Are you looking forward to making this Valentine’s Day special for your loved ones? Here are some exciting dinner ideas to make your romantic night even better.
They say the road toward the heart is paved through the stomach and that is why Valentine’s Day is incomplete without a gourmet meal that you can share and cherish with your partner. While you can always hit restaurants on regular days; on this special occasion; you can actually cook restaurant-worthy food at your home for your beloved. Here are the top 40 dinner ideas to celebrate this special day of love and romance. The dishes given below are delicious, globally popular, and can be cooked at home within half an hour.
- Surf and Turf Steak and Lobster Tails
Lobsters have now become a favorite of many and it also takes very little time to cook. A restaurant-style surf and turf is super easy to make and can offer a potential dose of protein with a fresh lobster tail and tender rib-eye steak. Along with tasty garlic butter sauce, this recipe tastes heavenly good and is one of the best dinner ideas for Valentine’s Day, a reason to stay on the top.
- Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata
Chicken has become a comfort food for many as it is not red meat and everyone can eat it. Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata is one of the easiest recipes that can be cooked within 30 minutes. It is cooked with tender chicken breast and light lemon sauce along with capers. It is simple, and tasty and can add an extra flavor to your romantic night.
- Seared Scallops
When it comes to seafood, scallops have a huge demand in the market due its tender protein. It takes less than 10 minutes to cook this dish yet it is a fancy restaurant-grade meal that can be made at home. The dish consists of an ample amount of garlic, butter, and perfectly seared scallops.
- Easy Chicken Parmesan (Parmigiana)
Just like the name suggests, this dish is pretty easy to cook and is made of crispy breaded chicken, tomato sauce, and a lot of melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top of it. The smooth texture will melt in your mouth when served hot. It is perhaps the best comfort chicken food for Valentine’s Day that you can enjoy with your loved ones.
- Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Peppers
Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Peppers is quite a popular dish where bell peppers are stuffed with a delicious filling of minced meat along with parmesan cheese. It is flavorful, healthy, and capable of keeping the tummy happy for a long time. Don’t worry if it gets a little cold. Just microwave it for a minute and it will good as new. Serve it hot and savor the flavors.
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake
The combination of shrimp and pasta is not just a favorite of Italian people but all pasta lovers around the world. Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta comes with a creamy texture which is filled with ample amount of garlic, cheese, and butter; the holy trinity of Italian sauces. Along with shrimp, parsley, and a lot of mozzarella; this dish is tasty, and comforting and blends well with complimentary red wine.
- Steamed Mussels in Tomato Sauce
While you can eat raw muscles straight out of their shells, there are neat ways of cooking it which makes it even more delicious to eat. Steamed muscles with tomato sauce are much fancied among food lovers which makes this seafood a part of gourmet dishes in luxurious restaurants. You can also cook this dish at home within 20 to 25 minutes. You can also add an extra flair to the dish some spaghetti.
- Creamy Parmesan (No Wine) Risotto
Risotto is one of the Italian Heritage this classical dish has been completing the Italian food palette for a long time now. This dish includes no wine, and instead offers a rich creamy texture with cheese, rice, and other ingredients. It perhaps sounds intimidating for many but it is the easiest and simplest Italian dish that you can cook for a lover within a few minutes. However, if you are looking for the presence of meat; you can also compliment it with a saucy meatball side dish.
- Garlic Butter Salmon
Those who are in the mood for fish can try Garlic Butter Salmon which is best known for its perfection. The salmon is seared and basted until juicy. It can be cooked within 20 minutes along with the flavorful essence of flaky and flavorful garlic butter.
- Thai Turkey Meatballs in Coconut Curry
Thai Turkey Meatballs in Coconut Curry is a pretty heavy and flavorful dish where you can enjoy soft and tender meatballs being soaked in spicy coconut curry. It is a perfect dinner treat that tastes amazing along with steamed white rice.
- White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
Who doesn’t like lasagna, right? Everybody does and if you like Lasagna too, White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna is perhaps the best choice for your Valentine’s night. It is made with shredded chicken and a lot of cheese that offers a creamy melting texture. It is the creamiest cheesiest white lasagna that you can enjoy with your partner. Don’t worry if it gets a little messy!
