Food and Recipes Dinner 47 Romantic Dinner Recipes For Cozy Date Nights At Home No reservations required! By Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah McGough runs the day-to-day operations in the Southern Living Birmingham office, responds to reader questions and comments, manages contracts and invoices. She is also the co-host (with Steve Bender) of Ask Grumpy Podcast. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 11, 2024 Close Photo: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Who needs reservations? Instead of going out and bearing long wait times and pricey menus for your much anticipated date night, enjoy a restaurant-quality, romantic dinner for two in the comfort of your own home. You will not be missing out on anything with these romantic dinner ideas, straight from the loving arms of our Test Kitchen. These dinner recipes are worthy of any romantic occasion, from Valentine's Day or an anniversary celebration to a second date you definitely don't want to mess up. Whip up a prime cut of flank steak that's even juicer than its steakhouse counterpart, or try your hand at a tender stuffed chicken recipe that's pretty as a picture. Celebrate the romantic dinner with a creamy and decadent shrimp risotto, or indulge in rich fettuccine covered in Cajun sauce. Enjoy these 47 romantic dinners for two from the cozy comfort of your own dining room. 26 Quick And Easy Dinner Ideas For Two 01 of 47 Classic Trout Amandine Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox How pretty is this supper? Even though it looks restaurant-worthy, it comes together with a simple ingredient list and 30 minutes of hands-on time. Just be sure you leave plenty of time in your schedule to marinate your fish! Get The Recipe 02 of 47 Pan-Seared Rib-Eye With Mushroom-Hunter's Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless You’ll want to put this flavorful mushroom sauce on every dish that comes through your kitchen. This steak is so gorgeous, it can support any cast of side dishes. Get The Recipe 03 of 47 Simple Pan-Seared Fish Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis If you’re unsure how to cook a fish filet to make it taste like the restaurants do, let this easy but beautiful recipe be your guide. “This was absolutely amazing. Restaurant quality. So full of flavor,” wrote one reviewer who left the recipe five stars. Get The Recipe 04 of 47 Steak Diane Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke This retro dinner recipe is the height of date-night meals. The secret to serving steaks that taste like they do at a restaurant is butter basting with garlic and thyme in your cast-iron skillet. Get The Recipe 05 of 47 Crab Cakes With Key Lime Mayonnaise Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley If you’ve been dying for a tropical getaway, start it right in your kitchen with this seafood recipe. The Key lime mayonnaise is just the bright punch buttery crab cakes need. Get The Recipe 06 of 47 Roast Rack Of Lamb Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Talk about a photo finish! Lamb is definitely a holiday-worthy main dish, so it should be worthy of a romantic date night as well. This herb-crusted recipe is incredibly beautiful to behold and enjoy. Get The Recipe 07 of 47 Creamy Rice With Scallops Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Scallops might seem intimidating to cook at home, but this 35-minute recipe makes them easy. “Was absolutely awesome! Definitely a keeper,” wrote a reviewer who gave it five stars. Get The Recipe 08 of 47 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If the recipe starts with the words “bacon-wrapped,” we’re all ears. This star of a main dish will go well with whatever side dishes you have on hand, from veggies to starches, to a simple green salad. Get The Recipe 09 of 47 Pasta Primavera With Shrimp Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This seafood dish is full of colorful veggies that add texture and flavor to pasta night. The twisted shape of the Gemelli pasta holds onto the sauce well, so no bite is boring. Get The Recipe 10 of 47 Chicken Cordon Bleu Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley A longtime favorite for dinner parties, this vintage recipe has always been synonymous with fancy suppers. If you want to make this recipe, plan your date night just after a holiday—leftover honey-baked ham adds so much more flavor than deli ham. Get The Recipe 11 of 47 Marry Me Chicken Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We turned the famous "Marry Me Chicken" into a comforting rice casserole. It has the same flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, basil, oregano, and whipping cream—but made saucier and more casserole-like with additional brothy sauce and wild rice. Get the Recipe 12 of 47 Spice-Rubbed Flank Steak With Corn-Chile Relish James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Flank steak is a more affordable cut of beef at the grocery store, but it can still get dressed up for date night. A vibrant relish with corn and jalapenos not only looks pretty but tastes incredible, too. Get The Recipe 13 of 47 Bourbon-Glazed Salmon Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The incredible reviews for this 20-minute main dish recipe speak for themselves. “Outstanding recipe! I doubled the sauce recipe and suggest you do too,” wrote one reader. “Delicious...our new favorite salmon recipe. Fast and easy to make!” wrote another. Get The Recipe 14 of 47 Linguine With Clams Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This simple recipe lets the ingredients sing. Your sweetheart will think you got to-go from your favorite Italian restaurant with this impressive dinner! Get The Recipe 15 of 47 Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This latest riff on the Internet-famous Marry Me Chicken will absolutely impress your significant other. Served over a bed of angel hair pasta, all you need is a light green salad and some crusty bread to round out this dinner. Get The Recipe 16 of 47 Steak Frites Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There’s no need to go out to eat when this fancy but laid-back meal from your favorite restaurant’s menu can be whipped up at home in just 35 minutes. Frozen French fries are a delicious shortcut to get this dinner on the table quickly without sacrificing flavor. Get The Recipe 17 of 47 Cast-Iron Salmon With Baby Kale Salad Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn From breakfast to dessert, a cast-iron skillet is the best tool for cooking many dishes in a Southern kitchen. Healthy and quick, this salmon supper will pair wonderfully with a glass of dry white wine. Get The Recipe 18 of 47 Honey-Garlic Chicken Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox You don’t have to shell out major money for a steak or scallops for date night to feel fancy. This easy Honey-Garlic Chicken, along with our Bacon-Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, makes for a gorgeous, budget-friendly dinner. Get The Recipe 19 of 47 Crab-and-Bacon Linguine Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This elegant pasta recipe calls for a half cup of dry white wine, which just so happens to pair beautifully with it once you’re done cooking. Cheers to that! Get The Recipe 20 of 47 Pepper-Stuffed Grilled Flank Steak James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Take date night outside and fire up the grill! This steak is even prettier once you cut into it and reveal a layer of veggies and cheese rolled up inside. Get The Recipe 21 of 47 Shrimp Risotto Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood This recipe is perfect for date night because you’ll only have to clean one dish afterward! Risotto feels restaurant-quality, but our Test Kitchen makes it attainable with this recipe. Get The Recipe 22 of 47 Pork Tenderloin With Apples Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely If your at-home date night is happening during the fall, serve your sweetheart this sweet-and-savory dinner that lets autumn flavor shine. For such a pretty photo-finish, this recipe takes just a few ingredients to make. Get The Recipe 23 of 47 Lemon-Pepper Shrimp Scampi Pasta Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This simple but elegant seafood pasta recipe is wowing our readers. One reviewer who left it five stars wrote: “This recipe was fabulous! The flavors just explode and it’s such a delight to taste.” Another five star review agreed: “Just the right amount of zestiness and savory delicious!” Get The Recipe 24 of 47 Smothered Steaks With Mushroom Sauce Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely If you’re looking for a complete date night dinner with little effort, this rich steak recipe also includes our Roasted Cheddar Broccoli recipe for an easy side dish. The beef tenderloin filets can be substituted for ribeyes, chuck, sirloin, strip, or cube steaks, depending what you have on hand or what’s on sale at the store. Get The Recipe 25 of 47 Chicken Scallopini Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox In just 30 minutes, you can serve your partner this gorgeous but affordable dinner that would be delicious with a simple side salad and some buttery pasta or mashed potatoes. Get The Recipe 26 of 47 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin "Filets" Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely You don’t have to spend your money on steaks when this pork recipe is just as fancy and delicious. Two Southern-favorite ingredients—bourbon and molasses—add depth and sweetness to this savory dish. Get The Recipe 27 of 47 Baked Crab Cakes Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins A Test Kitchen secret to making these crab cakes even more decadent and restaurant-worthy? “Melt a few tablespoons of butter, and brush the tops of the crab cakes before putting them in the oven. Then, when you flip the crab cakes, brush the bottoms with butter. Lastly, just before serving, give them one final swipe.” Get The Recipe 28 of 47 Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg Of Lamb Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Pull out all the stops for Valentine's Day dinner or a holiday with a whole leg of lamb. By pre-seasoning before cooking, you'll create a concentrated flavor and crispy crust. Then cook it low and slow, turning up the heat at the end so the exterior can brown. Get the Recipe 29 of 47 Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak Photo: Hector Sanchez This is the best way to cook a thick, juicy bone-in steak restaurant-style without smoking up the house. Use your grill to heat the cast-iron skillet; the skillet surface area promotes a more assertive flavor and better sear than grill grates, yielding a steak with the proper steakhouse crust. We spoon herbs and melted butter over top for ultimate flavor. Get the Recipe 30 of 47 Beef Stew Pot Pies Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley You can easily prepare these pot pies in individual ramekins, which are great for date nights or hungry houseguests—or in a single skillet for the family. Topped with puff pastry, it's filled with a rich and meaty stew of beef, carrots, peas, and potatoes, Get the Recipe 31 of 47 Seared Scallops With Lemon-Herb Rice Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Juicy, golden scallops sit atop a fluffy bed of rice gently perfumed with scallions and parsley. Don't be intimidated by the scallops—just make sure to thoroughly dry