10 Romantic Valentine’s Day Recipes

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Skip the restaurants this year and cook an intimate dinner for the one you love. I’ve curated my best collection of Valentine’s Day Recipes, 5 dinners and 5 desserts, to narrow your search. You’ll also find plenty of suggestions for side dishes and drink pairings, in case you need it.

2 bowls full of Risotto with red roses and white wine next to them.


 

Nothing says “I love you” like a special meal prepared with care, and this is true no matter what stage of the relationship. Whether it’s your first date or your fiftieth anniversary, it’s a great time to celebrate each other.

Going out to eat is common on Valentine’s Day, but I find it a bit busy and impersonal. Creating a dish from the heart is so much more thoughtful and romantic! It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Ina Garten famously makes a roast chicken for her husband Jeffrey every chance she can, and that doesn’t sound like a bad tradition to me.

So whether you want to pull out all the stops with Pan-Seared Scallops and Classic Risotto or fire up the grill for some New York Strip Steaks, I hope you’ll find some inspiration to help launch Cupid’s arrow.

Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter

Tender, juicy Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter are delicate yet impressive. It’s the kind of dish you might order whenever you see it on the menu but never make at home. Luckily, working with scallops is super simple once you know how.

This recipe takes you through all the necessary information, including which scallops to buy, how to prepare them, how to cook them, and how to finish off the dish with a flourish of lemon butter sauce. It goes fast, too! You’ll have your succulent scallops plated in 20 minutes or less.

Serve the scallops with a simple side dish such as Lemon Rice Pilaf or Roasted Cauliflower topped with Roasted Almonds. To sip, consider a pink cocktail such as a Cosmopolitan or a Greyhound.

Pan-seared scallops with a lemon butter sauce on a white plate.

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Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter

These Pan-Seared Scallops are prepared using classic techniques and then paired with a simple, delicious lemon butter sauce. This deceptively-easy meal is sure to impress!
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Grilled New York Strip Steak

If your Valentine loves a good steak as much as I do, then they will love this simple, delicious Grilled New York Strip Steak. Cooking steaks is all about technique, and once you master the basics, you’ll feel more confident with whatever cut of beef you choose.

Start by letting your steaks rest at room temperature before cooking. To really let the steak shine, you need only olive oil, salt, and pepper. Depending on the size and thickness of your steaks, they should be cooked in 10 to 15 minutes, and then you just let them rest at room temperature to really lock in the juices.

Serve your steaks with one or more Compound Butters (there are 6 to choose from), Balsamic Mushrooms and Onions, an air-fryer Baked Potato, and Roasted Broccoli. If you want to start off with soup and salad, I suggest Loaded Baked Potato Soup or a crisp Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing. To sip? Maybe try a classic Manhattan or Martini.

Grilled New York strip slices on a wooden cutting board.

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Grilled New York Strip Steak

This Grilled New York Strip Steak recipe is all about the technique. I'll show you how to cook steak to allow the juicy, perfectly-seared beef to shine.
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Rotisserie Chicken

A home-cooked chicken is so simple yet delicious, both comforting and romantic at the same time. This Rotisserie Chicken recipe can easily be made in the oven or skewered for a rotisserie oven.

To mimic Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning from the store, you need just 4 pantry staples: paprika, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. Yes, that’s it! I recommend trussing your chicken for even cooking and the juiciest bird possible.

Serve your chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce, and soft, fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits. If you’re thinking about a cocktail, white wine goes well with chicken. But make it special and consider a batch of Moscato Sangria, a sweet, fruity blend that will knock her socks off.

A rotisserie chicken on a white plate with slices of lemon.

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How to Make Rotisserie Chicken

Learn how to make rotisserie chicken at home with my super simple spice rub (4 ingredients plus salt & pepper). Or, recreate that same delicious flavor for your next oven-roasted chicken! 
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Classic Risotto

To me, nothing says “romance” like a bowl of Risotto. This is a simple, traditional version flavored with onions, chicken broth, white wine, and Parmesan cheese. It’s creamy, chewy, and so delicious to eat.

Risotto has a reputation for being fussy so that only makes your Valentine’s Day dinner more impressive. Luckily, for any Risotto novices, I break down everything you need to know to find success. First, choose the right rice (short-grain, high-starch). Second, incorporate the broth in measured portions, stirring each until incorporated. That’s it! You’ll have this remarkable dish on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Risotto works well as both a main dish and a side dish, so be sure to consider your options. If you choose it as your entrée, consider serving a Valentine’s Charcuterie Board, an Italian Antipasto Salad or Caesar Salad, or some Sautéed Asparagus, on the side. An Aperol Spritz might be a great choice for sipping.

Risotto in a white bowl with a gold spoon.

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Risotto Recipe

This classic Risotto Recipe is simple yet delicious. Made with chicken broth, white wine, and Parmesan cheese, you can easily stir up a batch, whenever you're in the mood, in 30 minutes or less.
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Spaghetti and Meatballs

Maybe it’s because of Lady and the Tramp, but Spaghetti and Meatballs will always be intertwined with Valentine’s Day in my heart. It’s a cozy, comforting meal, and there’s always a chance for you to share a strand of spaghetti.

Start with tender, homemade Italian Meatballs and simmer them in a luscious spaghetti sauce, then serve over tender, chewy pasta. To lower your day-of stress, you can make the meatballs (and the sauce) in advance and freeze (thaw overnight the day before). You can also make the meatballs in your air fryer.

