Looking for some great recipes to impress that special someone? We have you covered!
This collection of Romantic Dinner Ideas has a great assortment of dishes for Valentine’s day, anniversaries, date nights and any other special occasion.
You’ll find fancy seafood dishes, elegant pastas, succulent steaks and so much more. Whatever tastes your other half favors, you’ll find something tasty to cook here!
Go through all, and see which of these romantic meals you’ll be cooking for your loved one!
1. Steak Gorgonzola Flatbread
This Steak Gorgonzola Flatbread not only looks gorgeous, it’s super fast. It’s a fun take on pizza and is loaded with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and arugula. Very fancy, yet very easy meal for your romantic dinner.
2. Surf and Turf Shrimp and Grits
Surf and Turf Shrimp and Grits – We’ve just taken Shrimp and Grits to a whole new level… we’ve made it Surf and Turf! Now that’s some fancy comfort food! Wow your valentine when you take this to your dinner table.
3. Portuguese Mussels (Moules à la Portugaise)
These Portuguese mussels are packed with flavor. They’re look so fancy they make a great special occasion meal, but are so easy they’re perfect for any weeknight!
Check out our collection of favorite Lobster Recipes!
4. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Take your beef to a new level with these tasty pan seared garlic butter steak bites. Perfectly cooked bite sized morsels of tender steak drenched in garlicky butter. Great special occasion dish!
5. Scallop Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This Scallop Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes is one of our favorite new recipes. It’s super quick and easy, in about 20 minutes you have a restaurant quality meal on your table.
6. Mediterranean Chicken Skillet
This Mediterranean Chicken Skillet is a one skillet meal from stovetop-to oven-to table. It’s easy, healthy and tastes delicious! And you end up with juicy, tender chicken infused with fresh Med flavors coming from olives and artichokes, lemons and burst cherry tomatoes. You are in for a treat!
7. Cajun Shrimp Scampi
This Cajun shrimp scampi is so quick and easy, you can make it in a breeze on Valentine’s day. This is a meal that is enjoyed by your loved one. All you need is some crusty bread to sop up the delicious Cajun scampi sauce.
8. Firecracker Salmon
If you’re looking for a new recipe to really jazz up your salmon, this is it! It’s salty, it’s sweet, and it’s a little bit spicy! Firecracker salmon just may become one of your new go-to recipes.
9. Steak Pizzaiola
Seasoned, Seared, Simmered and Smothered… That is Steak Pizzaiola!! Try your steak the old school Italian way. It’s absolutely delicious, and every bite you will make a nod or two to heavenly skies.
10. Shrimp de Jonghe (Butter Garlic Shrimp Casserole)
Shrimp de Jonhge… This is a classic Chicago restaurant appetizer. Sizzling jumbo shrimp laced in butter, garlic and sherry, adorned with a crispy bread crumb topping. Great romantic dinner!
Check out our collection of favorite Shrimp Recipes!
11. Sicilian Pasta
This Sicilian Pasta is a 20 minute meal bursting with flavor from olives, capers, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes and great flavor enhancers!
12. Mediterranean Fish with Tapenade
Just look at this Mediterranean Fish. Who wouldn’t get impressed? Any of your favorite white fish is pan seared and topped with a tomato and olive tapenade. It’s so good!
13. Psari Plaki – Greek Baked Fish
This Greek baked fish, Psari Plaki, is a great addition to your Valentine’s recipe collection. Flaky white fish with light, fresh and vibrant Mediterranean flavors. Get some crusty warm bread and your favorite red wine. Your weekend is all set!
14. Tacos Gobernador
Tacos Gobernador, aka Governor’s Tacos!! Have you ever bit into these crazy tasty shrimp tacos? They are irresistibly delicious!
15. Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)
How does a sizzling platter of garlicky, seafoody goodness sound? Grab some crusty bread for sopping and whip up this famous Spanish tapa, Gambas al Ajillo in your very own kitchen for that romantic dinner with your other half!
16. Pasta Puttanesca
How about a restaurant quality Italian dinner for your loved one on the table in about 25 minutes? Well that’s our Pasta Puttanesca recipe! Classic romantic dinner!
17. Köttbullar (Swedish Meatballs)
These Swedish meatballs are the ultimate comfort food. Tender, perfectly cooked meat spheres smothered in the most delectable sauce. You’ll keep coming back for more!
18. Coq au Vin
This is now classic French Romantic Dinner Recipe! If you’ve never tried Coq au Vin, one bite is all it’s going to take for you to realize why it’s one of the most famous dishes out of France!
Chicken is braised into tender submission in an herb infused red wine gravy, along with veggies and aromatics for good measure.
19. Baked Salmon with Mango Salsa
This easy recipe features spicy-limey salmon which blends perfectly with the sweetness of fresh mango salsa. It’s a tropical delight!
20. Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Shrimp Fra Diavolo, meaning “Brother Devil” in Italian earns its name for the heat level in the dish.. These sautéed shrimp are tossed in tomato sauce spiked with red chili pepper flakes. This one is for the spice lovers, for the rest there is always shrimp scampi…
21. Flank Steak Fajitas
These flank steak fajitas are the perfect easy option when that Mexican food craving hits. Perfectly marinated, melt in your mouth tender beef strips with colorful peppers. You’re in for a fun meal with this one!
Check out our collection of favorite Steak Recipes!
22. Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta)
This classic Greek dish has some incredible flavors with plump shrimp in a garlicky, savory tomato sauce and finished off with salty feta cheese! Cook up this great dish for anniversaries or Valentine’s day, it’s sure to impress!
