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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    25 Easy Meals That Will Wow Your Special Someone

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 2, 2025 · Published December 3, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    These 25 easy meals are perfect for impressing your special someone without spending hours in the kitchen. From simple pasta dishes to flavorful stir-fries, each recipe is designed to be quick and satisfying. Whether it's a cozy dinner at home or a romantic date night, these meals will surely make the occasion memorable.

    Sautéed Shrimp with Zucchini

    A bowl of shrimp with zucchini.
    Photo Credit: Delightful Plate.

    Shrimp and zucchini are combined with garlic and lemon juice to create a tasty dish. This one-pan meal is perfect for busy nights when you want something quick and satisfying.

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    Mushroom Truffle Risotto

    Mushroom Truffle Risotto
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Mushroom Truffle Risotto is a simple yet delicious dish that you can prepare in less than 40 minutes. The combination of mushrooms, white truffle oil, and white wine creates a rich flavor that elevates any meal. This dish is perfect for a special dinner and is sure to impress your loved one.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Carne Guisada

    Crock Pot Carne Guisada (Mexican Beef Stew).
    Photo Credit: Supergolden Bakes.

    This beef stew is full of rich flavors and has tender beef that is so soft it almost falls apart. It's a fantastic dish to impress someone special. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this meal is sure to bring warmth and satisfaction.

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    Marry Me Chicken Pasta

    Marry me chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish featuring sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and paprika. It's easy to whip up with just a handful of ingredients and doesn't require much effort. This meal is perfect for impressing someone special without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Chicken And Chorizo Orzo

    Creamy Chicken And Chorizo Orzo
    Photo Credit: A Tasty Kitchen.

    This simple one-pan dinner is packed with delicious flavors that are sure to impress your special someone. It's ideal for a cozy evening at home, making it easy to enjoy a nice meal together without a lot of work.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Stuffed with Feta Cheese

    Feta stuffed chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Chicken filets stuffed with Feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil offer a burst of flavor in every bite. This dish is perfect for impressing someone special. It's simple to prepare yet feels fancy, making it a great choice for a cozy dinner together.

    Get the recipe

    Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

    Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
    Photo Credit: Busy Day Dinners.

    This simple sheet pan meal combines fresh Mediterranean flavors for a delicious dinner. Each bite is packed with a tasty mix of ingredients that will surely impress your special someone.

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    French Mustard Chicken

    French chicken in a sauce with bread in it.
    Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons

    Mustard Chicken is a classic French dish that's perfect for a romantic dinner. This tasty meal adds a touch of elegance to your evening and is sure to impress your special someone. It's simple to prepare, making it a great choice for a cozy night in.

    Get the recipe

    Easy Paella

    Paella.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Paella is a simple yet tasty dish that everyone loves. Packed with saffron, white wine, shrimp, chicken, peas, and bell peppers, it's a great choice for dinner parties and also makes good leftovers.

    Get the recipe

    Asian Glazed Salmon

    A plate of Asian glazed salmon.
    Photo Credit: Delightful Plate.

    This salmon dish is simple to make and requires only a few ingredients. The salmon is cooked in a pan and finished off with a tasty honey glaze. It's a great option for a special dinner that won't take much time to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Shrimp Carbonara

    Shrimp carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Shrimp Carbonara offers a tasty take on the traditional Italian pasta dish, ready in just 10 minutes. With a rich, creamy sauce and succulent shrimp, it brings together a delightful blend of flavors without using any cream. This dish is perfect for a quick yet impressive meal that will surely impress your special someone.

