37 Date Night Dinner Ideas Better Than a Reservation Can Get

Alison Miksch

Let us guess—it’s been way too long since your last date night. Life has a knack for getting in the way of small pleasures like date nights. It can take forever to get reservations at the new restaurant downtown, and who has time to get all dolled up for date night when there are kids dirty from soccer practice running around the house? We get it. But there is still a way to plan a romantic date night. It’s time to clear your schedule for a few hours to enjoy an at-home dinner together. With these amazing date night dinner ideas, you won’t even realize you’re not at a fancy restaurant. And staying in doesn't just save your schedule some hassle, but it’s also much more budget-friendly than eating out. Even if you’re trying to save up, you can still treat yourself to one of our affordable date ideas. These fun dinner recipes take pantry staples and weeknight favorites like pasta, chicken thighs, and pork chops and dress them up for an adults-only dinner. With these five-star suppertime superstars, you’ll save money and get to focus on what matters about date night—each other.

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Roasted Beef Tenderloin

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling; Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Roasted Beef Tenderloin

If your date night go-to is a steakhouse, you’ll love to serve a beautiful roasted beef tenderloin at home.

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Creamy Rice with Scallops

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Rice with Scallops

Scallops feel dressy enough for date night, but this 30-minute recipe is easy enough that you can actually relax and enjoy your night in.

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Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

This pasta recipe might look restaurant-worthy, but it starts with frozen tortellini and ends with a handful of pantry staples.

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Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

You might think of crab cakes as a dish you only order at restaurants, but once you see how easy they are to make at home, they’ll be on your at-home date night rotation.

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Grilled Steak with Blistered Beans and Peppers

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Grilled Steak with Blistered Beans and Peppers

Take date night outside and fire up the grill with this colorful, flavorful dinner recipe.

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Almond-Crusted Tilapia

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Almond-Crusted Tilapia

This recipe looks and sounds formal, but it only takes a few ingredients to put together, and it will go well with just about any side dishes you like.

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Spicy Red Curry with Chicken

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Spicy Red Curry with Chicken

Would you believe this gorgeous chicken curry was made with the help of your slow cooker? You should!

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Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

This simple but stunning pasta recipe is only missing a glass of wine on the side.

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Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits

Your partner will never know that this sophisticated meal was made in the slow cooker, and you don’t have to tell them.

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Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

This easy skillet dinner is hearty but healthy if you’re trying to keep on pace with a diet when date night rolls around.

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Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Max Kelly

Recipe: Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Prep this simple marinade the night before or morning-of your date night, and you’ll only have 30 minutes of hands-on time for a delicious meal.

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Tomato-Basil Lasagna Roll Ups

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Tomato-Basil Lasagna Roll Ups

This recipe has all the flavor and comfort of classic lasagna with elevated presentation that was made for date night.

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Seared Scallops with Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce and Orzo

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Seared Scallops with Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce and Orzo

This summery pasta recipe looks restaurant-worthy, but it only requires 10 minutes of hands-on time.

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Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak

Southern Living

Recipe: Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak

Enjoy a restaurant-style steak from the comfort of your own home. Easy and delicious, this skillet dinner recipe doesn’t disappoint.

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Chicken Alouette

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken Alouette

We keep turning to this trusty vintage recipe for dinner parties and holidays, and for good reason.

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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

You’ll feel like you’re at a white tablecloth-restaurant with this elegant pasta on your plate.

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Fontina-Stuffed Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fontina-Stuffed Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes

Pork chops might be a budget-friendly weeknight favorite, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get dressed up for date night, too!

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Slow-Cooker Ginger, Sweet Tea, and Whiskey Short Ribs

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Ginger, Sweet Tea, and Whiskey Short Ribs

These slow-cooker short ribs are easy to prepare, but the bright, tangy sauce they’re paired with feels so sophisticated.

