The Best Valentine's Day Recipes of All Time

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

Valentine’s Day is the heavenly day when we get to nibble on heart-shaped boxes full of chocolates and candies—and sometimes Chick-fil-a chicken nuggets—in lieu of the usual suspects like apple slices, Cheez-its, and yogurt cups. So why not serve a date night meal that feels just as special? When it comes to picking Valentine’s Day dinner recipes, make the menu something to remember. No, make it something so good that Cupid himself would be smitten. First, skip the casseroles. (Because casseroles just aren’t that romantic. There, we said it.) Second, don't be afraid to be a little kitschy. Slow-cooked braised lamb shanks? Molten red velvet cakes? Now that’s a menu that’ll make us blush. This year, we’ve got you covered with soups, salads, main dishes, and desserts that’ll be sure to win over every sweetheart, secret admirer, and suitor. These 40 Valentine’s Day recipes will leave them lovestruck.

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Win Your Darling's Heart (and Stomach) With These Recipes

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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

Full of buttery, herby flavor, this cast-iron steak recipe feels special enough to enjoy with a glass of red wine on Valentine's Day. 

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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

Considering how fancy and date night-worthy this dish looks, you’d never guess that this sophisticated dish was made in a slow cooker.

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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  

This traditional meat sauce makes a comforting choice for Valentine's Day—and it's perfect for busy cooks. You can set it in the slow cooker and leave it alone. 

 

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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

Celebrate the day of love with pure crispy decadence—in the form of these best-ever crab cakes. Serve as a main dish or an appetizer!

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Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups

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

Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups

Filled with ooey-gooey caramel and topped with crunchy pecans, these chocolate cookie cups are definitely making us feel the love. 

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Red Velvet Thumbprints

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Red Velvet Thumbprints

These cheery cookies are colored for the occasion. 

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Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes

Not single. Not double. Triple chocolate. Because we're going for the gold. 

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Garlicky Roasted Spatchcock Chicken

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Garlicky Roasted Spatchock Chicken

Have you heard the rumor that making roasted chicken increases your odds of getting a proposal? It's not exactly science, but this recipe might help. 

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Romaine with Creamy Olive Dressing

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Romaine with Creamy Olive Dressing

For just a slight nibble and palate cleanser, this salad recipe packs a flavorful punch. When you have a homemade dressing this good, romaine is about all you need. 

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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

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

Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

White wine, heavy cream, and bacon combine to make a pan sauce that feels oh-so indulgent. As if crab linguine even needs help in that department...

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Buttery Chive-and-Mustard Drop Biscuits

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Buttery Chive-and-Mustard Drop Biscuits

Give your buttermilk biscuits a special makeover for a fancy date night. 

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No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie

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

Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie

Do you have a Reese's Cup lover in your midst? This mile-high creamy pie is just what you need to really impress. 

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Molten Red Velvet Cakes

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Molten Red Velvet Cakes

Molten and miniature, these red velvet cakes basically scream "Valentine's Day-worthy." 

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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

Get ready to hit all of the cheesy, creamy notes with these stuffed pork chops. Buttery, semisoft Fontina melts so beautifully even Cupid would blush. 

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Roasted Tomato-Cheddar Soup

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Roasted Tomato-Cheddar Soup

This classic soup with a cheesy twist is always a great pick, especially on cold winter nights. 

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Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower

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

Recipe: Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower

When this creamy cheese sauce covers your cauliflower, you'll know dinner is ready to be served. (Because you won't be able to resist.)

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Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

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

Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Is there really any reason to not make this easy, decadent, and oh-so-yummy chocolate fudge cake? Didn't think so. 

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Ginger-Plum Slump

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Ginger-Plum Slump

Something about warm, stewed fruits in a cast-iron skillet makes us swoon. This ginger-plum recipe feels worlds away from your basic peach cobbler. 

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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 are the steak of the sea—so splurge this Valentine's Day by making these and serving with risotto-like creamy rice. 

