40 Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas

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These decadent short ribs are cooked in wine and served over a cozy bowl of polenta. Pour a couple of glasses of leftover wine and you'll have a complete Valentine's Day meal.

The buttery mushroom sauce on this easy chicken dish makes it feel extra special without a ton of effort. Serve it with noodles or something equally delicious for soaking up the sauce, like risotto or mashed potatoes.

Dinner for two has never been easier thanks to this 15-minute dish. The lemon and pepper seasoned steak is a simple way to say "I love you."

A dinner for two calls for a classy cocktail like this fabulous espresso martini! It'll make you feel like you're out on the town even if you're just cozying up on the couch.

If your Valentine's Day consists of steak, then mashed potatoes are a must! Get creative with the classic side dish by adding lots of rich gouda cheese and sour cream.

Imagine you're in Paris—the city of love—when you serve up this rich and cheesy French onion soup. The best part is that it's made in an Instant Pot so it's super easy.

Turn your Valentine's Day dinner into a fun taco night with these chipotle-seasoned steak tacos. All you'll need is a Marg-a-Ree-ta to make the night complete.

Whether you're hosting a Galentine's Day party with friends or an intimate dinner for two. There's no better way to start your celebration than with an ooey-gooey baked brie cheese.

Treat your loved one to a little bubbly this Valentine's Day with a champagne cocktail that's simple, sweet, and perfect for toasting each other.

Put your best dinner forward with this super crispy air-fried pork chop! It's delicious alongside a simple salad and mashed potatoes.

Creamy, dreamy, and loaded with herbed butter, this grits-based dish is one for the books. It's surprisingly easy to throw together too.

Your perfect Valentine's Day dinner menu might require steak. Odds are, your significant other won't be mad about the added bacon.

A picture-perfect plate of scallops will woo your sweetheart like few other things can. Step-by-step instructions make it easy.

If you'd rather be spending Valentine's Day with your sweetheart instead of a pile of dirty dishes, then this is the entrée for you. Hot Italian sausages, pasta, colorful bell peppers, garlic, and a balsamic glaze come together for the dreamiest dinner.

Serve these scrumptious, oven-roasted shrimp over a bed of fluffy rice, pasta, or a handful of fresh greens. Cherry tomatoes add color and fun.

There's something about salmon served en papillote (that means "in parchment") that looks extra fancy. It also cleans up quickly.

It's Valentine's Day. You'd be a fool not to throw a little butter, heavy cream, and cheese into the mix!

These Mediterranean-inspired skewers are a totally unexpected addition to any romantic dinner menu. Pair with pita, hummus, and tzatziki (Greek yogurt sauce).

No one wants to spend hours cleaning up on Valentine's Day evening, which is why this sheet pan salmon is such a great choice. Pair it with your choice of fresh vegetables, and you're in business.

There's something so festive about stuffed mushrooms. They'll give a party-like vibe to your Valentine's Day celebrations—and give your partner something to snack on while the rest of the meal cooks.

A tangy balsamic reduction and crunchy walnuts pair perfectly with earthy Brussels sprouts. Prepare to impress!

Dry mustard and spices give this macaroni and cheese recipe a little something extra. Pop it in the oven to get that irresistible golden brown crust.

If risotto isn't an official aphrodisiac, it absolutely should be. This creamy, seafood-loaded dish will be a serious hit with your valentine.

Fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these addictive, cheesy potatoes will wow your date. Rosemary gives them a fresh, herbaceous aroma.

A ton of veggies and wild rice make this casserole filling, but not too heavy. Still, it's hearty enough to operate as a side or a main.

Buttery, creamy mashed potatoes are usually reserved for elegant holiday meals or over-the-top Sunday dinners, which is why they're such a wonderful choice for Valentine's Day dinner. Not only do they come together quickly, but they impart a feeling of specialness and sophistication.

Even the name of this recipe is fancy! It's cozy, inviting, and flavorful, made with both ham and chicken—plus a ton of Swiss cheese.

Flaky and sweet, this salmon dish takes only minutes to throw together. It's restaurant-quality perfection!

Toss this pepperoni together quickly, and spend the rest of your night doing something more fun—like watching a movie with your sweetheart! It's such a fun, creative take on everyone's favorite pizza topping.

Creamy bell pepper gravy is the perfect complement to a breaded pork chop cutlet. Serve pork chops on a plate with the gravy spooned over the top and chow down!

Pasta carbonara is impossibly easy to make, so it's perfect for the less experienced chefs out there. After all, with crisp bacon in the mix, you really can't go wrong.

This meal comes together all in one pot, which means it's both easy to make and a breeze to clean up. Arrange the shrimp and veggies on top. Give it a generous dollop of the peanut sauce dressing and stir it all up.

This is one fabulous glaze you don't have to spend hours working on. Fig, peach, or plum preserves give this pork tenderloin a decidedly sweet, irresistible flavor.

The best part about these colorful flatbreads (besides the taste, of course)? You can make them together. Place baking sheet in the oven and cook for 10–12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from the oven, cut into pieces, and serve warm.

They might not even realize you threw this dish together using nothing more than instant ramen noodles and a few pantry staples. The flavorful broth of lemongrass, garlic, and fish sauce will entice and delight any palate.

Dressed with a peanut-cayenne-honey sauce and placed on a bed of lovely-looking greens, this thick salmon fillet will impress your significant other—and have them asking for seconds.

A one-pan recipe that looks and tastes like you spent all evening toiling over it? Arrange the chicken and veggies on a sheet pan, leaving the excess marinade behind. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes, shaking the pan once during that time.

