Celebrating Valentine’s Day with a romantic dinner at home for two is a tradition we started years ago. No hype, no hoopla, just us enjoying a day filled with soothing music, delicious food, and sweet moments.
This Romantic Dinners for Two Roundup is a collection of recipes we’ve enjoyed for Valentine’s Day or just a simple romantic dinner at home.
You’ll find Appetizers, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Drinks and Desserts to set the mood for your special evening.
Date Night Appetizers
Simple, sumptuous appetizers are a must for date night. We sometimes opt for a variety of small bite type dishes to nibble at and skip the bigger entrees altogether. Seafood, dates, figs, cheese and fresh fruit are a flirtatious combination.
Charcuterie Board Recipe
A step by step guide to building an excellent charcuterie board.
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Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Herbed Goat Cheese
Savory herbed cheese stuffed inside sweet dates and wrapped with bacon for a uniquely sweet, savory, smoky appetizer.
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp and Goat Cheese Appetizer
Herbed goat cheese stuffed shrimp, wrapped with prosciutto for a crispy, savory shrimp appetizer.
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Pecan and Maple Balsamic Candied Bacon
Thick-cut naturally cured bacon coated in maple syrup and pecans with a maple balsamic finish.
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Ricotta & Goat Cheese Flatbread with Pomegranate & Fig Balsamic
Fresh cheese and juicy pomegranate accented with rosemary and fig creates an easy and festive holiday appetizer.
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Shrimp and Prosciutto with Smoky Honey Mustard Sauce
Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp seared in a skillet or broiled until crisp and served with smoky honey mustard sauce.
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Prosciutto-Wrapped Caprese Salad Bites
All the flavors of Caprese salad – tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella – wrapped in prosciutto.
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Pear & Goat Cheese Appetizer
Fresh pear and creamy goat cheese bring a tangy-sweet balance of flavor when garnished with honey and balsamic for a simple, elegant appetizer.
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Crab Stuffed Mushrooms Appetizer
Delicate real crab mixed with cheese and lightly seasoned for stuffing button mushrooms to make a no-fail party appetizer.
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Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
This delicious classic Tomato and Basil Bruschetta is the perfect appetizer!
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Date Night Main Dishes
These dishes bring the WOW without a lot of fuss and are way easier on the budget when you make them at home instead of ordering out. Tenderloin steak, seafood, veal, lamb—every bite says, “You’re worth it.”
Scampi-Style Steak & Scallops
Tenderloin steak and scallops seared in butter then finished in subtle accents of lemon zest, white wine, garlic, and fresh basil.
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Crab Cakes with Mango-Lime Cashew Sauce
A simple, elegant choice for a Valentine dinner as a starter or entree. Panko crumbs create a crisp exterior for sweet crab with savory spices.
Crab Legs with Garlic Butter
Crab legs easily prepared in the oven in under 10 minutes.
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Grilled Thai Chili Sesame Shrimp
A sweetly tangy Thai chili sauce with just enough spice to grab some attention clings to tender, smoky grilled shrimp for a meal that comes together in under 30 minutes from scratch.
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Veal Chop Saltimbocca
Savory prosciutto brings out the best in veal resting in a lemony sauce. So good it cannot “jump in the mouth” fast enough!
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Grilled Tenderloin Steak with Shrimp Scampi
Savory grilled steak tenderloin topped with a buttery, garlic-infused scampi sauce and shrimp. Cooks in under 30 minutes for an easy, date night dinner.
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Grilled Veal Chops With Herb Cheese, Wild Mushroom Tomato Bordelaise
Savory, herbaceous mushrooms alongside a grilled veal t-bone.
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Beef Tenderloin with Aged Balsamic Reduction
Tender beef in savory aged balsamic reduction sauce.
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Grilled Lamb Loin Chops
Lamb loin chops grilled until medium-rare and served with Bearnaise sauce.
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Shrimp Scampi: Easy & Elegant
Shrimp in a garlic and butter scampi sauce with accents of lemon and basil creates a quick main dish any night of the week.
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Chicken Piccata
Fresh lemon, capers, and tender chicken team up for this classic Italian dish.
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Barramundi in Brown Butter Sauce with Almonds
Delicate skillet-seared white fish topped with a simple nutty, buttery sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
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Grilled Salmon with Tomato-Basil Butter Sauce
Grilled tomatoes and fresh basil create a compound butter for an easy sauce over tender grilled salmon.
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Date Night Side Dishes
Amazing entrees need fabulous side dishes to make dinner complete. With these versatile salads and roasted veggies we’ve got you covered.
