Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for a Romantic Night In

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Hand your partner a burger on Valentine's Day, and you're guaranteed a smile. Just wait until they spy the crispy bacon layer.

The best date night dinners are the ones that yield plenty of leftovers. If you agree, you'll want to make sure this recipe is at the top of your list.

Keep things down-to-earth—but still elevated—with a skillet meal. Those dollops of fresh ricotta cheese are not to be missed.

Flip the steaks and continue cooking until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 125˚ for medium rare, 5 to 7 more minutes. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Dare you two not to finish off an entire platter of these fries before you even get to the main course. A simple garlic aïoli and a side of ketchup gives you the best of both worlds.

If there's one thing you love more than your partner, it's bread. These no-knead rolls are the perfect accompaniment to any dinner at home.

Here's a dish that seems delightfully fancy at first glance, but actually comes together in just 30 minutes. Egg noodles or mashed potatoes would make for excellent sides here.

It is a special occasion, after all. Celebrate with this sweet-and-spiced tomato risotto loaded with chunks of lobster.

Pure deliciousness in just 10 to 15 minutes? Yep, it's possible. Season both sides of steaks with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece in flour mixture, pressing to coat with as much flour as possible.

Your partner won't believe this is a pantry dish. A short list of ingredients and plenty of flavor makes it worth your while.

The best thing about these cheesy, delicious shells? You can make them ahead of time. Sprinkle on extra mozzarella and Parmesan, then bake for 25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Serve with salad!

Nothing says "Valentine's Day" quite like creamy, homemade risotto. Finished off with Parmesan and cream and loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, this version's as delicious as they come.

This recipe is perfect for people who might not feel that comfortable in the kitchen. With minimal effort (we're talking cutting up some berries and candy bars) you can make a tasty, customizable dessert.

Ree figured out how to make the perfect pot roast so you don't have to. It's out-of-this-world good. Choose a nicely marbled piece of meat. This will enhance the flavor of your pot roast like nothing else. Generously salt and pepper your chuck roast.

If you want to surprise your partner with a steak dinner, but don't feel like you have enough time to go all-out, this is your solution. It all comes together in just 40 minutes.

Fragrant and deliciously soft, these potatoes are the perfect side dish for any romantic meal. They're fried until crisp alongside rosemary and garlic.

There's a reason beef stroganoff is one of Ree's "favorite things on earth." It's a comfort food classic! Serve over cooked noodles and sprinkle with parsley.

Chicken pot pie is just one of those can't-go-wrong wintertime meals. You can whip up a pie crust just for the occasion…or you can use a crust you might have languishing in the freezer. Chicken pot pie doesn't have to be a huge ordeal!

The Caesar dressing that goes along with this upgraded salad works beautifully as a dip too! And don't worry too much about the anchovies the recipe calls for. They add a subtle, salty flavor, but will barely be noticed otherwise.

Make your partner's dreams come true by serving them ribs on Valentine's Day. They'll never guess the whole meal came together in your slow cooker.

Perfect for a special occasion, this hearty soup gets topped with a smattering of crispy bacon. You'll want to make and freeze an extra batch (or just eat the leftovers throughout the week ahead).

Two magical things come together in this genius recipe: tender steak and cheesy grits! Slice the steak and serve with the grits. You two will be in heaven.

Saucy baked ziti is the Valentine's Day dish your partner's been waiting for. (It happens to double as a fabulous Sunday night dinner main.)

Yes, they're delicious, but the real reason you'll love these stuffed peppers is that they come together ahead of time. Assemble and refrigerate, then bake them right before you're ready to sit down for dinner.

An unbelievably flavorful sauce and plenty of whole garlic cloves lend intense flavor to these pan-fried pork chops. You'll want to make them again and again.

These moist, juicy chicken thighs pair perfectly with salad, rice, potatoes, or pasta. You can also customize the base to change up the flavors: Add tomato paste, a splash of cream, or herbs.

What is "hotel butter," you ask? It's a rich, lemony compound butter, and it's absolutely to die for. Remove the steaks from the skillet and lay a thick slice of hotel butter on top of each steak so it will begin to melt. Serve within five minutes with mashed potatoes!

Did you know that cast iron pans are perfect for bread baking? The hot metal gives biscuits and rolls a gorgeous crust and golden-brown exterior.

It's an entrée and a side, all in one! A quick marinade of brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce gives the steak tons of extra flavor.

Just because it's a special occasion doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen—before or after dinner. This throw-together pasta dish can be served right out of the foil for easy cleanup.

Bowl of bliss, here you come! Gruyère cheese and crusty bread are as good of a match as, well, you and your person.

These crispy potatoes are a must-make side for any romantic dinner. A zippy jalapeño-cilantro sauce adds to the appeal. Serve the hasselback potatoes hot, drizzled with Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce!

It's a classic, yes, but it still manages to feel special. Ree's Caesar salad dressing permits plenty of tweaking, so go ahead and get creative with it!

Golden breadcrumbs and plenty of squash give this mac and cheese extra richness and body. Bake it in a skillet to get wonderfully crispy edges.

Yes, this risotto recipe is really dairy-free (and gluten-free, by the way!). Top with roasted cherry tomatoes for added color. Spoon into serving bowls and top with the roasted cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Simple and warming, this potato soup is the perfect thing to sip on a cold winter's night. Garnish with parsley, grated cheese, and bacon—it'll look as fabulous as it tastes.

You're probably already sold at "fried cheese." But just wait until you get a load of that crunchy, salty pretzel crust. Serve with marinara sauce and a sprinkling of parsley.

