Spending Valentine’s Day at Home this year? These easy Valentine’s Dinner Ideas will get a special, romantic dinner on the table fast and leave plenty of time for you to enjoy your meal.
My husband and I normally spend Valentine’s Day at home since paying too much for the privilege of eating a mediocre meal with a crowd of other people doesn’t really appeal to either of us. When I’m cooking at home, I want a special meal that I didn’t work too hard making, so I look for Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas that are romantic but also quick and easy.
Whether this is your first time celebrating Valentine’s Day at home or your 30th, I know you’ll find the perfect dish in this round-up of easy Valentine’s Day Dinner Recipes. I’ve got my eye on the Oven Roasted Chicken with Cherries – doesn’t it look so yummy?
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Instant Pot Turkey Chili Mac: Quick and Easy Healthy Weeknight Dinner
I’ve been craving comfort food lately. Maybe it’s the ongoing stress of the pandemic. Maybe it’s the ever-so-slight hint in the air that fall temperatures might be here soon. Whatever…
Easy 30 Minute Linguine with Clams
This is one of these easy dishes that look like you slaved for hours. Plus, it’s got that “we’re at a sidewalk cafe in Italy” vibe that can make you forget for just one minute that you’re actually sitting in your own dining room. Get out your checked tablecloth for this one.
Short Rib Ragu Recipe
This stick-to-your-ribs comfort food can be made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot and pairs wonderfully with polenta, pasta, or potatoes.
Smoked Salmon Fettuccine with Dill Cream Sauce
I’ve never heard of smoked salmon fettuccine and I don’t know why because it sounds wonderful. Smoky salmon would pair beautifully with a crisp and light dill sauce. I can’t wait to try this. Plus, the recipe is so quick and easy.sale (thanks for thinking of our budgets!) and a creamy and bright lemon sauce for a special meal that’s just right for two.
Lobster Pasta With Lemon Cream Sauce
The delicious recipe uses frozen lobster that she kindly asks we please buy on sale (thanks for thinking of our budgets!) and a creamy and bright lemon sauce for a special meal that’s just right for two.
Easy Garlic Prawn Pasta
The simplest meals are often the best, aren’t they? Pair some frozen shrimp with this easy garlic sauce, a salad, some fresh bread, and some good wine and you’ve got a romantic Valentine Dinner you’ll remember for years to come.
Herb-Roasted Cornish Hens
I have a soft spot in my heart for Cornish Hens because they were the first “romantic” entree I ever tried to make and, spoiler alert, things did not end well for the hens or that relationship. Obviously, I didn’t use this yummy recipe because then I would have at least had a good meal to remember, right? Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans and you’ve got the perfect Valentine’s Day Dinner.
Chicken in White Wine Sauce
This is a classic for Valentine’s Day Dinner and for good reason. It’s simple and elegant and, most important, delicious. Plus, it’s made in one pan so there’s very little clean-up!
Chicken in White Wine Sauce
Mmm, I love me some Chicken Piccata and this recipe pairs it with gnocchi, which is a special favorite in our household. This dish takes under 30 minutes to prepare so you can get dinner on the table fast.
Oven Roasted Chicken with Cherries
It’s not a common combination, but cherries taste great in savory dishes, adding a subtle sweetness. In this dish, the cherries are stewed in chili powder, cayenne pepper, and more—turning them into spicy sweet orbs of flavor. Plus, don’t they add a beautiful bit of red that’s just perfect for a Valentine’s Day Dinner?
French Onion Pork Chops
This is dressed up comfort food as pan-seared and seasoned pork chops are paired with caramelized onions in a cast iron pan and smothered in melted provolone cheese. The french onion pork chops look fancy, but are easy to make. Serve with mashed potatoes for a hearty, comforting meal.
Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks
I didn’t grow up eating lamb so for that reason lamb meals always seem extra glamourous and exotic to me. This recipe is my favorite kind – you start it in the morning and then forget it about it until evening when you serve it and accept the compliments. Cooks in one pot and just look how beautiful.
Roasted Rack of Lamb With Pistachio Herb Crust
For another take on lamb, check out this rack of lamb. It’s first seared in a pan on the stove, then brushed with mostarda, coated in a pistachio herb crust, and finished off in the oven. It’s a perfect no hassle meal for a special day – Valentine’s day perhaps?
The Best Marinated Grilled Steaks
Is there anything more classically Valentine’s Day Dinner than steak? The answer, of course, is no and this dinner recipe offers the choice of 3 marinades for your Valentine’s Day steak.
Balsamic Glazed Steak and Veggie Bowls
Enjoy your steak and your veggies with this healthier version of a beef and rice bowl. Instead of your bland ground beef or plain grilled steak, the steak fillets are marinated in a blend of flavor-packed ingredients. Likewise, the roasted fall vegetables help to round out the meal, but only take minutes to prepare and are super quick and easy to roast in the oven.
Braised Red Wine Short Ribs
These short ribs are elegant comfort food. Cooked low and slow in a rich herbed red wine sauce, these short ribs are melt-in-your-mouth tender and come together in one pot to make your life a little easier.
Oven Roasted Garlic Adobo Mexican Salmon
I love this unique take on salmon: roasted in the oven and seasoned with garlic, ginger, and adobo. Plus, it all comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Risotto (Low-Fat)
Risotto is one of my favorite dishes and this version makes it healthy by removing the heavy fat content, upping the veggie content and turning it into a vegan option. Now I can have my risotto totally guilt free!
Pink Beet Creamy Soup
Don’t let the cute pink color fool you: this Pink Beet Creamy Soup is not only beautiful and perfect for Valentine’s Day; it is also a real powerhouse when it comes to nutrition.
Vegan Lentil Meatballs (Gluten Free)
This is the perfect dish to serve if you’re trying to sneak some healthy entrees into your family’s diet. The texture is just like a regular meatball, the only comment you’re going to get on the flavor is “more, please”, and bonus for you – they’re just so easy to make.
Creamy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta
No need to abandon your New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier with this vegan dish. The creaminess in this dish comes from cashews which makes a lovely sauce poured over the artichoke hearts and spinach. Enjoy with a glass of chilled white wine.
Italian Style Polenta Pizza
Try this Italian-Style Polenta Pizza for a unique and healthy take on the traditional pizza crust. This gluten-free cornmeal crust takes on the savory flavors of the pizza toppings for a healthy meal that tastes deliciously decadent.
Polenta With Cauliflower Steak
You won’t even miss meat with this cauliflower steak. Paired with the polenta, this vegan and gluten-free meal is a gourmet restaurant-style meal served in the comfort of your home! Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.
Date Night In & Red Velvet Sheet Cake Recipe
I saved the best for last. If you’re looking for a foolproof plan for a romantic Valentine’s Date Night at Home, including Pasta with Bolognese Sauce, Red Velvet Sheet Cake, and a glass (or two!) of Pinot Noir, then head over to Baran Bakery for everything you need to know in order to pull off the perfect evening at home: a detailed schedule, shopping list, and, of course, amazing recipes. Be sure and have a slice of cake for me.
