Food and Recipes Dinner 35 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 freelancer contracts, and invoices. She is also the co-host (with Steve Bender) of Ask Grumpy Podcast. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 18, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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 chicken risotto, or indulge in rich fettuccine covered in Cajun sauce. Enjoy these 35 romantic dinners for two from the cozy comfort of your own dining room. 01 of 35 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 02 of 35 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 03 of 35 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 04 of 35 Lemony Slow-Cooked Salmon With Potatoes And Fennel Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis You have a personal chef for your romantic dinner: the slow cooker! The licorice-forward fennel, subtly-sweet leeks, and bright lemon all come together seamlessly in this easy slow-cooker salmon dish. So sit back, relax, and pour a glass of wine. Get the Recipe 05 of 35 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 06 of 35 Chicken Thighs With Tomato-Caper Sauce Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Even chicken can dress up for a fancy romantic dinner. In this simple chicken dish, we reimagine the classic tomato sauce, adding one secret ingredient—capers—to revolutionize the flavor. Serve over creamy grits or polenta and don't forget to garnish. Get the Recipe 07 of 35 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 08 of 35 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 09 of 35 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 10 of 35 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 11 of 35 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 12 of 35 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 13 of 35 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 14 of 35 Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes Iain Bagwell These restaurant-worthy crab cakes will transport you to an oceanside picnic setting. The secret to delectable crab cakes is ensuring you don't overmix the crab meat with the other ingredients. Tossing until just combined creates a better texture and more intriguing flavor in each bite. Get the Recipe 15 of 35 Creamy Salmon Fettuccini And Spring Vegetables Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Asparagus and peas keep this cheesy pasta light, meaning there'll be room for dessert. The spring vegetables makes the most of seasonal produce and are reminiscent of a pasta primavera. Lemon zest and dill make this dish as bright as a warm spring day. Get the Recipe 16 of 35 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 17 of 35 Corn Risotto With Spicy Shrimp Joy Howard 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. If you make this during summer's harvest, use fresh corn to sweeten the flavor. Get the Recipe 18 of 35 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 19 of 35 Lobster Mac And Cheese Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rachael Burrow; Recipe: Darcy Lenz 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. Saffron, sherry, and chervil make this dish even more grown up. Get the Recipe 20 of 35 Chicken Lombardy Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners Prop Stylist: Christina Daley 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 21 of 35 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 22 of 35 Chicken Risotto With Spring Vegetables Jennifer Davick This flavorful recipe adds chicken, asparagus, zucchini, herbs, and cheese to a savory risotto. Broth is gradually added to arborio rice until rich and creamy. Top off this impressive dish with grated Parmesan. Get the Recipe 23 of 35 Baked Pork Tenderloin Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall For this recipe, wrap the pork tightly with bacon to give it smoky flavor and a crispy crust. We use a simple seasoning blend of salt and pepper on the pork. Additional flavor comes from the shaved fresh vegetables dressed in a lemony vinaigrette. Get the Recipe 24 of 35 Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox This colorful cacciatore looks beautiful atop a bed of pasta. The flavors of pork chops and mushrooms, red onion, bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes marry together in one cast-iron pan in 30 minutes. Serve with a tossed green salad, warm crusty bread, and a bottle of red wine. Get the Recipe 25 of 35 Spicy Baked Snapper, Greens, And Carrots In Parchment Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis The technique of steaming fish in parchment stems from the French cooking technique called en papillote, where ingredients—often fish—are baked in a parchment paper parcel. It's also perfect for preparing individual servings for your dinner for two. We use freshly grated ginger in this recipe for an incredibly fragrant meal that can be served over couscous or rice. Get the Recipe 26 of 35 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 27 of 35 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 28 of 35 Braised Lamb Shanks With Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke The key to restaurant-quality lamb is to select shanks roughly the same size and trimmed of excess fat and the tendons along the bone. In this recipe, the lamb shanks are braised in the slow cooker in a red wine and tomato mixture until very tender. Serve them over cheesy grits with generous spoonfuls of sauce. Get the Recipe 29 of 35 Mini Mushroom-And-Parsnip Pot Pies Antonis Achilleos These meatless pot pies pack a lot of flavor, and vegetables, into a small package. Use mini cast-iron skillets for the best presentation. You'll love the buttery and flaky puff pastry on top. Get the Recipe 30 of 35 Cabbage, Mushroom, And Bacon Pasta Greg DuPree Your romantic partner doesn't need to know this quick and easy wilted cabbage dish comes together in under 30 minutes, all on the stovetop. A bit of pasta water is added to cream cheese for a smooth and creamy sauce. Crumbled bacon and thyme enrich the flavor in this satisfying meal. Get the Recipe 31 of 35 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 32 of 35 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 33 of 35 Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If you're looking to jazz up your usual grilled chicken for a fun night in, this curry-infused recipe is the perfect bright and peppy addition to your lineup. Pair with grilled veggies and rice. Get the Recipe 34 of 35 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 35 of 35 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. 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