Not sure what to make for Valentine's Day? Working late but want to treat your love to something special? Well, I'm not saying you shouldn't also send flowers to your loved one's office, I'm just saying you might actually have time to make them a delicious dinner as well.
Read on for 31 quick, easy yet romantic & delicious dishes you can whip together after work - and just choose your number of courses according to the time you have.
When I started my blog I wasn't really sure about my niche, or who my target audience was. But quite quickly it became clear to me - my target audience was those same people I'd been sharing my recipes with for so many years, even before I had a blog.
They were my friends - my hard working girlfriends, their almost as hard working boyfriends, my co-worker with three kids under the age of five and one of my besties who to my great horror confessed that she usually just had
So with Valentine's Day approaching, I wanted to help you all make delicious Valentine's Day Dinners at home. It doesn't have to be hard, take a lot of time, or even be expensive. You don't need to learn any new techniques (Spoiler alert: no risottos on this list! But if that is after all just what you're craving then check out this Easy Shrimp Risotto Basil & Asparagus or this Creamy Mushroom Risotto.) or buy any fancy new equipment. You just need about half an hour to spare.
Oh, and since I like organizing stuff you'll find the list in order of actual "cooking time". You know, the time you need to stand there chopping & prepping & watching the pot bowl. Oven time (=shower time) excluded. My own estimation, of course, so I apologize for any mistakes.
Jump to:
Which recipe is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
4 Quick & Easy Valentine's Day Appetizers
5 minutes + 10 minutes in the oven:
Broiled Lobster Tails
5 minutes + 30 minutes in the oven:
Baked King Crab Legs
10 minutes:
Shrimp Scampi without Wine
20 minutes:
Rum-Spiked Smoked Salmon Tartare
8 Simple Dreamy Pasta & Risotto Dishes for Valentine's Day
15 minutes:
Salmon Spinach Pasta
20 minutes:
Spicy Vodka Pasta
20 minutes:
Caramelized Figs Prosciutto Mushroom Ravioli
40 minutes:
Mushroom Truffle Risotto
25 minutes:
Greek Shrimp Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Feta
30 minutes:
Creamy Red Wine Chicken Pasta
40 minutes:
Shrimp Asparagus Risotto
30 minutes:
Cauliflower Scampi in Lemon Garlic White Wine Sauce
8 Easy Meaty Mains for Valentine's Day
10 minutes + 20 minutes in the oven:
One Pan Parmesan Pork Chops and Asparagus
25 minutes:
One-pan Pork Chops and Mushrooms with Red Wine and Thyme
15 minutes + 30-40 minutes in the oven:
Sticky Asian Blood Orange Chicken
20 minutes + 25 min in the oven:
Roma Stuffed Chicken Breasts
25 minutes:
One Pan Bacon and Dijon Mustard Chicken
25 minutes + 35 minutes in the oven:
Steak and Potato Stacks
30 minutes:
Grilled Lamb Chops with Bleu Cheese Herb Butter
35 minutes:
Dukkah-Crusted Lamb Chops with Cauliflower and Potato Purée
8 Healthy Romantic Valentine's Day Dinners
10 minutes:
Caprese Salad with Cashews & Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
10 minutes + 10 minutes in the oven:
One-pan Fish & Broccoli in Lemon Butter Caper Sauce
10 minutes + 20 minutes in the oven:
Honey-Lime Roasted Sheet Pan Salmon & Vegetables
2 minutes + 18 minutes in the oven:
Lemon Pepper Salmon
15 minutes + 30 minutes marinating time:
Scallops with Zucchini Noodles & Pistachio Mint Pesto
20 minutes:
Steak with Citrus and Avocado Salad
20 minutes:
Pan-Seared Mahi-Mahi with Pineapple Salsa
30 minutes:
Seared Scallops and Keto Cauliflower Risotto
3 Simple & Delicious Valentine's Day Desserts
2 minutes:
Molten Chocolate Mug Cake
10 min + 10 min in the oven:
Passion Fruit Gino
30 min + 4 hours setting time:
White Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse with Raspberry Compote
Haley
That cajun salmon pasta with some white wine on the side would be the perfect Valentines Day dinner.
Emmeline
Oh yes, I am longing to try it! Happy Valentine's & thank you for your comment!
Amanda Rosson
What a wonderful round up of posts! I'll definitely be referring to this for all my Valentine's Day inspired meals!
Emmeline
Thank you so much Amanda! Have a nice Valentine's Day!
preet
this is really helpful especially for those busy people who sometimes can't even celebrate it.
Emmeline
Thank you, that's just what I'm going for!
travelingfig
I always cook for my hubs on valentines day - i should go fancy and try your lobster tails this year, he'd be so impressed!
Emmeline
Yesss, do it! Isn't even all that hard really 🙂
Presiii
Yesssa.nthis page gives me life. I love cooking
but sometimes I am too tired. However seeing something that I can make in less than 30 min is great. Will definitely try the shrimp or salmon.
Emmeline
Thank you so much! Happy you found some recipes you like! 😀
Elizabeth O
Your blog won my heart. You shared so many delicious dishes here and this valentine gonna be tasty this year.
Emmeline
Oh thank you so much Elizabeth! Have a nice Valentine's day!
Chelle Dizon
This is a very informative and great list of recipes that we can check on. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Emmeline
Thank you Chelle!
pranita
I liked your all pasta dishes.
Emmeline
Thank you Pranita!
Shannan P
Oh my goodness! Where do we start?! We could celebrate all month with these amazing options!
Emmeline
Right?! Well I don't mind celebrating all month with delicious food 😉 Thanks for commenting!
Kaycee Enerva
Everything looks so delicious! Ill ask my mom to prepare the steak and avocados
PS
The background music is annoying and repetitive (constructive criticsm)
Emmeline
Thank you Kaycee! Thanks for letting me know about the music - I muted it 😉
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Yay for staying in on Valentine's Day! So much cheaper and I don't like crowds! Can't wait to try some of these!
Emmeline
Yeah, so agree! And like too much pressure? Haha. Thanks for commenting!
Amy-Lynn Denham
MMMmmMMMmmMMmm lots of yummy options, here. And even some veggie-friendly ones!
Emmeline
Thank you Amy-Lynn! Yep, always try to include some of those 🙂
Daniels
Wow, What an interesting article, for sure my valentines day dinner is made. thanks for sharing. keep it up.
Emmeline
Thank you for commenting! 😀
Nina Cochingco
I love the chocolate covered strawberries, it's a perfect dessert for Valentines day. Love it!
Emmeline
Me too!! So Valentine's appropriate and delicious. Thank you for commenting, Nina!
Armelle Dee
This is such a great dinner ideas, anything seafood will be good for me, and uuhm those strawberries are everything.
Emmeline
Thank you Armelle! Yeah seafood any day for me too - and chocolate strawberries might kinda be the most Valentine's appropriate dessert ever, right?!
Adriana
The crab dish looks so delicious !! I love these meal ideas.
Emmeline
Thank you, Adriana! I'm in love with all of them but yep the crab legs look so yummy & easy to make!
Chad
Valentines day dinner ideas!!! You're a life saver, thank you so so much!!! These are awesome.
Chad
http://www.mosaicslab.com
Emmeline
Thank you Chad! 😀
Adrianne
Wow what a fabulous collection of recipes!! I love the fig pasta, what an original dish! Thank you for also including my Chocolate.Covered Strawberries in the collection, appreciate it! Happy Valentines to you Emmeline!
Emmeline
Thank you Adrianne! Yeah the fig pasta looks SO good, I so need to make it. And your chocolate covered strawberries look like a must have for V-day! Happy Valentines!
Natasha @ Salt & Lavender
Thanks so much for including my Cajun salmon pasta in this lovely roundup!
Emmeline
Well it did look super yummy so how could I not?? 🙂
Davinah Smith
Thanks so much for including my dish in this drool-worthy round-up! I can't wait for Valentine's Day just to make some of these!
Emmeline
Of course, Davinah! It looks soo yummy!