You and your valentine decided to stay in this year to celebrate, so you want to whip up a recipe that feels special…without coming off corny. (Naked angels and conversation hearts? Pass.) Luckily, Cupid is on your side: We’ve rounded up the 60 best Valentine’s Day dinner ideas—from roasted chicken to homemade pasta—that are fancy and a breeze to pull off. Better yet, we’ve included ideas for vegetarians and omnivores alike, and options for people who rarely cook, too. We promise there’s no cheesiness in sight (well, unless you count actual cheese).
60 Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas That Feel Fancy (but Not Cheesy)
Love is a homemade pizza
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Published Jan 22, 2024
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
What Makes a Good Valentine's Day Dinner?
Everyone has their own idea of a romantic meal, but we can all agree that a good Valentine’s Day dinner should feel at least a little fancier than your usual weeknight meals. Of course, there are shades of fancy, too—if you typically opt for frozen pizza, choose one of the beginner-friendly meals on this list, like a 20-minute cacio e pepe. Want to put on your chef’s hat? Opt for a more involved meal (like lobster risotto or homemade gnocchi) and you’ll really impress.
1. Antoni Porowski’s Lazy Pierogi With Wild Mushrooms, Cabbage And Prunes
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Homemade dumplings in 35 minutes? Consider your date wooed. (Feel free to make extra to sprinkle with breadcrumbs and sugar.)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free
Pork takes a backseat to quick-cooking salmon in this Mexican-inspired dinner (which only takes 40 minutes to prepare, BTW). Think warm ancho chile powder, fresh citrus juices, diced pineapple and pickled onions. It’s special enough for a holiday with the added benefit of being gluten- and dairy-free.
3. Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Pop the mushrooms in the oven while you cook the polenta and dinner is halfway done. (Psst: You don’t have to stir it nonstop, either!)
4. Mac and Cheese with Crispy Parmesan-Phyllo Crust
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Pop quiz: A bouquet of phyllo dough rosettes or a bouquet of long-stem roses? (FYI, there’s a right answer.) Because the phyllo is brushed with butter and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, it gets crispy on the top but stays fairly soft in the center.
5. Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Leeks
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, gluten free
Risotto feels sophisticated and chic, but it’s actually just as easy to make as regular rice (albeit with a bit more stirring). This one gets jazzed up with a frizzled leek topping that’s *chef’s kiss.*
7. Cheater’s White Wine Coq au Vin
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Don’t tell Julia Child, but we took some shortcuts with this elegant dish to make it doable in under an hour. We think she’d give us a pass for Valentine’s Day.
Half Baked Harvest
8. Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Herbed White Wine Sauce
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
The key to our heart is homemade gnocchi. Luckily, the pasta in this dish only needs five ingredients and nine minutes to come together.
9. Alison Roman’s Swordfish with Crushed Olives and Oregano
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
It tastes like chicken and is just as easy to make, but also has a certain je ne sais quoi that’s ideal for a cozy night in with bae.
10. Lobster Risotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Fact: There’s no more surefire way to impress your dinner date than with lobster. Want to make it simpler? Look for lobster tails in your grocer’s fresh seafood section, and you're well on your way to winning over hearts (and stomachs).
11. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Cooking steak at home doesn’t have to strike fear in your heart. Just turn to your trusty cast iron skillet for guidance.
12. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, low carb
Few things are as romantic as an impeccably cooked bird. Just ask Ina Garten. (Plus, with just four ingredients, it’s surprisingly simple to pull off.)
13. Dorie Greenspan’s Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken with Baby Potatoes and Mushrooms
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
When you pull this beautifully burnished chicken out of the oven, you won’t be able to stop yourself from swooning.
14. Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Easy? Check. Gorgeous? Double check. And don’t even get us started on how it tastes.
15. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free, dairy free
Dressed in an effortless five-ingredient glaze, these lamb chops are ready for their Instagram closeup.
16. Cacio e Pepe
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
A six-ingredient, 20-minute bowl of pasta is better than a box of chocolates in our book. (But we’ll take the chocolates, too.)
17. 30-Minute One Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
You don’t have to hop a flight to Provence to be romantic. Just make this rustic seafood stew and serve it with lots of crusty bread.
