40 Best Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for a Date Night at Home
Every good love story starts with a good meal.
Planning a dinner for two this weekend? You've come to the right place. Here, you'll find the best Valentine's Day dinner ideas for you and your pookie head—but it doesn't stop there! This list includes recipes for families, friends, or even single folks looking for a tasty meal on February 14. After all, there's nothing better than a big bowl of pasta or your favorite chicken recipe followed by a romantic movie and a decadent chocolate dessert—no matter your relationship status.
Of course, there's a few of Ree and Ladd Drummond's favorite meals like steak and potato recipes. "I love a night in with my sweetie," Ree said about her previous Valentine's Day. Looking for a restaurant-quality meal to impress your loved ones? Try the chicken Caprese, lobster bisque, or the bacon-wrapped filets drenched in melted cowboy butter. Then again, you can always cook Marry Me Salmon if you're hoping for a proposal!
You can also opt for something a little more casual, along the lines of comfort food classics like glazed meatloaf, baked ravioli, and a chicken parmesan that's made in an air fryer. Just round out the menu with Valentine's Day side dishes, share a round of Valentine's Day cocktails to wash it all down, and end the night with a Valentine's Day dessert. Your hearts (and stomachs) are sure to be full!
Marry Me Salmon
Ever heard of Marry Me Salmon? This Valentine's Day dinner feels fancy but takes less than 40 minutes and only one skillet. Sear salmon fillets until golden, then build a swoon-worthy pan sauce. The result is tender, flaky salmon in a dish that tastes restaurant-worthy.
Get Ree's Marry Me Salmon recipe.
Linguine with Clam Sauce
Does your partner love pasta? This is the meal for them! Linguine gets combined with clam juice and tossed in a homemade white wine sauce made from butter, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and heavy cream.
Get Ree's Linguine with Clam Sauce recipe.
Steak Frites Salad
Get the best of everything with this recipe: juicy cast-iron seared strip steak and crispy oven fries over bright, lemony greens. Take it over the top with a quick blender hollandaise that's buttery, silky, and ready in seconds, then finish it with pickled onions for a pop of tang.
Get Ree's Steak Frites Salad recipe.
Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken
This sheet-pan Caprese chicken turns a classic combo into an effortlessly romantic dinner. Balsamic-marinated chicken roasts alongside sweet tomatoes, then gets finished with bubbly mozzarella and a shower of fresh basil. You can pair it with arugula salad and bread.
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken recipe.
French Onion Stuffed Shells
If French onion soup is your idea of romance, these stuffed shells are the cozy, shareable upgrade. They're packed with a creamy ricotta filling mixed with caramelized onions and mushrooms, then baked under a rich, brothy cream sauce with plenty of melty gruyère and parmesan cheese. Finish it with a buttery panko topping.
Get Ree's French Onion Stuffed Shells recipe.
Sheet Pan Glazed Meatloaf
Comfort food, but make it charming! This meatloaf bakes up tender with a sweet-and-tangy glaze of brown sugar and smoky bacon, alongside roasted broccoli on the same pan—so everything's ready at once and cleanup is a breeze. Don't forget the buttery dinner rolls.
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Glazed Meatloaf recipe.
Ravioli Soup
This celebration-worthy soup starts with Italian sausage browned with carrots, celery, and onion, then turns silky with a lightly thickened broth, cheese ravioli cooked right in the pot, and a splash of heavy cream. Finish with lemon juice and plenty of parmesan (plus a dollop of pesto if you want).
Get Ree's Ravioli Soup recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
Looking for a no-stress main? Try this chicken that's seasoned with a blend of pantry spices before the air fryer does the rest. It cooks evenly, locking in moisture while giving the outside a lightly seasoned, golden finish. Flip halfway through for perfect doneness, then let it rest briefly so every bite stays tender and juicy.
Get Ree's Air Fryer Chicken Breasts recipe.
Mushroom Risotto
Stay in and make a delightful risotto for dinner. Mixed mushrooms are sautéed until golden with butter, olive oil, and thyme, then folded into arborio rice that's slowly simmered with broth and a splash of white wine until luxuriously silky. A finish of parmesan, a little heavy cream, and lemon juice brightens every bite.
Get Ree's Mushroom Risotto recipe.
Chicken Carbonara
Here's a flavorful pasta that feels fancy but comes together so fast! Glossy noodles are tossed in a rich, parmesan-forward egg-and-cream sauce, then combined with crispy bacon and juicy chicken. Add a crack of black pepper and a sprinkle of parsley for the finishing touch.
Get Ree's Chicken Carbonara recipe.
Steak au Poivre
This recipe is perfectly portioned for two people, so it's just right for date night! The classic French dish starts with a peppercorn-crusted pan-seared filet that gets smothered in a flavorful brandy sauce.
Get Ree's Steak au Poivre recipe.
Caprese Chicken
Take everything you love about Caprese salad and turn it into a hearty meal for you and your sweetheart. To do so, you'll coat chicken cutlets in fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, jarred pesto, and store-bought balsamic reduction.
Get Ree's Caprese Chicken recipe.
Steak with Onion Cream Sauce
It only takes 30 minutes of hands-on time to cook up this steak dinner. A creamy onion steak sauce is made in the same skillet, blending with all the leftover flavorful bits from the meat.
Get Ree's Steak with Onion Cream Sauce recipe.
White Lasagna
A bit more sophisticated than your typical lasagna, white lasagna is layered with thick noodles, veggies such as spinach and yellow squash, shredded mozzarella, and a creamy béchamel sauce containing pesto, parmesan, and artichoke hearts.
Get Ree's White Lasagna recipe.
Kale Caesar Salad with Steak
It's an entrée and a side, all in one. A quick olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic marinade makes the steak strips extra tasty. For the salad, homemade parmesan croutons are the star!
Get Ree's Kale Caesar Salad with Steak recipe.
Manicotti
Manicotti is similar to lasagna but feels just a little bit fancier thanks to the cheese-stuffed pasta tubes. A hearty meat sauce and lots of melty cheese make it perfect for feeding a family or even dinner for two with leftovers.
Get the Manicotti recipe.
Marry Me Chicken
This popular dish might just make your loved one drop to one knee! That's because it's full of creamy, flavorful sun-dried tomato sauce and tender chicken—plus, extra parmesan cheese.
Get Ree's Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Coconut Shrimp Curry
The warmth form the curry and the creamy sauce make this dish a favorite for a cozy night in. Add some hot sauce to really heat things up, then serve it over a bed of rice.
Get the Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.
Beef Burgundy
Red wine, beef, and mushrooms—what’s not to love? This hearty stew is a comforting dinner that's best served over a fluffy pile of mashed potatoes.
Get Ree's Beef Burgundy recipe.
Slow Cooker Bolognese
Make February 14 pasta night this year! The slow cooked meat sauce will make a big batch so you can enjoy some with your sweetie on Valentine's Day and save the rest for during the week.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Bolognese recipe.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Marry Me Chicken
Strawberry Sweet Rolls
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
