By Courtney Minor
Published Feb 13, 2024
These romantic date night dinner ideas are perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any date night at home! Cooking dinner and having a glass of wine is my favorite way to spend time with my significant other. These romantic recipes for two are all so easy to make, but taste like they came straight from a restaurant! Truly the best date night recipes to make any time.
Romantic Meals for Date Night at Home
Making a romantic dinner at home is easier than you might think! Date night is such an important part of any relationship, especially once you’re married. Gotta keep the spark alive!
As much as I love going out to dinner (a fancy steak restaurant is my favorite), that can cost a lot of money, and it’s not easy to find the time to do that on a regular basis. To make up for that, we’ve started doing date night at home! Whether it’s once a month or once a week, cooking a nice dinner with your partner adds something extra special to a regular night in.
I especially love doing this on the typical romantic occasions, like Valentine’s Day or on our anniversary. It’s nice to go out, but holidays mean all the best restaurants are packed, and I’d prefer to have my meal well before I get hangry.
I’ve gathered all of my favorite date night dinner ideas and romantic recipes for two, so you can start regular date nights with your significant other too. It’s so fun and so easy with these delicious dishes!
Whether you prefer chicken, steak, pasta, seafood, or something else, these romantic recipes are perfect for date night at home! They’re easy to make, absolutely delicious, and will impress anyone who tries them. Just add a simple salad, an easy side dish, or your favorite appetizer to start. And of course, a glass of wine will go well with all of these date night meals!
Surf and Turf
Show-stopping Romantic Dinner Recipes
These romantic dinner ideas are as spectacular as any gourmet restaurant, but cooking them at home makes them even more special. Wow your significant other with these beautiful dishes!
- Surf and Turf : Steak and lobster is a classic combo when it comes to special dinners. This meal is surprisingly easy to make, and it’s ready in under 1 hour!
- Coq au Vin : This gourmet French dish is simple to cook for date night at home! Chicken is cooked in a delicious red wine sauce with veggies, and it’s sure to please.
- Seared Ahi Tuna : Beautifully-seared tuna steaks are coated with Dijon and sesame seeds for just the right flavor. Simple, quick, and impressive!
- 40 Clove Garlic Chicken : 40 cloves of garlic is just the right amount for a mouthwatering chicken dish. This recipe uses a Crockpot to make the chicken perfectly juicy and flavorful.
- Lobster Tails : Succulent lobster is the ideal date night dinner idea for seafood lovers. Cook them in the oven, Air Fryer, or Instant Pot, all under 20 minutes.
Restaurant Steak
Steak Dinner Ideas for Two
Nothing says “romantic” like a beautiful steak dinner! These recipes are easy to make at home, and taste just as good as a restaurant steak. Add a glass of red wine and some veggies, and your dinner is complete.
- Restaurant Steak : If you want to rival the best steak houses, this filet mignon is the way to go for an impressive date night at home!
- Rosemary Garlic Steak : This pan-seared steak is cooked with garlic, rosemary, and sherry cream sauce. It’s so juicy, creamy, and delicious!
- Skillet Steak : Black peppercorns add delicious spice to these steaks, and a brandy cream sauce makes every bite melt in your mouth!
- New York Strip Steak : This tender, marinated steak is a great date night dinner idea because it’s really so easy to make.
- Oven-Baked Steak : Melted butter and thyme creates the most tender boneless ribeye, cooked right in the oven.
- Cast Iron Steak : Tender, juicy, and with the perfect crispy crust. It takes just 15 minutes, and it’s even better than any steakhouse.
Tuscan Chicken
Date Night Chicken Ideas
Prefer chicken? These date night recipes are so simple to make, and they’re always a hit. They make such a nice dinner to share!
- Tuscan Chicken : Chicken breast are paired with a creamy Parmesan sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. This Italian dish is a wonderful date night meal and so easy!
- Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken : Chicken breasts are wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto, then cooked in the most mouth-watering sherry cream sauce, and it’s ready in 30 minutes!
- Baked Chicken Marinara : You only need 5 ingredients to make this cheesy baked chicken. Paired with spaghetti, it’s a fun recipe for weeknights too.
- Lemon Chicken : This chicken with white wine sauce has a bright lemon flavor, and pairs well with pasta or veggies.
- Crockpot Chicken Marsala : This slow cooker recipe makes the best creamy mushroom sauce for an easy chicken marsala. I especially love this recipe when the days are busy, but I still want to make date night a priority!
Lemon Asparagus Pasta
Quick and Easy Date Night Meals
Sometimes a more casual date night at home is exactly what you need. No fancy cooking, just a tasty and cozy meal that’s ready in 30 minutes.
- Lemon Asparagus Pasta : A simple dinner can still be romantic, and this creamy pasta recipe is proof! I love this dish paired with a dry white wine .
