While romantic dinner dates are also okay, I’d rather spend Valentine’s Day at home and cook for my loved ones. It’s my personal way of showing them just how much I love them. Why wait for hours to get a table and have complete strangers cook your meal when you can whip up your own at home, for free? Believe me, you can cook a Valentine’s Day-worthy meal without going through that much trouble. These recipes have you covered. Love is in the air… or is it just the aroma of these dishes cooking in the stove or oven?
1. Prime Rib
If you and your partner are mad about meat, then prime rib has to be your entree. This recipe is a copycat of the famous Texas Roadhouse prime rib, and a very good one, indeed. Expect your mind to be blown away. Choice beef is roasted to smoky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. It couldn’t get any better than that. I know prime rib isn’t the cheapest cut of meat, so you might find it intimidating to work with. Don’t worry, this recipe has a handful of tips to help you with your rib-roasting journey.
2. Easy Crab Cakes
When I say these crab cakes are easy to make, I mean embarrassingly easy. I once thought they required a lot of work, but boy was I wrong. It doesn’t matter if you fry, bake, grill, or broil these bad boys. The result will be the same: crisp on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside crab cakes.
3. Filet Mignon
If your goal is to impress your date, look no further than filet mignon. Its fancy-sounding name alone already leaves a mark. This filet mignon is pan-fried and baked in butter that’s been infused with fresh garlic, rosemary, and thyme. You’ll love how the herbs balance out the unctuousness of the beef. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is. It’s often an entree in many fancy restaurants, so you’d think it requires some cooking expertise. Surprisingly, it’s not that hard to make.
4. Lobster Bisque
Chunks of sweet and buttery lobster tails swim in a rich and creamy broth. I think I’m in love. Lobster bisque is the ultimate appetizer. The contrast between sweet lobster and savory broth will get your tastebuds tingling. The best part? This bisque only takes 20 minutes to make. It’s a quick addition that’ll make your meal extra special.
5. Marry Me Chicken
Planning to pop the question this Valentine’s Day? I’m sure your sweetheart will say yes, but Marry Me Chicken will seal the deal. This pasta dish is packed with bacon, chicken, and sun-dried tomatoes. The sauce is so wonderfully rich and creamy, no one will be able to say no.
6. Chicken Parmesan
If you think you’ve had the best chicken parmesan yet, wait until you try this one. I can’t stress enough just how scrumptious it is! I just love how crispy, juicy, and tender the chicken is. The combo of marinara sauce and melty cheese takes it over the top. This classic is ideal for any special occasion, but also easy enough to make any day of the week.
7. Lobster Mac and Cheese
Sure, mac and cheese is a typical, budget-friendly weekday dish. But it only takes one simple addition to make it fancy. Throw lumps of sweet lobster in there, and voila! You’ll have a romantic dish that’ll surely make you giddy. With this easy booze, no one can accuse you of being cheap.
8. Beef Wellington
As an avid fan of the cooking competition, MasterChef, I know beef Wellington is one of Chef Gordon Ramsay’s signature dishes. That said, I thought it would be way too complicated to make. Sure, it’s not the simplest recipe on this list, but it’s also not that difficult. And the result? My gosh, this beef Welly is the stuff of legends!
9. Pan-Seared Salmon With Lemon Garlic Butter
I don’t know what makes salmon a date night-worthy protein, but it just is. There’s just something so romantic about this fish! Not only is it scrumptious, but also incredibly easy to work with. In this recipe, all you’ll have to do is pan-sear it in lemon garlic butter, and dinner is served.
10. Barilla Lasagna
This lasagna is the definition of decadence. With its layers of al dente lasagna sheets, meaty marinara, and a blend of there e cheeses, this pasta dish is a slice of heaven. It has three components, but it’s shockingly a snap to make. It only takes me 40 minutes to whip up this epic dish! Less time in the kitchen means more time celebrating.
11. Sirloin Tip Steak
On a budget? Here’s a date night-worthy dish that won’t break the bank. Tenderloin, ribeye, and T-bone may be the best cuts for steak, but the sirloin tip also doesn’t disappoint. It may be the inferior cut, but all it takes is a great recipe to make it seem like it costs a hundred bucks. This recipe perfectly fits the bill.
12. The Love Machine Chicken Pasta
Al dente fettuccine noodles are drenched with a rich, cream-based sauce, and packed with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese. Garnished with fresh basil, this pasta dish looks and tastes like it came straight right out of an Italian restaurant. It’s comfort food made fancy!
13. Easy Bolognese
Bolognese is a classic pasta dish with a meaty tomato-based sauce. True, it sounds basic. But man, this bolognese is something else. The combination of marinara, cream, ground meat, and cheese creates a sauce with such bright flavors. I also love the use of wide pasta noodles here. I don’t know what it is, but they somehow make the dish look and feel more elegant.
14. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Beef bourguignon is a thick and hearty stew loaded with succulent beef, bacon, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots. The stew is infused with red wine, which doesn’t make it unsafe for kids. The wine only amplifies the flavor of the dish. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult to make as it is to spell. While it does require 10 hours to make, your participation will only be in the beginning. The slow cooker will take care of the rest.
15. Chicken Marsala
Chicken marsala gets 100 points just from its presentation alone. From the golden chicken cutlets to the earthy mushrooms to the thick sauce, this dish is stunning, to say the least. What makes this dish stand out, even more, is its unique flavor, which is provided by the sauce. Infused with marsala wine, it has a lovely combination of umami and earthy flavors.
