Going out is fun, but there are many reasons to stay in too! A date night dinner at home can be romantic and meaningful. You can customize a date at home and cook a meal that leads to a truly special experience for you and your partner. There’s also the economic factor of it all. When you make a romantic dinner from scratch, you may be able to afford dishes and ingredients you couldn’t at a fancy restaurant.
So, pull out your best dishes, light some candles and throw on that apron. Here are some date night dinner ideas to help you get started.
Romantic Dinner Recipes – Setting The Scene
There are plenty of delicious date night recipes, but let’s start by creating an atmosphere for a romantic evening.
Little Details Count For a Romantic Meal
Staying in for the night can feel like a downgrade, especially if your partner was looking forward to going out. Make things special to ensure your date night is something meaningful:
- Select a nice white or red wine to complement the meal – or a signature cocktail!
- Lay down a table cloth
- Use nice serving dishes and plates
- Light some candles
- Put on romantic music – Vinyl is an amazing choice here
- Think about plating – a little technique and garnish goes a long way
These little things can lead to a perfect evening.
The Classics: Date Night Recipes Sure to Hit
Here are a few dishes you can make that are highly associated with romantic dinners.
Filet Mignon With Garlic Butter And Rosemary
Filet mignon is just one of those foods that are deeply associated with romantic meals. Yes, they are pricy, but they often go on sale. You can cook these beautifully right on your stove top in a heavy skillet. The garlic butter with rosemary makes this extra special.
What You Need
- Two six ounce filets
- Half stick of butter
- Four or five sprigs of rosemary
- Five or six garlic cloves pealed and smashed
- Olive oil
The technique is easy, of course. Simply take your steaks and let them come to room temp. Add salt and pepper. Heat your skillet over high heat and add olive oil. Sear the steaks two to three minutes per side turning with a set of tongs. Throw in the butter, rosemary, and garlic cloves. Allow the butter to melt and the herbs to become fragrant. Baste the steaks with the mixture for three or four minutes. At this point, serve if you prefer a nice rare steak. You can also finish in a 400 to 450 oven if you prefer the meat cooked more. Just be aware that even these tender steaks will dry out if you go above medium.
Serve with a nice wine like a Napa cab or merlot. Round out the menu with a nice salad.
Seared Scallops Over Pasta
You’re gonna want to use fresh pasta for this recipe because you don’t want the scallops waiting for the pasta or vice versa. Don’t worry though, you can find this in the refrigerated section at your grocery store. The good news is that this romantic meal comes together fast, so you can get on with the rest of your date night.
What You Need
- Six diver scallops
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- lemon zest
- Capers
- Crushed garlic
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Heat a pot of salted water to a boil and have that waiting for your pasta
Heat a skillet on med high. Do not use a non-stick pan for this romantic dinner recipe. Add the scallops and cook until each scallop browns and naturally releases from the bottom of the pan. Flip the scallops and immediately add the juice and zest of a lemon, spoonful of capers, and garlic to taste. Cook for about one minute and add the heavy cream. Drop your fresh pasta and cook until done. Drain that. return to the pot and pour the scallops and sauce over and toss until coated
This is one of those date night recipes you can experiment with. This romantic meal was inspired by this offering from Jessica Gavin.
Creamy Mushroom Risotto
This date night dinner idea bridges the gap between comfort food and fancy dinner. Risotto is so comforting, but aways special. This delicious and starch comfort food does require some babysitting. For example, you have to brown the short grained rice, add a bit of wine to it, and then slowly heat it while adding stock or broth. That said, once you master the risotto technique you can use it as a base for so many recipes.
What You Need
Look, this beautiful date night dinner is best learned by watching the technique come together. Check out this video from Tasty. Be sure you use a high quality cheese for finishing.
Classic Roasted Chicken
This recipe is a classic, and sure to impress with its romantic simplicity. Even better, you can throw everything in the oven, pour a glass of wine and forget slaving over a hot stove. This delicious date night meal is a pure comfort dish.
What You Need
- One fresh chicken with giblets removed – patted dry with a paper towel inside and out
- A stick of compound butter
- Carrots, celery, and potatoes cut into 1 to 2 inch chunks
- Loaf of French bread
Preheat your oven to 425, and prepare a delicious compound butter. This is just a softened butter infused with herbs, spices, and other flavorings you like. Here are some flavor combinations to try:
- Garlic lemon and thyme
- lemon and cracked black pepper
- Roasted garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and rosemary
- Parsley garlic and salt
- Soy, miso, and brown sugar
Place the cut vegetables at the bottom of a roasting pan. This will elevate the chicken, and the drippings will flavor them as they roast. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables. Then, spread the compound butter over the chicken. Roast for 20 minutes, and then turn the heat down to 375. Roastanother 30 minutes or until the chicken thigh registers a temperature of 165 F. Let the chicken rest before you carve it. Serve with the jus and vegetables alongside a loaf of bread.
