50 Enjoyable Valentine’s Day Dinner Concepts – A Couple Cooks

Certainly one of our high Valentine’s Day dinner concepts to impress: this creamy Tuscan salmon! It’d end in just a few marriage proposals, which is why we additionally wish to name it “Marry Me Salmon.” The tender fish is bathed in a luscious cream sauce with garlic, solar dried tomatoes, spinach, and capers, making every chunk vibrant, salty, and splendid.

Right here’s a basic dish that impresses each time: rooster piccata! Tender, golden-brown rooster cutlets are bathed in a vibrant lemon-butter sauce with pops of briny capers. This basic Italian American dish has captured hearts and stomachs world wide, and it’s an enormous favourite over right here. Don’t be intimidated by its fancy title; it is surprisingly easy to make at dwelling! 

Do that romantic creamy pasta recipe, starring chewy al dente pasta and an irresistible Parmesan garlic cream sauce! The way in which the creamy sauce and garlic intensify the leafy greens makes it one in all our high vegetarian pasta recipes so far. Cozy as much as a bowl and it’s positively life-giving. You’ll by no means love spinach extra!

Shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon, and white wine: what may very well be higher? Sure, it’s the Italian American shrimp scampi, a basic that’s been stealing hearts and minds for many years. This model is fairly stellar: juicy, garlicky shrimp swimming in a wealthy, tangy butter sauce. Sop it up with crusty bread, or pour it over pasta: both means, it’s divine.

Right here’s a recipe that couldn’t be extra delectable. Attempt these spinach artichoke Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! Sure, that’s proper. It combines the deliciousness of spinach artichoke dip with the meaty, savory goodness of a baked portobello mushroom. Prime it off with crunchy Italian breadcrumbs, and also you’ll amaze everybody on the desk! It’s vegetarian however will please each kind of eater: we promise.

This cozy, flavor-packed recipe satisfies each time: Penne Pomodoro! The basic pairing of pomodoro sauce and short-cut pasta exemplifies the simplicity of Italian delicacies: juicy tomatoes, garlic, greens and herbs simmered till they meld right into a pure, wealthy sauce.

This wonderful crab cake recipe makes patties which can be golden and seasoned, crispy on the skin and tender on the within. Previous Bay, Dijon mustard and tarragon intensify the juicy lump crabmeat completely, and served with creamy tartar sauce, they’re slightly little bit of heaven in every chunk! 

An ideal vegan dinner thought? Attempt Vegan Crab Desserts (that are simply nearly as good, in our opinion!).

Subsequent up in our checklist of Valentine’s Day dinner concepts: Cacio e Pepe: cheese and pepper pasta! Pasta is mega romantic, proper? This Italian cheese and pepper spaghetti couldn’t be easier; the recipe is from our good friend Ashley Rodriguez’s e book Date Night time In. Alex and I ate a killer cacio e pepe final time we had been in Rome, and we had top-of-the-line one’s of our life in NYC. It’s a very easy recipe that’s elegant in its simplicity.

Additionally attempt: Straightforward Pasta Puttanesca

If we might eat only one dinner for the remainder of our lives, this is perhaps it: a skillet of creamy Tuscan rooster! Should you’ve by no means had Tuscan rooster, allow us to be the primary to let you know: this meal delivers. What’s it that makes it so outrageously good? Perhaps it’s the dreamy sauce of solar dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and Parmesan. Or possibly it’s the savory taste explosion from the superbly seasoned and pan seared rooster breast. 

Subsequent up in our checklist of Valentine’s Day dinner concepts: Pistachio Crusted Salmon! This technique for cooking fish looks like one thing you’d get at a restaurant, however it’s so easy to make. The aroma wafting from the oven may have you salivating earlier than the meals even reaches your plate! Every chunk of tender fish and the crunchy, Parmesan pistachio topping makes you instantly need to take one other. 

Additionally attempt: Fast Broiled Salmon or Lemon Dill Salmon

This is a creamy pasta good for Valentine’s Day dinner: Creamy Solar Dried Tomato Pasta! There’s main wow-factor to this pasta, which comes collectively in simply half-hour. Earthy, fruity sundried tomatoes lend a meaty high quality to this straightforward vegetarian dish, which is bathed in a Parmesan cream sauce.

