our home, it’s creamy hen skillets. And this one is an absolute household favourite: do that creamy lemon garlic hen! The hen is coated in spices and pan fried till tender and juicy, then topped with a fast pan sauce made with lemon, garlic and a bit of cream.
One in every of our extra elegant Valentine’s Day dinner concepts is that this Parmesan black truffle risotto! A seemingly gourmand dish, this Parmesan truffle risotto recipe is fairly easy to place collectively, and the black truffle taste sends it out of this world. There’s a splash of white wine within the risotto, and you may drink the remainder of the bottle as you prepare dinner!
Additionally attempt: Mushroom Risotto or Butternut Squash Risotto
Scallops have a phenomenal, delicate candy taste that’s straightforward to like: and there’s nothing higher than that good seared crispy outdoors. Strive them bathed on this superb Lemon Herb Sauce. It takes a bit of know how you can get that golden brown crust with out below cooking or overcooking them. However as soon as you already know a number of secrets and techniques…it’s very straightforward and takes solely 5 minutes to prepare dinner!
Additionally attempt: Scallop Pasta with Lemon & Herbs
In search of a pasta recipe to impress for Valentine’s Day dinner? Strive the signature Italian dish Pasta alla Norma! This spectacular recipe hails from Sicily and like all basic Italian dish, it’s all about elegant simplicity. Sauteed eggplant tastes savory and meaty towards a tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta and salty ricotta salata cheese. The mix of flavors and textures is a real masterpiece!
Name us loopy, however isn’t a sublime pot pie is the coziest, most romantic sounding of Valentine’s Day dinner concepts? This pot pie has develop into one in every of our prime fan favourite recipes, and for good motive. The flaky crust is scented with sage, and the within is pure creamy, savory goodness with candy potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and white beans. In case you’re searching for romantic dinner, that is it.
Additionally attempt: Finest Vegan Pot Pie
This creamy vodka sauce is simmered with garlic and basil, served over rigatoni with plenty of Parmesan. The key? Simmer the sauce for 1 hour! This vodka sauce pasta is so significantly stuffed with taste, it’s price each second of that simmer. And what says “I like you” greater than a 1 hour simmered pasta?
Serve with: Favourite Chopped Salad or Good Italian Salad
It’s obtained bubbly cheese, garlicky tomato sauce, and savory, meaty breaded eggplant: it’s Eggplant Parmesan! This Italian basic dish is hearty, filling, and pleases nearly everybody. Most eating places use fried eggplant, however for a selfmade model it’s a lot easier to bake. This finest baked Eggplant Parmesan recipe is quicker and simpler to make at dwelling than most recipes and stuffed with unimaginable taste.
Chilean sea bass is without doubt one of the most costly fish dishes on a restaurant menu, and one chew tells you why! The tender fillet has a succulent, buttery texture that tastes positively glamorous. In case you’re fortunate sufficient to attain your self a fillet or two, right here’s the recipe for them. Calmly season and pan fry the fillets till the outside is golden and crisp, then season with garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs. Pair it with a number of sides and it’s a restaurant-quality Valentine’s Day dinner recipe with little effort.
There’s simply one thing about silky caramelized onions topped golden, crusty cheese that takes your breath away each time. That is basic French cooking at its best…it is a bit of a venture, however price each minute of it for a sublime Valentine’s Day dinner. This recipe is filled with wealthy, nuanced taste and all the comfortable, date evening in vibes.
Desire a Valentine’s Day dinner to impress…with a bit of kick? Strive Shrimp Fra Diavolo! This Italian-style dish stars tender shrimp that swim in a garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. “Fra diavolo” interprets to “brother satan” in Italian, alluding to the extraordinary warmth of this dish. However make it selfmade and you may customise the spiciness to your style!
We love utilizing Valentine’s Day as an excuse to make a elaborate paella! This beautiful one pan dinner is made for celebrations! This conventional Spanish rice dish has 1000’s of variations. however it’s all the time rice with an explosion of colourful toppings. This one stars saffron-scented rice, combined colourful greens and shrimp, and it’s stuffed with conventional taste. Pair with pink sangria or apple sangria.
You’ll need to bookmark this recipe for making after Valentine’s Day too…this Creamy Shrimp Pasta! It’s extremely basic: juicy, savory shrimp and al dente pasta swimming in a creamy sauce. As a result of we love choices, we’ve obtained two sauce concepts for you: a white wine sauce, bursting with tangy taste. Or attempt our straightforward cream sauce, a creamy Parmesan sauce that’s really made with no cream in any respect. Combine the parts collectively and wow!
Ever tried making meatballs…with eggplant? We’d been listening to for years that eggplant makes nice vegetarian meatballs, we simply didn’t actually imagine it…till now. Do this superb Eggplant Meatballs recipe! Garlic, herbs, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese make one insanely juicy and savory meatball.
