35 Date Night Dinners Easy Enough for a Weeknight
Published Feb 08, 2024
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If you plan to celebrate at home, here are 35 lovely dinners that are easy enough for a weeknight yet elegant enough for date night.
Be sure to serve my Classic Creme Brulee for Two or Avocado Chocolate Mousse for the perfect sweet ending to any of these meals!
Because Valentine’s Day falls on a weeknight this year, it may or may not be convenient for you to enjoy a dinner out with your sweetheart. My husband and I think it’s important to celebrate our relationship throughout the year, so a date on the calendar doesn’t matter to us.
These 35 lovely dinners are easy enough for a weeknight yet elegant enough for date night!
Fish and Seafood
Preparing fish and seafood at home is not as difficult as you think! Make one of these recipes for your sweetheart, and you won’t put off enjoying fish and seafood until your next restaurant visit ever again!
Mediterranean Fish and White Bean Skillet
This Mediterranean Fish and White Bean Skillet combines that sunny region's classic ingredients for the perfect healthy dinner! Flaky white fish and creamy cannellini beans are infused with bright flavor as they bake under fresh lemon slices, olives, and a Fresno chile in a white wine reduction. Best of all, this light and delicious dish comes together in just one skillet!
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Mediterranean Fish Recipe en Papillote
Fish en Papillote captures all the classic flavors of the sunny region of the Mediterranean. A combination of ingredients, including juicy tomatoes, briny olives, tangy capers, fragrant garlic, olive oil, wine and refreshing lemon, is paired with fish. So much flavor all wrapped up in parchment paper parcels for a no-muss, no-fuss, healthy dinner!
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Pistachio Crusted Fish with Lemon Dill Aioli
Pistachio Crusted Fish with Lemon Dill Aioli is an easy restaurant-quality meal that’s perfect for date night and it’s ready in 30 minutes!
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Baked Veracruz Fish (Pescado A La Veracruzana)
Baked Veracruz Fish (Pescado A La Veracruzana) is an easy, light, colorful and super-flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight or date night!
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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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Butter Basted Halibut with Lemon Braised Baby Vegetables
Butter-Basted Halibut with Lemon-Braised Baby Vegetables is perfect for a spring dinner for two! It's light, fresh and the perfect way to showcase this beautiful fish!
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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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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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Indian Spiced Sea Bass with Braised Red Lentils
Indian Spiced Sea Bass with Braised Red Lentils is a healthful way to spice up a date night dinner!
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Pomegranate and Orange Glazed Salmon with Stir-Fried Vegetables
Pomegranate and Orange Glazed Salmon with Stir-Fried Vegetables is healthful, light and easy to make! Omega-rich salmon and fresh vegetables are topped with a slightly spicy fruity glaze!
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Seared Sea Scallops with Tomato Red Onion and Balsamic Salsa
Seared Sea Scallops with Tomato, Red Onion and Balsamic Salsa is a light, elegant, restaurant-quality dish for two that's also super easy!
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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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Seared Scallops with Smoky Sweet Corn Puree
When sea scallops are done right, they’re absolutely magical—tender, buttery, and slightly sweet with that irresistible golden crust. This recipe for Seared Sea Scallops with Smoky Sweet Corn Purée is one of those simple-yet-elegant dishes that feels restaurant-worthy but is surprisingly easy to pull off at home!
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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 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 Scampi with Artichokes
Shrimp Scampi with Artichokes 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 artichokes. This Shrimp Scampi recipe is quick and elegant but also comforting and bright, making it perfect for warm-weather dinners or easy entertaining. It was a personal chef client favorite and is sure to get you rave reviews!
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Shrimp and Corn Risotto with Bacon
Creamy, comforting, and packed with summery flavor, this Shrimp and Corn Risotto with Bacon is a dish you’ll want to savor all season long. Sweet, juicy shrimp and fresh corn kernels bring a light, natural sweetness that perfectly balances the richness of creamy Arborio rice and smoky, salty bacon. Each bite offers a little taste of coastal comfort with a Southern twist!
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Chicken
These easy chicken recipes are perfect for sharing with your sweetie. Some are healthy, some are spicy, and all are delicious!
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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40 Clove Garlic Chicken
40 Clove Garlic Chicken is a classic French country chicken dish with, yes, 40 cloves of garlic! It's perfect for a weeknight dinner or your most elegant dinner party. Paired with budget-friendly chicken thighs, all that garlic mellows into buttery goodness!
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Moroccan Chicken with Jeweled Couscous
Moroccan Chicken with Jeweled Couscous is like a quick culinary escape to Morrocco! The couscous comes together quickly while the chicken bakes. The two together make a stunning presentation!
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Bruschetta Chicken
Italian-inspired grilled Bruschetta Chicken is light, fresh, healthful, and easy as summer itself. Juicy marinated, grilled chicken breasts are topped with a vibrant mix of tomatoes, basil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar, making it a perfect dish for casual summer gatherings or simple weeknight dinners.
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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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Curry Braised Chicken Thighs
Spice up the night with your loved one with this Indian-inspired dinner for two! Serve with plenty of brown basmati rice to soak up this flavorful sauce.
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Korean Braised Chicken Thighs
Korean Braised Chicken Thighs use the most flavorful and budget-friendly part of the chicken for a dish you’ll crave again and again!
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Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil
Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms and Fresh Basil is a dish with a European flair, blending the richness of a French-inspired wine sauce with the earthy flavors of wild mushrooms and the brightness of fresh basil.
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Chicken in Creamy Tomato Sauce
You'll love the simplicity and indulgence of this Chicken in Creamy Tomato Sauce–a heartwarming blend of tender chicken in a velvety tomato base enriched with cream and Parmesan cheese. It’s a dish that can effortlessly transition from a comforting weeknight dinner to an elegant offering for guests.
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Beef, Pork, and Lamb
These beef, pork, and lamb dishes are the perfect easy and delicious indulgence for date night!
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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Lighter Beef Stroganoff
Lighter Beef Stroganoff is a healthier twist on a rich and luxurious dish that has aristocratic origins. This lightened-up version, scaled for two servings, makes it perfect for today.
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Spicy Tahini Pork Medallions with Harissa Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
Spicy Tahini Pork Medallions with Harissa Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges is a super-tasty dinner for two! You’ll enjoy making this spicy, flavorful dish for that special someone and it’s also the perfect easy dinner you can make together! It’s so good, my husband practically licked his plate!
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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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Parmesan and Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops
Parmesan and Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops are easy to prepare and perfect for a spring special occasion for two.
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Pan-Seared Lamb Chops with Anchovy Butter
Here's an easy, restaurant-quality weeknight or date night dinner that's done in about 30 minutes! Seared Lamb Chops with Anchovy Butter rocks with flavor but are made from simple ingredients.
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Starters and Sides
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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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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So many delicious recipes. I’ve bookmarked three of them, and I can’t wait to try them – especially the Orange-Glazed Salmon. I feel like I can almost taste it just from your images 🙂 xo
Hi, Gemma, Thanks so very much and hope you enjoy!