This glorious medley of seafood, carbs, and tart tomatoes is so good, you'll want to memorize the recipe. It all comes together in just 30 minutes.

Who says salads aren't wonderful (and pretty!) enough to serve on Valentine's Day? This bold, bright recipe is perfect for the season.

Sweet sun-dried tomatoes add a hint of tartness to this quick and easy pasta dish. Dress it up with a healthy dose of parm, and it'll be just as show-stopping as a more involved recipe.

40 Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas

These decadent short ribs are cooked in wine and served over a cozy bowl of polenta. Pour a couple of glasses of leftover wine and you'll have a complete Valentine's Day meal.

Read more

1. Braised Short Ribs

The buttery mushroom sauce on this easy chicken dish makes it feel extra special without a ton of effort. Serve it with noodles or something equally delicious for soaking up the sauce, like risotto or mashed potatoes.

Read more

2. Chicken Marsala

Dinner for two has never been easier thanks to this 15-minute dish. The lemon and pepper seasoned steak is a simple way to say "I love you."

Read more

3. Pan-Fried Ribeye Steak

A dinner for two calls for a classy cocktail like this fabulous espresso martini! It'll make you feel like you're out on the town even if you're just cozying up on the couch.

Read more

4. Espresso Martini

If your Valentine's Day consists of steak, then mashed potatoes are a must! Get creative with the classic side dish by adding lots of rich gouda cheese and sour cream.

Read more

5. Cheddar and Sour Cream Potatoes

Imagine you're in Paris—the city of love—when you serve up this rich and cheesy French onion soup. The best part is that it's made in an Instant Pot so it's super easy.

Read more

6. Instant Pot French Onion Soup

Turn your Valentine's Day dinner into a fun taco night with these chipotle-seasoned steak tacos. All you'll need is a Marg-a-Ree-ta to make the night complete.

Read more

7. Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos

Whether you're hosting a Galentine's Day party with friends or an intimate dinner for two. There's no better way to start your celebration than with an ooey-gooey baked brie cheese.

Read more

8. Easy Baked Brie

Treat your loved one to a little bubbly this Valentine's Day with a champagne cocktail that's simple, sweet, and perfect for toasting each other.

Read more

9. French 75

Put your best dinner forward with this super crispy air-fried pork chop! It's delicious alongside a simple salad and mashed potatoes.

Read more

10. Air-Fryer Pork Chops

Creamy, dreamy, and loaded with herbed butter, this grits-based dish is one for the books. It's surprisingly easy to throw together too.

Read more

11. Lemon-Garlic Shrimp and Grits

Your perfect Valentine's Day dinner menu might require steak. Odds are, your significant other won't be mad about the added bacon.

Read more

12. Bacon-Wrapped Filets

A picture-perfect plate of scallops will woo your sweetheart like few other things can. Step-by-step instructions make it easy.

Read more

13. Pan-Seared Scallops

If you'd rather be spending Valentine's Day with your sweetheart instead of a pile of dirty dishes, then this is the entrée for you. Hot Italian sausages, pasta, colorful bell peppers, garlic, and a balsamic glaze come together for the dreamiest dinner.

Read more

14. Sheet-Pan Gnocchi

Serve these scrumptious, oven-roasted shrimp over a bed of fluffy rice, pasta, or a handful of fresh greens. Cherry tomatoes add color and fun.

Read more

15. Shrimp and Tomato Sheet Pan

There's something about salmon served en papillote (that means "in parchment") that looks extra fancy. It also cleans up quickly.

Read more

16. Oven-Baked Salmon

It's Valentine's Day. You'd be a fool not to throw a little butter, heavy cream, and cheese into the mix!

Read more

17. Creamy Spinach and Pepper Chicken

These Mediterranean-inspired skewers are a totally unexpected addition to any romantic dinner menu. Pair with pita, hummus, and tzatziki (Greek yogurt sauce).

Read more

18. Greek Chicken Kebabs

No one wants to spend hours cleaning up on Valentine's Day evening, which is why this sheet pan salmon is such a great choice. Pair it with your choice of fresh vegetables, and you're in business.

Read more

19. Sheet Pan Salmon Puttanesca

There's something so festive about stuffed mushrooms. They'll give a party-like vibe to your Valentine's Day celebrations—and give your partner something to snack on while the rest of the meal cooks.

Read more

20. Crispy Brie-Stuffed Mushrooms

A tangy balsamic reduction and crunchy walnuts pair perfectly with earthy Brussels sprouts. Prepare to impress!

Read more

21. Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic

Dry mustard and spices give this macaroni and cheese recipe a little something extra. Pop it in the oven to get that irresistible golden brown crust.

Read more

22. Macaroni & Cheese

If risotto isn't an official aphrodisiac, it absolutely should be. This creamy, seafood-loaded dish will be a serious hit with your valentine.

Read more

23. Lemon Basil Shrimp Risotto

Fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these addictive, cheesy potatoes will wow your date. Rosemary gives them a fresh, herbaceous aroma.

Read more

24. Crash Hot Potatoes

A ton of veggies and wild rice make this casserole filling, but not too heavy. Still, it's hearty enough to operate as a side or a main.

Read more

25. Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole

Buttery, creamy mashed potatoes are usually reserved for elegant holiday meals or over-the-top Sunday dinners, which is why they're such a wonderful choice for Valentine's Day dinner. Not only do they come together quickly, but they impart a feeling of specialness and sophistication.

Read more

26. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Even the name of this recipe is fancy! It's cozy, inviting, and flavorful, made with both ham and chicken—plus a ton of Swiss cheese.