18. Foolproof Cheater’s Confit
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Impossibly juicy, fork-tender duck meat and crispy skin? We didn’t think it was possible to have a crush on a meal, but here we are.
19. 30-Minute Cheater’s Beef Stroganoff
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Craving warm and fuzzy feelings? Look no further than this buttery, melt-in-your-mouth bowl. The only thing it's missing is a glass of red wine.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy
Traditionally, this hearty Spanish rice dish isn’t exactly easy to cook at home…but we made a few tweaks so dinner can be foolproof.
21. Pan-Fried Cod with Orange and Swiss Chard
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
The whole thing goes from fridge to plate in less time than you would have to wait for a table at your favorite restaurant. (Cue the singing angels.)
22. Pasta alla Norma
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Roses are red, tomato sauce too…if you’re eating this vegetarian-friendly pasta, we’re jealous of you. Traditionally, Pasta alla Norma is made with ricotta salata (a type of pressed and aged ricotta cheese), but we subbed in pecorino, which is more widely available. Either will taste delicious.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
24. Baked Mac and Cheese Bites
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
What’s better than mac and cheese? (Hint: nothing.) These baked bites are crispy on top and chewy on the inside, just how you like ’em. Pair with a glass of wine and a nice salad for a casual-yet-complete feast.
Inspired Entertainment/The Domestic Geek's Meals Made Easy
25. One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
The best part about this pasta (beyond having just one pot to clean)? Once you’ve mastered this version, you can customize the mix-ins to your heart’s content. We recommend trying spinach or kale.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
26. One Pan Steak with Beets and Crispy Kale
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, gluten free
Put away your skillet—because a no-fuss, no-mess dinner is exactly what a romantic night in calls for.
Erin McDowell
27. Spaghetti with Avocado Pasta Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, dairy free, <10 ingredients
This recipe is rich but totally virtuous, and the whole meal takes just 30 minutes to prepare. What’s more lovely than that?
Jeanine Donofrio/Love and Lemons Every Day
28. Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, dairy free
Cashews and lemon create a cream sauce that doesn’t use any actual cream for this way-too-easy-to-eat, vegan-friendly pappardelle.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
29. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, <10 ingredients
This hearty and delicious dish is super simple, but tastes like you spent all day making it for your boo.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
30. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
This one begins with store-bought puff pastry (aka the secret trick to seeming like a fancy chef without any effort) and ends with you enjoying every bite.
31. Garlic Shrimp Over Parmesan Risotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free
While we’ll admit this recipe requires some watchful stirring, we promise the resulting meal is worth the labor—it’s flavorful, creamy and oh-so-romantic.
32. Lamb Chops with Buckwheat and Black Pepper Strawberries
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free
Plump, juicy strawberries and perfectly cooked lamb chops are tough to beat. You can use rib chops if you prefer, but loin chops are a bit more flavorful.
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
33. Mini Peach Tarts with Goat Cheese and Honey
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
You might want to make a second batch…they’re that good (not to mention really easy to put together). Served with a big salad, this is a meal for the books.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Few things are more satisfying than a plateful of ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. Paired with a heartier entree on this list, you’ll totally impress your loved one with dinner.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
35. Grilled Flank Steak with Lemon-Herb Sauce
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, dairy free, gluten free
For big, bold flavor, marinate the steak before it hits the grill pan. Then, serve it with fresh herb sauce for an extra boost.
37. Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
You only need five ingredients and 80 minutes to pull this stunner off. Color your beau impressed.
38. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, sheet pan recipe
Chalk the crunchy, flavorful breading up to pistachios, garlic, rosemary and cayenne. Hard to believe it's ready in 40 minutes, right?
39. Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata
- Time Commitment: 5 hours, 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients
Throwing everything in the Crockpot and calling it a day is almost as convenient (and way less expensive) than having a private chef cook your dinner. Just don’t tell your boo that’s what you did (wink wink).
40. One Pan Roasted Salmon with Potatoes and Romaine
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, gluten free
We’ve never met a sheet pan recipe we didn’t like love. This one cooks your protein (read: flaky, tender salmon) and sides in one shot.
41. Spiralized Winter Vegetable Gratin
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, one pan
Meet the creamiest, dreamiest vegetarian bake ever created. It’s got parsnips, sweet potatoes and butternut squash, plus lots of fresh herbs, Parmesan and Gruyère.