Spinach-Strawberry Salad
A fresh Spinach Strawberry Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts is one of the easiest ways to invite the spring season inside.
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Galia Melon Salad
Sweet melon and salty cheese top a bed of salad greens with a garnish of crisp prosciutto and toasted pine nuts.
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Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing
Classic romaine lettuce dressed with a quick, 2-minute creamy Caesar dressing highlighting savory anchovy, lemon and Parmesan.
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Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad with Buffalo mozzarella, garden fresh tomatoes and basil.
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Caprese Panzanella
A delicious twist on Caprese salad made with stale bread, tomatoes, onions and basil dressed in balsamic vinaigrette.
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Citrus Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts and Orange-Dijon Dressing
A bright, beautiful salad featuring ruby grapefruit and Cara Cara oranges tossed with kale, sliced fennel, pomegranate, and candied walnuts.
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Portabella Mushrooms with Blue Cheese & Vegetable Stuffing
Meaty tasting portabellas stuffed with sauteed zucchini, red pepper, onion, celery, garlic, and savory blue cheese pair nicely with grilled or roasted meats of any kind.
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Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Fingerling potatoes dusted with rosemary and roasted on a cast iron pan for a crisp, yet slightly chewy texture to serve with dips, appetizers, or fondue.
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Roasted Asparagus with Caramelized Onions & Blue Cheese
In this recipe, caramelized onions add a delicate sweetness and balance the tangy blue cheese, while pine nuts bring an extra dimension of texture. It is a simple, yet gorgeous dish for a dinner party or dinner with a few friends on the patio.
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Sweet potatoes mashed with cream and roasted garlic.
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Roasted Vegetable Medley with Rosemary and Thyme
A medley of vegetables and mushrooms oven-roasted with herbs and crushed red pepper for a simple and tasty side dish.
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Tuscan Roasted Broccoli
Roasted broccoli tossed with sliced garlic, fresh lemon, savory Parmesan and pistachio nuts.
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Brown Butter & Hazelnut Green Beans
Al dente fresh green beans with toasted hazelnuts in brown butter with flecks of creamy goat cheese.
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Date Night Cocktails & Mocktails
We love a good bottle of wine, but we also enjoy refreshing cocktails and mocktails for celebratory sips to get the evening going.
Ginger-Blackberry Twisted Mule Cocktail
A ginger shrub brings the ginger forward with blackberry highlights mixed with the aroma of fresh mint garnish. A pleasingly bright, tangy finish refreshes on a hot summer afternoon.
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Blood Orange Mezcal Negroni
A complex and delicious sipper, with Mezcal, Campari, blood orange cordial, and fresh lime juice to rock your world!
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Classic Champagne Cocktail
A simple twist on a straight-up glass of champagne gives a cocktail feel to any celebration with a depth of flavor that elevates any sparkling wine!
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The Damiana Valentine Cocktail
If you’re looking for a cocktail to really put you in the mood, this Damiana tea and sake cocktail is a divine Valentine aphrodisiac. Cold steep your tea over night for the sweetest flavor.
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Lychee Martini
Lychee Martini is a sweet, tropical twist on the traditional martini. As you sip, close your eyes and let your imagination take you to a tropical paradise.
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Toblerone Cocktail
This indulgent cocktail may just be dessert too with its dreamy mix of creamy liqueur and chocolate flavors.
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The Aperol Spritz
A very popular cocktail in Italy, you’ll love this combination of Aperol Liquor, Prosecco, lemon or orange, and soda water.
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Spiced Maple Manhattan
This subtly spiced version of the classic Manhattan cocktail is made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and a splash of spiced maple syrup.
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The Ultimate Chocolate Martini
This Chocolate Martini is so rich and decadent you won’t be able to put it down. Made with three simple ingredients it’s the perfect way to end a meal on special occasions or treat yourself with the ultimate chocolate fix!
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Spiced Rhubarb & Orange Bellini
A delicious rhubarb and orange Bellini. Make the syrup the day before and chill in the fridge overnight.
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The Black Betty Low-Carb Paleo Blackberry & Sage Cocktail
With whiskey and hints of lime, bubbling sparkling water, plump blackberries, and earthy sage, this stevia-sweetened Black Betty is a real treat!
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Honey-Sweetened Elderflower “Champagne”
Deliciously fizzy, elderflowers, lemons, and honey create a bubbly, slightly sweet, floral lemonade-ish drink.
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Sparkling Apple Cider Ice Cream Floats (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)
Add some festive fun to your special evening when you serve these fizzy apple cocktails or mocktails.
