Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas: Romance on a Plate

This Valentine’s Day, skip the reservations and let your kitchen set the mood. From vibrant salads to soul-warming soups, perfectly cooked mains, and desserts to swoon over, these menu ideas have all the ingredients for a dinner that’s equal parts elegant and irresistible. Whether you’re cooking for two or a table full of loved ones, these recipes are your ticket to a memorable celebration of love.

Salads

Beet and Candied Pecan Salad with Goat Cheese Hearts from A Perfect Feast is a beautiful start to a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. Using heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut hearts from the goat cheese for a salad that says it all.

If you’re planning on preparing a simple Valentine’s Day menu, consider this Easy Fruit Salad Recipe for Valentine’s Day from Courtney’s Sweets. It’s refreshing and perfect for the occasion with heart-shaped watermelon slices.

Soup/Stew

Chef Billy Parisi's Classic French Onion Soup Recipe is rich and velvety, with a deep caramelized sweetness from slow-cooked onions. Crowned with golden, toasted bread and bubbling melted cheese, it offers a luxurious contrast of flavors and textures in every spoonful. It’s so decadent you can serve it as the main course, but it can also be served as a starter.

Prepare a white tablecloth meal with Familystyle Food’s Classic Coq Au Vin With Red Wine. Coq au vin, a traditional French stew that means ‘rooster in wine,’ is easy to make and just as delicious the next day if you have leftovers. It pairs well with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or pappardelle.

Beef

Any meat lover will appreciate our Beef Bourguignon for Two. This stick-to-your-ribs red wine stew makes for a mouthwatering presentation with the stew atop buttermilk mashed potatoes. Beef bourguignon originated in Burgundy, France. It is one of France’s top national dishes.

Are you worried you’ll be short on time and unable to prepare a homemade Valentine’s Day meal? We got you. Savory Nothing’s Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes recipe only takes 15 minutes to prep. The cooking time is 30 minutes, and it is all done in the oven! Make sure to read the helpful ‘Ingredients notes.’

Chicken

If you think you and your main squeeze may be heading to the altar soon, this Proposal Chicken – Ultimate Roasted Chicken recipe may seal the deal! At the least, it’s a fun recipe name and a delicious meal you and your sweetheart will remember fondly. A roasted whole chicken is one of the easiest comfort meals to make. This recipe from The Kitchen Whisperer is a good one for first-time cooks!

Another easy and delicious recipe idea is Half-Baked Harvest’s Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad. Chicken gets marinated in a balsamic dressing that adds fantastic flavor. You can bake the chicken in the oven if you do not have a grill pan.

Pasta

Planning on putting pasta on the Valentine’s Day menu? Make Food Network’s Linguine with Shrimp Scampi. Seafood always raises the dinner bar for special occasions, and shrimp and pasta are a match made in heaven.

After serving your sweetie Food Network’s You Won’t Be Single For Long Vodka Cream Pasta, you might be in a committed relationship soon after dinner. The vodka sauce is creamy and rich with just a touch of heat (from the vodka). This recipe comes together fast, has rave reviews, and is a keeper, just like your Valentine.

Dessert

Daisy’s Peek-a-Boo Cake is the ultimate Valentine’s Day food surprise with a delightful red heart in the center of the cake. It’s almost too darling to eat.

Make dessert simple yet sublime with Simply Recipe’s Raspberry Cheesecakes in Jars. With an OREO cookie crust, raspberries, a cream cheese filling, and whipped cream, these individual cheesecakes are a great way to end your special dinner. If you want, swap out the raspberries for blueberries.

And don’t forget to take your special meal to the next level with Valentine’s Day décor and assorted chocolates scattered onto the table.