Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, a special anniversary, a first date, or just a nice surprise – here are over 55 Date Night Dinner Ideas that are bound to impress! These romantic recipes are easy to make, look gorgeous and pack in the flavor! From delicious pasta to succulent salmon and much more, one bite from these dishes and love will definitely be in the air!
Turn your living room into a top-notch restaurant with these 55+ Date Night Dinner Ideas. These recipes are simple to make (they’re also fun to cook together!) and look like they’ve just come from a fancy restaurant. Win, win! From tender shrimp dishes to flavor-packed risotto, pamper the one you love with one of these delicious dishes, guaranteed to please the palette!
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Tips For Date Night Dinner
- Know your date’s preferences. It may seem obvious, but when cooking a date night dinner, keep in mind the likes and dislikes of your date. What are their favorite foods and ingredients? Do they have any food allergies or intolerances? Do they love a certain cuisine or chef?
- Prep ahead. Choosing a recipe that can be prepped ahead of the evening will leave you more time to entertain your date!
- Choose some simple appetizers that don’t overpower the main dish! When it comes to appetizers, you can keep life simple and delicious with some Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes or Cucumber Sushi Rolls!
- Pick short cut pastas for less messy bites. If you’re choosing pasta, instead of long strands of tangling spaghetti or fettuccine, choose penne pasta, orzo, tortellini, or ravioli.
- Include some foods that are aphrodisiacs for an even more romantic night. These foods include oysters, almonds, basil, and asparagus! 😉
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Best Date Night Dinner Ideas
Cozying up and staying in for your romantic dinner? I have all the recipes you need to make your date night special and delicious! Whether you’re looking for a 4-course dinner menu, complete with tasty appetizers, side dishes, hearty main course, and delectable desserts or looking for a comforting dish like pasta and chicken, this collection of date night dinner ideas has you covered!
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Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms
Start your romantic evening with this flavorful, cheesy, and protein-packed appetizer. Let these mushrooms, filled with a mixture of herbs, cheese, and chickpeas, set the stage for a romantic evening ahead.
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Focaccia Charcuterie Board
Spoil your dinner date with this trendy idea. It starts with baking a wheel of brie right into focaccia bread and serving it with other favorite charcuterie foods like deli meats, cheese, fruits, and nuts.
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Artichoke Tahini Dip
Served hot, this cheesy dip is made with spinach, artichokes, tahini, and feta cheese. Bake it in the oven to ooey-gooey, cheesy perfection, and serve with your favorite crackers or pita chips.
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Spinach Strawberry Salad
If you need a simple salad to brighten up your date night dinner, this spinach strawberry salad does a job well done! Sweet strawberries paired with crispy baby spinach and topped with almonds and feta for a mouthwatering side dish.
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Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Full of the same great flavors you love, this is a lighter version of the classic chicken parmesan full of melty cheese and red sauce. Impress your date with this vegetarian delight!
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Ratatouille
Bring some rustic charm into your date night with this French classic. Ratatouille is a hearty side dish with a wonderfully light and fresh flavor, thanks to all the vibrant vegetables. The best part is you can make it quickly in one pot!
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Pesto Pasta With Chicken
Perfectly charred and seasoned grilled chicken breast paired with a herbaceous pesto pasta. It’s a meal that comes together quickly without losing any flavor.
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Creamy Mushroom Pasta
If you’re a mushroom fan, you’ll love this garlicky creamy pasta for your next dinner night! It’s savory, earthy, comforting, and indulgent, making it the perfect dish to impress your date.
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Cast Iron Skillet Steak
When you want to impress, this cast iron steak won’t disappoint. Seasoned with garlic and fresh herbs, this stovetop steak is easy, foolproof, and oh-so-good! Pair with fondant potatoes and a salad for a memorable romantic dinner.
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Easy Oven Beef Stew
Warm, comforting, and hearty, this easy oven beef stew is perfect for your dinner date. It combines tender beef, carrots, potatoes, and delicious Middle Eastern spices to create an incredibly richly flavored meal.
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Garlic Cilantro Baked Salmon
Tender, flakey salmon is infused with the best fresh and herby garlic cilantro aromatics. Serve with Lebanese rice or a classic risotto for the ultimate date night dinner.
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Broccoli Shrimp Alfredo
This creamy, satisfying, and flavorful dish takes romantic food to a new level. It perfectly strikes the balance between indulgence and simplicity and makes an excellent option for a cozy dinner night.
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Lemon Chicken Piccata
This restaurant-quality lemon piccata chicken has a beautifully bright and vibrant flavor that’s made healthier with a few substitutions to the classic. Instantly elevate your dinner with this classic chicken dish.
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Spinach Feta Stuffed Chicken
Chicken breasts are stuffed with a creamy blend of spinach, ricotta cheese, feta cheese, seasonings, and herbs for a delicious and elegant dish that will win the heart of your date.
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Chocolate Souffle
If you’re looking for a light and fluffy dessert that just melts in your mouth, your search stops with this homemade souffle. Made with simple ingredients and comes together quickly, you can whip this up in no time!
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About the Author
Yumna Jawad, who was born in Africa to Lebanese parents and moved to the US at 11 years old, is beloved by millions of fans globally on Instagram, TikTok, and her website, Feel Good Foodie for her unique, delicious, creative and easy recipes that often go viral on social media. She has grown her massive following from scratch the past decade and has recently founded a new culinary venture, Oath Oats, launched in November 2022. Yumna’s viral food trends have been featured by Live with Kelly & Ryan, The Today Show, Good Morning America, PEOPLE, Vogue, and the New York Times. A graduate from the University of Michigan Business School, she now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband and two kids. Yumna’s parents are both Lebanese so she proudly features Lebanese, middle eastern and Ramadan recipes as part of her heritage. Her first cookbook, The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook, launched in May 2024 (Penguin) and is filled with over 100 approachable, unique and delicious “Middle Eastern meets Midwestern” recipes for the entire family. The cookbook hit the bestseller lists on Amazon, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly.
This article originally appeared on FeelGoodFoodie.net and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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