What’s extra Valentine’s Day acceptable than sizzling pink hummus? That is the proper appetizer to a comfortable dinner. Including a roasted beet to hummus makes it beautiful to have a look at—and it’s tasty too. You don’t have to chop your veggies to be coronary heart formed in fact…however why not?
Cherries are good for Valentine’s Day dinner, and here is an excellent appetizer thought: cherry and goat cheese crostini! Saute tart cherries with a little bit of sage and balsamic vinegar, then spoon them over a goat cheese crostini. They are a easy and scrumptious starter to pair with the principle dishes above!
This is an ideal salad for Valentine’s Day dinner: shaved Brussels sprout salad! This one is a research in texture contrasts: the feathery shaved Brussels, the pop of the Pomegranate seeds, and the brilliant crunch of the apple. It’s vibrant and colourful, lined in a calmly candy French dressing.
This is a simple salad to make any Valentine’s Day dinner recipe right into a meal. It’s fairly probably the best salad you’ll make. You don’t even need to make a salad dressing! In 5 to 10 minutes, you’ve obtained a sublime salad that goes with actually the whole lot.
One other nice Valentine’s Day dinner aspect dish: pomegranate salad! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a phenomenal confetti excessive of leafy greens. Add tart inexperienced apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a real symphony of taste! Choose from a number of totally different dressing selections: our favorites are apple cider vinegar dressing or pomegranate French dressing.
Beets are good for Valentine’s Day dinner with their brilliant pink shade. Strive them on this Beet Salad recipe! Make it with roasted beets and even pre-cooked from the shop: and man is it good. It has all the best components: child greens, creamy goat cheese and a tangy balsamic beet dressing.
Right here’s a phenomenal aspect dish for Valentine’s Day dinner: this beautiful apple salad! If we might eat one salad for the remainder of time, this one is it. Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them throughout contemporary greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s actually salad perfection.
Right here’s a brilliant, stunning salad recipe that works in virtually any season: this refreshing Grapefruit Salad! It pairs the juicy citrus fruit with nutty toasted almonds, salty feta cheese and a zingy poppy seed dressing. Give it a style and the fragile, zingy, nut and creamy textures and flavors complement one another completely!
This is a sublime salad for Valentine’s Day dinner: do that Endive Salad: equal components refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs completely with juicy orange and a candy tart pink wine French dressing. Prime it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine. Every chew is crunchy, candy, savory and citrusy.
In the case of fast and chic aspect dishes, this one could be tops: sauteed broccolini! The elegantly lengthy stems of this inexperienced veggie make it look fancy, however right here’s a secret. You’ll be able to prepare dinner it up in simply 5 minutes in a sizzling skillet. Add a little bit of garlic and lemon, and also you received’t be capable of cease consuming these irresistibly giant spears.
Additionally attempt: Easy Roasted Broccolini
Right here’s a easy method to costume up contemporary inexperienced beans as a gourmand aspect: Inexperienced Beans Almondine! Make it at dwelling, and this dish is good! The beans are brilliant inexperienced and completely tender, sautéed in butter with garlic and toasted almonds and completed with a bit of lemon zest. After one chew, you will be singing its praises.
These Brussels sprouts are a unbelievable Valentine’s Day aspect dish…they usually actually are subsequent stage! They’re impossibly crispy, baked till they’re caramelized and the surface layers flake off into darkened crunchy chips. Then they’re draped in a tangy maple balsamic glaze that heightens the flavors to their peak. One chew of those, and everybody across the desk will probably be asking how you probably did it.
After all, we have got to have some romantic Valentine’s Day cocktails to go together with the dinner concepts, proper? Do this candy tart pink cocktail: the Raspberry Martini! This drink is beautiful and stuffed with brilliant berry taste: from first sip, you’ll be offered! The candy tart, calmly floral taste of raspberry is superbly pure, due to selfmade raspberry syrup.
Additionally attempt: Pomegranate Martini, French Martini or different Pink Cocktails
This is a superbly brilliant good pink Valentine’s Day drink: sure, it’s a Cosmo! A Cosmopolitan cocktail, to be precise. This basic cocktail is prepared to boost your subsequent gathering, be it a cocktail party or drinks on the patio with mates. It was at its top within the 1990’s (howdy, Intercourse and the Metropolis), however the Cosmo is a legit bitter cocktail that’s price ingesting.
Additionally attempt: 10 Good Pink Cocktails
The chocolate martini is wealthy and creamy, mainly a dessert in a glass! It’s obtained Irish cream and creme de cacao for optimum taste, just like the liquid model of your favourite chocolate bar. Combine this up for particular events like Valentine’s Day or a romantic dinner…or simply anytime you want a candy deal with in cocktail type.
Additionally attempt: Traditional Mudslide
Right here’s some of the refined and refreshing cocktails on the market…and it is good for Valentine’s Day dinner. Strive the French 75! It’s obtained a mysterious identify, however it’s made with a number of easy elements. It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical, and it makes each dinner extra festive!