Braised Short Ribs
This is another date night dinner idea that is luxurious and pairs perfectly with wine. Even better, delicious braised short ribs are ideal for a slow cooked romantic meal that’s sure to impress.
What You Need
- 4 strips thick bacon
- 4 lbs short ribs – bone in
- 1 bay leave
- 1 large diced onion
- mushrooms
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 quart container of beef broth
- 1 cup of dry red wine or sherry
Preheat your oven to 350. Fry the bacon until crisp and then crumble it and add it to an oven proof casserole or dutch oven with a lid. Reserve the bacon grease. Meanwhile, salt and pepper the ribs and the flour. Lightly toss the ribs in the flour until they have a light dusting. Then brown them in the bacon fat on all sides. Add the beef stock and reduce until thickened. Add all of this to the casserole along with the wine/sherry, garlic, mushrooms, and bay leaf. Put on the lid and cook for 2 hours. You’ll be left with tasty, tender beef and a rich gravy. This can be served over mashed potatoes or polenta. You can also head to a nearby bakery to pick up some crusty bread to soak up that beautiful gravy. This is a flexible recipe that is open to experimenting with some different herbs. Complete your menu with whipped potatoes and asparagus. Inspired by chef John’s braised short ribs recipe.
Ratatouille
How about a date night dinner idea for vegetarians? This delicious recipe can even be made vegan if you substitute the cheese. Think you can’t get filled up with a dinner that’s plant based? This savory dish is a filling, French cuisine classic.
What You Need
- 2 pounds combined of eggplant, summer squash or zucchini
- 6 Tbsp of olive oil divided
- Salt
- 3 cloves mashed garlic
- 1.5 cups yellow onion sliced thinly
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup sliced green peppers
- Fresh parsley – minced
- 1 pound of tomatoes – firm, seeded, peeled, and juiced
If you are going to prepare this homey, comforting meal, why not follow Julia Child’s classic recipe? Peel and cut the eggplant into lengthwise slices that are about 1-inch wide, 3-inch long, and 3/8-inch thick. Scrub the summer squash and cut into piece the same size as eggplant. Put all of the vegetables into a bowl and toss with a tsp of salt. Let set for 30 minutes, rinse, and pat dry.
Heat 4 tbsp oil in a skillet. Saute the egg plant and squash, but never any more than a single layer in the pan at one time. As each batch browns, remove it to a dish.
Next, saute the onions and peppers in the same skillet. Add more oive oil if needed. These are finished when they are tender – which is about ten minutes. Add salt pepper and garlic to this. As this is happening, cut the tomatoes into strips. Add these to the top of the pepper and onions. Season again. Cover the skillet and cook for another five minutes. The tomatoes will begin to create their own juice. Turn the heat up and continue boiling the vegetables in the tomato juice until it evaporates.
Layer the tomato and pepper mixture in a stove proof casserole dish and add some parsley. Follow that with the eggplant mixture. Repeat and end with tomatoes and parsley. Simmer for about ten minutes over low. Season again if needed. Uncover and heat on low for another 15. Ensure the food doesn’t burn.
Take it out, and serve! Have some parmesan cheese at the table for an excellent, single course meal.
Easy Romantic Dinner Ideas
Date night recipes don’t have to be complex. There are easy recipes you can make for a great date night dinner, even if you’re in a hurry. Try some of these meals that are excellent choices for inexperienced chefs too.
Make Some Gourmet Burgers
There are so many things you can do to level up a basic burger. Start with the meet. Beef is great! Consider having your butcher grind some fresh for you. For example, a brisket burger is sublime! You can also switch things up. Try lamb, bison, or venison burgers! If you go with a turkey or chicken patty, consider grating in a bit of apple and onion to keep up the moisture. Even the humble black bean burger can be elevated to something indulgent.
Let’s talk about seasonings. Salt and pepper are a must. Maybe a splash of Worcestershire. Garlic is always a good option. Just keep it simple. These should highlight your amazing ingredients.
What about toppings? This is where burger night becomes something special. You could do a green chile burger with some roasted poblano peppers topped with queso quesadilla cheese, cilantro, and mayo spiced with green hot sauce. Use carmelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, and Swiss cheese for a classic mushroom and swiss burger. Try contrasting some smoked gouda with the sweetness of BBQ sauce, red onions, and bacon.