- Lemon Asparagus Soup with Parmesan
Who said you can only enjoy solid meals when there is a handful of options in soups? Lemon Asparagus Soup with Parmesan is one of the best soups out there that offers a smooth and silky texture that feels quite light and flavorful to eat. This soup is so good to eat that it can be served both, hot and cold. So, no need to worry if you have made the soup already before it is dinner time.
- Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
This authentic dish from Tuscan holds a rich heritage and it is one of the easiest yet the most delicious dishes made from shrimp. The recipe is packed with spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a whole lot of shrimp. It is rich, and creamy and goes pretty well with both Tuscan Breads or just plain white rice. This signature dish takes only 15 minutes to cook including its preparation.
- Spaghetti Carbonara
This is another classic Italian dish which gained popularity around the globe. It is simple, delicate yet amazingly delicious. All that it requires is spaghetti, an adequate amount of bacon, and a lot of pancetta to give that authentic touch. However, you can also use Italian pasta in case you do not have spaghetti. It will still taste good and make the dinner special for your loved ones.
- Creamy Garlic Mushroom
Vegetarians can also enjoy Valentine’s Day without any meat as there is Creamy Garlic Mushroom. This dish requires very little ingredients and can be made in only 15 minutes. Simple and delicious, this side dish goes well with almost anything.
- Teriyaki Salmon
While most people like teriyaki sauce with steaks only; it tastes pretty good with salmon as well. The bold and flavorful essence of the teriyaki marination along with tender Salmon is perfect for dinner and meal preps for lunch.
- Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
Those who do not want to celebrate a cheat day on Valentine’s Day can go with a low-carb, keto, and gluten-free version of shrimp pasta which is known as Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles. The noodles are basically made from Zucchini. So, it is nothing but veggie strands that you can gobble without any worries about consuming bad calories.
- Shanghai Style Fried Noodles
Noodles have always been a preferable choice for many and when it comes to fried noodles, there are plenty of flavorful options such as the Shanghai Style Fried Noodles. Even though you can order a takeaway, you can also cook it at home with limited ingredients. It only needs some chicken, mushrooms, noodles, and bok choy. Within 10 minutes, this recipe is done and so, it is advised to cook right before you dine.
- Creamy Chicken Roulade with Spinach and Mushrooms
If you want to try something fancy with chicken breasts, this is the dish you want to cook for your beloved. This creamy and juicy chicken roulade is made with spinach and mushrooms topped with a creamy alfredo sauce. When served along with spaghetti, this is the most delicious dish one can have on a Valentine’s night.
- The Best Ribeye Steak
There is no substitute for steak and never will be. Enjoy the best, juicy, and tender rib eye steak which is delicately seared in butter, garlic, and herbs. The juicy steak can be enjoyed along with stir-fried asparagus as well as a big scoop of mashed potatoes.
- Fettuccine Alfredo
It is one of the most popular classic Italian dishes that garnered attention from around the globe. This rich, creamy, and delicious pasta dish can be cooked in under 15 minutes, making it the perfect choice for a Valentine’s dinner.
- Chicken Crusted with Parmesan
in this recipe, baked parmesan-crusted chicken is further coated in a herby parmesan breadcrumb mixture and then baked again until they are perfectly crisp. It is highly flavorful, and tasty and takes only a few minutes to cook without any hassle. It tastes good with salads or pasta.
- Miso Black Cod (or sablefish)
This is an Asian dish that received much popularity in America as well. Miso black cod (or sablefish) is packed with strong Asian flavors that are healthy and tasty at the same time. It is a bit oily, but very tender and indulging.
- Greek Salmon
If you are looking forward to enjoying Mediterranean flavors, introduce Greek Salmon which is delicious, tender, and flaky at the same time. The healthy oven-baked salmon is served a packed with different herbs to make sure you can enjoy the taste of the fish without getting overwhelmed by the herbs.
- Turkey Gnocchi Soup
This creamy soup is the ultimate comfort food on a cold winter night. It has a rich and creamy texture which tastes quite nice with the protein and veggies. It consists of spinach, carrot and turkey. However, if you like some other kind of meat; you can substitute it with rotisserie chicken.
Some of the other honorable mentions are Beef Noodle Stir Fry, Baked Caprese Chicken, Spaghetti Bolognese, Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb, Almond-Crusted Halibut, and the list goes on. No matter what you eat, if you cook with love and the right ingredients; it will definitely taste good.
