What to Make For Valentine's Day Dinner, Based on Your Food Preferences (2024)

Valentine's Day is an opportunity to show off (or practice) your cooking chops for your best friends or your significant other. But, if you're anywhere near as indecisive as I am, you'll spend most of your time wondering what the h*ll to even make. To save you the hassle, I curated Valentine's Day dinners with my favorite Spoon recipes to suit different cuisines and dietary preferences—you're welcome.

Quick and Easy

We get it. Not everyone has a few hours to prep for Valentine's Day dinner. You can make these dishes in less than an hour and still impress your date.

Main Course: Seafood Spaghetti di Nero

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This seafood spaghetti only takes 20 minutes and one pot to make, yet it tastes as if you spent hours on it. Get the recipe here.

Dessert: Chocolate Chip S'mores Cookies

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Take a store-bought chocolate chip cookie to the next level in just 15 seconds. Here's how.

Drink: French Hot Chocolate

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Go on a trip to France with this chocolat chaud (aka French hot chocolate) in a quick 5 minutes. Make it now.

Bougie

Want a fancy Valentine's dinner without the price tag? We've got you.

Main Course: Lavender-Crusted Pork Chops

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Your date will feel like she's at a 5-star restaurant with this main course. Get the recipe here.

Dessert: Tiramisu

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Tiramisu just sounds fancy as f*ck, and you can make one at home. Here's how.

Drink: Pop Rocks-Rimmed Red Wine Slushy

Red wine is great for date night, but this pop rocks-rimmed red wine slushy is even better. It shows you did more than just buy a wine and pour it.

Asian-Inspired

Skip Chinese takeout and opt for this classier, Asian-inspired meal.

Main Course:Peanut Sesame Noodles

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These noodles bring in Asian flavors with a flavorful peanut sauce and sesame oil. Get the recipe here.

Dessert: Tri-Colored Dango

Get ready to make these chewy Japanese delights, and be sure to take some Instagram pics, too. They are too cute and so easy to make.

Drink: Thai Iced Tea

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There's no need to spend $5 on Thai iced tea when you can make your own. Here's how.

Boozy

Are you and your date lovers of wine and booze-filled desserts? Here's a Valentine's Day meal that includes booze in every course.

Main Course: Red Wine Bruschetta Pasta

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Kick off your boozy evening with this red wine bruschetta pasta. It uses 5 cups of red wine, and you can customize it with your favorite cheeses and herbs.

Dessert: White Russian co*cktail Cake

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You cannot go wrong with this boozy cake. Here's how to make it.

Drink: Champagne co*cktails

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Why just serve champagne when you can make these champagne co*cktails instead?

Vegan

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, or meat-loving, you're going to love this meal.

Main Course: Stuffed Squash

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This stuffed squash is flavorful and filling, a dish even meat-lovers will be jealous of. Here's how to make it.

Dessert:Fluffy Vegan Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Anyone who thinks vegans are missing out is totally wrong. These fluffy chocolate chip cookies are out of this world.

Drink: Mango Basil Smoothie

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This smoothie is so refreshing and can compliment any meal. Get the recipe here.

Nostalgic

Childhood friends or high school sweethearts? Take it back in time with these innovative twists on childhood dishes.

Main Course: Mac n' Cheese Sliders

Mac 'n cheese is great, but it's not an ideal Valentine's Day meal. Make these mac 'n cheese sliders instead.

Dessert: Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich

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What a combination—Oreos and ice cream sandwich. Here's how to make this nostalgic dessert.

Drink: Cinnamon Hot Cocoa

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Remember the days you'd drink hot cocoa on cold, winter nights? Snuggle up and revisit that tradition with this cinnamon hot cocoa.

Healthy

Continue living up to your New Year's resolution of eating healthier with this Valentine's Day dinner.

Main Course: Lemon, Herb Salmon

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Get a number of essential nutrients with this salmon dish. Get the recipe here.

Dessert: Lemon Mousse Tart

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This no-bake fruity mousse tart is easy to make and won't make you feel too full at the end of the night. Here's how to make it.

Drink: Pineapple Basil Agua Fresca

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Round off your healthy meal with a pineapple basil agua fresca to get lots of vitamins and minerals. Here's what you'll need.

Gluten-Free

Main Course:Risotto Alla Carbonara

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Just because pasta may be out of the question doesn't mean you can't have a delicious Parmigiano-forward main dish. Treat yourself and your loved one to a fancy risotto entree with these steps.

Dessert:Apple Crisp
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You can have this sweet treat for dessert and for breakfast the next morning. A few ingredients go a long way for this dessert.

Drink:Pink Lemonade Mojito
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Sure, you can't crack open a couple of fancy IPAs, but you can make up a pitcher of this pink lemonade mojito and still get a little tipsy on this V-Day.

Now you have all the recipes you need to make a kickass Valentine's Day dinner! Here's how to plate these dishes and set your table like a pro.

Still not sure what to make for Valentine's Day dinner? Check out these 35 dishes that are sure to impress.

What to Make For Valentine's Day Dinner, Based on Your Food Preferences (2024)

FAQs

What food do you eat on Valentine's Day? ›

A good-quality steak with a potato side is a timeless choice, but couples craving a lighter romantic meal may go for fish like sea bass or salmon. And naturally, there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan picks for Valentine's Day. Italian dishes, like pasta, are also a classic Valentine's Day choice.

What are the red foods for Valentine's Day? ›

Red fruits and vegetables include tomatoes, red peppers, red onions, beets, red cabbage, kidney beans, red apples, pink and red grapefruit, red grapes, strawberries, cherries, watermelon, raspberries, cranberries and pomegranates.

What food is most eaten on Valentine's Day? ›

Consumers' views on Valentine's Day foods
Valentine's Day + Love-Themed FoodsLove or Like %
Honey77%
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries71%
Meat-Lovers Pizza68%
Lobster59%
14 more rows

What is the most popular Valentine's dinner? ›

1. Steak with peppercorn sauce. Every Valentine's Day, steak is the overwhelming favourite of Good Food users. Thousands of you want to know how to cook the perfect steak (top tip: the secret is quick cooking and constant attention).

What should I cook my girlfriend for dinner? ›

26 Date Night Recipes to Make Together
  • 01 of 27. Chicken Parmigiana. View Recipe. ...
  • 02 of 27. Marry-Me Chicken. View Recipe. ...
  • 03 of 27. Creamy Shrimp Scampi with Half-and-Half. ...
  • 04 of 27. Chicken Marsala. ...
  • 05 of 27. Beef Bourguignon I. ...
  • 06 of 27. Tuscan Flank Steak. ...
  • 07 of 27. Chef John's Coq au Vin. ...
  • 08 of 27. Date Night Blackened Salmon Pasta.
Jan 10, 2024

How to make a romantic dinner at home? ›

You could dim the lights, put on your favorite songs, and add a few candles of varying heights to create the perfect romantic atmosphere. To make sure you're giving your loved one all the attention they deserve, consider removing any distractions — such as cell phones and tablets — by placing them in another room.

What fruit is best for Valentine's Day? ›

Valentine's Day Strawberries

You can even get pink chocolate covered strawberries for an extra festive Valentine's gift! Whether you send a Valentine's Day strawberry bouquet or a box of chocolate covered strawberries, you can't go wrong with a chocolate covered strawberry delivery this February 14th.

What fruit is for Valentines Day? ›

Raspberries are a staple of Valentine's Day drinks and desserts – being used as garnishes on cakes, muddled in pink co*cktails, or enjoyed in classic berries and cream.

What is the fruit of Valentine's Day? ›

Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits associated with Valentine's Day. There are several reasons why this fruit has become such a staple of the holiday of love. Firstly, the red color and heart-shaped form of strawberries make them a natural choice for Valentine's Day.

What are popular Valentine's Day traditions? ›

Offering a bouquet of red roses to your beloved. Purchasing a card with a heartfelt message. Sharing a candlelit meal with your partner. Giving a heart-shaped box of delicious chocolates.

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