42. Seared Scallops with Green Peas, Mint and Shallots
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
If you want to look like a pro, make sure you thoroughly dry the scallops before searing them in the skillet to ensure a gorgeous outer crust.
43. Pork Scallopini with Lemon, Capers and Radicchio
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
A 20-minute dinner = more time for watching romantic movies with your S.O. Because the pork cutlets are thin, they’ll cook quickly on the stovetop.
44. Baked Ginger and Lemon Chicken
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly
Warming ginger, zingy lemon and sweet honey make for the most delectable sticky marinade of all time. This one is ideal if you want to impress but don’t feel super confident in the kitchen.
45. Vegetable Wellington with Mushrooms and Spinach
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian, low sugar
How do we love thee, frozen puff pastry? Let us count the ways. This vegetarian version of a classic is filled with earthy mushrooms and spinach for a twist.
46. White Wine Braised Short Ribs with Buttered Mushroom Cream Sauce
- Time Commitment: 6 hours, 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, special occasion–worthy
Nothing says “I love you” like fall-apart-tender beef over herbed mashed potatoes. This slow cooker meal requires some planning ahead—since it spends 6 to 8 hours on low—but the end result is worth the effort.
47. Vegan Avocado Caesar Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <500 calories
Capers, green peppercorns and Dijon mustard give the dressing all the umami of traditional anchovies. If you don’t think salad is Valentine’s Day friendly, wait until you take a bite.
48. Flank Steak Tacos with Cucumber Salsa
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, dairy free, gluten free
Steak says fancy, tacos say casual. Give your boo the best of both worlds with these handhelds (and maybe a side of chips with fresh guac).
49. Gluten-Free Cauliflower Gnocchi Pomodoro
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, special occaison–worthy, vegetarian
Homemade pasta? In under an hour? And it’s gluten-free? It’s true, cauliflower really can do anything.
50. Easy Skillet Linguine with Trumpet Mushroom ‘Scallops’
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Trumpet mushrooms are affordable, easy to prepare and an uncanny vegetarian substitute for scallops.
51. Honey-Mustard Sheet Pan Salmon
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
If your schedule doesn’t allow for a three-course feast, look no further. Pro tip: Marinate the salmon and cut the veggies while the oven preheats to save time.
52. Cheater’s Sicilian-Style Pizza with Jalapeños and Honey
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
Pizza is our first love (shh), so naturally we’re making it on the most romantic day of the year. The key to this ingenious hack is using a large store-bought focaccia for the base.
53. Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy
This skillet delight is festive, seasonal and super hands-off. Glazing the chicken in a zingy marinade and roasting it at a high temperature for the last few minutes of cooking guarantees a crackly outer crust.
54. Antoni Porowski’s Strip Steak with Harissa Butter and Parsley Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Believe it or not, this restaurant-caliber meal only requires ten minutes of prep and ten minutes of cooking. (Oh, and the side salad will change your opinion of parsley forever.)
55. Seared Scallops with Citrus-Shallot Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Consider this recipe an ode to citrus season. Opt for navel oranges, or mix it up with grapefruit, blood oranges or cara cara oranges.
56. Skillet Roast Chicken with Schmaltzy Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
The buttermilk brine is a hack on its own, but so is this tip: Position the chicken’s legs in the back corner of your oven so the breast, thighs and drumsticks finish cooking at the same time without the breast meat drying out.
57. Cheater’s Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- Time Commitment: 8 hours, 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead
Think of this comforting classic as an edible hug. (The mashed potatoes make it twice as romantic, if you ask us.)
58. Salmon with Pesto and Blistered Tomatoes
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
Fancy enough for date night, simple enough to add to your weekly rotation. Serve it with a side of rice or atop a bed of pasta.
59. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (Shrimp in Garlic Sauce)
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, no sugar
If you always keep V-Day casual (like, order in a pizza casual), this 15-minute gem is right up your alley. Have dinner rolls on hand to soak up all the leftover lemon-garlic butter.
60. Ina Garten’s Creamy Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Thyme
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, low carb
This Contessa creation is easy enough to prepare, yet fancy enough to serve for a special occasion. Make it for your Jeffrey.
