30 Restaurant-Quality Recipes for Valentine’s Day at Home
Updated Feb 15, 2025, Published Feb 11, 2024
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Skip the crowded restaurants this Valentine’s Day with the limited overpriced menu and make one of these 30 Restaurant-Quality Recipes for Valentine’s Day at Home!
If you’re staying in as we are, you don’t have to miss out on a lovely, elegant dinner!
Try some fall-off-the-bone Wine-Braised Beef Short Ribs with Cauliflower Leek Puree. Or perhaps quick and easy Crab-Stuffed Chicken Breasts or seafood such as Shrimp and Corn Risotto or Seared Scallops with Spicy Bacon Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce is more your style! Top off a lovely dinner with Creme Brulee for Two or healthy Chocolate Avocado Mousse for the perfect sweet ending!
No matter what you’re looking for, here are 30 restaurant-quality recipes for appetizers and starters, beef, chicken, fish, seafood, vegetarian, soup and dessert. They’re all easy to prepare for your sweetie or along with your sweetie!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Appetizers and Starters
Get the romance started with these easy recipes! Add a simple green salad after the appetizer or go all out with Hot Bacon Dressing over spinach or this Stacked Tomato Salad.
Artichokes in Instant Pot
Don't boil away the delicate flavor of artichokes! These Instant Pot Artichokes are super easy to make and they're ready in about 30 minutes. A simple garlic butter dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment!
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Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
This authentic, elegant Mexican Shrimp Cocktail—endorsed by my lovely Mexican sister-in-law—is packed with crunchy vegetables and shrimp in a spicy, tangy tomato base that's refreshing with just the right amount of heat. Perfect for hot weather dining! Pinned over 47,000 times!
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French Onion Soup for Two
French Onion Soup is a classic that is always in season! This version is scaled perfectly for a lovely dinner for two!
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Main Course – Beef
Who doesn’t love a tender, juicy steak or fall-off-the-bone wine-braised short ribs? Get all my beef and lamb recipes at Beef and Lamb Recipes.
Beef Tenderloin Fillets with Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce
Beef Tenderloin Fillets with Spinach Cambozola Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce is entree and side dish all in one. You might call this dish seriously “over-the-top!”
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Surf and Turf – Steak au Poivre and Broiled Lobster Tail
Is there anything better than Surf and Turf? Steak au Poivre and Broiled Lobster Tail with Roasted Asparagus is the perfect, easy, elegant, romantic restaurant-quality meal you'll both love!
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Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs with Cauliflower Leek Puree
The enticing aroma in your kitchen as these beef short ribs slowly simmer in a rich, savory red wine-based sauce until they're fall-off-the-bone tender is just the delicious beginning! Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs paired with creamy Cauliflower Leek Puree is a lovely comforting meal using an economical cut that's easy yet impressive enough for guests!
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Main Course – Pork
Simple and delicious pork dishes scaled perfectly for two! Give Spicy Tahini Pork Medallions with Harissa Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges a try because they’re sure to spice up the night!
Pecan-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Mustard Sauce
Pecan-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon – Mustard Sauce is perfect for elegant entertaining! It's easy, elegant and can be prepped ahead.
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Sicilian Stuffed Pork Chops with White Wine and Caper Sauce
Sicilian Stuffed Pork Chops with White Wine and Caper Sauce is an elegant way to dress up a dinnertime staple–the pork chop!
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Main Course – Chicken
Easy, restaurant-quality chicken recipes you and your partner are sure to love!
Marry Me Chicken For Two
The classic Marry Me Chicken recipe scaled perfectly for two–the way it should be. This famous creamy chicken dish with sun-dried tomatoes is super easy to make and perfect for any date night.
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Chicken Marsala Meatballs with Baked Parmesan Polenta
Chicken Marsala Meatballs with Baked Parmesan Polenta is a fun twist on classic Chicken Marsala. It’s comforting, delicious and is sure to bring a taste of Italy to your table!
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Crab Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Crab Stuffed Chicken Breasts are elegant enough for a dinner party yet easy enough for a weeknight! A perfect date night dinner for two!
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Pesto and Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Roma Tomatoes
Pesto and Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Roma Tomatoes is easy, elegant and a delicious way to use some of your summer basil pesto and tomatoes. This makes an impressive date night dinner that looks like you fussed!
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Chicken Milanese
Chicken Milanese is a classic Italian dish that's super easy to make and comes together in about 45 minutes. A simple Cherry Tomato Salad with balsamic vinaigrette served over peppery arugula makes a bright, fresh summery side dish. All combine for a restaurant-quality combination!
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Main Course – Fish and Seafood
Here are some inspired fish and seafood recipes that are easy and delicious!
Baked Tilapia with Spinach Pecan Pesto
Baked Tilapia with Spinach – Pecan Pesto is an easy recipe that makes a great, healthy weeknight dinner that's also elegant enough to serve to guests!
