Romantic Dinner Recipes for Date Night at Home—No Reservations Required

Recipe: Herb-Crusted Roasted Leg of Lamb

Pull out all the stops for Valentine's Day dinner with a whole leg of lamb. By pre-seasoning before cooking, you'll create a concentrated flavor and crispy crust.

Recipe: Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak

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.

Recipe: Lemony Slow-Cooked Salmon with Potatoes and Fennel

You have a personal chef for your Valentine's Day dinner: the slow cooker! So sit back, relax, and pour a glass of wine.

Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Tomato-Caper Sauce

Even chicken can dress up for a fancy romantic dinner. Serve over hot grits or polenta and don't forget to garnish.

Recipe: Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Rice

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.

Recipe: Scalloped Oysters

A far cry from the casual casserole, Scalloped Oysters is a dish with relatively few ingredients that spotlights the fresh, briny flavor of the mollusk. It's safe to say this is a casserole for special occasions.

Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Linguine

Decadently simple: In 15 minutes, you have a shrimp-and-garlic-laden pasta dish.  

Recipe: Pan-Seared Flank Steak with Herb Sauce

This easy weeknight dinner brings just enough sophistication to make it an acceptable dish for a romantic evening.

Recipe: Braised Lamb Shanks and Potato Hash

Lamb meets red wine, crushed tomatoes, and plenty of garlic in a rich, saucy braise.

Recipe: Grilled Steak Salad with Green Tomato Vinaigrette

Whatever you do, don't swap the green tomatoes—they're essential to the flavorful salad dressing. 

Recipe: Pasta with Beans, Blistered Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs

Blister and burst tomatoes under the broiler to hide imperfections and concentrate flavor. You'll also want the best olive oil you can find. 

Recipe: Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

This winner of a chicken dinner is our new favorite roasting-pan supper.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Hanger Steak and Vegetables

The key to this recipe is the compound butter. Packed with herbs, it adds the finishing touch to the steak and vegetables you didn't know you were missing.

Recipe: Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes

These restaurant-worthy crab cakes will transport you to an oceanside picnic setting. 

Recipe: Roasted Leg of Lamb with Lemon-Herb Salt

Fresh rosemary, oregano, lemon zest, and pepper keep the lamb flavorful.

Recipe: Carbonara with Braised Lamb

Elevate a beloved pasta dish with decadent braised lamb alongside the pancetta, spices, and cheese.

Recipe: Creamy Salmon Fettuccini and Spring Vegetables

Asparagus and peas keep this cheesy pasta dish light, meaning there'll be room for dessert.

Recipe: Pecan-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Mint Dipping Sauce

The elegant presentation will wow at your Valentine's Day dinner.

Recipe: One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp with Orzo

Succulent shrimp and garlicky, buttery pasta? That's a match even Cupid would approve of.

Recipe: Corn Risotto with Spicy Shrimp

Though it feels fancy, risotto is relatively simple to make. The addition of corn kernels gives the dish a bright pop of color, and succulent shrimp are generously seasoned with Cajun seasoning, packing a punch.

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Lemon-Asparagus Risotto

Crisp spears of asparagus swim in a creamy risotto garnished with plenty of Parmesan, a dash of white pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice for a note of brightness.

Recipe: Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken

It doesn't get any more classic than a roast chicken. And this one has a skin crisped in a cast-iron skillet—by far the best part.

Recipe: Lobster Mac and Cheese

Juicy chunks of lobster pair beautifully with melty Gruyère and Cheddar. Mac and cheese might not be a fancy dish, but the lobster takes it to the next level.

Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce

Serve these delicate crab cakes as the appetizer or main meal. We wouldn't judge if all you wanted was a hot stack of them.

Recipe: Chicken Lombardy

This is the elegant, easy chicken dinner that makes the execution of a romantic meal a breeze. Fans of chicken marsala will love it.

Recipe: Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Our recipe features fresh jumbo lump crabmeat, a dab of butter, plenty of fresh herbs, and a little lemon juice. Fry them to perfection and serve with a side of Green Tomato Slaw.

Recipe: Baked Caprese Chicken with Green Beans and Corn

Lots of cheese, bright tomatoes, and crisp green beans and corn? Sounds like winning dinner.

Recipe: Crab Pie

Consider this a decadent take on the quiche—one worthy enough for your Valentine's Day dinner.

Recipe: Baked Sheet Pan Salmon with Potatoes and Tomatoes

Fancy doesn't have to mean complicated. If Valentine's Day tragically falls on a weeknight, this is the recipe you want in your back pocket for dinner.

Recipe: Lowcountry Fish Stew

Delicate white fish, little neck clams, and mussels sit in a rich broth that demands to be scrooped up with a crusty loaf of bread.

Recipe: Pan-Grilled Chicken with Fresh Plum Salsa

Sweet and spicy Pan-Grilled Chicken with Fresh Plum Salsa starts with fast-cooking chicken cutlets, giving you a leg up on dinner—it's ready in 26 minutes. The best part? It's pretty enough to serve at any occasion.

Recipe: Baked Chicken Roulade

Baked Chicken Roulade is fancy enough for a special occasion.

Recipe: Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

Make a main dish meal of rice by adding chicken, asparagus, zucchini, herbs and cheese to a creamy risotto.

Recipe: Fettuccine-and-Asparagus al Burro

Al burro means "buttered." This simple sauce is a more authentic version of today's popular Alfredo, which calls for whipping cream. Buy a high-quality cheese—it makes a difference.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken and New Potatoes

Use a foil packet as a fuss-free cooking vessel for the leeks and potatoes (or any vegetable).

Recipe: Pork Tenderloins with Balsamic Strawberries

Wrap the pork tightly with bacon to give it smoky flavor and a crispy crust.

Recipe: Buttermilk-and-Honey Chicken Kabobs

A buttermilk marinade ensures tender meat and juicy flavor.

Recipe: Rack of Lamb with Carrot Salad

You can trim the thick layer of fat on the outside of the rack to ¼ inch for quicker cooking.