From dinner to drinks to dessert.
I'm not sure who needs to hear this, but Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Whether you're a hopeless romantic or not really a Valentine's Day person at all, we can all agree that any holiday is just an excuse for a delicious meal. So whether you're cooking for your significant other, your galentines, or some other special person, these recipes are just what you're looking for. They feel a little bit fancy, but they're easy enough to whip up at home.
2. Apple, Brie, and Prosciutto Crostini Recipe
Chew Out Loud / Via chewoutloud.com
Start off date night with some light bites like these crostini topped with creamy Brie cheese, crispy apple, and salty prosciutto.
3. Pan-Fried Feta With Peppered Honey
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
In case you've been searching for the secret to love, it's melty cheese.
4. Puff Pastry Spinach and Artichoke Pinwheels
House of Yumm / Via houseofyumm.com
Deliciously decadent, yet so easy to whip up, these spinach and artichoke puff pastry pinwheels make any evening feel like a celebration.
5. Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com
6. Hot Crab Dip
Tastes Better From Scratch / Via tastesbetterfromscratch.com
Recipe:Hot Crab Dip
7. Whipped Ricotta Toast With Pistachios and Honey
Fetty's Food Blog / Via fettysfoodblog.com
Fancy open-faced toast — like this version with fluffy whipped ricotta, pistachios, and a little, sweet drizzle of honey — makes for the perfect appetizer.
8. Brown Butter Farro With Mushrooms and Burrata
The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com
Consider yourself warned: This burrata-packed side dish might just steal the dinner show.
9. Steak au Poivre
Simply Delicious Food / Via simply-delicious-food.com
Can't swing a trip to Paris this Valentine's Day? Bring a little bit of France into your very own home with this steak in pepper sauce (just don't forget the frites).
Recipe:Steak au Poivre
Sidewalk Shoes / Via sidewalkshoes.com
This savory, umami-packed ragù takes any old pasta and turns it into a meal worth feasting on.
11. Mushroom and Butter Bean Ragù With Cheesy Polenta
Rebel Recipes / Via rebelrecipes.com
This hearty main just happens to be totally vegetarian, but you'd probably never realize it.
Cooking for Keeps / Via cookingforkeeps.com
If you want to pull out all the stops for date night, lobster is always an excellent idea. Here, it's tossed with garlicky linguine for an epic pasta night.
Recipe: Lobster Scampi With Linguine
A Thought for Food / Via athoughtforfood.net
This Spanish-inspired seafood dish calls for just a few ingredients, but it tastes restaurant quality. Just don't forget about the crusty bread for sopping up all the garlic sauce.
14. Old Bay Crab Cakes
Grand Baby Cakes / Via grandbaby-cakes.com
Serve these Maryland-style crab cakes with your favorite grain, a big salad, or some roasted vegetables for a complete meal that is simple yet satisfying.
Recipe:Old Bay Crab Cakes
15. Halibut Piccata
The Defined Dish / Via thedefineddish.com
This classic chicken recipe calls for halibut instead of poultry, but you can really use any semi-firm white fish. Anything from monkfish to cod will taste amazing in the lemon caper sauce.
Recipe:Halibut Piccata
16. Spicy Miso Brown Butter Pasta
Serving Dumplings / Via servingdumplings.com
The secret ingredient in this flavor-packed pasta: white miso paste. Combined with browned butter, walnuts, sage, and pecorino, the flavor is pretty much irresistible.
17. San Francisco Cioppino
Diethood / Via diethood.com
Grab any of your favorite seafood — like mussels, clams, shrimp, lobsters, or fish — and turn it into a cozy tomato-based soup that'll warm you right up.
Recipe:San Francisco Cioppino
18. Hoisin Glazed Pork Chops
The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com
This Asian-inspired glaze— a blend of sesame oil, garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, and rice vinegar — turns your average pork chops into a delicacy. Serve it with rice or a simple cabbage slaw.
Recipe:Hoisin Glazed Pork Chops
19. Chicken Marsala
Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com
This classic Italian recipe never fails to impress. With some butter noodles on the side, it's a no-brainer.
Recipe: Chicken Marsala
20. Classic Cheese Fondue Recipe
Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com
If your love language is cheese, look no further.
Recipe:Classic Cheese Fondue Recipe
21. Pumpkin Risotto With Bacon and Parmesan
The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com
Restaurant-quality risotto at home is possible, and all that's required is a little bit of stove-top stirring.
22. Pasta Pomodoro With Chicken and Goat Cheese
Plays Well With Butter / Via playswellwithbutter.com
Or, if your love language is carbs, here ya go.
House of Nash Eats / Via houseofnasheats.com
Bacon-wrapped scallops might seem fancy, but in reality they're so easy to whip up on a single sheet pan.
Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
This recipe calls for ground chicken, but you can use whatever meat or vegetarian ingredient you like best. It's the cheesy, fragrant caramelized onion sauce that really steals the show here.
Recipe: Baked French Onion Meatballs
A simple Palate / Via asimplepalate.com
Breaded, crispy eggplant is layered with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce, then it's baked until golden perfection and sprinkled with fresh herbs.
