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Have a romantic evening in this Valentine’s Day with these easy appetizers, dinners, and dessert recipes.
Looking to skip the crowded restaurants this year and celebrate Valentine’s Day at home with your boo? Let us help plan your menu, from appetizers all the way through dessert.
These date night recipes range from elegant and upscale to fun and unique, so you can pick the dish that best suits your relationship. Love to cook with your partner and want an interactive recipe you can make together? Try homemade pizza! Want to surprise your date with a classy Italian dinner at home? Try our restaurant style chicken parmesan or goat cheese and tomato gnocchi.
Add some candles, roses, and a bottle of wine, and you’ll be grateful you chose to cook at home instead of going out to a restaurant this Valentine’s Day.
Table of Contents
Valentine’s Day Appetizers
1. Burrata Toast With Tomato And Basil
If you’re already planning enough cooking and want an appetizer that you can make with little effort, then this burrata toast is for you! Taking less than 10 minutes in total, all you have to do is toast the bread and assemble. Top your toasted bread with EVOO, balsamic vinegar, tomato, burrata, and a little basil for garnish. And there you have it, a romantic Valentine’s Day appetizer with basically no cooking involved.
2. Queso De Cabra Con Tomate (Spanish Baked Goat Cheese In Tomato Sauce)
Indulge in the luxurious combo of tomato sauce and creamy goat cheese with homemade crostini this Valentine’s Day. Made by simply blending the sauce and warming everything in the oven, it’s the perfect easy appetizer for a date night at home – and it pairs beautifully with a glass of red wine!
3. Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas is one of our favorite tapas dishes, and what better night for tapas than Valentine’s Day? There’s just something special about making a few shareable plates to dig into with your loved one. Enjoy the process of curating, preparing, and eating tapas together. Along with these saucy, spicy potatoes, we love to add a cheese-based dish such as our spanish baked goat cheese and tomato sauce, and a bread-based dish like pan con tomate.
4. Whipped Brie With Calabrian Chiles
Add a little spice to start off your Valentine’s Day dinner with this calabrian chile whipped brie. The brie’s light and airy texture makes for a very dippable or spreadable appetizer, and the flavor-packed calabrian chiles will keep you going back for more. Bonus: once the brie is softened, it takes less than 10 minutes to make.
5. Crispy Potatoes with Whipped Ricotta
Crispy potatoes, light and fluffy ricotta, and a hint of spicy chili oil combine for the perfect variety of flavors and textures. Whether you serve this as a standalone appetizer, a group of small plates, or a side with dinner, you won’t be disappointed.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Recipes
6. Goat Cheese and Tomato Gnocchi
For a deliciously creamy and decadent Valentine’s Day dinner, try this 10-minute goat cheese and tomato gnocchi. There’s nothing more romantic than a classy, upscale pasta dish for your at-home date night. Plus, even the least experienced cooks can make this recipe without fail, so impressing your date will be a breeze.
7. Burrata Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes
Instead of spaghetti and meatballs, try a fresh twist on pasta with blistered tomatoes cooked in white wine. Paired with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, creamy burrata cheese, and fresh basil, each bite of this dish is bursting with flavor that’ll definitely impress your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Plus, it cooks in under 20 minutes!
8. Deconstructed Basil Pesto Risotto
While a pesto risotto may be delicious, it doesn’t exactly scream “fancy dinner.” But taking all the components of pesto – fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese, slivered almonds, and extra-virgin olive oil – and breaking it down into the risotto? Now that’s an elevated Valentine’s Day dinner for two at home. If you’re worried about making risotto for an important dinner, fear not! Check out our helpful guide on how to make risotto from scratch here and you’ll be serving up perfectly creamy risotto in no time.
9. Blueberry Lemon Goat Cheese Burger
Who says burgers can’t be romantic? Dress one up with a brioche bun and high-quality toppings like blueberry preserves, lemon zest, and goat cheese for a fun Valentine’s Day date night at home. This unique recipe plays with sweet and savory flavors for a delectable burger that just melts in your mouth.
10. Spaghetti Carbonara
If carbonara has your heart but you’re afraid to try making it at home, this easy eggless spaghetti carbonara recipe is for you! Featuring creamy parmesan cheese and crispy bacon for a simple, approachable take on this classic, this recipe is perfect for pasta lovers who want to enjoy their favorite Italian meal at home on Valentine’s Day.
11. Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza
A classic date night pizza, this prosciutto and arugula pizza is a fun Valentine’s Day dinner that you and your date can make together. With specialty ingredients (especially if you go with homemade dough) this dinner is special enough for a romantic night but fun enough to keep it playful. If you’re looking for a less-than-serious Valentine’s Day dinner, this is it!
12. Penne Alla Vodka
Valentine’s Day dinner in just 25 minutes? Yes please! Penne alla vodka may sound fancy and upscale, and it kinda is, but that doesn’t mean it has to be hard to make. This easy pasta will make you feel like a real chef, impress your special someone, and help you realize just how easy cooking can be.
13. Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parm is a classic Valentine’s Day dinner. But instead of going out for Italian this year, make it at home yourself. Nothing says romantic date night dinner like something you made yourself with love and care. Combine this with an appetizer such as our burrata toast with tomato and basil, a glass of wine, and then finish the night with one of our easy to make Valentine’s Day desserts.
14. Easy Baked Gnocchi
Gnocchi is one of the best date night dinners out there. But did you know you can bake it in the oven, for even easier hands-off cooking and the same delicious, pillowy results? This easy oven baked gnocchi recipe for two cooks in a tomato basil and garlic sauce with red pepper flakes and mozzarella cheese for classic Italian flavor with minimal effort. The best part is, the two of you can enjoy this straight out of the baking dish for a cozy and romantic dinner side-by-side.
Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes
15. Hot Chocolate Dip
3 ingredients, 5 minutes, and the best Valentine’s Day dessert ever. This hot chocolate dip is delicious, fun, and a little bit silly to share with your loved one. Add on some mini chocolate chips and marshmallows to complete your dip, grab a sleeve of graham crackers and dig in!
16. No Bake Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip
Looking for a delicious Valentine’s Day dessert but don’t know if you really want to take on some complicated recipe? Try our no bake chocolate chip cheesecake dip that tastes just like the classic dessert but with a fraction of the work. Oh, and it’s super easy to make – it takes just 10 minutes to put together.
17. Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge
If you’d rather try a Valentine’s Day dessert that you can make ahead of time, salted caramel chocolate fudge may be exactly what you’re looking for. Since the fudge needs to set for at least a few hours, you can even make this delicious treat the day before. That way when you’re ready for dessert, you just need to top, slice, and serve (bonus points if you top it in the morning!). The less you have to do during your Valentine’s Day dinner the better. Just keep the festivities going.
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