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Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

The salmon croquettes made with canned salmon from your childhood wouldn’t recognize this elevated, fresh recipe that’s perfect for a light date night with a glass of chilled white wine.

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Cast-Iron Chicken Piccata

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Cast-Iron Chicken Piccata

You can make restaurant-worthy chicken piccata in a flash thanks to your loyal cast-iron skillet. Serve over whatever noodles you have on hand and dinner is done.

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Rack of Lamb with Carrot Salad

Southern Living

Recipe: Rack of Lamb with Carrot Salad

If this is a celebratory date night, go all out with a dressy lamb recipe that looks like it would require reservations to eat.

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Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

If Italian is one of your go-to cuisines for a date night on the town, replicate it with a fun at-home date night that’s just as delicious but much more budget-friendly.

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Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

You probably don’t picture a casserole when you think “date night,” but this pretty dish is presentable enough to fit the bill—with all the ease you love about casseroles.

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Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

This one-dish recipe is just as easy to prepare as a weeknight family dinner but feels more grown-up for date night.

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Grilled Pork Loin Steaks with Cherry-Plum Sauce

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Grilled Pork Loin Steaks with Cherry-Plum Sauce

You can make the sauce three to four days in advance to help you get your date started as quickly as possible the night of.

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Moroccan Turkey Legs and Thighs with Fruit, Olives, and Almonds

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Moroccan Turkey Legs and Thighs with Fruit, Olives, and Almonds

A date night without picky kids around is the ideal time to try out an adventurous recipe that’s bursting with flavor, like this recipe that sounds complex but comes together with the ease of your slow cooker.

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Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

You’re just 30 minutes away from putting this impressive dinner on the table—no joke.

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Flank Steak Tostadas

Southern Living

Recipe: Flank Steak Tostadas

Upgrade your ground beef taco Tuesdays to a grown-up, fresh tostada Tuesday. Add a pitcher of homemade margaritas, and we’ll raise a glass to one fun date night!

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Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

Maybe you’re doing date night at home to cut out the extra calories that come with eating out. This low-carb version of eggplant parmesan doesn’t skimp on the comfort of indulging in classic Italian food.

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Baked Chicken Roulade

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Baked Chicken Roulade

This recipe elevates budget-friendly chicken to a date night-ready meal.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon

Step away from the jarred Alfredo sauce: This recipe is the easiest way to make it at home for a fun new recipe for you two to try together.

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Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Salmon entrees at restaurants can get pricey at restaurants, so it’s the perfect at-home date night dish to save money. Cheers!

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Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

In case you didn’t already know, everything is better with bacon. This versatile recipe will pair well with any of your favorite side dishes.

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Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

If you’re not in the mood for fuss, this elevated fish fry is the perfect happy medium for a casual date night.

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Roasted Chicken Thighs with Herb Butter

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Roasted Chicken Thighs with Herb Butter

This delicious (and affordable!) chicken thigh recipe pairs perfectly with our grown-up-approved Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and a simple green salad.

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37 Easy and Delicious Date Night Dinner Ideas

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Roasted Beef Tenderloin

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Creamy Rice with Scallops

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Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

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Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

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Grilled Steak with Blistered Beans and Peppers

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Almond-Crusted Tilapia

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Spicy Red Curry with Chicken

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Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

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Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits

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Salmon with Lemony Greens and Grains

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Marinated Pork Tenderloin

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Tomato-Basil Lasagna Roll Ups

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Seared Scallops with Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce and Orzo

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Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak

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Chicken Alouette

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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

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Fontina-Stuffed Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes

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Slow-Cooker Ginger, Sweet Tea, and Whiskey Short Ribs

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Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

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Cast-Iron Chicken Piccata

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Rack of Lamb with Carrot Salad

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Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

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Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

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Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

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Grilled Pork Loin Steaks with Cherry-Plum Sauce

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Moroccan Turkey Legs and Thighs with Fruit, Olives, and Almonds