Spending Valentine’s Day making a home-cooked meal with your special someone is the most ideal way to celebrate. Nothing says “I love you” quite like serving up a perfectly cooked steak, creamy mashed potatoes, and a glass of red wine. Celebrating Valentine’s Day with dinner at home lets you enjoy quality time while creating something delicious together without interruptions. Whether you’re looking for a fun cooking challenge to take on with your partner or just some inspiration for your date night meal, we’ve got you covered. So, light the candles, set the table, and get ready for 15 of our favorite romantic dinner recipes that are sure to delight both you and your valentine.
Coq au Vin
Coq au vin is a classic French dish that will always impress. It’s a rich chicken stew made with red wine, bacon, mushrooms, and a touch of Cognac. To soak up all the flavor from the irresistible sauce, it is best served with creamy mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
Sole Meunière
A perfect dish for two—this recipe is inspired by the one in Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home. It’s a simple yet flavorful fish dish with lemon and capers. We recommend asking your fishmonger to clean the fish for you.
Steak au Poivre With Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
A bistro-inspired Valentine’s Day dinner will always be a hit. Indulge in this steak au poivre, served with roasted fingerling potatoes. The steak features a peppery crust, complemented by a decadent, creamy white sauce.
Beef Bourguignon
This beef Bourguignon is like a cozy, comforting hug you’ll want to share with someone special. It’s the perfect dish to make if you’re craving something rich and hearty. This recipe will leave you with delicious leftovers to enjoy throughout the weekend.
Sautéed Chicken in Mustard-Cream Sauce
This simple yet flavorful French dish comes together fast but looks incredible when plated. You can replace the chicken with fish, such as seared salmon or trout, if you prefer. Serve this dish with our scalloped potatoes and asparagus to complete the meal.
Herb-Crusted Salmon With Roasted Lemons
Marcus Nilsson
Impress your special someone with this exquisitely crusted herb salmon with fragrant notes of roasted lemon. This recipe calls for a whole salmon fillet, so be prepared to enjoy leftovers the next day for lunch and extend the celebration.
Pork Scallopini
Rachel Marek
A restaurant dish you can make at home this Valentine’s Day, our pork scallopini recipe pairs pork cutlets with a light pan sauce made with capers, white wine, fresh rosemary, and sage.
Baked Salmon With Creamy Orzo
An elevated one-skillet meal that will have you and your partner going back for seconds. We simmer creamy bacon orzo on the stove-top, then nestle in lemon-coriander salmon fillets on top and bake it in the oven. This dish is full of fresh flavors that will make your night unforgettable.
Tagliatelle With Porcini Butter Sauce
Whether you make homemade pasta or opt for store-bought (just as delicious!), this dish will surely make your night memorable. The porcini butter sauce is rich in flavor and features dried Calabrian chile, fresh parsley, and Pecorino Romano cheese, which complement the porcini mushrooms.
Broiled Pork Chops With Yellow-Pepper Puttanesca
Bryan Gardner
Our broiled pork chops with yellow-pepper puttanesca is a light and classic dinner date night dish. It comes together quickly and features fresh tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, capers, and olives. Serve with perfectly crusted bread and fresh basil leaves.
Pasta Carbonara
There is nothing more romantic than a cozy, classic Italian dish. If you are craving comfort, this pasta carbonara recipe is the one to try. It comes together in just 30 minutes and is full of cheesy, smokey bacon flavors to indulge in.
Skillet Cod With Bulgur, Zucchini, and Tomatoes
A light and airy skillet dish that features bold flavors from the harissa powder and mint leaves, this recipe serves four, but you can easily cut the recipe in half to serve just two for your date night at home.
Pan-Fried Steak
Bryan Gardner
A simple steak dinner can go a long way on Valentine’s Day. Treat yourself and your partner to our pan-fried steak. Pair this main dish with a side of sautéed mushrooms with herbs and garlic mashed potatoes to bring the steakhouse vibes home.
Gnocchi With Tomato Sauce
Sonia Bozzo
This authentic Italian dish lets you choose between homemade or store-bought potato gnocchi, but either way, it’s a comfort classic. Our tomato sauce is made from whole plum tomatoes with juice and a can of tomato sauce, simmering low and slow for about 30 minutes to unlock the flavors of garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and white wine.
Pepper-Crusted Lamb With Roasted Vegetables
This special date night is the perfect time to treat each other to tender, bistro-style lamb chops. We coat the lamb in crushed black peppercorns, giving them a good sear in the skillet, then drizzle with a shallot and red wine pan sauce for enhanced flavor.