16. Coq Au Vin
Don’t let its name intimidate you. Coq au vin might be a fancy French dish, but not to worry. It’s easy. Coq au Vin is French for chicken cooked in wine. What a wonderful way to level up the humble bird, am I right? Besides the wine, bacon, mushroom, and onions also lend the stew flavor. The sauce isn’t only out-of-this-world delicious, but gorgeous to boot. That deep, glossy hue is just stunning.
17. Tuscan Chicken in Parmesan Cream Sauce
If this chicken dish doesn’t make your mouth water, I don’t know what will. Parmesan and chicken are a match made in heaven. This Tuscan chicken dish is proof. Juicy chicken is bathed with a ridiculously creamy parmesan sauce, and loaded with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach to boot.
18. Shrimp Scampi
Compared to pasta dishes with creamy and meaty sauces, the shrimp scampi may appear a little too plain. But don’t be fooled by its unassuming look. Shrimp scampi is a delectable pasta dish in white wine sauce flavored with garlic butter and lemon. Let me repeat: white wine, garlic, butter, and lemon. I can already imagine just how flavorful it is! Oh, and it’s loaded with shrimp, too. What more can you ask for?
19. Caprese Pasta
If you like your pasta with a lighter sauce, Caprese is for you. It’s angel hair coated with an Italian sauce and topped with mozzarella and basil. This refreshing pasta dish is a nice break from all the heavy, cream and meat-based pasta dishes on the list. But just because it’s light doesn’t mean it’s not as tasty. Using only the freshest of ingredients, this dish is brimming with bright flavors.
20. Grilled Five-Spice Flank Steak
If you’re looking for the best marinade to flavor that flank steak, look no further. This five-spice blend is the winner. This mix of Hoisin sauce and Chinese 5-spice creates a thick and glossy glaze around the steak and gives it flavor like no other. With a combination of sweet, umami, and earthy flavors, flank steak has never been more scrumptious.
21. Shrimp Fra Diavolo
It means ”brother devil” in Italian, but shrimp Fra Diavolo isn’t evil at all. With a tomato-based sauce seasoned with garlic, red pepper, and olive oil, this pasta dish is nothing short of heavenly. You’ll love how the spiciness of the sauce and the sweetness of the shrimp complement each other and create a wonderful flavor balance.
22. Manicotti
Any vegetarians, here? This manicotti recipe is for you. A blend of ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, herbs, and seasoning is stuffed inside manicotti pasta shells, which are then covered in marinara sauce. Topped with even more shredded cheese and baked to perfection, this pasta dish is a certified show-stopper. And while it’s 100% vegetarian, don’t be surprised if your meat-loving lover falls for this dish.
23. Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chicken
This recipe uses chicken breast, but don’t worry, it won’t be tough and dry at all. In this outstanding dish, juicy chicken is so tender it melts in your mouth. A topping made of mayonnaise, parmesan, and seasoning does the trick. Just cover the chicken in this flavorful blend and pop it in the oven. Not only will it make the chicken incredibly tender and juicy, but so flavorful, as well.
24. Seafood Pasta With Shrimp and Scallops
Even with just the butter and garlic sauce, this pasta dish is already a winner. Tossed with shrimp and scallops, it becomes a huge hit. Calling all seafood lovers: this pasta dish is a must-try. With a delicious mix of sweet, earthy, and savory, it has all the flavors your tastebuds crave in an entree.
25. Spanish Paella
Paella is pure love on a plate. This classic Spanish dish is one of the most colorful and flavorful rice dishes I’ve ever had in my life. Considering how big a rice eater I am, that says a lot. Paella is rice cooked in a tasty broth infused with wine and saffron, which gives the rice its golden hue. Also loaded with chicken, seafood, and vegetables, paella isn’t only delicious, but a complete meal on its own.
26. Lemon Parmesan Risotto With Peas
This risotto is made extra special with lemon, Parmesan, and peas. It looks plain and simple, but its flavor will surely knock your socks off. It’s creamy and savory, but with a citrus twist. T he combination of Parmesan, garlic, and lemon juice creates playful flavors that are so delicious, you’ll keep wanting more.
27. Slow Cooker Beef Ragu With Pappardelle
Pasta and beef unite to make a stunning Valentine’s Day dinner. Papardelle pasta plus shredded slow-cooked flank steak marinara equals a bowl of happiness. The flank steak is slow-cooked for 8 hours so that it becomes so tender, you can effortlessly pull apart the strands. Cooked in marinara, not only is it incredibly tender, but full of flavor as well.
28. Engagement Chicken With Carrot Panzanella
Roasted chicken is a simple, weeknight dish. Want to make it stand out? That’s what this recipe is all about. The chicken is great, and it’s as delicious as you’d expect roasted chicken to be. But, served with a medley of vegetables tossed in a lemon garlic anchovy sauce, the basic dish is transformed into a show-stopper worthy of any occasion.
29. Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod
How about something healthy, for a change? Light and flaky cod is encrusted with crisp and buttery Parmesan. The cod is baked, not fried, making this dish both delicious and nutritious. Enjoy it with a salad or use it as a taco or sandwich filling. It’ll disappear in a snap, either way.
30. Linguine With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Linguini is tossed in a rich and creamy alfredo sauce and packed with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. The alfredo sauce is flavored with garlic and paprika, so it’s delicious even as is. Just imagine how much more flavorful it becomes with the spinach and tomatoes! Click on a star to rate it!
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