If there’s one recipe that’s a positive hit in our home, it’s creamy rooster skillets. And this one is an absolute household favourite: do that creamy lemon garlic rooster! The rooster is coated in spices and pan fried till tender and juicy, then topped with a fast pan sauce made with lemon, garlic and slightly cream.

Certainly one of our extra elegant Valentine’s Day dinner concepts is that this Parmesan black truffle risotto! A seemingly connoisseur dish, this Parmesan truffle risotto recipe is fairly easy to place collectively, and the black truffle taste sends it out of this world. There’s a splash of white wine within the risotto, and you may drink the remainder of the bottle as you cook dinner!

Additionally attempt: Mushroom Risotto or Butternut Squash Risotto

Scallops have a wonderful, gentle candy taste that’s straightforward to like: and there’s nothing higher than that good seared crispy outdoors. Attempt them bathed on this wonderful Lemon Herb Sauce. It takes slightly know the way to get that golden brown crust with out below cooking or overcooking them. However as soon as you realize just a few secrets and techniques…it’s very straightforward and takes solely 5 minutes to cook dinner!

Additionally attempt: Scallop Pasta with Lemon & Herbs

In search of a pasta recipe to impress for Valentine’s Day dinner? Attempt the signature Italian dish Pasta alla Norma! This spectacular recipe hails from Sicily and like all basic Italian dish, it’s all about elegant simplicity. Sauteed eggplant tastes savory and meaty towards a tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta and salty ricotta salata cheese. The mix of flavors and textures is a real masterpiece!

Name us loopy, however isn’t a sublime pot pie is the coziest, most romantic sounding of Valentine’s Day dinner concepts? This pot pie has turn into one in all our high fan favourite recipes, and for good cause. The flaky crust is scented with sage, and the within is pure creamy, savory goodness with candy potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and white beans. Should you’re in search of romantic dinner, that is it.

Additionally attempt: Finest Vegan Pot Pie

This creamy vodka sauce is simmered with garlic and basil, served over rigatoni with a number of Parmesan. The key? Simmer the sauce for 1 hour! This vodka sauce pasta is so critically filled with taste, it’s price each second of that simmer. And what says “I like you” greater than a 1 hour simmered pasta?

Serve with: Favourite Chopped Salad or Excellent Italian Salad

It’s acquired bubbly cheese, garlicky tomato sauce, and savory, meaty breaded eggplant: it’s Eggplant Parmesan! This Italian basic dish is hearty, filling, and pleases nearly everybody. Most eating places use fried eggplant, however for a do-it-yourself model it’s a lot easier to bake. This greatest baked Eggplant Parmesan recipe is quicker and simpler to make at dwelling than most recipes and filled with unbelievable taste. 

Chilean sea bass is likely one of the most costly fish dishes on a restaurant menu, and one chunk tells you why! The tender fillet has a succulent, buttery texture that tastes positively glamorous. Should you’re fortunate sufficient to attain your self a fillet or two, right here’s the recipe for them. Calmly season and pan fry the fillets till the outside is golden and crisp, then season with garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs. Pair it with just a few sides and it’s a restaurant-quality Valentine’s Day dinner recipe with little effort.

There’s simply one thing about silky caramelized onions topped golden, crusty cheese that takes your breath away each time. That is basic French cooking at its best…it is a bit of a undertaking, however price each minute of it for a sublime Valentine’s Day dinner. This recipe is stuffed with wealthy, nuanced taste and all the comfy, date evening in vibes.

Need a Valentine’s Day dinner to impress…with slightly kick? Attempt Shrimp Fra Diavolo! This Italian-style dish stars tender shrimp that swim in a garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. “Fra diavolo” interprets to “brother satan” in Italian, alluding to the extreme warmth of this dish. However make it do-it-yourself and you may customise the spiciness to your style! 

We love utilizing Valentine’s Day as an excuse to make a flowery paella! This gorgeous one pan dinner is made for celebrations! This conventional Spanish rice dish has hundreds of variations. however it’s at all times rice with an explosion of colourful toppings. This one stars saffron-scented rice, blended colourful greens and shrimp, and it’s filled with conventional taste. Pair with purple sangria or apple sangria.

