If you’re looking for romantic dinner recipes to surprise someone you love, we’ve gathered a collection of special meals for your sweetheart. It’s an assortment of date night recipes anyone can prepare (even novice cooks!). From rich pasta dishes to comforting chicken dinners, to impressive seafood dishes and steakhouse-worthy steaks, these recipes are a little indulgent and will show someone how much you care. This Valentine’s Day, skip making a reservation and have the perfect, delicious date night in.
Creamy Chicken Rigatoni
“A meal enjoyed so much by my family that we can hardly put our forks down!” – Catherine
Filet De Boeuf En Croute (Filet Mignon in Puff Pastry)
“I actually prefer not to eat out on Valentine’s Day. I hate fighting the crowds, the noise, and the usually bad service because the restaurant is jam-packed. Here’s what I make for the main course, and it’s to die for. Almost too pretty to eat…. almost! This is very easy to make, too.” – Kelly
Greek Lemon Chicken With Potatoes
“This is a recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation. There is a regional difference from what region of Greece you are from that dictates how you make this chicken recipe. This chicken recipe is easy, amazingly moist yet crispy chicken and has an outstanding lemon flavor. The potatoes are crispy outside, tender inside, and filled with lemon/garlic flavor!” – Didi
Scallops With Grand Marnier
“Scallops are easy, delicious, and elegant. These are not your typical fried or broiled. Grand Marnier is an orange liquor, and when combined with cream, wine, and orange juice makes for a wonderfully different experience! These have a nice fresh citrusy flavor and are so very easy. Serve with wild rice on the side.” – Allison
Classic Delmonico Steak (With Herbed Butter)
“Delmonico steak is world-famous, first introduced by Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City in the mid-1800s. Over the years, Delmonico has applied to 8 different cuts of beef, though it’s generally accepted to refer to a top grade of beef (such as rib-eye, New York, or sirloin steak). This recipe is a classic method of preparing a quality Delmonico steak by slowly pan-searing the beef until it’s sizzling hot, and then topping it with a pat of garlic-herb butter for added flavor.” – Vickie
Date Night Pork Chops
“This recipe is a teeny bit fussy, but it’s surprising and wonderful. My husband raved over it, and it became one of his favorite meals.” – Tam
Asiago Chicken in a White Wine Mushroom Sauce
“Asiago cheese is a very strong cheese, not for the weak-hearted cheese lover. This is another nice low-carb recipe. If I’m going to stick with any diet, it has to taste good, and this definitely was not lacking in good flavor.” – Diane
Almond Crusted Tilapia
“This recipe calls for almonds. However, I have used pecans and actually like the taste better.” – Leslie
Hawaiian Shrimp or Chicken Curry
“Here is a dish that I usually make by request. My granddaughter loves shrimp curry and will try to pick out all the shrimp.” – Jo Anne
Linguini and White Clam Sauce
“My grandma made this with wilted lettuce salad once a month.” – Kat
Roasted Salmon with Herbed Potatoes and Asparagus
“Having company? Serve your guests this dish and they’ll be wanting more. The caper aioli can be used on sandwiches and lasts up to 3 days in the fridge.” – Natasha
Creamy Crawfish Baked Potatoes
“This creamy crawfish baked potato is a meal all in one. It is a soft potato topped with a flavorful, creamy crawfish sauce. This is cheesy and creamy, the best potato you will ever have.” – Debbie
Garlic Parm Shrimp and Pasta
“A super simple shrimp and pasta dish. It only takes as long to make as it takes the pasta to cook! We took some of our favorite things, tossed them together, and came up with this tasty meal. We had it with a small side salad and a piece of garlic bread… yummy!” – Maggie
Potato Gnocchi in a Sage Sausage Butter Sauce
“I had a clear idea of how I wanted this to taste. It turned out so much better than I had hoped! Whole house loved this, and hubby ate half of the pan himself! Just couldn’t stop eating it.” – Chrissy
Pork Scallopini
“Easy and quick flair on the classic veal scallopini. Browned butter gives a rich flavor, and lemon juice and capers add bite!” – Chris
Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken
“This chicken comes out moist and juicy thanks to the fresh lemons inside. They also add a lovely citrus flavor.” – Heather
Bacon and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts
“My daughter, Janice, gave me this recipe. I love Feta cheese, so I knew that this recipe would be a keeper for me. I would also add some chopped, squeezed spinach for something different.” – Lucille
Cheese & Pepper Pasta (Cacio e Pepe)
“I will confess that it took me several years to get this recipe right. My Aunt Josephine used to make it all the time, but I never watched how she did it. The ingredients are simple: cheese, pepper, and pasta… so what’s so hard about that? Well, as one of my teachers used to say, oftentimes the simplest dishes are the easiest to get wrong.” – Andy
Monika’s Moroccan Chicken
“I had this once at Epcot Center in Orlando, FL. So, remembering the flavors, I came up with my own version of it (minus the cinnamon).” – Monika
Riso al Forno (Baked Risotto)
“Layers of rice, a tasty beef and tomato sauce, and cheese baked until the sides are bubbling and the cheese is melted, golden brown and oh so good!” – Kevin