Don't have any leftover turkey on hand? You can always use chicken instead—it'll still be just as delicious. Mix with the breadcrumbs, then sprinkle on the casserole. Bake until bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

Make your own festive heart-shaped toaster pastries using just three ingredients: Refrigerator pie dough, raspberry jam, and an egg. Feel free to swap out the jam for any other filling your heart desires.

This juicy beef tenderloin will taste just like it came from a fancy restaurant, but you'll be the only one who knows it took less than half an hour to prep. Serve with a simple pomegranate salad to incorporate one of Valentine's Day's main colors.

Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for a Romantic Night In

Hand your partner a burger on Valentine's Day, and you're guaranteed a smile. Just wait until they spy the crispy bacon layer.

Read more

1. California Bacon Burger

The best date night dinners are the ones that yield plenty of leftovers. If you agree, you'll want to make sure this recipe is at the top of your list.

Read more

2. Mushroom & Asparagus Pasta

Keep things down-to-earth—but still elevated—with a skillet meal. Those dollops of fresh ricotta cheese are not to be missed.

Read more

3. Skillet Lasagna

Flip the steaks and continue cooking until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 125˚ for medium rare, 5 to 7 more minutes. Remove to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Read more

4. Cajun T-Bone Steaks

Dare you two not to finish off an entire platter of these fries before you even get to the main course. A simple garlic aïoli and a side of ketchup gives you the best of both worlds.

Read more

5. Garlic Parmesan French Fries

If there's one thing you love more than your partner, it's bread. These no-knead rolls are the perfect accompaniment to any dinner at home.

Read more

6. Skillet Dinner Rolls

Here's a dish that seems delightfully fancy at first glance, but actually comes together in just 30 minutes. Egg noodles or mashed potatoes would make for excellent sides here.

Read more

7. Pork Marsala with Mushrooms

It is a special occasion, after all. Celebrate with this sweet-and-spiced tomato risotto loaded with chunks of lobster.

Read more

8. Lobster and Spiced Tomato Risotto

Pure deliciousness in just 10 to 15 minutes? Yep, it's possible. Season both sides of steaks with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece in flour mixture, pressing to coat with as much flour as possible.

Read more

9. Fried Round Steak

Your partner won't believe this is a pantry dish. A short list of ingredients and plenty of flavor makes it worth your while.

Read more

10. Chicken with Tomatoes and Garlic

The best thing about these cheesy, delicious shells? You can make them ahead of time. Sprinkle on extra mozzarella and Parmesan, then bake for 25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Serve with salad!

Read more

11. Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells

Nothing says "Valentine's Day" quite like creamy, homemade risotto. Finished off with Parmesan and cream and loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, this version's as delicious as they come.

Read more

12. Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto

This recipe is perfect for people who might not feel that comfortable in the kitchen. With minimal effort (we're talking cutting up some berries and candy bars) you can make a tasty, customizable dessert.

Read more

13. Strawberry and Snickers Sticks

Ree figured out how to make the perfect pot roast so you don't have to. It's out-of-this-world good. Choose a nicely marbled piece of meat. This will enhance the flavor of your pot roast like nothing else. Generously salt and pepper your chuck roast.

Read more

14. Perfect Pot Roast

If you want to surprise your partner with a steak dinner, but don't feel like you have enough time to go all-out, this is your solution. It all comes together in just 40 minutes.

Read more

15. Steakhouse Mashed Potato Bowls

Fragrant and deliciously soft, these potatoes are the perfect side dish for any romantic meal. They're fried until crisp alongside rosemary and garlic.

Read more

16. Rosemary Garlic Fried Potatoes

There's a reason beef stroganoff is one of Ree's "favorite things on earth." It's a comfort food classic! Serve over cooked noodles and sprinkle with parsley.

Read more

17. Beef Stroganoff

Chicken pot pie is just one of those can't-go-wrong wintertime meals. You can whip up a pie crust just for the occasion…or you can use a crust you might have languishing in the freezer. Chicken pot pie doesn't have to be a huge ordeal!

Read more

18. Chicken Pot Pie

The Caesar dressing that goes along with this upgraded salad works beautifully as a dip too! And don't worry too much about the anchovies the recipe calls for. They add a subtle, salty flavor, but will barely be noticed otherwise.

Read more

19. Chicken Caesar Milanese

Make your partner's dreams come true by serving them ribs on Valentine's Day. They'll never guess the whole meal came together in your slow cooker.

Read more

20. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Ribs

Perfect for a special occasion, this hearty soup gets topped with a smattering of crispy bacon. You'll want to make and freeze an extra batch (or just eat the leftovers throughout the week ahead).

Read more

21. Butternut Squash Soup

Two magical things come together in this genius recipe: tender steak and cheesy grits! Slice the steak and serve with the grits. You two will be in heaven.

Read more

22. Spicy Steak with Pimiento Cheese

Saucy baked ziti is the Valentine's Day dish your partner's been waiting for. (It happens to double as a fabulous Sunday night dinner main.)

Read more

23. Baked Ziti

Yes, they're delicious, but the real reason you'll love these stuffed peppers is that they come together ahead of time. Assemble and refrigerate, then bake them right before you're ready to sit down for dinner.

Read more

24. Sausage and Rice Stuffed Peppers

An unbelievably flavorful sauce and plenty of whole garlic cloves lend intense flavor to these pan-fried pork chops. You'll want to make them again and again.

Read more

25. Pork Chops with Garlic

These moist, juicy chicken thighs pair perfectly with salad, rice, potatoes, or pasta. You can also customize the base to change up the flavors: Add tomato paste, a splash of cream, or herbs.

Read more

26. Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs

What is "hotel butter," you ask? It's a rich, lemony compound butter, and it's absolutely to die for. Remove the steaks from the skillet and lay a thick slice of hotel butter on top of each steak so it will begin to melt. Serve within five minutes with mashed potatoes!