You’ll need to bookmark this recipe for making after Valentine’s Day too…this Creamy Shrimp Pasta! It’s extremely basic: juicy, savory shrimp and al dente pasta swimming in a creamy sauce. As a result of we love choices, we’ve acquired two sauce concepts for you: a white wine sauce, bursting with tangy taste. Or attempt our straightforward cream sauce, a creamy Parmesan sauce that’s really made with no cream in any respect. Combine the parts collectively and wow! 

Ever tried making meatballs…with eggplant? We’d been listening to for years that eggplant makes nice vegetarian meatballs, we simply didn’t actually imagine it…till now. Do that wonderful Eggplant Meatballs recipe! Garlic, herbs, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese make one insanely juicy and savory meatball.

What’s extra Valentine’s Day acceptable than scorching pink hummus? That is the right appetizer to a comfortable dinner. Including a roasted beet to hummus makes it gorgeous to have a look at—and it’s tasty too. You don’t have to chop your veggies to be coronary heart formed after all…however why not?

Cherries are good for Valentine’s Day dinner, and here is a terrific appetizer thought: cherry and goat cheese crostini! Saute tart cherries with a little bit of sage and balsamic vinegar, then spoon them over a goat cheese crostini. They seem to be a easy and scrumptious starter to pair with the primary dishes above!

This is an ideal salad for Valentine’s Day dinner: shaved Brussels sprout salad!  This one is a examine in texture contrasts: the feathery shaved Brussels, the pop of the Pomegranate seeds, and the brilliant crunch of the apple. It’s vibrant and colourful, lined in a calmly candy French dressing.

This is a simple salad to make any Valentine’s Day dinner recipe right into a meal. It’s fairly presumably the simplest salad you’ll make. You don’t even need to make a salad dressing! In 5 to 10 minutes, you’ve acquired a sublime salad that goes with actually every part.

One other nice Valentine’s Day dinner aspect dish: pomegranate salad! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a wonderful confetti excessive of leafy greens. Add tart inexperienced apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a real symphony of taste! Decide from just a few completely different dressing selections: our favorites are apple cider vinegar dressing or pomegranate French dressing. 

Beets are good for Valentine’s Day dinner with their vibrant pink coloration. Attempt them on this Beet Salad recipe! Make it with roasted beets and even pre-cooked from the shop: and man is it good. It has all the fitting parts: child greens, creamy goat cheese and a tangy balsamic beet dressing. 

Right here’s a wonderful aspect dish for Valentine’s Day dinner: this gorgeous apple salad! If we might eat one salad for the remainder of time, this one is it. Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them throughout recent greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s really salad perfection.

Right here’s a vibrant, stunning salad recipe that works in virtually any season: this refreshing Grapefruit Salad! It pairs the juicy citrus fruit with nutty toasted almonds, salty feta cheese and a zingy poppy seed dressing. Give it a style and the fragile, zingy, nut and creamy textures and flavors complement one another completely!

This is a sublime salad for Valentine’s Day dinner: do that Endive Salad: equal components refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs completely with juicy orange and a candy tart purple wine French dressing. Prime it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine. Every chunk is crunchy, candy, savory and citrusy.

In relation to fast and chic aspect dishes, this one is perhaps tops: sauteed broccolini! The elegantly lengthy stems of this inexperienced veggie make it look fancy, however right here’s a secret. You may cook dinner it up in simply 5 minutes in a scorching skillet. Add a little bit of garlic and lemon, and also you received’t have the ability to cease consuming these irresistibly massive spears.

Additionally attempt: Easy Roasted Broccolini

Right here’s a easy method to costume up recent inexperienced beans as a connoisseur aspect: Inexperienced Beans Almondine! Make it at dwelling, and this dish is sensible! The beans are vibrant inexperienced and completely tender, sautéed in butter with garlic and toasted almonds and completed with slightly lemon zest. After one chunk, you may be singing its praises.

These Brussels sprouts are a implausible Valentine’s Day aspect dish…and so they actually are subsequent degree! They’re impossibly crispy, baked till they’re caramelized and the skin layers flake off into darkened crunchy chips. Then they’re draped in a tangy maple balsamic glaze that heightens the flavors to their peak. One chunk of those, and everybody across the desk will probably be asking how you probably did it.