Round out your Italian Feast with a simple Garden Salad topped with Green Goddess Dressing (perhaps a subliminal message?), Garlic Bread, or a platter of Bruschetta. For drinks, consider a red wine such as Pinot Noir or Chianti.

A platter of spaghetti and meatballs.

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Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

This classic Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe is a hearty and comforting family dinner idea. One bite of this Italian-American dinner recipe will transport you to a Midwestern red sauce restaurant.
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Frosted Valentine Cookies

Sugar cookies are a cute way to celebrate your Valentine, and you can get super creative with the decorations. Royal Icing and sprinkles are an easy way to go, and you could even decorate them with words or imitate Sweethearts candies (those little hearts with the messages in red).

Sugar cookie dough needs to chill to roll out well, so you can start them in advance (maybe even the weekend before Valentine’s Day). If Royal Icing feels like too much, store-bought frosting is fine too.

If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up, pair these easy Frosted Valentine Cookies with an Espresso Martini.

Easy frosted valentine cookies on a cooling rack.

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Frosted Valentine Cookies

These adorable Frosted Valentine Cookies are decorated with royal icing and lots of glitz. Underneath it all is the best sugar cookie dough you’ll ever taste.
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Tiramisu

While Tiramisu is more “intermediate” than “beginner,”, I like to think this recipe is one of the easiest to understand and follow. You can make it a few days ahead of time, too, so that leaves you time and flexibility if needed.

You’ll make mascarpone custard from scratch, but it’s just sugar, eggs, and milk in a saucepan. Once the custard is chilled and your mascarpone (an Italian cheese similar to cream cheese) has softened, you’ll whip them together. Then it’s just an exercise in layering: ladyfingers brush with rum and coffee, mascarpone custard, whipped cream. Rinse and repeat, then dust with cocoa powder.

If you’d like to pair your Tiramisu with a cocktail, consider fruit-based liquors such as amaretto, brandy, and cognac. An Amaretto Sour or Sidecar Cocktail might be perfect.

A piece of tiramisu on a blue plate with a fork.

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Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a classic no-bake Italian dessert made with lady fingers, coffee, and cream. This easy version is about as luscious as it gets, and you can even make it ahead.
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Chocolate Fondue

If you’re feeling spontaneous this Valentine’s Day, Chocolate Fondue is a fun and interactive way to wind down your meal. It can be as simple or over-the-top as you want, just requiring a fondue pot, and the fondue itself is only 4 ingredients (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, heavy cream, and vanilla).

For dipping, consider fresh fruit such as strawberries, orange segments, banana slices, and raspberries. Baked goods are delicious, and you can make them yourself or buy everything. Choose one or more cake or bar desserts such as Easy Pound Cake, Brownies, Rice Krispy Treats, or Angel Food Cake. Just cut everything into small cubes. Marshmallows or little crunchy meringues are fun, too.

For dessert drinks, both fruity and chocolate drinks work here. Pirate Punch is full of the flavors of the Caribbean (and has a lovely red hue, too), while a Mudslide is even more chocolate to enjoy!

Chocolate fondue served with candy, cookies, cake, and fresh fruit.

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Chocolate Fondue

This classic Chocolate Fondue recipe is simple, delicious, and beautiful. It only takes 10 minutes, 4 ingredients, and all your favorite things to dip: fresh fruit, cake, marshmallows, all of it!
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Cherry Almond Biscotti

These crunchy Cherry Almond Biscotti are a sweet ending to any meal, especially Valentine’s Day. I love the pink color, and you can definitely upgrade the decorations to include sprinkles, candies, and chocolate drizzles.

Biscotti means “twice baked” in Italian, and that’s exactly how you make these easy cookies. First, infuse the dough with toasted almonds and maraschino cherries, then form it into short, flat loaves. Once you’ve baked the loaves, slice them into slender bars, lay them flat, and bake again. Voilá – twice baked!

These biscotti are perfect for dipping into Irish Coffee or Hot Chocolate, or serve with a cherry-infused cocktail such as a Dirty Shirley.

Cherry almond biscotti on a plate.

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Cherry Almond Biscotti

This easy Cherry Almond Biscotti is delightful dunked in coffee or enjoyed on its own. Sweet maraschino cherries and salty almonds liven up this classic Italian cookie.
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Flourless Chocolate Cake

This Flourless Chocolate Cake has a moist, fudgy crumb with a concentrated chocolate flavor. The chocolate glaze on top is more like a ganache, and it hardens to a rich, dark shine. The sweet Raspberry Coulis tastes almost tart by comparison, offering an optional (but highly recommended) contrasting flavor.

Since there is no flour in the batter, this cake gets its height from whipped egg whites. It’s another make-ahead marvel and must be made at least the night before so the glaze has time to set. One less thing to worry about on Valentine’s Day!

For an after-dinner cocktail, consider a Whiskey Sour or Brandy Old Fashioned to pair with this rich, chocolatey cake.

Flourless chocolate cake slice on a white plate.

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Flourless Chocolate Cake

This Flourless Chocolate Cake has a gorgeous chocolate glaze and makes a stunning finale to any meal. And if that’s not enough, a vibrant raspberry sauces takes this decadent chocolate dessert over the top.
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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