23. Chicken Provençal (Poulet à la Provençal)
Take a peek into my pot. Beautiful golden brown chicken braised in white wine, nestled between eye catching olives, plump cherry tomatoes, oh-so French shallots, tangy capers and plenty of garlic and herbs. Life can’t be more beautiful!
24. Crockpot Tuscan Chicken
This crock pot Tuscan chicken is drenched in a creamy sauce loaded with great Mediterranean flavors. It’s one easy and delicious romantic dinner idea!
25. Pasta Primavera with Shrimp
This Pasta Primavera recipe is a perfect dinner when you’re looking for something light, yet satisfying for special romantic night.
Your favorite pasta is tossed in a delicate cream sauce with plenty of fresh veggies. Today, we’re taking it up just a notch with the addition of shrimp.
26. Moqueca (Brazilian Seafood Stew)
Now, this one is special… Moqueca is a marvelously tasty Brazilian seafood stew, with a decadent coconut milk base.
Simple ingredients like tomatoes, peppers and pantry staple seasonings, along with a squeeze of lime at the end, all come together to create magic. Impress your loved ones with this great seafood romantic dinner recipe.
27. Smoked Salmon Flatbread
This smoked salmon flatbread is going to be one of the fastest dishes you’ve ever made. Quickly bake your flatbread for about five minutes, then assemble. That’s it!
It has a great combination of flavors: cold smoked salmon, dill infused cream cheese, capers, fresh tomatoes, arugula and a nice squeeze of lemon juice. It’s like your bagels and lox taken to the next level!
28. Spanish Clams with Chorizo
This Spanish tapas recipe is divine! Succulent fresh clams are braised with cannellini beans, chorizo sausage and plenty of fresh herbs. Buen provecho!
Check out our collection of favorite Seafood Recipes!
29. Steak Tacos
If you love tacos as much as me, this recipe is for you! Tender, juicy steak piled high in tortillas with all of your favorite toppings. What could be better than that?
30. Clam Linguine (Linguine alle Vongole)
Clam Linguine, or Linguine alle Vongole, is an elegant restaurant quality dish. But don’t be intimidated, it’s super easy to make.
It’s a gorgeous, yet light, pasta in a lemony, garlicky wine sauce. This is one of those dishes that is easy enough for any weeknight, yet impressive enough for any romantic dinner night meal.
31. Pesto Bruschetta Chicken
This gorgeous dish highlights two summer favorites: fresh basil and vine ripe tomatoes! It’s a great easy romantic dinner. Only 10 minutes of prep time and then your trusty old oven does the rest!
32. Maple Pecan Salmon
Sweet, salty, buttery, crunchy and just a tad bit spicy. This maple pecan salmon is a great for a quick weeknight dinner, but can also impress your loved one!
33. Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
I love tacos. Do you love tacos? I think everyone does! These shrimp tacos are a great addition to your cookbook, combining chili lime flavors with cool sweet mango salsa.
34. Blackened (AKA Cajun) Shrimp and Grits
Shrimp and grits is a Lowcountry southern classic. This recipe featured Cajun spiced shrimp atop a bed of creamy cheese grits. Oh, there’s bacon!
35. Caribbean Coconut Mussels
Creamy… coconutty… seefoody… Extra yummy Caribbean Coconut Mussels. Easy, delicious, and sure to please any crowd! Try this delicious Caribbean style curry, but be warned, you will get hooked!
36. Gorgonzola Portobello Steak Skillet
This Gorgonzola Portobello Steak Skillet is sure to become a new family favorite. It’s a super easy restaurant quality meal that is an absolute flavor bomb!
37. Baked Sockeye Salmon
This easy Baked Sockeye Salmon recipe is perfect for a quick and easy romantic dinner idea.
It’s brushed with a honey mustard glaze that perfectly compliments the natural flavor of the fish, then baked in foil to keep the flesh moist, and for easy cleanup.
38. Mediterranean Braised Chicken with Apricots
This gorgeous Mediterranean braised chicken is your coq au vin taken to the next level! Baking it in oven creates so many layers of flavor, yet so easy. This one is great for Valentine’s and anniversaries!
39. Greek Meatballs (Soutzoukakia)
These football shaped Greek style meatballs, Soutzoukakia, are smothered in a cinnamon-y wine enhanced tomato sauce laced with cumin. You’re gonna keep coming back to this one!
40. Pasta alla Norma
Pasta alla Norma is a light and flavorful Sicilian pasta dish. It has plenty of veggie power from tomatoes and eggplants. This is one of our favorite romantic dinners!
So there you go, forty great romantic dinner ideas for anniversaries, Valentine’s day, date nights and other special occasions. Don’t they all look impressive? Which will you try on your special someone first?
The 40 BEST Romantic Dinner Mains
This great collection of Romantic Dinner Ideas is perfect for Valentine's day, anniversaries, date nights and other special occasions. We love this super easy scallop pasta:
Ingredients
- 6oz pasta
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1lb scallops
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 10oz cherry tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package to your desired tenderness, and drain. While pasta is cooking, continue with remaining steps.
- Pat scallops dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Once the pan is hot, sear the scallops for 2-3 minutes, flip and sear the other side 1-2 more minutes. Remove the scallops to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and add in garlic and sauté for about a minute.
- Pour in wine and simmer for a few minutes to reduce it.
- Add cherry tomatoes and parsley. Cook for a couple of minutes, until the tomatoes start to soften.
- Toss in pasta and scallops, season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!
Check out these other great recipe collections!
Dinner Ideas for Two
Scallop Recipes
Fish Recipes
Crab Recipes
Oyster Recipes
Spring Dinner Ideas
Snapper Recipes
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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