One other enjoyable Valentine’s Day dinner drink: the Pomegranate Gin Fizz! The Gin Fizz is one in every of our favourite basic cocktails: candy tart and refreshing, with a festive egg white foam. Take it excessive with this pomegranate spin: it elevates the candy tart taste and offers the drink a superb jewel-toned shade!
In search of a decadent Valentine’s Day dinner deal with? Do this chocolate mousse recipe: wealthy, easy, and surprisingly straightforward to whip up at dwelling! This is how you can make a killer easy, creamy, wealthy chocolate mousse.
Right here’s an iconic Valentine’s Day dessert that’s the pure definition of decadence: Molten Chocolate Lava Cake! It will get its identify from its liquid “lava” middle, which flows like a volcano once you dig into it with a fork. Are you a chocolate lover licks the batter off spatulas when baking? (Responsible.) You then’ll be head over heels for this one. Seems, it’s not as tough as you assume!
The very best dessert for in our Valentine’s Day dinner concepts: mug cake! This genius methodology for going from 0 to cake in just some minutes is totally price a attempt. This chocolate mug cake recipe comes out insanely fudgy and 100% scrumptious! It’s obtained a secret ingredient that makes a delightfully wealthy taste. The toughest half? Ready for it to chill till you may dig in.
How about pulling some heat chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven for Valentine’s Day dinner? Outrageously good is the one method to describe these cookies! They’re chewy with crispy edges, candy with simply the best nutty intrigue within the taste, and studded with darkish chocolate chips and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. (They might be vegan, however they’re our favourite cookies and we promise you may’t inform the distinction!)
What’s higher than ending a Valentine’s Day dinner with flourless chocolate cake? Wealthy and fudgy, dense and darkish chocolaty, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream. Prime it with this straightforward raspberry compote for a candy tart pairing that cuts the sweetness of the cake completely.
Everybody loves chocolate cookie. However right here’s one thing we predict is even higher: these smooth, gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! They’ve obtained an irresistibly chewy texture, that includes an opulent dough with a great deal of darkish chocolate chips. A little bit of oatmeal provides it a nostalgic heartiness, and the perimeters get completely golden.
Cherries seem to be Valentine’s Day meals to us, in all probability due to the colour. So do that cherry crisp with candy tart, juicy pink fruit lined in cinnamon-spiced butter crumbles. We additionally like so as to add a touch of floor cardamom for some intrigue!
Final up: one in every of our very favourite methods to finish a Valentine’s Day dinner bananas foster! In case you like taking part in with hearth, this one’s for you. Our recipe is simple with directions on how you can flambé and get that dramatic flame! It tastes actually unimaginable. Seize two spoons on your skillet and dig in!
Extra romantic recipes
Want extra romantic recipe inspiration? We’ve obtained you. Listed below are a number of extra concepts that might be good as Valentine’s Day recipes:
Description
Right here’s how you can make chocolate lined strawberries: a simple dessert that’s spectacular each time! This recipe makes completely dipped berries.
- 1 pound ripe strawberries
- 5 ounces semi candy chocolate chips (like Guittard or Ghirardelli)
- Toppings: sprinkles, crushed pistachios (proven), crushed freeze dried raspberries (proven), crushed nuts, toasted coconut, white chocolate to drizzle (see recipe), and so forth
- Wash and dry the strawberries: Wash the strawberries and gently pat them as dry as attainable.
- Line a baking sheet and prep toppings: Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Put together all of your toppings upfront and place them in bowls subsequent to the baking sheet.
- Soften the chocolate: Place the chocolate chips right into a dry glass measuring cup or small glass cup or bowl: the smaller the higher. (Be certain that it’s utterly dry or the chocolate will seize.) Microwave on Excessive energy for 30 seconds, then stir. Microwave one other 30 seconds, stir, and 30 seconds extra and stir. At this level it must be largely melted with a number of chunks: hold stirring till all of the chocolate chunks disappear and the chocolate is completely easy. (Preserve stirring if it doesn’t absolutely soften. You’ll be able to attempt one other 10 second burst and stir once more, however you’ll need to keep away from getting the chocolate too sizzling. Learn extra at How one can Microwave Chocolate.)
- Dip the strawberries and add toppings: Maintain the inexperienced portion of a strawberry. Dip the strawberry into the chocolate after which pull it out, twisting it to let the surplus drip off. Place the strawberry onto the baking sheet. Instantly sprinkle it with toppings, for the reason that chocolate dries shortly.
- Refrigerate: Refrigerate the tray of strawberries for half-hour. Serve instantly or refrigerate till serving. They’re finest the day of creating, however they’ll retailer for as much as 1 day uncovered (don’t place them in a sealed container or they develop into soggy).
- Class: Dessert
- Technique: Uncooked
- Delicacies: Dessert
- Eating regimen: Vegan
Key phrases: Valentine’s Day Dinner Concepts, valentine’s day recipes