Between busy schedules and, well, life, whipping up a restaurant-worthy meal at home can feel like a fantasy. Fear not! I’m here to bust the myth that date night dinners require hours of slaving over the stove. Here’s 50+ date night dinner recipes that are easy and satisfying, so that you can have fun in the kitchen together.
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This post is your one-stop shop for delicious, easy-to-make recipes that are guaranteed to impress your special someone. We’re talking globally inspired dishes, cozy comfort food classics, and vegetarian options that burst with flavor.
So, grab your favorite bottle of wine (or mocktail!), dim the lights, and get ready to create an unforgettable culinary adventure right at home. Your taste buds (and your date) will thank you!
Tips for a Romantic Evening:
- Set the table with candles and flowers.
- Play some soft music in the background.
- Dress up for the occasion.
- Most importantly, relax and enjoy each other’s company!
Easy Date Night Dinner Ideas
This Seafood Paella Recipe is served with saffron aioli and brimming with shrimp, clams, chicken & chorizo. It’s an impressive yet low-key Spanish dish that’s perfect for parties!
Paella
This Roasted Beet Risotto with Goat Cheese is a delicious dish that's perfect for Valentine's Day but craveable every day of the year!
Beet Risotto
Learn how to make the PERFECT Sous Vide Filet Mignon. With a timing chart for the perfect rare, medium, or well done steak.
Get the RECIPE
This creamy lobster ravioli sauce recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and will bring any packaged or homemade lobster ravioli to life with its fresh flavor and creamy rich texture.
Lobster Ravioli
Learn how to make a simple pan seared Steak with Red Wine Sauce with this easy recipe. This impressive dinner cooks in one skillet!
Steak with Red Wine Sauce
Shrimp Fra Diavolo features sautéed shrimp tossed in a spicy tomato sauce spiked with white wine. It's a quick & easy delicious pasta recipe perfect for the weeknight dinner table.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo
This Rack of Lamb with Herb Crust recipe is juicy, tender and delicious. Cooked in the oven to a perfect medium-rare and encrusted with parmesan cheese & fresh herbs.
This is the perfect easy roasted chicken recipe. The skin is perfectly crisp and crackly, there’s no basting, and it results in a lovely pan gravy at the finish. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner!
Easy Roasted Chicken
This Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew) recipe is made with freshly cooked seafood in a bright and aromatic tomato-wine base. It’s easy to prepare ahead of time and can be ready to eat in just 1 hour.
Cioppino
Creamy Chicken Risotto is a crowd-pleasing meal full of cozy and comforting flavors. It’s topped with crispy pan-fried chicken and elevated with lemon and mascarpone cheese. Perfect for weeknights and dinner parties!
Get the RECIPE
This easy recipe for Shrimp Piccata is delicious. Shrimp tossed in a lemon-garlic, butter sauce flecked with capers. Made in just 30-minutes!
Shrimp Piccata
This easy Lemon Pasta is deliciously tangy and creamy, plus it comes together in under 15 minutes!
Lemon Pasta
This Fideuà recipe (also known as broken pasta paella) is a Catalan seafood specialty and is perfect for your next party!
Fideua
Learn how to cook filet mignon in the air fryer in less than 20 minutes! The foolproof cooking method and temperature guide yield an effortless yet impressive steak dinner every time. Top your filets with homemade compound butter and enjoy!
Air Fryer Filet Mignon
This Shrimp Risotto has a rich seafood flavor and is deliciously creamy. It’s easy to make at home and perfect for an elegant dinner.
Shrimp Risotto
Baked Miso Salmon is an easy meal perfect for busy weeknights. Best of all, it’s baked on ONE sheet pan with flaky salmon, crispy veggies, edamame and a flavorful miso glaze.
Get the RECIPE
This easy Peppercorn Sauce for Steak is a steakhouse favorite, blending simple ingredients to create a rich, creamy, and indulgent sauce with a kick. It’s the perfect way to transform your everyday steak into something extraordinary!