In fact, we have got to have some romantic Valentine’s Day cocktails to go together with the dinner concepts, proper? Do that candy tart purple cocktail: the Raspberry Martini! This drink is gorgeous and filled with vibrant berry taste: from first sip, you’ll be offered! The candy tart, calmly floral taste of raspberry is fantastically pure, because of do-it-yourself raspberry syrup. 

Additionally attempt: Pomegranate Martini, French Martini or different Pink Cocktails

This is a fantastically vibrant sensible pink Valentine’s Day drink: sure, it’s a Cosmo! A Cosmopolitan cocktail, to be actual. This basic cocktail is prepared to boost your subsequent gathering, be it a cocktail party or drinks on the patio with associates. It was at its top within the 1990’s (howdy, Intercourse and the Metropolis), however the Cosmo is a legit bitter cocktail that’s price consuming.

Additionally attempt: 10 Excellent Pink Cocktails

The chocolate martini is wealthy and creamy, mainly a dessert in a glass! It’s acquired Irish cream and creme de cacao for max taste, just like the liquid model of your favourite chocolate bar. Combine this up for particular events like Valentine’s Day or a romantic dinner…or simply anytime you want a candy deal with in cocktail kind.

Additionally attempt: Basic Mudslide

Right here’s one of the vital refined and refreshing cocktails on the market…and it is good for Valentine’s Day dinner. Attempt the French 75! It’s acquired a mysterious title, however it’s made with just a few easy components. It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical, and it makes each dinner extra festive!

One other enjoyable Valentine’s Day dinner drink: the Pomegranate Gin Fizz! The Gin Fizz is one in all our favourite basic cocktails: candy tart and refreshing, with a festive egg white foam. Take it excessive with this pomegranate spin: it elevates the candy tart taste and offers the drink a superb jewel-toned coloration! 

In search of a decadent Valentine’s Day dinner deal with? Do that chocolate mousse recipe: wealthy, clean, and surprisingly straightforward to whip up at dwelling! This is the way to make a killer clean, creamy, wealthy chocolate mousse.

Right here’s an iconic Valentine’s Day dessert that’s the pure definition of decadence: Molten Chocolate Lava Cake! It will get its title from its liquid “lava” heart, which flows like a volcano once you dig into it with a fork. Are you a chocolate lover licks the batter off spatulas when baking? (Responsible.) You then’ll be head over heels for this one. Seems, it’s not as difficult as you suppose!

The very best dessert for in our Valentine’s Day dinner concepts: mug cake! This genius technique for going from 0 to cake in just some minutes is completely price a attempt. This chocolate mug cake recipe comes out insanely fudgy and 100% scrumptious! It’s acquired a secret ingredient that makes a delightfully wealthy taste. The toughest half? Ready for it to chill till you possibly can dig in.

How about pulling some heat chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven for Valentine’s Day dinner? Outrageously good is the one method to describe these cookies! They’re chewy with crispy edges, candy with simply the fitting nutty intrigue within the taste, and studded with darkish chocolate chips and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. (They could be vegan, however they’re our favourite cookies and we promise you possibly can’t inform the distinction!)

What’s higher than ending a Valentine’s Day dinner with flourless chocolate cake? Wealthy and fudgy, dense and darkish chocolaty, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream. Prime it with this straightforward raspberry compote for a candy tart pairing that cuts the sweetness of the cake completely.

Everybody loves a superb chocolate cookie. However right here’s one thing we expect is even higher: these gentle, gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! They’ve acquired an irresistibly chewy texture, that includes an opulent dough with a great deal of darkish chocolate chips. A little bit of oatmeal provides it a nostalgic heartiness, and the perimeters get completely golden.

Cherries look like Valentine’s Day meals to us, in all probability due to the colour. So do that cherry crisp with candy tart, juicy purple fruit lined in cinnamon-spiced butter crumbles. We additionally like so as to add a touch of floor cardamom for some intrigue!

Final up: one in all our very favourite methods to finish a Valentine’s Day dinner bananas foster! Should you like taking part in with hearth, this one’s for you. Our recipe is straightforward with directions on the way to flambé and get that dramatic flame! It tastes really unbelievable. Seize two spoons in your skillet and dig in!