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Pina Colada Mocktail (Virgin Coco Colada)
This mocktail is out of this world delicious for a refreshing non-alcoholic version that’s blended with all of your tropical fixings.
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Earl Grey Mocktail With Grapefruit And Honey
An Earl Grey Mocktail With Grapefruit And Honey is a perfect sipper when you don’t feel like drinking alcohol, yet want something a bit fancier than water or iced tea.
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Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail
Level up sparkling apple cider with some fresh citrus slices for a fun and easy New Years apple drink that the whole family can enjoy. This 5-minute mocktail has thin slices of citrus fruit, a sprig of rosemary, and sparkling apple cider to make a festive non-alcoholic drink
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Date Night Desserts
Fresh fruit, cakes, hand pies, and lots of chocolate options for a delicious finish to any date night dinner. We especially love chocolate truffles—a decadent bite-size dessert that satisfies.
Double Chocolate Truffles
Silky smooth chocolate truffles for a decadent bite-size Valentine’s Day dessert.
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Date Chocolate Fudge Truffles with Sea Salt
Date-sweetened chocolate truffles finished with a light sprinkle of sea salt for a taste of deep chocolate-fudge flavor.
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Cheesecake Strawberries with Chocolate Accents
Juicy, ripe strawberries dressed in cheesecake, graham cracker and chocolate create a memorable party dessert.
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Grilled Strawberry Semifreddo with Pistachios & Balsamic
Grilling strawberries brings a deep, sweet flavor to this impressive ice cream dessert. All the creaminess of ice cream without hassle of using a machine.
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Strawberry Shortcake Cake
It’s a spin on strawberry shortcake, but the cake is, well, cake—not the biscuit-like disc in the classic strawberry shortcake recipe.
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Cream Cheese Fruit Tart with Almond Crust Recipe [GF]
Luscious cream cheese filling spread over an almond crust, topped with fresh fruit and a tangy citrus glaze.
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New York-Style Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping
Rich, creamy cheesecake with a graham cracker crust topped with blueberry sauce. This luxurious cheesecake recipe has a rich, dense texture, perfect for special occasions.
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Fresh Cherry Turnovers
Fresh cherries in their own sweet juices folded into a flaky pie crust.
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Key Lime Cheesecake
This silky, citrus-kissed dessert is everything you imagine a Key Lime Cheesecake should be—tangy, dulcet, velvety, and refreshing—perfect for warm summer evenings.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Chunk Ice Cream
Decadent chocolate enhanced by a touch of espresso with an abundance of honey-sweetened, salt-kissed, peanut butter.
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Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Now that was some meal…everything looks special and delicious.
mjskit says
You two really know how to do it right on Valentine’s Day! This looks like a fabulous day of eating and romance. Don’t ever stop!
Bam's Kitchen says
I could make a whole meal just out of shrimp wrapped proscuitto bundles! Loving your new theme and website layout as it is so easy to navigate around. Really fun following you along on instagram. Wishing you a super week Judy!
Judy Purcell says
Thanks Bobbi! Yes, the appetizers could be a meal all to themselves! Thanks for stopping by and I so enjoy connecting with you on Instagram.
Cecile @ My Yellow Farmhouse says
Wow – each and every one of these recipes looks sooo impressive and soo delicious!! (I don’t have a sweetheart right now but I know my friends would adore each and every one of these!!)
Judy Purcell says
Hi Cecile, thanks for stopping by! I have a reader that is hosting Valentine’s dinner for a small group of “unattached” friends, which I love to hear. It’s a great excuse to celebrate and love people with tasty food. 🙂
John/Kitchen Riffs says
What a terrific dinner! Really well-conceived menu. Although I’m with Raymund — the appetizers (well, also the champagne and dessert) would do us. 🙂
Judy Purcell says
That is why we have to eat our way through the afternoon and evening when there is this much food — sipping wine helps with the lingering. 😉
ChgoJohn says
Now that’s the way to Celebrate Valentin’s day, a romantic dinner for two at home. It’s so much more reliable than hoping that all goes well in a crowded restaurant. Besides, a restaurant would be hard-pressed to serve a dinner as good as the one you prepared. Good for you both!
Judy Purcell says
It’s true, John, restaurants can be hit or miss on Valentine’s Day because they’re just so busy some of the little things get missed. Making dinner together at home just works for us. Even when the kids were home we’d send them downstairs to watch a movie while we dined and they were happy to do so — they didn’t want to risk seeing us kiss! Ha! Those were the days. 🙂
rsmacaalay says
What a nice dinner you had! Those appetizers alone are good enough for me.
Judy says
Funny you should mention that, we did debate even cooking the veal because we were so full, Ha! Good times.