Skip to Content

50 Best Valentine's Day Recipes for the Perfect Romantic Menu

Dinner (or brunch) for two, anyone?

By , and
steak au poivre with a side salad and baked potato
Mike Garten

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Skip the expensive Valentine's Day reservation this year. Instead, whip up a delicious dinner with your sweetheart at home. You put on some music, pour a couple of glasses of wine (or mix up two V-Day cocktails), and have a blast cooking up something incredible together. Sounds pretty romantic, if you ask us. But first, you have to decide on your dinner menu. That's why we've rounded up our favorite Valentine's Day food ideas, from romantic dinners for two to breakfast-in-bed fare.

These Valentine's Day recipes are triple-tested by the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, so you know they're good. From cozy pasta dishes to hearty steak dinners to yummy vegetarian fare, there's a dinner here that ensures a memorable Valentine's Day. And don't forget about dessert! We've got Valentine's Day treats, including cookie and cupcake recipes for you to explore once you've decided on dinner.

1

Marry-Me Chicken

valentines day food marry me chicken
Mike Garten

No matter what stage your relationship is at ― dating, engaged, married, or something else ― this delicious dinner is sure to impress your sweetheart. It's made with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce that you'll definitely want to soak up with bread or rice.

Get the Marry-Me Chicken recipe.

2

Five-Spice Roast Ducks

valentines day food five spice roast ducks
Mike Garten

Say "I love you" with a plate of flavorful roasted duck for Valentine's Day. The recipe as written calls for two ducks to serve eight people; you can obviously scale down if you're cooking for just the two of you.

Get the Five-Spice Roast Ducks recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Beef Wellington

beef wellington with herbs on a white platter
Mike Garten

This hearty dish is sure to impress your partner this V-day — plus, it's actually much easier to make than it looks.

Get the Beef Wellington recipe.

4

Croque Monsieur Casserole

valentines day food croque monsieur casserole
Mike Garten

If you're planning a cozy night in for Valentine's Day, it's hard to imagine a more fitting dish than this casserole of bread, butter, cheese, and plenty of luscious béchamel sauce.

Get the Croque Monsieur Casserole recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Coq au Vin Rosé

coq au vin rosé on a wooden table
Mike Garten

Get your Dutch oven ready, you'll need it for this creamy French dish. Instead of a traditional Burgundy wine, this recipe calls for a lighter and softer rosé.

Get the Coq au Vin Rosé recipe.

RELATED: Best Dutch Oven Recipes: Cozy Dinners and Decadent Desserts

6

Tomato-Roasted Cod with Spiced Almonds

valentines day food tomato roasted cod with spiced almonds
Mike Garten

If your Valentine loves seafood, they'll love this flavorful cod dinner served over ginger-scented rice. It comes together in just 30 minutes and is less than 500 calories per serving if you and your partner are looking to keep things light.

Get the Tomato-Roasted Cod with Spiced Almonds recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Sicilian-Style Braciole

valentines day food sicilian style braciole
Mike Garten

No need to book a table at your favorite Italian restaurant for Valentine's Day. This comforting Italian dish can be made at home. It's made with steak, pecorino, pine nuts, parsley, and plenty of tomatoes.

Get the Sicilian-Style Braciole recipe.

8

Shrimp Scampi with Linguine

shrimp scampi with linguine on a white plate
MIKE GARTEN

A luxe garlic and white wine sauce gives this classic pasta its delicious flavor.

Get the Shrimp Scampi with Linguine recipe.

RELATED: Seriously Easy Shrimp Recipes

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Aleppo Pork Chops with Potatoes and Greens

aleppo pork chops with potatoes and greens
MIKE GARTEN

Is your Valentine a fan of meat and potatoes? Serve up this smoky feast featuring perfectly roasted pork, smashed potatoes and earthy chard.

Get the Aleppo Pork Chops With Potatoes and Greens recipe.

10

Smoky Mussels Pomodoro

smoky mussels pomodoro in a dutch oven pot
Mike Garten

Serve this easy seafood dish (ready in only 25 minutes!) with plenty of crispy bread to soak up the slightly smoky sauce.

Get the Smoky Mussels Pomodoro recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko

roasted clams with lemony panko in a baking pan
Mike Garten

Dig into these elegant bivalves, topped with crispy parsley-flecked breadcrumbs, best served with a chilled glass of wine.

Get the Roasted Clams with Lemony Panko recipe.

12

Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff

creamy mushroom stroganoff on a white plate
MIKE GARTEN

If you have ambitions for a cozy Valentine's dinner, cook up this vegetarian pasta, loaded with big mushroom flavor and a hit of miso.

Get the Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff recipe.

RELATED: Healthy Vegetarian Recipes You’ll Absolutely Love

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Grilled Bone-In Rib Eye

grilled rib eye sliced on a wooden cutting board
Mike Garten

Serve up this simple showstopper with your favorite sides. Have leftovers? Slice and reheat with eggs for the best breakfast ever.

Get the Grilled Bone-In Rib Eye recipe.

14

Roasted Sausage and Grapes

roasted sausage and grapes over polenta
Mike Garten

You're only five ingredients away from the sweet-and-savory combo of your dreams.

Get the Roasted Sausage and Grapes recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Sriracha Shrimp Tacos

two shrimp tacos with a mango salsa on the side
mike garten

Shrimp gets a hit of sweet heat from mango and homemade sriracha.

Get the Sriracha Shrimp Tacos recipe.

16

Vegan Pumpkin Risotto with Crispy Sage

vegan pumpkin risotto with crispy sage on a white plate
Mike Garten

No cheese, no problem! Vegetable broth, pumpkin purée and nutritional yeast provide a savory, earthy flavor, and crispy sage lends an aromatic touch.

Get the Vegan Pumpkin Risotto with Crispy Sage recipe.

RELATED: Best Vegan Recipes for Lunch, Dinner and Beyond

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Air Fryer Salmon and Swiss Chard

salmon over a bed of swiss chard
Mike Garten

Break out the air fryer to cook up the juiciest salmon with super-crisp skin.

Get the Air Fryer Salmon and Swiss Chard recipe.

RELATED: Easy Air Fryer Recipes for a Quick Weeknight Dinner

18

Linguine with Arugula Pesto

linguine with arugula pesto served on a black plate
mike garten

For a fresh spin on classic pesto, try this nut-free version featuring arugula and creamy, protein-packed cottage cheese.

Get the Linguine with Arugula Pesto recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Seared Scallops with Escarole Salad and Pesto Vinaigrette

seared scallops with escarole salad and pesto vinaigrette
Mike Garten

While this dish looks fancy, searing scallops is surprisingly easy. Top off the salad with a crisp salty hit from fried capers.

Get the Seared Scallops with Escarole Salad and Pesto Vinaigrette recipe.

20

Cacio e Pepe

a plate of cacio e pepe pasta on a dark gray plate
mike garten

Toasting cracked black pepper in oil brings out the spice’s floral, spicy notes in this crave-worthy pasta.

Get the Cacio e Pepe recipe.

Headshot of Samantha MacAvoy
Samantha MacAvoy
Senior Editor

Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.

Headshot of Becca Miller
Becca Miller
Associate editor
Becca Miller (she/her) has been working in the Good Nutrients Test Kitchen since 2018, where she recipes and writes about tasty recipes, food trends and top cooking tools. She attended from NYU with a liberal arts degree on creative writing. She makes killer scrambled eggs, spoils a glass of un-oaked chardonnay and takes pride in her love of reality television.
Headshot of Jamie Ballard
Jamie Ballard
Contributing Writer

Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.

Watch Next 
steak au poivre with a side salad and baked potato
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below