50 Fun Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

One of our top Valentine's Day dinner ideas to impress: this creamy Tuscan salmon! It might result in a few marriage proposals, which is why we also like to call it “Marry Me Salmon.” The tender fish is bathed in a luscious cream sauce with garlic, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and capers, making each bite bright, salty, and luxurious.

Here’s a classic dish that impresses every time: chicken piccata! Tender, golden-brown chicken cutlets are bathed in a vibrant lemon-butter sauce with pops of briny capers. This classic Italian American dish has captured hearts and stomachs around the world, and it’s a huge favorite over here. Don’t be intimidated by its fancy name; it's surprisingly simple to make at home! 

Try this romantic creamy pasta recipe, starring chewy al dente pasta and an irresistible Parmesan garlic cream sauce! The way the creamy sauce and garlic accentuate the leafy greens makes it one of our top vegetarian pasta recipes to date. Cozy up to a bowl and it’s positively life-giving.

Shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon, and white wine: what could be better? Yes, it’s the Italian American shrimp scampi, a classic that’s been stealing hearts and minds for decades. This version is pretty stellar: juicy, garlicky shrimp swimming in a rich, tangy butter sauce. Sop it up with crusty bread, or pour it over pasta: either way, it’s divine.

Here’s a recipe that couldn’t be more delectable. Try these spinach artichoke Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! Yes, that’s right. It combines the deliciousness of spinach artichoke dip with the meaty, savory goodness of a baked portobello mushroom. Top it off with crunchy Italian breadcrumbs, and you’ll amaze everyone at the table! It’s vegetarian but will please every type of eater: we promise.

This cozy, flavor-packed recipe satisfies every time: Penne Pomodoro! The classic pairing of pomodoro sauce and short-cut pasta exemplifies the simplicity of Italian cuisine: juicy tomatoes, garlic, vegetables and herbs simmered until they meld into a pure, rich sauce.

This amazing crab cake recipe makes patties that are golden and seasoned, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Old Bay, Dijon mustard and tarragon accentuate the juicy lump crabmeat perfectly, and served with creamy tartar sauce, they’re a little bit of heaven in each bite! 

A perfect vegan dinner idea? Try Vegan Crab Cakes (which are just as good, in our opinion!).

Next up in our list of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas: Cacio e Pepe: cheese and pepper pasta! Pasta is mega romantic, right? This Italian cheese and pepper spaghetti couldn’t be simpler; the recipe is from our friend Ashley Rodriguez’s book Date Night In. Alex and I ate a killer cacio e pepe last time we were in Rome, and we had one of the best one’s of our life in NYC. It’s a truly simple recipe that’s elegant in its simplicity.

If we could eat just one dinner for the rest of our lives, this might be it: a skillet of creamy Tuscan chicken! If you’ve never had Tuscan chicken, let us be the first to tell you: this meal delivers. What is it that makes it so outrageously good? Maybe it’s the dreamy sauce of sun dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and Parmesan. Or maybe it’s the savory flavor explosion from the perfectly seasoned and pan seared chicken breast. 

Next up in our list of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas: Pistachio Crusted Salmon! This method for cooking fish seems like something you’d get at a restaurant, but it’s so simple to make. The aroma wafting from the oven will have you salivating before the food even reaches your plate! Each bite of tender fish and the crunchy, Parmesan pistachio topping makes you immediately want to take another. 

Also try: Quick Broiled Salmon or Lemon Dill Salmon

Here's a creamy pasta perfect for Valentine's Day dinner: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta! There’s major wow-factor to this pasta, which comes together in just 30 minutes. Earthy, fruity sundried tomatoes lend a meaty quality to this easy vegetarian dish, which is bathed in a Parmesan cream sauce.

If there’s one recipe that’s a sure hit in our house, it’s creamy chicken skillets. And this one is an absolute family favorite: try this creamy lemon garlic chicken! The chicken is coated in spices and pan fried until tender and juicy, then topped with a quick pan sauce made with lemon, garlic and a little cream.

One of our more elegant Valentine’s Day dinner ideas is this Parmesan black truffle risotto! A seemingly gourmet dish, this Parmesan truffle risotto recipe is pretty simple to put together, and the black truffle flavor sends it out of this world. There’s a splash of white wine in the risotto, and you can drink the rest of the bottle as you cook!

Also try: Mushroom Risotto or Butternut Squash Risotto

Scallops have a beautiful, mild sweet flavor that’s easy to love: and there’s nothing better than that perfect seared crispy outside. Try them bathed in this amazing Lemon Herb Sauce. It takes a little know how to get that golden brown crust without under cooking or overcooking them. But once you know a few secrets…it’s very easy and takes only 5 minutes to cook!

Also try: Scallop Pasta with Lemon & Herbs

Looking for a pasta recipe to impress for Valentine's Day dinner? Try the signature Italian dish Pasta alla Norma! This impressive recipe hails from Sicily and like any classic Italian dish, it’s all about elegant simplicity. Sauteed eggplant tastes savory and meaty against a tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta and salty ricotta salata cheese. The combination of flavors and textures is a true masterpiece!