Finally, bread matters. Impress your date with some brioche buns, torta rolls, or toasted rye. Remember that nothing beats homemade french fries with some spicy seasoning.
Air Fryer Glazed Salmon With Steamed Vegetables
One of the best tips for creating a restaurant style meal for a romantic evening is to use tools that make your job easy. Air fryer glazed salmon makes for a light, tasty meal without much prep.
Start by preheating the air fryer to 400. Marinate four thawed salmon fillets in a mix of soy, maple syrup, and mirin. Pop in the airfryer for about 8 minutes. The sauce will carmelize on the fillets. While those are going, throw frozen steamed vegetables in a bowl with some butter, salt, and pepper. Microwave that for about 6 minutes. You’ll be done with everything and eating in less than 20 minutes!
Taco Stuffed Peppers
Brown your favorite ground meat and add taco seasoning with splash of water. Yes, you can use lentils or even canned black beans. Stir this into some prepared rice with a few spoonfuls of salsa or taco sauce. We love the microwave pouches of rice. Spoon this into bell pepper halves and bake at 375 for 30 minutes or the peppers are soft. You can add some shredded cheese during the last ten minutes to create a nice, melted crust.
Better Than Carryout Pizza
Create a homemade pizza that will turn your date off to basic pizza chains for life. You can create an amazing pizza with just tomato sauce, basil, and fresh mozzarella. No need to find a recipe for handmade pizza crust. You can get pizza dough just about anywhere.
Be creative with date night ideas for pizza. Switch out the traditional tomato sauce for garlic butter, alfredo, pesto, or even fig jam. Try something new and you may get a dish that outdoes any restaurant.
Best Date Night Dinners to Make Things Fun
How about some date night ideas that incorporate homemade dinners in fun and unique ways?
Have a Supper Club
How about an evening dinner with friends? With a supper club, each couple creates some of their date night recipes. Then, everyone goes from house to house to enjoy a multi-course meal. It’s a great way to socialize and share food without the pressure of fixing everything yourself.
Hold a Cooking Contest
How about some competitive fun with food? Do you and your partner each believe there’s a certain cuisine or recipe you’ve mastered? In that case, pack your knives and head to the kitchen to start your prep! You can trust one another to judge, or invite some friends to decide. They can even take part if you prefer to turn it into a party.
Skip Right to Dessert
You don’t need a four course meal to have an amazing dining experience. Sometimes, dessert is more than enough. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a dessert that requires a bit of skill:
- Chocolate souffle
- Truffles
- Fruit tart
- Homemade ice cream with wine poached pears
- Tiramisu
- Chocolate coated cherries or strawberries
If your skills aren’t so advanced, you can still have an amazing evening with an easier dessert. For example, buy some gourmet ice cream and fancy toppings to create a sundae bar. There are also assembled desserts like trifles, strawberry shortcake, or icebox cakes.
Try a Takeout Picnic
What if you aren’t culinarily-inclined? No worries! If food is your nemesis, you can still impress your date by putting in effort in other ways. It’s all in how you present things. Spread a blanket out in your favorite outdoor spot, or indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate, and set out an unforgettable picnic meal. Be sure to bring along a favorite beverage to enhance the mood.
Date Night Meals on a Budget
Is money tight? Here are some date night ideas for making beautiful meals happen on a budget:
- You can get a lovely bottle of wine for less than 15 dollars
- Still too expensive? Try freshly made lemonade or an herbal tea
- Tougher cuts like pork shoulder or chuck roast are delicious and packed with flavor when braised slowly
- Learn to bake – adding a simple side of flaky biscuits or loaf of sourdough can level up a meal for just pennies
- Plant-based meals or meals that use minimal animal products can be just as delicious on a budget
- Consider an online cooking course – you can even take one with your partner
Collect some cookbooks from thrift stores and clearance bins for inspiration. Also, YouTube is an amazing source for educational videos. Use these to get some basics down and then move onto more advanced techniques.
It’s Okay to Skip The Restaurant From Time to Time
Make no mistake, restaurants are fabulous. It’s nice to be served, and try foods you would never make at home. Still, after you pay for your meal and tips, eating out is expensive. It can also become a tired dating choice over time. By preparing a meal at home, you get to change things up, do something special for your date, and save a bit of money. Hopefully these recipes and other ideas serve as inspiration whether you are impressing a new date or doing something special for your long term relationship.
Share this post:
