Having a romantic evening with your partner on Valentine’s Day (or any day!) doesn’t need to mean going out for the night. Date night at home is not only a good move to save money but also lets the two of you spend more time together without battling the crowds. Simply light some candles, turn on some romantic music, and pull out one of these easy yet special recipes to impress the one you love.
Surf and Turf for Two
Cook to impress on date night with classic surf and turf that tastes like a high-end restaurant meal. Strip steak and seared scallops with spinach is a delicious, surprisingly simple way to say “I love you” in just 20 minutes.
Get the recipe: Surf and Turf for Two
Steak with Red Wine Pan Sauce
Calling all newbie cooks: This five-ingredient meal is on the table in just 12 minutes. The recipe is made extra simply and in no time with the help of store-bought mashed potatoes. Red wine pan sauce adds an extra special touch to pull the meal together.
Get the recipe: Steak with Red Wine Pan Sauce
Pork Chop Piccata
Classic lemon and caper piccata gets a new twist as the sauce for seared pork chops. The whole meal uses just one pan, making for less cleanup time and more time enjoying each other’s company.
Get the recipe: Pork Chop Piccata
Broiled Miso Salmon with Bok Choy
Forget the takeout! Sweet and savory Japanese flavors are easy to create at home with this miso-glazed salmon. No one will believe it came from your own kitchen.
Get the recipe: Broiled Miso Salmon with Bok Choy
Spiced Caramelized Pears
Poached with vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon and finished with mascarpone cheese, these pears are a total showstopper, yet so simple to make at home. No mascarpone? Plain whipped cream or even sweetened Greek yogurt make fine substitutes.
Get the recipe: Spiced Caramelized Pears
Chocolate Lava Cakes with Raspberries
These decadent chocolate lava cakes make the perfect dessert to finish off your date night at home, and are so much easier to make than they look. Be sure to take them out of the oven when the centers are still gooey and garnish the cakes with fresh raspberries for a pop of color.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Lava Cakes with Raspberries
Easy Marry Me Chicken
What could be more romantic than a proposal-worthy recipe? Juicy chicken thighs covered in a silky, sundried tomato sauce is a dish guaranteed to seduce anyone. Even more impressive? The recipe comes together in just 15 minutes.
Get the recipe: Easy Marry Me Chicken
Linguine with Bay Scallops and Lemon
This simple pasta recipe lets sweet bay scallops star. Zoodles add a bright green pop of colorful veggie and lighten up the meal. No need for a complex sauce; lemon juice, parmesan, and reserved pasta water do the trick and add a little zing to the meal.
Get the recipe: Linguine with Bay Scallops and Lemon
Strip Steaks with Roasted Fingerlings
Put on a romantic playlist, pour a couple of glasses of wine, then get ready to create a restaurant-worthy dinner that’s on the table in 20 minutes or less. New York strip steak starts out with a quick sear before cooking to the desired doneness in the oven while fingerling potatoes first steam in the microwave before joining asparagus to crisp up on a baking sheet.
Get the recipe: Strip Steaks with Roasted Fingerlings
Mussels Marinara
This impressive shellfish dish couldn’t be simpler. Store-bought tomato sauce, white wine, and sautéed garlic create an easy sauce for fresh mussels. Be sure to serve with slices of crusty bread so you and your partner can soak up the delicious remaining sauce after enjoying the mussels.
Get the recipe: Mussels Marinara
