75 Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas For A Special Night In
Skip the stress of a dinner reservation.
Whether you just hate crowds, missed the boat on a reservation, or simply want to show off your cooking skills, these romantic dinner recipes practically shout, "I love you." Pinky promise, it's never been easier to impress with our special chicken, steak, seafood, or pasta dinners for a cozy night in this Valentine's Day. All these recipes are a step above usual weeknight fare without being too complex or time-consuming, so you can instead put all your energy into making sure your sweetheart feels extra loved. This Valentine’s Day, get inspired to cook something spectacular at home with this list of our 75 best romantic dinners. They're certainly a recipe for romance, that's for sure. 😉
But what if you're not a chef? Don’t worry, we got you. Everyone loves being cooked for, and remember, it’s the thought that counts! Stick with something simple and classic, like our marry me shrimp pasta, our chicken Alfredo, or our monster meatballs, or make a night out of cooking something more involved together. Our recommendations? Our Mediterranean pizza, our Boston roll, or our lobster risotto. No matter the outcome, if you put some love into it, your meal will come out delicious and memorable.
Hoping to give your boo that nice steakhouse experience but without the sit-down meal upcharge? Check out our cowboy butter steak, our steak & potato skillet, and our reverse sear steak. They only look difficult to pull off at home.
Craving comfort food? V-Day is smack dab in the middle of winter, after all. Try our million-dollar mac & cheese, our chicken cacciatore, or our coconut curry chicken meatballs. They’re sure to warm your bones (and your heart!).
Got a vegetarian or vegan sweetie? They’ll be so impressed at how thoughtful you are when you serve them something like our mushroom piccata pasta, our polenta with wild mushroom ragú, or our creamy Tuscan vegan pasta. These dishes are also a little lighter than your average fare, meaning you can really go all out for dessert. 😍
Want more ideas for impressing your beloved this Valentine’s Day? Try serving a fun cocktail or the perfect bottle of wine with your meal—check out our guides to both reds and whites. And don’t forget about snacks and apps to keep your bae busy while you cook too.
Monster Meatballs
Meatballs will forever be one of our favorite foods, but even we'll admit that forming a million of them can be tedious. Enter: monster meatballs. This recipe only makes 4 giant ones, perfect for sharing with your sweetie over a plate of spaghetti.
Get the Monster Meatballs recipe.
Marry Me Shrimp Pasta
Marry Me shrimp pasta features a rich sun-dried tomato cream sauce loaded with shrimp, tender spinach, and fragrant herbs, all tossed with perfectly al dente pasta. Taking inspiration from our beloved Marry Me chicken, this is the pescatarian spin on the classic that’s both indulgent and easy to make.
Get the Marry Me Shrimp Pasta recipe.
Cowboy Butter Steak
Not to be confused with our equally delicious cowboy steak, this recipe calls for searing a bone-in ribeye, then basting it with a zesty, smoky butter until the outside has a perfectly brown crust, and the inside is tender and medium-rare. Slather each piece with even more cowboy butter for an wildly rich and decadent dinner main.
Get the Cowboy Butter Steak recipe.
Lobster Risotto
Here, a simple combination of fresh aromatics, white wine, and seafood stock transforms humble Italian rice grains into the dreamy, cheesy, luscious rice porridge that we’ve all come to love. Adding fresh, faintly sweet lobster meat is all that’s needed to take your risotto over the top.
Get the Lobster Risotto recipe.
Mozzarella Schnitzel
Like chicken and pork schnitzel before it, mozzarella schnitzel is crispy (thanks to a golden breadcrumb crust), and pairs perfectly with a mustard sauce as a special occasion dinner main. Your date will FLIP over that cheese pull.
Get the Mozzarella Schnitzel recipe.
Mussels With Tomatoes & Garlic
No vacation this year? No worries—this dish will transport you straight to the Mediterranean seaside. In just 45 minutes, you'll have a date night or dinner party-worthy seafood dinner that will impress everyone you serve it to.
Homemade Pizza
Nothing beats a fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza, and once you see how easy it is to make for yourself, you'll never order delivery again. Switch up the toppings and add your favorites to make it your own. Pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, pineapple? You can have it all! We can't get enough of bacon pickle pizza, personally.