- Steak and Potatoes : This hearty meal is sure to please, and it only takes about 20 minutes to make. The herbs and garlic butter really make it tasty!
- Pesto Shrimp : This recipe is super quick and easy to make, and the pesto is delicious. It makes a great appetizer, but can be paired with pasta, rice, and veggies for a full meal.
- Cacio e Pepe : This cheese and pepper pasta has a deliciously intense flavor that’s truly irresistible. All you need is 5 ingredients and 20 minutes to prepare for dinner!
- Pepper Steak : If you usually order take out for date nights at home, then this easy recipe is for you. It’s really simple to make, and it tastes way better than delivery!
Zucchini Ravioli
Healthy Date Night Recipes
Date night can be romantic, indulgent, AND healthy. These healthy dinners are super flavorful and easy to make.
- Pesto Salmon : I love salmon for healthy meals, and the pesto and walnut topping makes it feel extra special.
- Zucchini Ravioli : Thin slices of zucchini are wrapped around a filling made with Italian sausage, cream cheese, and Italian seasoning, then baked in marinara sauce.
- Grilled Salmon with Avocado : Get out the grill and whip up this spice-rubbed salmon, with a fresh avocado salsa on top. I love making this for summer date nights on the patio!
- Healthy Chicken Curry : Curries are a great date night meal, and this lighter, homemade version means you can indulge in the fantastic flavor without ordering take out.
- Mexican Zucchini Boats : Make Mexican night a little healthier by stuffing seasoned beef, beans, veggies, and cheese into zucchini. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s so delicious!
Creamy Garlic Scallops
Romantic Seafood Dinner Recipes
Seafood is a great option for date night at home. Fish, shrimp, and other favorites are the perfect idea for a romantic dinner!
- Creamy Garlic Scallops : Scallops are the perfect seafood dish for a romantic dinner at home, and the creamy garlic sauce makes them irresistible!
- Parmesan Crusted Tilapia : Filets of tilapia are coated in a cheesy lemon pepper mixture then baked until crispy, and it only takes 20 minutes to make.
- Shrimp Fajitas : I love making fajitas for a fun night in because it turns dinner into a whole experience, and the crispy shrimp is so tasty.
- Caprese Stuffed Salmon : This beautiful salmon is stuffed with mozzarella, tomatoes, and balsamic for the most incredible flavors.
- Tuscan Salmon : I can’t get enough of this creamy sauce, so I love to pair it with flakey salmon too. This is definitely one of my favorite date night dinner ideas!
Chicken Alfredo
Pasta Ideas for Date Night at Home
Nothing is easier than making a classic pasta dinner! Add a glass of wine to these easy recipes and your date night menu will be set.
- Chicken Alfredo : Juicy chicken, creamy Alfredo, and fettuccine pasta make this creamy Italian favorite!
- Baked Feta Pasta : This viral pasta recipe has stuck around in my house because it’s so easy to make, and the combo of tangy feta and fresh tomatoes is so wonderful.
- Penne alla Vodka : Whip up this classic pasta dish in less than 30 minutes for a simple but romantic dinner recipe. The creamy tomato vodka sauce is just delish!
- Beef Bolognese : This hearty meat sauce paired with pasta is so comforting, and it tastes like you just ordered it at a nice restaurant.
- Creamy Pasta Primavera : The cream cheese Alfredo sauce is the star of this baked pasta and veggie dish. Pop it in the oven and let that breaded topping get nice and crispy!
Honey Mustard Pork Chops
More Dinner Recipes for Two
Haven’t found “the one” dinner idea yet? Here are a few more date night dinner ideas that are especially easy when cooking for two.
- Honey Mustard Pork Chops : This skillet recipe features pork chops and baby potatoes, cooked in a sweet and tangy honey mustard glaze, for an easy date night meal.
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas : The chicken and veggie filling for these fajitas is made on a sheet pan, and it’s the perfect amount for two people.
- Mongolian Beef and Broccoli : “Homemade is better than takeout” is a common mantra for my date night recipes, and this savory beef and broccoli is another great example.
- Italian Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner : Green beans, golden potatoes, carrots, peppers and Italian sausage all cook together in one sheet pan, which means cooking dinner will be a breeze!
- Parmesan Risotto : This creamy garlic and parmesan rice dish makes the perfect date night dinner recipe when paired with a glass of your favorite wine.
Easy, delicious, and romantic, all of these date dinner ideas are sure to delight whoever you’re cooking for. Remember, date night at home never has to be boring! Whatever you’re celebrating–Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or just a Friday night in–I hope you enjoy your dinner for two.
More Date Night Dinner Ideas
Find more delicious and easy recipes for a romantic night at home! Find chicken, salmon, seafood, and other tasty meals.
24 Easy Shrimp Recipes for Dinner
25 Easy Salmon Recipes
45+ Grill Recipes (Easy Summer Grilling Ideas)
28 Chicken Thigh Recipes
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