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Halibut with Herb Caper Butter
Prosciutto-Wrapped Halibut with Herb – Caper Butter is an easy yet elegant, restaurant-quality dinner for two you'll both love! Lovely, mild, sustainable halibut is wrapped in salty, savory prosciutto, browned then draped in a lemony herb and caper compound butter.
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Blackened Halibut with Mango and Avocado Salsa
Try this Blackened Halibut recipe for a healthy dinner idea for two with a tropical twist! Mild, fresh halibut is coated in a homemade blackening spice mixture, seared to form a lightly charred crust, then topped with a lively mango and avocado salsa.
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Grilled Mahi Mahi with Cilantro-Ginger Pesto
Make a quick culinary escape to the tropics with this light, fresh and healthy Grilled Mahi Mahi with Cilantro-Ginger Pesto! Great for a weeknight or date night, it's ready in about 30 minutes!
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Sweet Corn Risotto with Seared Sea Scallops and Basil Salsa Verde
Sweet Corn Risotto with Seared Sea Scallops and Basil Salsa Verde is a beautiful, delicious, summery date night dinner for two! The creamy risotto pairs perfectly with the golden crust of the scallops, while the vibrant basil salsa verde adds a fresh and herbaceous finish. It's an elegant yet approachable dish sure to impress your loved one!
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Pistachio Crusted Sea Scallops with Champagne Risotto and Roasted Asparagus
Pistachio Crusted Sea Scallops with Champagne Risotto and Roasted Asparagus is a beautiful, restaurant-quality meal that's easy to prepare at home. Perfect for any private celebration for two!
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Seared Scallops with Smoky Sweet Corn Puree
Seared Scallops with Smoky Sweet Corn Puree is a wonderful way to use leftover grilled corn and enjoy an elegant dinner for two at the same time!
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Seared Sea Scallops with Spicy Bacon Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce
Seared Sea Scallops with Spicy Bacon Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce is easy and perfect for an Italian-inspired romantic dinner for two!
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Shrimp and Corn Risotto with Bacon
Shrimp and Corn Risotto with Bacon is an American twist on traditional risotto and the perfect for a casual date night dinner at home!
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Shrimp Scampi with Artichokes
If you’re craving something quick, elegant, and bursting with flavor, this Shrimp Scampi with Artichokes is the perfect dinner solution. It takes everything you love about classic scampi—garlicky butter sauce, a splash of white wine, tender shrimp—and gives it a fresh twist with the addition of briny artichokes.
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Main Course – Vegetarian
Meatless recipes that are better than any restaurant!
Healthier Eggplant Parmesan Stacks
Eggplant Parmesan Stacks are a fresher and lighter way to enjoy this Italian classic! Easy to make and can be made ahead.
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Oven Risotto with Kale Pesto and Roasted Mushrooms
Oven Risotto with Kale Pesto and Roasted Mushrooms is the easy way to make risotto! This hands-free method produces perfect risotto every time!
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Side Dishes
Super sides that are elegant and easy!
Au Gratin Potatoes for Two
A delicious and simple side dish, cheesy, creamy Au Gratin Potatoes for Two is the perfect addition to your date night dinner. Pairs beautifully with so many main courses!
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Steakhouse Creamed Spinach
If you love the creamed spinach the great American steakhouses serve, you're going to love this recipe! Made with fresh spinach, it's easy to make and can be enjoyed right out of the skillet or made ahead of time and baked later!
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Asparagus Cordon Bleu
Asparagus, prosciutto, melty cheese and a crispy breadcrumb topping combine for a side dish that's impressive and elegant enough for your finest dinner party! Best of all, Asparagus Cordon Bleu is easy and can be assembled in advance.
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Desserts
Perfect sweet endings to your lovely restaurant-quality meal!
Classic Vanilla Creme Brulee for Two
Classic Vanilla Creme Brulee for Two is the perfect sweet ending to any special meal you make at home! This sinfully rich heavenly dessert is easy to make at home and can be made well ahead of time.
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Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Sinfully rich and healthful peacefully coexist in this refined sugar-free dessert! Chocolate Avocado Mousse is so simple to prepare you won't believe it! Best of all, it's Paleo-friendly with a vegan option.
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- 20 Best Easy Crab Appetizers
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You’re killin me!!!! Everything looks so fabulous! I am going to try them all. Thanks for the inspiration!
Happy Valentines Day!
Hi, Toni! Thanks so very much! Hope you enjoy and hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
WOW, I was looking for inspiration for V-day menu ideas and Voila! Here are 25 amazing recipes. For us there are several tried and true dishes included. Now the dilemma is repeat a fave or try a new! Thanx for sharing!
Hi, Jim and thanks so very much! Hopefully, next Valentine’s Day we can all head out to our favorite restaurant again but this year is definitely going to be spent at home! Thanks again!