71 Romantic Dinners for Valentine’s Day
Updated: Feb. 09, 2024
It's love at first bite with these romantic Valentine's Day dinners. Elegant scallops, flavorful steaks and more impressive meals will have your sweetheart swooning in no time.
On Valentine’s Day, it’s time to pull out all the stops to show your sweetheart how much you care. Sure, you could snag reservations for that new restaurant downtown, but it’s also fun to avoid the crowds and enjoy a relaxed Valentine’s Day dinner at home.
After opening Valentine’s gifts, making homemade candy and even incorporating a few vintage V-Day recipes into your repertoire, a romantic, showstopping dinner is what’s on the menu. Serve dinner with a fittingly pink bottle of the best rosé, and end the evening on a sweet note with a homemade Valentine’s Day dessert!
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Herb-Stuffed Roasted Cornish Hens
If chicken feels too blah for a special dinner, up the ante with cornish hens. You can even make them in advance! To reheat, bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes.It’s love at first bite with these romantic Valentine’s Day dinners. Elegant scallops, flavorful steaks, and more impressive meals will have your sweetheart swooning in no time.
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Salmon with Spinach Sauce
This main dish is elevated, nutritious and on the table in just 20 minutes. Serve with herbed rice pilaf and old-fashioned green beans for a complete meal.
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Merlot Filet Mignon
You’ll only need six ingredients—including a cup of merlot—to pull off this showstopping entree. If you don’t have merlot on hand, readers suggest using cabernet sauvignon or a red blend.
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Air-Fryer Scallops
Scallops might seem like a restaurant dish that’s impossible to cook at home, but they’re actually surprisingly easy to make as long as you don’t overcook them. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this recipe on the stovetop.
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Asparagus-Stuffed Air-Fryer Chicken Rolls
This impressive and elegant stuffed chicken dish looks like it came from a fancy restaurant. Lucky for you and your valentine, it goes from fridge to table in just about 35 minutes.
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Cheesy Chicken Parmigiana
This quick and easy recipe for chicken parm comes together in just 25 minutes, with only nine ingredients. There’s some dredging and frying involved, so add extra time for clean-up.
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Asparagus ‘n’ Shrimp with Angel Hair
This bright and flavorful feast features asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes and lots of fresh herbs. If you want to get extra ambitious and love a date night activity, try your hand at making homemade pasta.
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Creamy Chicken and Pasta
Cook and cube the chicken in advance to make this pasta recipe extra easy to pull together on Valentine’s Day. Use half a cup of white wine instead of chicken broth to elevate the dish.
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Pressure-Cooker Pork Ribs
This classic comfort food dish usually takes all day to cook. But thanks to your trusty pressure cooker and a few pantry spices, it can be ready in 45 minutes.
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Cast-Iron Skillet Steak
While cooking steak at home might seem daunting, it’s actually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. For extra flavor, baste the steak with melted butter and herbs before searing.
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Parmesan Pork Tenderloin
If you’re a fan of saucy dishes, one reader recommends doubling the wine, broth and spices for the sauce. Don’t skimp on the grated Parmesan cheese!
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Chicken Scampi
Meet shrimp scampi’s low-maintenance cousin. Add lemon pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano and Italian seasoning to give this dish extra zip. Find more of our favorite easy Italian dinner recipes.
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Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo
If you’ve only had fettuccine Alfredo at a restaurant, it’s time to make it at home. You’ll only need eight ingredients and 20 minutes to do it. Pro tip: Grate your own cheese; freshly grated cheese melts and blends into sauces more smoothly than pre-grated cheese, which includes other ingredients to keep it from sticking together.
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Goat Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Chicken
Use a sharp knife to cut a pocket in each chicken breast, then fill with a mixture of spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and spices. Your Valentine’s Day date will be seriously impressed.
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Air-Fryer Garlic-Butter Steak
For steak perfection in just 20 minutes, make sure to use the air fryer. But if you don’t have an air fryer, the stovetop version is just as juicy and tender.