Call us crazy, but isn’t an elegant pot pie is the coziest, most romantic sounding of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas? This pot pie has become one of our top fan favorite recipes, and for good reason. The flaky crust is scented with sage, and the inside is pure creamy, savory goodness with sweet potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and white beans. If you’re looking for romantic dinner, this is it.

Also try: Best Vegan Pot Pie

This creamy vodka sauce is simmered with garlic and basil, served over rigatoni with lots of Parmesan. The secret? Simmer the sauce for 1 hour! This vodka sauce pasta is so seriously full of flavor, it’s worth every second of that simmer. And what says "I love you” more than a 1 hour simmered pasta?

Serve with: Favorite Chopped Salad or Perfect Italian Salad

It’s got bubbly cheese, garlicky tomato sauce, and savory, meaty breaded eggplant: it’s Eggplant Parmesan! This Italian classic dish is hearty, filling, and pleases just about everyone. Most restaurants use fried eggplant, but for a homemade version it’s much simpler to bake. This best baked Eggplant Parmesan recipe is faster and easier to make at home than most recipes and full of incredible flavor. 

Chilean sea bass is one of the most expensive fish dishes on a restaurant menu, and one bite tells you why! The tender fillet has a succulent, buttery texture that tastes positively glamorous. If you’re lucky enough to score yourself a fillet or two, here’s the recipe for them. Lightly season and pan fry the fillets until the exterior is golden and crisp, then season with garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs. Pair it with a few sides and it’s a restaurant-quality Valentine's Day dinner recipe with little effort.

There’s just something about silky caramelized onions topped golden, crusty cheese that takes your breath away every time. This is classic French cooking at its finest...it's a bit of a project, but worth every minute of it for an elegant Valentine's Day dinner. This recipe is full of rich, nuanced flavor and all the cozy, date night in vibes.

Want a Valentine's Day dinner to impress…with a little kick? Try Shrimp Fra Diavolo! This Italian-style dish stars tender shrimp that swim in a garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. “Fra diavolo” translates to “brother devil” in Italian, alluding to the intense heat of this dish. But make it homemade and you can customize the spiciness to your taste! 

We love using Valentine's Day as an excuse to make a fancy paella! This stunning one pan dinner is made for celebrations! This traditional Spanish rice dish has thousands of variations. but it’s always rice with an explosion of colorful toppings. This one stars saffron-scented rice, mixed colorful vegetables and shrimp, and it’s full of traditional flavor. Pair with red sangria or apple sangria.

Gooey white cheddar mac and cheese is like a huge bear hug! It’s cozy and comforting in a way that’s indescribable. Add these tangy red roasted tomatoes, and it’s outfitted as one of our Valentine’s Day dinner ideas! It’s on the rich side, so serve with a refreshing green salad.

Also try: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese or Classic Mac and Cheese

You’ll want to bookmark this recipe for making after Valentine's Day too...this Creamy Shrimp Pasta! It’s ultra classic: juicy, savory shrimp and al dente pasta swimming in a creamy sauce. Because we love options, we’ve got two sauce ideas for you: a white wine sauce, bursting with tangy flavor. Or try our easy cream sauce, a creamy Parmesan sauce that’s actually made with no cream at all. Mix the components together and wow! 

Ever tried making meatballs…with eggplant? We’d been hearing for years that eggplant makes great vegetarian meatballs, we just didn’t really believe it…until now. Try this amazing Eggplant Meatballs recipe! Garlic, herbs, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese make one insanely juicy and savory meatball.

What’s more Valentine’s Day appropriate than hot pink hummus? This is the perfect appetizer to a cozy dinner. Adding a roasted beet to hummus makes it stunning to look at—and it’s tasty too. You don’t have to cut your veggies to be heart shaped of course...but why not?

Cherries are perfect for Valentine's Day dinner, and here's a great appetizer idea: cherry and goat cheese crostini! Saute tart cherries with a bit of sage and balsamic vinegar, then spoon them over a goat cheese crostini. They're a simple and delicious starter to pair with the main dishes above!

Here's a perfect salad for Valentine's Day dinner: shaved Brussels sprout salad!  This one is a study in texture contrasts: the feathery shaved Brussels, the pop of the Pomegranate seeds, and the bright crunch of the apple. It’s vibrant and colorful, covered in a lightly sweet vinaigrette.

Here's an easy salad to make any Valentine's Day dinner recipe into a meal. It’s quite possibly the easiest salad you’ll make. You don’t even have to make a salad dressing! In 5 to 10 minutes, you’ve got an elegant salad that goes with literally everything.

Another great Valentine's Day dinner side dish: pomegranate salad! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a beautiful confetti over the top of leafy greens. Add tart green apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a true symphony of flavor! Pick from a few different dressing choices: our favorites are apple cider vinegar dressing or pomegranate vinaigrette. 

Beets are perfect for Valentine's Day dinner with their bright pink color. Try them in this Beet Salad recipe! Make it with roasted beets or even pre-cooked from the store: and man is it good. It has all the right elements: baby greens, creamy goat cheese and a tangy balsamic beet dressing. 

Here’s a beautiful side dish for Valentine's Day dinner: this stunning apple salad! If we could eat one salad for the rest 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 all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s truly salad perfection.