Get the Homemade Pizza recipe.
Spaghetti All'Assassina
This one-pot pasta is the ultimate sexy dinner. The spaghetti is cooked in a spicy tomato broth in a style similar to risotto and charred in the pan as the broth gets absorbed. And when we say charred, we mean burnt. Trust us, the rich tomato, burned starch, and spicy mess of it all is absolutely delicious.
Get the Spaghetti All'Assassina recipe.
Shrimp Scampi
Lemon, garlic, and butter is a hard flavor combo to beat, and they really shine in homemade shrimp scampi. Relying on a handful of basic pantry ingredients, this is quick and delicious on its own, but it can also be tossed with pasta and dressed up as a special occasion main. No matter how you serve it, it always satisfies.
Get the Shrimp Scampi recipe.
Scallion Pancake Quesadilla
Scallion pancakes are the flaky, crispy part of a good dim sum spread that can make you fall in love and lose track of time. But when you stuff those same pancakes with gooey cheese and savory sautéed mushrooms to make scallion pancake quesadillas? Be prepared for your newest dinner (or late-night snack) obsession.
Get the Scallion Pancake Quesadilla recipe.
Chicken Cacciatore
Rooted in Italian tradition, chicken cacciatore—meaning “hunter-style”—was originally a rustic dish made with whatever was on hand. Our modern take keeps that comforting vibe but makes it foolproof for any home cook. Serve it with crusty garlic bread, creamy mashed potatoes, or polenta for a comforting meal for a night in with your love.
Get the Chicken Cacciatore recipe.
Creamy Garlicky Alfredo Ditalini
Reverse Sear Steak
Reverse searing, so-called because it starts by cooking the steak in the oven low-and-slow and finishes it over high heat in the pan (literally the "reverse" of a typical pan-sear process), promises a beautiful, evenly-cooked result with a gorgeously browned crust that will likely be the best steak of your life.
Get the Reverse Sear Steak recipe.
Penne Alla Vodka
Ready in around 30 minutes, this penne alla vodka is one of our go-to pasta dinners when we're looking for an easy-to-make recipe that delivers. Making homemade pasta sauce does require a bit more effort than picking up that trusty jar, but trust us—with this vodka sauce, it makes all the difference.
Get the Penne Alla Vodka recipe.
Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese
What do you get when you take mac & cheese on a shopping spree to the fanciest cheese shop you know and shower it with gold leaf? Million-dollar mac. Showcasing a trifecta of bougie (and delicious) cheeses and a crispy crunchy panko topping, this irresistible comfort food in a casserole will take center stage this Valentine's.
Get the Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese recipe.
Indian Butter Chickpeas
Looking for your new favorite way to dress up canned chickpeas? You’re in the right place. Simmered in an aromatic tomato gravy, this vegetarian spin on classic butter chicken will forever change the way you look at a can of beans.
Get the Indian Butter Chickpeas recipe.
Brie Spaghetti
Nutty, buttery brie is one of our favorite cheeses because it’s approachable yet fancy, and it goes with a wide variety of other flavors. We used it here to make a simple yet impressive pasta dish that's perfect for Valentine's.
Get the Brie Spaghetti recipe.
Mediterranean Pizza
Classic pizza dough and sauce are swapped out for alternatives (including an infused oil) to create a lighter pie perfect for spring. Topped with plenty of Mediterranean-inspired veggies, marinated olives, and crumbled feta, this flavor-packed pizza is worthy of any warm weather dinner or pre-party appetizer.
Get the Mediterranean Pizza recipe.
Steak With Bourbon Garlic Cream Sauce
Steak will always say “I love you,” but if you want to really jazz it up this Valentine’s Day, make this 12-ounce strip with a creamy bourbon garlic sauce. Seared until deeply browned, basted in garlicky butter, and served with a dreamy pan gravy, this steak is the perfect centerpiece for any special occasion dinner.
Grilled Lobster Tails
Skip the fancy restaurant this Valentine's Day—make these buttery grilled lobster tails right at home. Ready in just 30 (!) minutes, this grilled classic—paired with an irresistible garlic herb butter—is guaranteed to win the heart of whoever you're serving it to.
Get the Grilled Lobster Tails recipe.
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