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Sassy Chicken & Peppers
It’s an eight-ingredient favorite that tastes just like fajitas. Serve with guacamole and homemade tortillas to make it a complete meal.
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Slow-Cooked Beef Tips
If you’re working on Valentine’s Day, pop the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and make the homemade gravy right before you’re ready to eat.
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Pressure-Cooker Chicken Paprika
There’s no need to marinate this chicken. It’ll still be juicy and flavorful with a kick. Just pop it in the pressure cooker, cook on high for 15 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally. Add extra sour cream for milder results.
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Pressure-Cooker Mushroom Pork Ragout
This recipe calls for dried savory, an herb that’s often available in grocery stores. But if you can’t find it—or just don’t want to buy a spice you’re rarely going to use—dried thyme is a great alternative.
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Air-Fryer Almond Chicken
This six-ingredient wonder tastes like you’ve been cooking all day. Your Valentine’s Day sweetheart will have no idea the crusted chicken took just half an hour to put together.
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Bacon-Wrapped Filets with Scotched Mushrooms
For a dinner with “wow” factor, look no further than this entree that’s much simpler than it looks. Plus, it has two surprising secret ingredients to give it some extra oomph: Scotch and ginger ale.
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Walnut and Oat-Crusted Salmon
Valentine’s Day dinner doesn’t always have to be indulgent! For the most flavor and nutrition, opt for wild-caught salmon if it’s available at your grocery store. Walnuts and oats add extra omega-3s and vitamins.
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Crab-Stuffed Manicotti
Crab, pasta and ricotta cheese join forces to create an unexpected dish that both you and your date will want seconds of. Here are some of our favorite salad recipes to serve with it.
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Balsamic-Salmon Spinach Salad
Feel free to use either warm or cold salmon for this hearty salad. Warm salmon wilts the spinach and lends a bolder flavor, while the cold salmon will keep in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it.
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Turkey Breast Tenderloins with Raspberry Sauce
Cranberry-raspberry juice, steak sauce, red raspberry preserves and lemon juice create an irresistible sauce you’ll want to devour by the spoonful. Try to save a little for the main dish!
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Parmesan Pork Medallions
This three-step pork dinner couldn’t be easier, making it an ideal option for a post-work V-Day dinner—less time in the kitchen and more time hanging out with your honey. Serve with roasted vegetables to make it a meal.
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Maple Pork Ribs
Dijon mustard and maple syrup are a winning combination in this main dish that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. Serve with a side of steamed veggies.
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Slow-Cooker Veggie Lasagna
Zucchini, baby spinach and mushrooms team up for a veggie-packed main that will be a hit with vegetarians and carnivores alike. And because it’s made in the slow cooker, it’s almost completely hands-off.
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Pork Tenderloin with Wine Sauce
Before cooking, cut the pork tenderloin into 2-inch slices, then use a tenderizer to flatten into 1-1/2-inch thickness. This will help the pork cook evenly and makes for a beautiful presentation.
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Steak Strips with Dumplings
If you can make pancakes, you can make dumplings from scratch. Just mix the ingredients, roll them into balls and drop them gently into the slow cooker.
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Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo
There’s no need to eat at a crowded cafe when you can whip up restaurant-quality dishes in your own kitchen. Serve seafood fettucini Alfredo with a glass of dry white wine, such as one of these white wines under $20.
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Moroccan Chicken Thighs
Pitted dates give this Moroccan-inspired recipe a hint of sweetness. If you aren’t a fan of couscous, one reader recommends using quinoa instead.
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Flavorful Salmon Fillets
If fish seems too complicated to cook at home, listen up: It doesn’t get easier than this two-step recipe. Add extra lemon for more tang, or crushed red pepper flakes for added heat.
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Four-Cheese Stuffed Shells
Comfort food is always the quickest way into our hearts, and cheesy Italian pasta recipes might just be the winner of all things comfort. Turn dinner into a cooking class for two and assemble the shells together.
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Baked Crab Cakes
This recipe works well with canned, fresh or refrigerated crab. And in the unlikely event that there are leftovers, you can freeze and reheat them for up to three months.
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Simple Herbed Scallops
Take the guesswork out of cooking scallops by baking them in the oven instead of on the stovetop. You’ll know they’re done when the scallops are firm and opaque.
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Spicy Turkey Tenderloin
This dish is full of heat, especially if you include the jalapeno seeds. Add an extra jalapeno pepper if you’re daring—just be sure to wear gloves while cutting them.
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Pork Schnitzel with Sauce
Say “I love you” with this comforting German-style dinner. Schnitzel can also be made in the air fryer with a fraction of the oil.
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Juicy Air-Fryer Cornish Hens
Cornish hens are just as easy to cook as chicken, but feel a bit fancier. And because you’re cooking with the air fryer, this dish is quick, healthy and practically foolproof.
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Pressure-Cooker Short Ribs
Typically, short ribs take all day to prepare. But thanks to the pressure cooker, the meat will be juicy and tender in no time. Serve it atop a bed of creamy mashed potatoes to soak up the juices.
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Garlic & Herb Artichoke Salmon
Lemon zest, green onions, quartered artichokes and garlic-herb spreadable cheese make this dish a winner. You and your beau will be sure to add the recipe to your list of favorites.
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Steaks with Mushroom Sauce
Sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and shallots make this entree shine. Best of all, the entire dish cooks in one skillet, so there are barely any dishes to do.
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Smoky Spanish Chicken
The dish calls for baby portobello mushrooms or crimini mushrooms, which are available at most grocery stores. They have a firmer texture and deeper, earthier flavor than white mushrooms. Find more of our favorite mushroom recipes to use up any leftovers in the package.
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Plum Pork Spicy Meatballs with Bok Choy and Zucchini
Sweet, salty and spicy flavors combine into one delicious meatball dish. If you can’t find bok choy at the grocery store, substitute spinach or zucchini.
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Chicken with Florentine Sauce
The recipe calls for frozen spinach, but you can use fresh too. Just steam it, then squeeze out the excess water before using it in the chicken Florentine, otherwise it might get soupy.
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Smoked Salmon Pasta
This smoked salmon entree is customizable based on your preferences. If you want more herbs, add more! Taste it as you go. For ultimate freshnnes, use blocks of Parmesan and feta cheese instead of pre-grated and crumbled.
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Basil-Butter Steaks with Roasted Potatoes
If you and your sweetheart like your steaks medium-rare, cook until an internal thermometer reads 135°. If you prefer a medium-well steak, cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°. The dollop of basil butter on top of the tenderloins make this dish totally restaurant-worthy.
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Tortellini with Sausage and Mascarpone
This dish will be ready and on the table in less time than it takes to get takeout. And because it serves six, you can eat the leftovers the next day for lunch.
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Honey Balsamic Chicken
Sweet and savory, this dish feels indulgent but isn’t. With only about 200 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving, you could easily have seconds…or thirds. Add a bit more honey if you like things on the sweeter side.
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Coconut Mango Thai Beef Curry
It’s spicy, it’s sweet and it only requires ten minutes of prep time. There’s two hours of hands-off cooking time required, which you can use to get the rest of the meal ready or watch a romantic movie.
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Citrus Coconut Steamed Cod
Sweet chili sauce, fresh ginger, coconut milk, mandarin oranges and soy sauce team up for a flavorful fusion meal that tastes complex, but is so easy to make. Top with cilantro for a pretty garnish and added flavor.
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Crunchy Chili Lime Shrimp
The secret ingredient that makes this crispy, bright shrimp dish shine is crushed tortilla chips! Lime zest and juice adds even more of a pucker that will have you reaching for more.
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Ravioli with Creamy Squash Sauce
A package of pre-made ravioli keeps things quick, easy and foolproof. If you can’t find frozen winter squash at the grocery store, baking fresh butternut squash will be more time-consuming but even more fresh and delicious.
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Soy-Garlic Chicken
Ditch the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in favor of the much more flavorful—and surprisingly easy to cook—quartered chicken legs. Add four more ingredients to your slow cooker and dinner will be ready with hardly any work.
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Ravioli Casserole
Often, Valentine’s Day falls on a weeknight, so cooking an elaborate lasagna isn’t exactly practical. With this quick ravioli casserole, you get the same flavors with so much less layering and prep.
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Rosemary Salmon and Veggies
Keep things light and easy with this veggie-packed, complete meal. The asparagus and red pepper bake right along with the salmon, and everything is ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
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Down-Home Pork Chops
If your sweetheart dreams of the pork chops from their childhood, this recipe will bring back all the nostalgia. Beef broth, brown sugar, soy sauce and crushed red pepper flakes are the secret to the mouthwatering sauce.
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Tilapia & Lemon Sauce
When we’re craving seafood, a bright, lemony sauce is a must. Here, flaky tilapia is paired with a butter-lemon sauce and slivered almonds. Plate with crunchy sauteed asparagus.
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Lemon Shrimp Orzo
We love shrimp recipes for their quickness, and this dish certainly fits the bill. If you’re too busy to cook on Valentine’s Day, make this dish the day before and serve it cold.
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Spanish-Style Paella
This delicious Spanish-inspired dish is a showstopper that looks seriously impressive. While paella does require quite a few ingredients, it’s a complete meal, featuring rice, veggies, shrimp, chicken and chorizo.
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Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken
Butter chicken served over rice makes a filling meal, and adding a basket of freshly grilled naan bread gives you the perfect vehicle for scooping up the sauce. If you have leftovers, you can freeze them for up to three months. Follow these freezer storage tips for best results.
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Tortellini with Tomato-Cream Sauce
Store-bought, frozen cheese tortellini, frozen chopped spinach and a can of diced tomatoes make this recipe simple and easy. It makes six servings, so you can easily enjoy a second helping.
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Hearty Penne Beef
In just 30 minutes, this hearty one-pot meal is on the table and ready to eat. Ground beef, beef broth and Worcestershire sauce make it hearty and extra flavorful.
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Easy Pad Thai
If you’ve ever made pad thai before, you know that most home cooks wouldn’t consider it an “easy” dish. Despite having a long ingredients list, this version is more streamlined and comes together in just about 30 minutes.
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Feta Shrimp Skillet
While shrimp and feta might seem like an unexpected combination, this Greek-inspired recipe is zippy and bursting with flavor. For extra oomph, add 1/4 cup white wine to deglaze the skillet.
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Special Pork Chops
These pork chops topped with salsa add a pop of bright red color for a festive V-Day dish. Three ingredients make the recipe a cinch to make, but you can always layer in flavor by marinating the pork overnight. Follow our guide to marinating to incorporate all the right flavors.
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Italian Chicken Stew
Impress with a hearty stew that looks and tastes like it’s been cooking all day, but it actually goes from fridge to table in just 20 minutes. Frozen cut green beans and a jar of marinara sauce help speed up the process.
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Artichoke Chicken
Marinated, quartered artichoke hearts and jarred mushrooms are the shortcuts to this flavorful feast. Serve with hot, cooked pasta or flavored rice to make the meal extra special.
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Mushroom Pasta Carbonara
This dish calls for mostaccioli pasta, which is a type of penne that’s smooth instead of textured. If you can’t find it in your grocery store, traditional penne or ziti works too.
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Tequila Lime Shrimp Zoodles
If your Valentine’s date is gluten-free, they’ll adore this flavorful skillet piled high with zucchini noodles and zesty shrimp. With only 246 calories per serving, you’ll also keep the meal light and healthy. Use the extra tequila to serve strawberry basil margaritas.
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Tenderloin Steak Diane
This classic dish is made even more tasty with sliced fresh mushrooms and heavy whipping cream. Sprinkle with fresh minced chives—or whatever fresh herbs you have on hand—for a restaurant-quality finishing touch.
Originally Published: January 13, 2021
