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?
25 Easy and Romantic Valentine’s Dinner Ideas
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I tried to not have too many pasta dishes on this round-up, but I couldn't leave out this very special mac and cheese entree. I mean, mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort dish but to then add fresh lump crab and zesty remoulade sauce? Um, yes, please.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
It might seem crazy to make a roast tenderloin for two people but you can get small ones. I made one for my husband and I over Christmas and it was actually nice to have a few days of leftovers rather than demolishing the whole thing in one night as is the custom when I serve it to the whole family. This recipe looks extra tender so I may need to try it out to see if I need to replace my old standby.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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 power house when it comes to nutrition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