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    Creamy Mushroom Tagliatelle

     Creamy Mushroom Tagliatelle in a pan with tong.
    Photo Credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    This pasta dish comes together in just 15 minutes, making it a simple yet delicious option. It's a great vegetarian meal that's perfect for a relaxed weeknight dinner or a cozy evening with someone special. With its easy preparation, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Gorgonzola Gnocchi

    Grogonzola gnocchi.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish brings together creamy, tangy, and crunchy flavors that are sure to impress. It's a delightful choice that will make your special someone feel appreciated. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this meal is both satisfying and easy to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Smoked Salmon & Spinach Pasta

    Salmon spinach pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish combines smoked salmon with a refreshing hint of lemon, making it a delightful meal to prepare. It's a great option for impressing your special someone without putting in too much work. You'll find yourself wanting to make this often, as it's both simple and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus

    Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus
    Photo Credit: Get Inspired Everyday.

    This salmon dinner is simple and can be ready in under 10 minutes. The combination of honey and Dijon mustard gives it a tasty flavor that everyone will love. It's perfect for a special meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce

    Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Duck breasts with orange sauce offer a wonderful blend of savory duck and a sweet, tangy sauce. This dish is perfect for a special date night and is sure to impress your partner. It's a delightful way to elevate your dinner experience without too much effort.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

    Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta served on a skillet.
    Photo Credit: Savory Cipolla.

    This creamy vegetarian pasta is packed with sun-dried tomato pesto, garlic, basil, and cheese, making it a delightful dish. You can easily add your favorite vegetables to make it your own. It's a simple yet impressive meal that's perfect for a special dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Chicken Pasta with Red Wine & Mushrooms

    Red wine chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy evening with someone you care about. The combination of red wine, mushrooms, and thyme creates a rich flavor that makes it a meal you'll want to enjoy more than once. It's a great way to impress without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Salmon Risotto with Leeks & Lemon

    Salmon Ristotto with Leeks & Lemon
    Photo credit: always use butter

    Salmon Risotto is a tasty dish that comes together in less than 40 minutes and doesn't require a lot of work. The fresh flavors of lemon, leeks, and parsley really shine through, making this meal a great choice for impressing someone special or simply enjoying a nice dinner at home.

    Get the recipe

    Pork Chops with Red Wine & Mushrooms

    Cast iron skillet pork chops.
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Pork chops can be a quick and tasty meal, and these are no exception. In just 25 minutes, you can have juicy chops that are cooked with garlic, mushrooms, and thyme, then simmered in red wine for a deep, rich flavor. This dish is perfect for a special dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken

    Broccoli cheese stuffed chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Salty Marshmallow.

    Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken is simple to make and turns out tender and juicy. This dish features a tasty cheesy filling that is sure to please everyone. It's a great option for a cozy dinner at home.

    Get the Recipe

    Tortellini Carbonara

    Tortellini carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This carbonara is simple to make and uses everyday ingredients that are easy to find. It's a fantastic dish to impress your special someone without much effort. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this meal brings a touch of elegance to your table.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Thighs with Grapes, Thyme & Smoked Paprika

    Roast Chicken and Grapes on a plate
    Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson.

    This dish brings together sweet grapes, smoky paprika, and savory chicken with thyme, all roasted in one pan. It's simple to prepare and perfect for any evening, whether it's just another weeknight or a special occasion. The combination of flavors creates a delightful meal that's sure to impress.

    Get the recipe

    Gnocchi with Bacon & Mushrooms

    A spoonful of bacon mushroom gnocchi.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Pan-fried gnocchi with bacon and mushrooms gives a fun twist to a classic favorite. This dish is simple to prepare and is sure to impress your special someone. With crispy gnocchi and savory bacon, it's a delightful meal that brings comfort and flavor together.

    Get the recipe

    Balsamic Chicken

    Balsamic chicken on a Dutch oven.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Balsamic chicken is a delicious choice for a quick dinner that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes. The tangy glaze gives it a nice flavor that will have you wanting more. It's perfect for a special meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      12 Dump-and-Go Recipes That Save Me Every Week
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      32 Appetizers So Simple You’ll Actually Want to Make Them
    • Slow cooker goulash.
      27 Delicious Dump-And-Cook Recipes That Will Save Your Evenings
    • Lamb ribs.
      17 Tasty Dinners You Can Set and Forget for the Easiest Nights Ever

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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