20 Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas

Baked Stuffed Lobster — The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Want to make it a Valentine's Day your sweetheart will always remember? This February 14th, cook up some cozy romance at home with our Valentine's Day dinner ideas. From flirty cocktails and classic dishes like steak and lobster, to an indulgent chocolate mousse, this menu is chock-full of delicious recipes that give you plenty of ways to set the mood, from starters to dessert. The rest of the evening is up to you!

01 of 20

Flirtini Cocktail

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Get a little flirtatious with this pineapple-flavored version of a sparkling Cosmopolitan. Mix it up just before serving so the Champagne doesn't lose its bubbles and serve in a martini glass garnished with a maraschino cherry.
02 of 20

Champagne and Chambord

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

The name Champagne and Chambord clearly states what you will find in this cocktail recipe. The black raspberry liqueur Chambord adds just a touch of rich, fruity sweetness that still allows you to appreciate the wine. It is a fabulous drink for romantic dinners or any occasion that requires a bit of bubbly to add to the celebration.
03 of 20

Easy Chocolate Martini

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

There are many versions of a chocolate-flavored martini and most have two things in common: vodka and chocolate. This is one of the easiest recipes because it simply mixes vodka with your favorite chocolate liqueur. It's a perfect dessert drink to serve for date night and will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
04 of 20

Butter and Herb Baked Oysters

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Begin your romantic meal proper with warm, baked oysters flavored with a buttery herb crumb topping. Lemon juice adds zing, a little butter adds lushness, and panko breadcrumbs make the topping extra crunchy.

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05 of 20

Citrus Salad

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

This elegant citrus salad is colorful, bright, and delicious, making it the perfect salad to kick off a romantic dinner for two. Deep red blood oranges, red or yellow grapefruit, and navel oranges give this salad its striking color and flavor, with shaved fennel, radicchio, and mint leaves rounding out the flavors.
06 of 20

Lobster Bisque

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Brimming with chunks of tender lobster meat, our luscious lobster bisque is an elegant starter for your romantic dinner. The velvety and creamy soup base boasts a fantastically complex seafood flavor, but comes together with mostly staple pantry ingredients. Dry sherry gives it a unique lift, and a little heavy cream adds richness.
07 of 20

Roasted Bone Marrow With Parsley Salad

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Roasted bone marrow is a date night special occasion dish, making it perfect for Valentine's Day. It's actually not that hard to make and is a decadent first course. You can serve it with grilled bread and a fresh parsley salad.
08 of 20

Easy Roasted Asparagus

The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

With a legendary reputation as an aphrodisiac food, asparagus is an easy choice for a romantic dinner for two. This simple roasted vegetable dish goes from fridge to table in a scant 20 minutes, and needs just a few basic ingredients, so it won't slow down your Valentine's dinner prep.

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09 of 20

Spicy Indian Bombay Potatoes With Chiles

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Packing plenty of stimulating heat, spicy Indian Bombay potatoes are a great side dish for a hearty supper. While the flavors are out of this world, the dish is made with common pantry ingredients, and comes together in just 20 minutes. Cook it up to 3 days ahead, for reheating on the day.
10 of 20

Creamy Sweet Potato Risotto

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

This risotto is a fabulous savory combination of sweet potatoes, pecans, and Parmesan cheese, and you'll make this dish again and again. Serve the risotto as a side dish or serve as a main dish or lunch with a chopped salad and crusty bread.
11 of 20

Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

The tangy, deep flavor of aged balsamic vinegar is a wonderful way to enhance a simple side dish like roasted vegetables. The vinegar helps caramelize the potatoes, carrots, and red onions, creating a subtle sweetness and dark-colored exterior, and green beans add a bright finish to the dish.
12 of 20

Meaty One-Pot Penne Alla Vodka

The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

Penne alla vodka is a restaurant-worthy dish that is sneakily easily to reproduce at home. Our hearty version loaded with browned, seasoned ground beef and crushed tomatoes is creamy and indulgent, with a little vodka kick. Topped with Parmesan cheese for a salty finish, this special-tasting pasta will satisfy your date's appetite.

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13 of 20

Chinese Stir-Fried Beef With Onions

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

This Chinese stir-fried beef with onions gets its distinctive flavor from two types of onions—yellow onions and green onions—for a satisfying dish. The perfectly flavored beef and onions may be served with hot cooked rice or noodles. Add a simple Thai cucumber salad or side vegetable for a well-rounded meal.
14 of 20

Baked Stuffed Lobster

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Want a restaurant-worthy dish you can serve at home? Look no further than this showstopping stuffed lobster. A whole crustacean is split open and filled with a cheesy, crumbly cracker mixture that's baked to a beautiful golden brown. Serve with plenty of butter for dipping the tender seasoned lobster meat and you're set.
15 of 20

Japanese Simmered Fish (Sakana no Nitsuke)

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Sakana no nitsuke is a Japanese term that refers to fish (sakana) simmered (nitsuke) in a sauce. Some of the more common types of fish that are used in this very traditional and rustic dish include rockfish (mebaru), flounder (karei), mackerel (saba), and black cod (gindara). However, almost any type of fish with white flesh may be used in this recipe.
16 of 20

Authentic Eggplant Parmesan (Parmigiana Di Melanzane)

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Eggplant Parmesan (Parmigiana di melanzane), is a true classic Italian dish that has become immensely popular around the world. The Italian-American version is usually breaded before frying, but the traditional Italian version is not. As a result, it's not only lighter, faster, and easier to prepare, but you can really taste the rich eggplant flavor.

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17 of 20

Chocolate Mousse

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Chocolate mousse is the quintessential romantic French dessert. It is a fabulous treat to offer at the end of a romantic dinner because it can be fully prepped in advance, and stashed in the fridge until ready to enjoy. Our classic recipe for light and fluffy chocolate mousse is best made with semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, and includes an optional glug of booze for extra-special flavor.
18 of 20

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Elaine Lemm

What could be more romantic than feeding each other juicy chocolate-dipped strawberries at the end of your Valentine's Day meal? This elegant dessert can be made earlier in the day and refrigerated, so there's nothing to do but enjoy them when you're ready.
19 of 20

Bananas Flambé

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Bring your date into the kitchen, dim the lights, and put on an impressive show with this French Caribbean-style dessert. Our easy and special recipe for bananas flambé literally has you light a fire in the pan, to caramelize rum-soaked and sugared bananas. It's the perfect ending to a romantic dinner for two, and goes great with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
20 of 20

Affogato

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

When a burst of energy is desirable after your meal, look no further than this elegant Italian dessert. Affogato is made with strongly brewed hot coffee or espresso, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato, combining them into a creamy, drinkable dessert. Serve it in the traditional chilled glass mug for a special, caffeinated finish to your romantic meal.

Strawberry Vodka Champagne Cocktail