Peppercorn Sauce for Steak
This one pan, 30-minute creamy sausage gnocchi recipe has flavorful Italian sausage, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese for a cozy weeknight treat that’s effortless to make.Recipe: Salt and Lavender
Creamy Sausage Gnocchi
This slow-cooked lamb ragu features melt-in-your-mouth tender pieces of lamb in a delicious savory tomato sauce, perfect for enjoying with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.Recipe: Home Cooking Collective
Slow-Braised Lamb Ragu
These Honey Butter Blackened Scallops with Herby Polenta are simple and delicious. Pan seared scallops tossed with spices, honey, and a touch of butter, then served over a creamy herb swirled polenta. Recipe: Half Baked Harvest
Honey Butter Blackened Scallops with Herby Polenta
Oh là là, we love French onion soup! Caramelized onions, a rich broth, and delightfully melty cheese atop a slice of baguette make this an all-time favorite soup recipe.Recipe: The Modern Proper
French Onion Soup
Chicken fricassee features browned chicken and mushrooms nestled in a rich and creamy sauce. We like to serve it with mashed potatoes or a fluffy grain on the side.Recipe: The Modern Proper
Chicken Fricassee
Coq au Vin, sounds fancy right? In reality, this classic French dish is a simple, one-pot wonder full of layered, rich flavors that is perfect for your next family meal or dinner party.Recipe: The Modern Proper
Coq au Vin
Lobster Bisque recipe made easy with big chunks of garlic butter lobster tails in every bite and a quick homemade stock! So smooth and creamy!Recipe: Cafe Delites
Easy Lobster Bisque
Sweet oysters baked in a delicious spicy herb butter with a crispy lemon garlic Parmesan breadcrumb topping.Recipe: Olive & Mango
Spicy Butter and Herb Baked Oysters
This marry me chicken is the perfect chicken dinner that is herby, creamy, tender, juicy, and goes perfectly with pasta or rice!Recipe: Rich and Delish
Easy Marry Me Chicken
This honey soy marinade comes together with a few simple ingredients. The rich sea bass is marinated and pan-seared until flakey.Recipe: Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Honey Soy Sea Bass
This is my absolute favorite pizza recipe to make using a quick 5-minute tomato sauce, basil, Parmesan, and the creamy goodness of burrata.Recipe: Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Burrata Pizza
Spicy Sausage Pasta with red peppers and mushrooms gives hints of tangy Dijon mustard, smoky chipotle pepper & spicy Italian sausages.Recipe: Life Around the Table
Spicy Sausage Pasta
This Hot Honey Salmon features succulent salmon glazed with a deliciously fiery hot honey sauce, making a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.Recipe: Chef Jar
Hot Honey Salmon
Stuffed Acorn Squash is a perfect Fall recipe, and it also makes a gorgeous holiday side dish. The acorn squash is stuffed with a creamy spinach mixture made with Parmesan and cream cheese. Recipe: Julia's Album
Stuffed Acorn Squash
This vegetarian chili is ultra flavorful and bursting with spices, notes of smoky chipotle, vegetables, and plenty of pinto beans.Recipe: Home Cooking Collective
Skillet Chili for Two
Inspired by beef bourguignon, this vegetarian and vegan-friendly mushroom bourguignon features rich, meaty mushrooms in a flavorful red wine gravy.Recipe: Home Cooking Collective
Mushroom Bourguignon
A British classic made mini! Individual Beef Wellington is the epitome of elegance & indulgence. Make-ahead & freezer instructions provided.Recipe: Plays Well with Butter
Individual Beef Wellington
Lasagna for Two is a small batch lasagna recipe assembled in a loaf pan with layers of pasta, sausage meat sauce, & spinach ricotta cheese.Recipe: Plays Well With Butter
Lasagna for Two (Small Batch Lasagna)
This Coconut Curry Ramen is creamy, rich, comforting, and delicious, with a perfect blend of mouthwatering textures and flavors and ready in 25 minutes. Recipe: Ahead of Thyme
Coconut Curry Ramen
Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. Recipe: Ahead of Thyme
Orange Chicken
30 Minute Thai Basil Beef Noodles: Saucy, salty, and just the right amount of spice. Finish with toasted garlicky sesame seeds…so delish!Recipe: Half Baked Harvest
30 Minute Thai Basil Beef Noodles