them before searing, which ensures they'll develop a nice crust. Beautifully seared scallops don't require much dressing-up to make a five-star meal. Get the Recipe 32 of 47 Ultimate Tomato Soup And Big Batch Fancy Grilled Cheese Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Sometimes, taking something nostalgic and turning it into a fancy-fied version is all you need for a perfect night at home. Pepper jelly and lots of cheese take this French bread grilled cheese to the next level. Get the Recipe 33 of 47 Shrimp Scampi Linguine Luca Trovato Decadently simple: In 15 minutes, you have a shrimp-and-garlic-laden pasta dish. Serve immediately with a generous sprinkle of chopped parsley and lemon zest for a restaurant-worthy presentation. A glass of fine white wine will complement the garlicky white wine butter sauce. Get the Recipe 34 of 47 Mississippi Pork Chops Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The secret ingredient of this Mississippi-style dish are the jarred pepperoncini peppers. Acidic, spicy, and a little sweet, they add the perfect tangy surprise to succulent pork chops. Get the Recipe 35 of 47 Smothered Pork Chops with Rice Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Food Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl It doesn't get much more Southern, but with a special flair, than these smothered pork chops in a creamy mustard sauce. Get the Recipe 36 of 47 Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Herb Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley This easy weeknight dinner brings just enough sophistication to make it an acceptable dish for a romantic evening. A puree of parsley, cilantro, shallot, vinegar, and garlic accompanies pink and tender slices of flank steak. Serve with your favorite roasted potatoes recipe. Get the Recipe 37 of 47 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken And Potatoes Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner This winner of a chicken dinner is our new favorite roasting-pan supper for date night or any night. Sear the chicken on the stovetop, add potatoes and an herby lemon mixture, then roast in the oven. Serve with a crusty French bread. Get the Recipe 38 of 47 One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp With Orzo Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Succulent shrimp and garlicky, buttery pasta? That's a match even Cupid would approve of. Rather than boiling in water, the pasta cooks in a glorious mixture of sautéed shallots, white wine, butter, oil, and vegetable broth. Get the Recipe 39 of 47 Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis It doesn't get any more classic than a roast chicken, but this one is dressed up with roasted rosemary potatoes and orange slices. The vinegar, honey, and orange dressing drizzled over everything elevates the meal even more. We scatter a mixture of green and black olives over the dish. Get the Recipe 40 of 47 Chicken Lombardy Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox This is the elegant, easy chicken dinner that makes the execution of a romantic meal a breeze. Fans of chicken Marsala will love this cheesier, richer version. Mushrooms, sautéed in butter and drippings remaining in the skillet, are piled onto lightly breaded chicken before a dreamy, creamy pan sauce gets spooned over the top. Get the Recipe 41 of 47 Baked Chicken Roulade Photo: Jennifer Davick Baked Chicken Roulade is fancy enough for a special occasion but quick to prepare. Stuff chicken breasts with a mixture of sautéed spinach, garlic, and asparagus, seared in a skillet, and finished in the oven. Then drizzle a fragrant and delicate butter sauce over top. Get the Recipe 42 of 47 Cast-Iron Steak Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This main dish salad makes a pretty plate, with nutrient-rich greens such as spinach, arugula, or kale; seasonal fruits or vegetables; and even cooked whole grains. Sourdough makes delicious croutons in this recipe, but you can use other types of fresh bread, such as Italian or a baguette. Get the Recipe 43 of 47 Lasagna Roll-Ups Unlike most lasagnas, this recipe looks downright elegant on the dinner table. Cook the pasta until al dente to avoid it unrolling on the plate. You can substitute sautéed mushrooms or spinach for the recipe's canned artichokes, though we enjoy the heft they have in the lasagna filling. Get the Recipe 44 of 47 Teriyaki Salmon Bowls With Crispy Brussels Sprouts Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Poached salmon spends one to two hours in the slow cooker for a tender, not dry fillet. Then the salmon and Brussels sprouts are brushed with a sauce made of pineapple juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar before broiling. Your date will appreciate your efforts with each tasty, flavor-packed bite. Get the Recipe 45 of 47 Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This date night-worthy meal of buttery-tender chicken thighs is enrobed in a sweet, salty, garlicky, sticky sauce that is great for leftovers. Plus, it all comes together in the slow cooker for ultimate ease. Get the Recipe 46 of 47 One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Cooking the pasta noodles right in the sauce is a great way to infuse them with flavor while also keeping cleanup a breeze later on. Cajun seasoning adds just enough zippy heat. Get the Recipe 47 of 47 Marry Me Chicken Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This apparently engagement-worthy skillet dinner is comprised of sautéed chicken breasts cooked in a sun-dried tomato and cream sauce. White wine, balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese, and butter are other star ingredients. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit