25+ Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas
From savory appetizers to mouthwatering main courses, delectable desserts, and enticing cocktails, our collection of 25+ Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas has you covered for a memorable dining experience at home!
Whether you want to impress a new Valentine with these 25+ Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas or have been together for years like my husband and me, making your own Valentine’s Day dinner at home is such a treat.
It shows that you took the time to do something nice, just for them. Other benefits of staying in:
- There’s no reservation required
- You’ll save money compared to dining out
- Quality time in the comfort of your own home
These Valentine’s Day Dinner recipes have been separated by course, so we have Appetizers, Main Courses, Desserts, and last but not least, Cocktails.
Appetizers
Appetizers not only set the tone for the meal, but they also whet your appetite. Here are four great options for getting your meal started!
Goat Cheese Crostini with Balsamic Grape Tomatoes
These crostini are slathered with tangy goat cheese, then topped with sautéed grape tomatoes that are made with garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. A perfect two-bite appetizer!
Melting Pot Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Fondue
What’s better than gooey melted cheese? Dipping cubes of bread, vegetables, or apples in it! This fabulous fondue recipe can be made in a slow cooker, double broiler, or an electric fondue pot. Perfect for serving each other ;)
Marinated Cheese & Olive Antipasto
These cold appetizer is perfect for those that like a little bit of everything! It includes a variety of olives with cubes of cheese, red bell pepper, and tangy pepperoncini peppers all tossed in a homemade vinaigrette.
Slow Cooker Baked Brie with Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato
A restaurant-quality appetizer that you can make at home – in your slow cooker! Made with brie cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and roasted red peppers, this fancy dip is a great way to start your meal!
Main Courses
When I think of Valentine’s Day dinners, I think of indulgence, decadence, and pulling out all the stops. Because I’ve seen Lady and the Tramp, I also think of pasta! Whether you want to share a spaghetti noodle until the very end or whip up something extra special, these main courses will fit the bill. Bonus – they’re cheaper than going out to eat!
The Best Italian Meatballs
Who wouldn’t want to cozy up to a bowl of pasta with these amazing meatballs? These are no ordinary meatballs, they are THE BEST! Made with lots of fresh garlic, herbs, and cheese, these meatballs are exploding with flavor!
Creamy Lobster Pasta
Creamy. Lobster. Pasta. Need I say more? This decadent seafood pasta can be made at home for a fraction of the cost that it would be in a restaurant! Plus, it’s ready in only 30 minutes!
Bacon-Wrapped Spinach & Goat Cheese Chicken
This bacon-wrapped chicken is the perfect main course for a special occasion! The chicken is stuffed with a tasty filling made with spinach, goat cheese, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Excellent served with mashed potatoes, rice, or your favorite veggies!
Easy Broiled Lobster Tails
Whether served by themselves or as part of a surf & turf combo, these 5-star broiled lobster tails are a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day! They’re ready in only 15 minutes and only require butter and spices!
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup
February 14th is cold! Warm up with bowls of this rich & cozy, creamy chicken soup made with kale, pesto, and gnocchi! Excellent with some crusty French bread for dunking!
Slow Cooker Beef Braciole
Beef braciole – tender steak stuffed with herbs, cheese, and garlic that braises in marinara sauce in your slow cooker is the Valentine’s Day dinner recipe you need up your sleeve! Pair this with your favorite pasta for the ultimate Italian meal!
Slow Cooker Chicken Provencal
Put your slow cooker to use in helping make a special meal! This rustic French chicken dish with capers and olives in a buttery, lemony sauce is wonderful with rice, potatoes, noodles, or your favorite starch that will soak up all the sauce!
Chicken Alfredo
This recipe for homemade chicken alfredo is the answer to your creamy, comfort food dreams! An exceptional meal for a special day!
Calabrian Chicken Meatballs
If you like a little spice in your life, these Calabrian chicken meatballs are for you! Crushed Calabrian chili peppers, garlic, parsley, and parmesan cheese give these meatballs so much flavor!
Lobster Niçoise Salad with Tarragon
If you’re looking for lighter fare, but still want to make it special, this Lobster Niçoise Salad is just the ticket! This salad features eggs, potatoes, green beans, lobster, and fresh greens, making it a hearty and filling main course salad.
