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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    26 Elegant Dishes to Set the Mood This Valentine's Day

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on February 14, 2025, updated February 11, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion to impress your loved one with a beautifully prepared meal. From elegant duck and steak dinners to stunning soups and pastas, these 26 dishes will create a romantic atmosphere and make your dinner unforgettable. Whether you prefer classic flavors or something a bit more adventurous, there's something here to suit every palate.

    Pan Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce

    Pan Seared Duck Breast Recipe with Cherry Sauce.
    Photo Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    This pan seared duck breast with a simple cherry sauce is a lovely dish that can be ready in just 30 minutes. It's perfect for a romantic dinner for two or can easily be made for a family gathering.

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    Cowboy Ribeye Steak

    Cowboy Ribeye Steak (Tomahawk Steak).
    Photo Credit: The Feathered Nester.

    This Cowboy Ribeye, also known as Tomahawk steak, is a great choice for a special dinner or celebration. It's a delicious and impressive dish that will make your meal memorable.

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    Salmon Risotto with Leeks & Lemon

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

    This Salmon Risotto is a flavorful dish that you can whip up in under 40 minutes without needing to stir constantly. It's a great option for dinner parties or a quick weeknight meal, featuring lemon, leeks, and parsley for a touch of elegance.

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    Chicken Stuffed with Feta Cheese

    Feta stuffed chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Chicken filets topped with Feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil create a delicious dish perfect for a special dinner. This is a great option for celebrating Valentine's Day.

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    Marry Me Chicken Pasta

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

    This creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta is ready in just 20 minutes and is sure to impress everyone at the table. With a tasty mix of crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs, it’s a simple yet delicious meal for a special night.

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    Shrimp Asparagus Risotto

    A spoonful of shrimp risotto.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This creamy risotto is packed with shrimp and asparagus, bringing together the fresh flavors of lemon, basil, and parmesan. It's a quick and easy dinner that can be ready in just 40 minutes, perfect for a special occasion.

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    Creamy Smothered Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts

    Creamy Smothered Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts.
    Photo Credit: Nkechi Ajaeroh.

    This creamy garlic butter chicken is packed with flavor and keeps the chicken juicy and tender. With just a few ingredients, it’s a great choice for special occasions and family meals.

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    Slow Cooker Mushroom Risotto

    Mushroom risotto cooked in a slow cooker.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This creamy mushroom risotto is made right in your slow cooker, so there's no need to brown anything in a pan. It's a comforting dish filled with rich, buttery mushrooms and tons of flavor, all without much work.

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    Pork Chops with Red Wine & Mushrooms

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

    These Cast Iron Pork Chops are quick to prepare and full of flavor, perfect for a special dinner. With garlic, mushrooms, and thyme, they are seared and simmered in red wine, resulting in incredibly juicy chops.

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    Turkey Meatballs and Roasted Tomatoes with Celery-Root Purée

    Turkey Meatballs and Roasted Tomatoes with Celery-Root Purée.
    Photo Credit: Straight to the Hips, Baby.

    Baked turkey meatballs are juicy and packed with flavor, served over a smooth celery-root puree instead of the usual corn polenta. Topped with a sweet and tangy sauce made from slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, and balsamic vinegar, this dish is finished with fresh basil and parmesan for a bright touch.

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    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.

    This tortellini casserole is any cheese and pasta lover's dream. With two types of cheese, a nice tang from Gorgonzola, and perfect crunch from walnuts. All done in under 40 minutes, this is as easy as it gets!

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    Horseradish Crusted Beef

    Horseradish Crusted Beef.
    Photo Credit: Binky's Culinary Carnival.

    The Horseradish Crusted Beef Filet is incredibly tender thanks to the butter that keeps it moist. It's a simple yet fancy dish that's great for a special dinner or a romantic evening.