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Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

For many, comfort food evokes the feeling of love, and this traditional pot roast is the perfect example. Serve with our Crispy Potatoes.

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Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza

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

Recipe: Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore..." Make it a fun activity, and get your partner to help you make this deep-dish skillet pizza.

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Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Butterscotch Pie with Whiskey Caramel Sauce

It had us at butterscotch pie, but the whiskey-caramel sauce really seals the deal. Have leftovers? Use the sauce for drizzling over ice cream, pound cake, and warm apple pie.

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Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

Cupid will make a special appearance for these intensely rich chocolate cookies. So rich, in fact, they snub even a pinch of flour. 

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Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce

Maybe you didn't get to take that romantic weekend to the beach—or maybe you did. Either way, this pasta gives a taste of the coast. 

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Pork Chops with Tomato-Bacon Gravy

Pork Chops with Tomato-Bacon Gravy

Recipe: Pork Chops with Tomato-Bacon Gravy

The tomato-bacon pan gravy is truly the star of this easy and cozy Valentine's Day dinner. 

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Seared Hanger Steak with Braised Greens and Grapes

Photo: Cedric Angeles; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Seared Hanger Steak with Braised Greens and Grapes

Nothing like a tender slab of red meat to really ramp up the romance, hmm? The braised greens don't hurt, either. 

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Two Southern favorites—cheesecake and banana pudding—create one show-stopping dessert your significant other will love. 

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Tres Leches Cake

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Tres Leches Cake

Bake this a day before serving so it soaks up the creamy syrup. These mini cakes are light and spongey like angel food cake, but packed with the flavor of nutmeg, coffee, and sweetened condensed milk.

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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 

We're here to impress, right? Skip the crab cakes—so expected. Try your hand at these salmon cakes, instead. 

 

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Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

Southern Living

Recipe: Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

Think your Ragu has to filled with ground beef? Not today. Try this fresh, super flavorful version instead, and it'll have you seeing hearts. 

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Turkey with Shallot-Mustard Sauce and Roasted Potatoes

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

Recipe: Turkey with Shallot-Mustard Sauce and Roasted Potatoes

The turkey cooks in the slow cooker for ultimate hands-off ease in this Valentines' Day dinner that would impress company, too.

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Chocolate Parfaits

Southern Living

Recipe: Chocolate Parfaits

Are you an unabashed chocoholic? Valentine's Day shan't disppoint, especially if it ends with these creamy and cool layered parfaits.

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Red-and-White Meringue Kisses

Southern Living

Recipe: Red-and-White Meringue Kisses

Sweets for your sweet. This recipe makes about three dozen "kisses," which means you'll definitely get your point across. 

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Cherry-Nectarine Pandowdy

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Cherry-Nectarine Pandowdy

Achy, breaky heart? Try ooey, gooey dessert! Nectarines and cherries make a fabulous duo. 

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Yellow Gazpacho with Herbed Goat Cheese Toasts

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

Recipe: Yellow Gazpacho with Herbed Goat Cheese Toasts

Start dinner off on a light, refreshing note. This sunny gazpacho found its soulmate in herbed goat cheese toasts. 

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Oysters Rockefeller

Southern Living

Recipe: Oysters Rockefeller

Oysters are heralded as one of the most romantic foods—so serve them up with a Southern twist by making this dish that originated in New Orleans. 

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Roasted Tomato, Salami, and Mozzarella Pasta

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

Recipe: Roasted Tomato, Salami, and Mozzarella Pasta

It's like an antipasto salad—but better. Serve this dish to any Italian cuisine lover, and he's going to be straight smitten. 

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Pork-and-Shaved Vegetable Salad

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

Recipe: Pork-and-Shaved Vegetable Salad

A mixture of fresh vegetables, tender pork, crispy bacon, and candied pecans comes together for a hearty, delicious salad that could stand alone on date night. 

 

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Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Make your date night feel young again. This skillet cookie should be served warm with a hefty scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie

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

Recipe: Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie

"My love for you is as strong yet tender as the peaks on my meringue pie." At least, that's what we'd say. 

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