10 Romantic Valentine’s Day Recipes

Skip the restaurants this year and cook an intimate dinner for the one you love. I’ve curated my best collection of Valentine’s Day Recipes, 5 dinners and 5 desserts, to narrow your search. You’ll also find plenty of suggestions for side dishes and drink pairings, in case you need it.

 

Nothing says “I love you” like a special meal prepared with care, and this is true no matter what stage of the relationship. Whether it’s your first date or your fiftieth anniversary, it’s a great time to celebrate each other.

Going out to eat is common on Valentine’s Day, but I find it a bit busy and impersonal. Creating a dish from the heart is so much more thoughtful and romantic! It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Ina Garten famously makes a roast chicken for her husband Jeffrey every chance she can, and that doesn’t sound like a bad tradition to me.

So whether you want to pull out all the stops with Pan-Seared Scallops and Classic Risotto or fire up the grill for some New York Strip Steaks, I hope you’ll find some inspiration to help launch Cupid’s arrow. I’ve also suggested my favorite sides and drink pairings to help you round out your romantic menu.

1. Pan-Seared Scallops

Tender, juicy Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter are delicate yet impressive. It’s the kind of dish you might order whenever you see it on the menu but never make at home. Luckily, working with scallops is super simple once you know how.

This recipe takes you through all the necessary information, including which scallops to buy, how to prepare them, how to cook them, and how to finish off the dish with a flourish of lemon butter sauce. It goes fast, too! You’ll have your succulent scallops plated in 20 minutes or less.

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2. Grilled Rib Eye

If your Valentine loves a good steak as much as I do, then they will love this simple, delicious Grilled Rib Eye. Cooking steaks is all about technique, and once you master the basics, you’ll feel more confident with whatever cut of beef you choose.

Start by letting your steaks rest at room temperature before cooking. To really let the steak shine, you need only olive oil, salt, and pepper. Depending on the size and thickness of your steaks, they should be cooked in 10 to 15 minutes, and then you just let them rest at room temperature to really lock in the juices.

For extra flavor, baste your steak with butter and fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme, or make a delicious compound butter to melt over the top.

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3. Rotisserie Chicken

A home-cooked chicken is so simple yet delicious, both comforting and romantic at the same time. This Rotisserie Chicken recipe can easily be made in the oven or skewered for a rotisserie oven.

To mimic Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning from the store, you need just 4 pantry staples: paprika, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. I recommend trussing your chicken for even cooking and the juiciest bird possible.

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4. Classic Risotto

To me, nothing says “romance” like a bowl of Risotto. This is a simple, traditional version flavored with onions, chicken broth, white wine, and Parmesan cheese. It’s creamy, chewy, and so delicious to eat.

Risotto has a reputation for being fussy so that only makes your Valentine’s Day dinner more impressive. Luckily, for any Risotto novices, I break down everything you need to know to find success. First, choose the right rice (short-grain, high-starch). Second, incorporate the broth in measured portions, stirring each until incorporated. That’s it! You’ll have this remarkable dish on the table in 30 minutes or less.

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5. Spaghetti and Meatballs

Maybe it’s because of Lady and the Tramp, but Spaghetti and Meatballs will always be intertwined with Valentine’s Day in my heart. It’s a cozy, comforting meal, and there’s always a chance for you to share a strand of spaghetti.

Start with tender, homemade Italian Meatballs and simmer them in a luscious spaghetti sauce, then serve over tender, chewy pasta. To lower your day-of stress, you can make the meatballs (and the sauce) in advance and freeze (thaw overnight the day before). You can also make the meatballs in your air fryer.

Drink Recipes

Red Sangria Recipe

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6. Frosted Valentine Cookies

Sugar cookies are a cute way to celebrate your Valentine, and you can get super creative with the decorations. Royal Icing and sprinkles are an easy way to go, and you could even decorate them with words or imitate Sweethearts candies (those little hearts with the messages in red).

Sugar cookie dough needs to chill to roll out well, so you can start them in advance (maybe even the weekend before Valentine’s Day). If Royal Icing feels like too much, store-bought frosting is fine too.

Cocktail Recipes

Espresso Martini

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7. Tiramisu

While Tiramisu is more “intermediate” than “beginner,”, I like to think this recipe is one of the easiest to understand and follow. You can make it a few days ahead of time, too, so that leaves you time and flexibility if needed.

You’ll make mascarpone custard from scratch, but it’s just sugar, eggs, and milk in a saucepan. Once the custard is chilled and your mascarpone (an Italian cheese similar to cream cheese) has softened, you’ll whip them together. Then it’s just an exercise in layering: ladyfingers brush with rum and coffee, mascarpone custard, whipped cream. Rinse and repeat, then dust with cocoa powder.

If you’d like to pair your Tiramisu with a cocktail, consider fruit-based liquors such as amaretto, brandy, and cognac. An Amaretto Sour or Sidecar Cocktail might be perfect.

Cocktail Recipes

Amaretto Sour Recipe

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8. Chocolate Fondue

If you’re feeling spontaneous this Valentine’s Day, Chocolate Fondue is a fun and interactive way to wind down your meal. It can be as simple or over-the-top as you want, just requiring a fondue pot, and the fondue itself is only 4 ingredients (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, heavy cream, and vanilla).

For dipping, consider fresh fruit such as strawberries, orange segments, banana slices, and raspberries. Baked goods are delicious, and you can make them yourself or buy everything. Choose one or more cake or bar desserts such as Easy Pound Cake, Brownies, Rice Krispie Treats, or Angel Food Cake. Just cut everything into small cubes. Marshmallows or little crunchy meringues are fun, too.

Cocktail Recipes

Champagne Cocktail

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9. Cherry Almond Biscotti

These crunchy Cherry Almond Biscotti are a sweet ending to any meal, especially Valentine’s Day. I love the pink color, and you can definitely upgrade the decorations to include sprinkles, candies, and chocolate drizzles.

Biscotti means “twice baked” in Italian, and that’s exactly how you make these easy cookies. First, infuse the dough with toasted almonds and maraschino cherries, then form it into short, flat loaves. Once you’ve baked the loaves, slice them into slender bars, lay them flat, and bake again. Voilá – twice baked!

These biscotti are perfect for dipping into Irish Coffee or Hot Chocolate, or serve with a cherry-infused cocktail such as a Dirty Shirley.

Drink Recipes

Hot Chocolate Recipe

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10. Flourless Chocolate Cake

This Flourless Chocolate Cake has a moist, fudgy crumb with a concentrated chocolate flavor. The chocolate glaze on top is more like a ganache, and it hardens to a rich, dark shine. The sweet Raspberry Coulis tastes almost tart by comparison, offering an optional (but highly recommended) contrasting flavor.

Since there is no flour in the batter, this cake gets its height from whipped egg whites. It’s another make-ahead marvel and must be made at least the night before so the glaze has time to set. One less thing to worry about on Valentine’s Day!

Cocktail Recipes

Brandy Old Fashioned

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Bonus Valentine’s Day Recipes

Party

Valentine’s Charcuterie Board

Appetizer Recipes

Cheese Fondue

Cocktail Recipes

Cosmopolitan

Drink Recipes

New Mother Mocktail (Juice Blend)

Dinner Recipes

Filet Mignon Steak Recipe

Fish and Seafood Recipes

Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

Fish and Seafood Recipes

Cajun Shrimp

Stews and Soups

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup (Copycat)