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    Firecracker Salmon

    Firecracker salmon on a teal plate.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Firecracker Salmon is a quick dish that you can whip up in just 15 minutes, featuring a spicy and tangy sauce that pairs perfectly with the salmon. This is a great dinner option that will impress everyone at your table.

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    Duck With Orange Sauce

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

    Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce is a fantastic dish that combines the rich flavor of duck with a sweet and tangy orange sauce. This is a great option for a special dinner, and it's surprisingly simple to prepare ahead of time.

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    Porcini Mushroom Risotto

    Porcini Mushroom Risotto.
    Photo credit: Tried & True Recipes.

    This risotto is packed with rich porcini mushrooms, creating a creamy dish that's sure to impress. It's a great choice for a special dinner on Valentine's Day.

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    Bacon Wrapped Cod with Thyme and Lemon

    Bacon Wrapped Cod with Thyme and Lemon.
    Photo Credit: Krumpli.

    Bacon wrapped cod loin is a simple yet impressive dish that works great for a special dinner. The fish is flaky and seasoned with black pepper, thyme, and lemon, making it a tasty choice for a romantic evening.

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    Buttery Baked Salmon with Broccolini

    Buttery Baked Salmon with Broccolini.
    Photo Credit: My Chef's Apron.

    This baked salmon is simple to prepare and packed with flavor, making it a great choice for dinner. It's a healthy option that won't take much time to get on the table.

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    Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts

    Stuffed chicken breast on a black skillet.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    These chicken breasts are packed with delicious Mediterranean flavors. They feature sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and feta cheese for a tasty meal.

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    Mushroom Truffle Risotto

    Mushroom Truffle Risotto
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    This no-stir Mushroom Truffle Risotto is packed with flavor from mushrooms, white truffle oil, and white wine, and you can whip it up in under 40 minutes. It's a fantastic dish for a dinner party that will leave your guests impressed, so keep the easy preparation a secret!

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    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

    Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a quick and tasty dish that combines juicy shrimp with perfectly cooked pasta in a rich garlic butter sauce. This is a great meal for a special dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Bacon Wrapped Salmon with Garlic Butter

    Bacon wrapped salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Salmon filets are topped with garlic butter and wrapped in bacon for a tasty dish everyone will enjoy. This is a great option for a special dinner on Valentine's Day.

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    Instant Pot French Onion Soup

    Instant Pot French Onion Soup.
    Photo credit: The Foreign Fork.

    This new take on French Onion Soup will make the process quick and easy! This recipe is made in the Instant Pot and is topped with French Baguette and melty gruyere cheese.

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    One Pot French Onion Pasta

    One Pot French Onion Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Cinnamon Jar.

    This French onion pasta recipe is a delicious twist on a classic dish. It's perfect for a special Valentine's Day dinner.

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    Healthy Beet Galette with Goat Cheese

    Healthy Beet Galette with Goat Cheese.
    Photo Credit; Happy Kitchen.

    This beet galette with goat cheese and orange mustard vinaigrette is a great vegetarian option for a special dinner. The whole grain crust is filled with creamy goat cheese and sweet, marinated beets, creating a delicious and balanced meal.

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    Shrimp Scampi Without Wine

    Shrimp scampi.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Shrimp Scampi can be made in just 10 minutes, offering a delicious option for a special meal. The combination of garlic, lemon, chili, and parsley fills your kitchen with a wonderful aroma.

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    Marry Me Salmon

    Marry Me Salmon.
    Photo Credit: Gypsyplate.

    Salmon is cooked to perfection and covered in a rich sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and a hint of Creole seasoning. This is a great option for a special dinner on Valentine's Day.

    Get the Recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      22 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Will Revolutionize Your Weeknight Meals
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      21 Vegetarian Casseroles That Will Change Your Dinner Game
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      18 Elegant Lunch Ideas to Impress Mom This Mother’s Day
    • Cheesburger sliders.
      18 Cheap Ground Beef Recipes That Are Perfect for Spring

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of 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, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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