Mushroom Kale Lasagna
Perfect for two with leftovers, this cheesy, garlicky, mushroom & kale lasagna is a great vegetarian option! Now who wants the crispy edges?
Lobster Risotto (for 2)
Indulge in the comfort of warm risotto with chunks of meaty lobster throughout with this delicious recipe that’s designed specifically for two servings!
Desserts
Mini Red Velvet Cake
Rich chocolate flavor and tangy cream cheese frosting combine to make the perfect dessert combination! This mini, 6″ cake is the perfect size for two to share!
Mini Biscoff Cheesecakes
These little, two-bite cheesecakes feature a delicious crust made with Biscoff cookies and a wonderful, creamy cheesecake filling. Great as-is or topped with strawberries!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
Rich and decadent, this small-batch recipe for chocolate peanut butter truffles is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth after a nice meal. Simply make the chocolate ganache and once firm, roll into balls then refrigerate. This recipe makes seven truffles.
Red Velvet Brownies
These rich & fudgy red velvet brownies with chocolate pieces studded throughout are topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting! Decadence worth every bite!
Torched Twinkie Strawberry Shortcake
Twinkies get a couple passes with a kitchen torch, which caramelizes the exterior of the nostalgic sponge cake. Then we add macerated fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a fun, single serving dessert!
3-Ingredient Chocolate Dip
Made with just 3 ingredients, you can whip up this rich chocolate dip in no time – in just 7 minutes! Serve warm as a chocolate fondue, or at room temperature. Strawberries, cake cubes, apples, and bananas are perfect dippers!
Red Velvet & White Chocolate Cake Pops
Transform red velvet cake into fun, bite-size cake pops with these red velvet & white chocolate treats. A fun, easy dessert for Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day!
Red Wine Chocolate Truffles
These fun truffles have the flavors of both chocolate and red wine! What a fitting combination for the “most romantic day of the year”!
Cocktails
You definitely don’t have to have cocktails with your Valentine’s Day dinner, but they sure are fun and they add a special touch that makes the occasion feel more celebratory! Cheers!
Kir Imperial (Champagne & Chambord)
A Kir Imperial is the delicious combination of sparkling wine and Chambord, a black raspberry liqueur. A gorgeous pink drink that’s perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day! Fresh raspberries are the perfect garnish!
Limoncello Spritz
Limoncello, prosecco, and sparkling water create a fresh and bright cocktail that is simultaneously fun and special. Perfect cocktail for those that love citrus!
Rosé Raspberry Cocktail
Rosé wine combined with lemon-lime soda creates a refreshing cocktail that is sure to please! Add raspberries or your favorite fresh fruit to garnish.
Bloom Gin Jasmine Rose Cocktail
With the exotic flavors of jasmine and rose found in Bloom Gin, the addition of lemon and prosecco make this a one-of-a-kind cocktail as special as your guest. Optional edible flowers are the perfect finishing touch!
I hope you enjoyed reading this list of 25+ Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas and were able to find some new recipes to try!
Looking for more recipe collections? Here are some favorites:
- 30+ Slow Cooker Recipes for Summer
- 8 Recipes for Lemon Lovers
- 20+ Cucumber Recipes
- 8 Recipes Using Fresh Tomatoes
- 15 Vegetarian Recipes for Meatless Monday
- 15 Recipes Perfect for Game Day
Did you make any of these recipes? Let me know in the comments below! ♥
I also have a fun Facebook group for us foodies to share recipes and talk about food. I’d love to have you! Request to join HERE. Cheers!
Thanks for including me in this deliciously romantic round-up!
What a great collection of recipes for Valentine’s Day or date nights! Thank you for putting these all in one place!
This is such a fun post – and thanks bunches for featuring our beloved Chocolate Dip! It’s such a total hit with my family and has been really popular with our readers, too – hope all your readers adore it just as much! And oh my – your Calabrian Chicken Meatballs look OUSTANDING … my pasta NEEEEEEDS them lol! Happy Valentine’s Day!