Here’s a bright, beautiful salad recipe that works in almost 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 taste and the delicate, zingy, nut and creamy textures and flavors complement each other perfectly!

Here's an elegant salad for Valentine's Day dinner: try this Endive Salad: equal parts refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs perfectly with juicy orange and a sweet tart red wine vinaigrette. Top it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine. Each bite is crunchy, sweet, savory and citrusy.

When it comes to quick and elegant side dishes, this one might be tops: sauteed broccolini! The elegantly long stems of this green veggie make it look fancy, but here’s a secret. You can cook it up in just 5 minutes in a hot skillet. Add a bit of garlic and lemon, and you won’t be able to stop eating these irresistibly large spears.

Also try: Simple Roasted Broccolini

Here’s a simple way to dress up fresh green beans as a gourmet side: Green Beans Almondine! Make it at home, and this dish is brilliant! The beans are bright green and perfectly tender, sautéed in butter with garlic and toasted almonds and finished with a little lemon zest. After one bite, you'll be singing its praises.

These Brussels sprouts are a fantastic Valentine's Day side dish...and they really are next level! They’re impossibly crispy, baked until they’re caramelized and the outside 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 bite of these, and everyone around the table will be asking how you did it.

Of course, we've got to have some romantic Valentine's Day cocktails to go with the dinner ideas, right? Try this sweet tart red cocktail: the Raspberry Martini! This drink is stunning and full of bright berry flavor: from first sip, you’ll be sold! The sweet tart, lightly floral flavor of raspberry is beautifully pure, thanks to homemade raspberry syrup. 

Also try: Pomegranate Martini, French Martini or other Red Cocktails

Here's a beautifully bright brilliant pink Valentine's Day drink: yes, it’s a Cosmo! A Cosmopolitan cocktail, to be exact. This classic cocktail is ready to spice up your next gathering, be it a dinner party or drinks on the patio with friends. It was at its height in the 1990’s (hello, Sex and the City), but the Cosmo is a legit sour cocktail that’s worth drinking.

Also try: 10 Perfect Pink Cocktails

The chocolate martini is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass! It’s got Irish cream and creme de cacao for maximum flavor, like the liquid version of your favorite chocolate bar. Mix this up for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or a romantic dinner…or just anytime you need a sweet treat in cocktail form.

Also try: Classic Mudslide

Here’s one of the most sophisticated and refreshing cocktails out there...and it's perfect for Valentine's Day dinner. Try the French 75! It’s got a mysterious name, but it’s made with a few simple ingredients. It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical, and it makes every dinner more festive!

Another fun Valentine's Day dinner drink: the Pomegranate Gin Fizz! The Gin Fizz is one of our favorite classic cocktails: sweet tart and refreshing, with a festive egg white foam. Take it over the top with this pomegranate spin: it elevates the sweet tart flavor and gives the drink a brilliant jewel-toned color! 

Looking for a decadent Valentine's Day dinner treat? Try this chocolate mousse recipe: rich, smooth, and surprisingly easy to whip up at home! Here's how to make a killer smooth, creamy, rich chocolate mousse.

Here’s an iconic Valentine's Day dessert that’s the pure definition of decadence: Molten Chocolate Lava Cake! It gets its name from its liquid “lava” center, which flows like a volcano when you dig into it with a fork. Are you a chocolate lover licks the batter off spatulas when baking? (Guilty.) Then you’ll be head over heels for this one. Turns out, it’s not as tricky as you think!

The best dessert for in our Valentine's Day dinner ideas: mug cake! This genius method for going from 0 to cake in just a few minutes is absolutely worth a try. This chocolate mug cake recipe comes out insanely fudgy and 100% delicious! It’s got a secret ingredient that makes a delightfully rich flavor. The hardest part? Waiting for it to cool until you can dig in.

How about pulling some warm chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven for Valentine's Day dinner? Outrageously good is the only way to describe these cookies! They’re chewy with crispy edges, sweet with just the right nutty intrigue in the flavor, and studded with dark chocolate chips and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. (They may be vegan, but they're our favorite cookies and we promise you can't tell the difference!)

What's better than ending a Valentine's Day dinner with flourless chocolate cake? Rich and fudgy, dense and dark chocolaty, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream. Top it with this easy raspberry compote for a sweet tart pairing that cuts the sweetness of the cake perfectly.

Everyone loves a good chocolate cookie. But here’s something we think is even better: these soft, gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! They’ve got an irresistibly chewy texture, featuring a luxurious dough with loads of dark chocolate chips. A bit of oatmeal gives it a nostalgic heartiness, and the edges get perfectly golden.

Cherries seem like Valentine's Day food to us, probably because of the color. So try this cherry crisp with sweet tart, juicy red fruit covered in cinnamon-spiced butter crumbles. We also like to add a hint of ground cardamom for some intrigue!

Last up: one of our very favorite ways to end a Valentine’s Day dinner bananas foster! If you like playing with fire, this one’s for you. Our recipe is easy with instructions on how to flambé and get that dramatic flame! It tastes truly incredible. Grab two spoons for your skillet and dig in!