Crispy Sesame Ginger Chicken Tacos: A little sweet and a little spicy…inspired by tacos served up street style – but with my own twist!Recipe: Half Baked Harvest
Crispy Sesame Ginger Chicken Tacos
This Bruschetta Chicken is an easy and healthy dinner recipe with juicy chicken breasts baked in a balsamic sauce with mozzarella, parmesan, tomatoes, and basil. Recipe: The Cozy Cook
Bruschetta Chicken
Caramelized Pear and Onion Pizza combines red wine cooked pears and onions with tangy Boursin cheese and thyme.Recipe: Uncomplicated Chef
Caramelized Pear and Onion Pizza
Savory, vibrant, with an briny pop, Baked Fish in Tomato Sauce is the hearty yet light dish that will turn any weeknight into an occasion.Recipe: Uncomplicated Chef
Baked Fish in Tomato Sauce
A traditional Greek Moussaka recipe made with thick layers of eggplant in a rich tomato meat sauce topped with bechamel sauce. Recipe: Feasting At Home
Moussaka
These punchy Crab Cakes are the best. Made with fresh crab, lime zest, cilantro, jalapeño, and minimal filling, with a Red Pepper Vinaigrette.Recipe: Feasting At Home
Crab Cakes with Cilantro & Lime
Creamy whipped feta filling, layers of ripe tomatoes & crispy prosciutto wrapped up in a buttery crust. Recipe: Olive & Mango
Tomato Feta Galette With Prosciutto
These Beer Braised Lamb Shank are fall-off the bone tender, slowly braised with fresh herbs and garlic. Recipe: Olive & Mango
Braised Lamb Shanks
Marinated with a mixture of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a homemade steak seasoning, these pepper crusted portobello steaks are full of flavour and are wonderful served alongside mashed potatoes or your favorite grain.Recipe: Murielle Banackissa
Pepper Crusted Portobello Steaks
Thai Peanut Pork Tenderloin is a flavorful dinner with a creamy sauce made with coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, and peanuts.Recipe: Dinner Then Dessert
Thai Peanut Pork Tenderloin
Cheesy Sausage Manicotti is stuffed with Italian pork sausage and ricotta cheese then topped with marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese.Recipe: Dinner Then Dessert
Cheesy Sausage Manicotti
Fish tagine cooked with Moroccan chermoula, olives, and potatoes. Fish cooked with flavor-packed chermoula takes me back to Morocco.Recipe: Feast with Safiya
Fish Tagine with Chermoula Sauce
More → 50+ Valentine’s Day Desserts!
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Steak Diane for Date Night
Here's 50+ date night dinner recipes that are easy and satisfying, so that you can have fun in the kitchen together & enjoy a delicious meal! Try this Steak Diane. It's a classic recipe that tops your favorite steak with a sauce made with cream, cognac, shallots, beef stock, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
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Servings: 2 people
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 8-ounce top sirloin steaks ((or other favorite cut) )
- 1 small shallot (minced)
- 1/4 cup cognac ( or brandy)
- ½ cup beef stock
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon minced parsley
- 1 Tablespoon minced chives
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly season steaks with salt and pepper, and add to skillet; cook, about 4-5 minutes per side, until browned and cooked to desired doneness. When the steaks are done, move to a plate and tent with foil.
- Return the skillet to medium-high heat and sauté the shallots for 1-2 minutes, until softened.
- Add the cognac and cook until the cognac is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Stir in the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the cream and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in dijon mustard and Worcestershire, and then return steaks and any accumulated juices to skillet; cook, turning in sauce, until warmed through, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer steak to serving plates and stir parsley and chives into sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over steaks and serve.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Large Skillet
Nutrition
Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 761IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