Recipe: Classic Eggplant Parmesan
26. Slow-Baked Salmon With Herb Shallot Butter
Well Seasoned Studio / Via wellseasonedstudio.com
Forget any fears you might have about cooking fish at home. Slow cooked at a low temperature, it's guaranteedto be perfectly fork tender.
27. Date Night Creamy Tuscan Ravioli
Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com
Grab your favorite store-bought ravioli and turn it into a seriously impressive dish worthy of a special occasion.
Zestful Kitchen / Via zestfulkitchen.com
These juicy and tender Japanese-inspired beef roll-ups taste just as good as the Izakaya favorite.
Jessica Gavin / Via jessicagavin.com
Looking for a way to upgrade boneless chicken breasts into a creative meal? Stuff them with a blend of cream cheese and Parmesan, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs.
Recipe: Stuffed Tuscan Chicken
30. Shrimp Risotto
Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com
It may look totally fancy, but this simple-meets-elegant dinner can be on the table in about 40 minutes. All it takes is a little bit of stirring.
Recipe:Shrimp Risotto
31. Cast-Iron Rib-Eye Steak With Chimichurri
Joyful Healthy Eats / Via joyfulhealthyeats.com
With a few simple tips, cooking incredible steak at home is a breeze. Plus, it's way more affordable than any rib eye you could order at a restaurant.
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
Turn date night into DIY pizza night. Fire up the oven, pick your favorite toppings, and that's amore.
Spices In My DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com
This pasta only calls for a handful of simple ingredients (seven, to be exact), but it tastes so extravagant, you'd never guess.
JZ Eats / Via jz-eats.com
Coated in a mixture of butter, miso paste, mirin, maple syrup, and ginger, this supremely savory fish tastes like a real treat. If you don't have Chilean sea bass accessible, try it with cod or salmon.
35. Vegan Pesto Cream Gnocchi
The Curious Chickpea / Via thecuriouschickpea.com
This pesto is so rich and decadent, you won't believe there's no cream or dairy at all.
Recipe:Vegan Pesto Cream Gnocchi
The Life Jolie / Via thelifejolie.com
Lightly coated in flour and pan seared in butter, garlic, and lemon, this deceptively simple fish recipe might just be your new go-to.
37. Molten Chocolate Brownie Bites
Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com
Nothing says "I love you" like a homemade chocolate dessert.
38. Ombré Raspberry Lemon Cookies
The Baker Chick / Via thebakerchick.com
What says "I appreciate you" like an art project and dessert in one?
39. Cream Cheese Lemon Bars
Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com
Add a little zest to your date night with these citrus-packed lemon bars.
Recipe:Cream Cheese Lemon Bars
Completely Delicious / Via completelydelicious.com
For those who prefer savory to sweet, this Brie pizza makes for a totally appropriate dessert.
Recipe: Raspberry Brie Dessert Pizza With Rosemary and Pecans
41. Rustic Spiced Pear Galette
Food duch*ess / Via foodduch*ess.com
Pro tip: Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream à la mode for the full effect.
Recipe:Rustic Spiced Pear Galette
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
Freeze-dried strawberries and white chocolate chips give these sugar cookies a little extra oomph.
43. Nutella Crepes
Oh Sweet Basil / Via ohsweetbasil.com
Dessert or breakfast, the choice is yours.
Recipe:Nutella Crepes
44. Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Frosting and Fettuccine / Via frostingandfettuccine.com
Grab two spoons and dig on in.
45. Triple Berry Tiramisu
The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com
Strawberriesare red, blueberries are blue, your date will fall in love over this tiramisu.
Recipe:Triple Berry Tiramisu
46. Pecan Sandie Truffles
Tastes of Lizzy T / Via tastesoflizzyt.com
All you need are four ingredients: pecan sandies, cream cheese, pecans, and powdered sugar. Just form the mixture into balls and dip it in vanilla chocolate.
Recipe:Pecan Sandie Truffles
47. Winter Pear Sangria
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
It may not be summertime, but sangria is always in season. This winter version is crisp and refreshing and packed with winter fruits.
Recipe:Winter Pear Sangria
48. Clover Club co*cktail
Savored Sips / Via savoredsips.com
Turn your kitchen into a co*cktail bar with this pretty-in-pink drink. The secret ingredient is egg white.
Recipe:Clover Club co*cktail
49. Paper Plane co*cktail
A Flavor Journal / Via aflavorjournal.com
Campari (or Aperol, if you prefer) gives this whiskey drink its appealing clementine color.
Recipe:Paper Plane co*cktail
Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com
For an even creamier riff on this classic, try swapping Baileys in place of the Kahlúa coffee liqueur.
Recipe: 4-Ingredient Espresso Martini
51. Cucumber Margaritas
The Speckled Palate / Via thespeckledpalate.com
Transport yourself to the beach with the help of this seriously refreshing cucumber co*cktail. Add some jalapeño, too, if you like it spicy.
Recipe:Cucumber Margaritas
52. Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch
Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com
It's a special occasion, so pop the champagne and use it to make this fruity and bubbly co*cktail.
Cotter Crunch / Via cottercrunch.com
Brrr, it's cold out there, but you can keep things toasty with spiked hot cocoa. Oh, and this cozy co*cktail comes together right in your slow cooker.
Recipe: Spiked Hot Chocolate