Special Valentine’s Day dinners don’t have to mean crowded restaurants, long waits for takeout, or scrambling to book a babysitter. This year, treat yourself and your loved ones to a cozy and memorable Valentine’s Day meal at home, where you can skip the hassle and focus on enjoying the evening.
Whether you’re celebrating with your special someone, the whole family, or having a Galentine’s Day gathering with your best girlfriends, don’t let the day go by without marking the occasion. Pair a delicious homemade dinner with a fun movie, and create a celebration that’s personal, relaxed, and full of love. Here are 20 Valentine’s Day dinner ideas to inspire your evening!
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- French Onion Pork Chops
- Baked Manicotti
- French Onion Soup
- Tomato & Basil Aglio e Olio
- Meatballs and Gravy
- Steak and Mushrooms
- Short Ribs
- Tuscan Soup with Cannellini Beans
- Orange Beef
- Mushroom Pork Chops
- Chicken Fricassee
- Sesame Chicken
- Chicken Tomato Pasta
- Chicken with Cream of Mushrooms
- Cuban Shredded Beef (Ropa Vieja)
- Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry
- Shrimp Lo Mein
- Sausage Tortellini Soup
- Baked Ziti with Sausage
- Chicken Francaise
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French Onion Pork Chops
These French onion pork chops combine the rich, savory flavors of French onion soup with juicy, tender pork chops. It’s an easy and delicious dish that feels special—perfect for a cozy and memorable dinner.
Baked Manicotti
This baked manicotti is stuffed with a creamy three-cheese blend and smothered in a flavorful Italian sausage tomato sauce. It’s a indulgent dish, perfect for a special occasion or any time you want to make dinner feel extra special.
French Onion Soup
This flavorful onion soup is topped with bread and covered with melted cheese. This classic soup is best made with a partner, serve up your favorite beverage, and take it slow. Your patience will be rewarded with a wonderful soup.
Tomato & Basil Aglio e Olio
This spaghetti aglio e olio with tomatoes and basil is a fresh twist on the classic dish. The simple combination of olive oil, garlic, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil creates a light, flavorful meal.
Meatballs and Gravy
In this recipe, meatballs are browned and cooked in rich and creamy gravy. The best part of this dish is that it’s really easy to make and doesn’t take very long at all. Once the meatballs are formed, you’re basically home free!
Steak and Mushrooms
This steak and mushrooms dinner comes together quickly, and it's absolutely delicious. Thick sirloin steaks are pan fried until golden and cooked to your liking. Then the pan juices are used as a base to make a flavorful mushroom and onion gravy.
Short Ribs
In this recipe, short ribs are cooked in a flavorful sauce. Really, the sauce is just as good as the ribs! Don’t be put off by the long cooking time. The prep work is quick and easy and once everything is in the pot it’s mostly hands off.
Tuscan Soup with Cannellini Beans
This Tuscan soup is a complete meal in a bowl! It’s packed with meat, vegetables, beans, and spices. It's easy to make and perfect for a night in. This soup is sure to become a favorite..
Orange Beef
Forget ordering in, this take-out classic is quick and easy. It’s made with thinly sliced beef and a sweet and tangy orange sauce. It only takes about 30 minutes to make, including the prep work.
Mushroom Pork Chops
In this recipe, thick pork chops are fried until golden and covered with a luxurious mushroom sauce. This pork chop dinner is easy enough for a weeknight but elegant enough for a special occasion. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables.
Chicken Fricassee
Fricassee is a cooking method, where meat is cut into pieces, braised and served with the sauce it was cooked in. This version is a traditional Cuban dish. Made with chicken, stewed in a flavorful tomato sauce and finished with potatoes and olives.
Sesame Chicken
This sesame chicken recipe is packed with flavor, featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a savory, slightly sweet sauce. Skip the takeout and enjoy this special meal at home—it’s perfect for creating a restaurant-quality experience in your own kitchen.
Chicken Tomato Pasta
In this pasta recipe, linguine noodles are tossed with seasoned chicken breasts and an easy tomato sauce. After the chicken is seasoned it is pan fried and the light and tasty tomato sauce is made in the same skillet.
Chicken with Cream of Mushrooms
This chicken with cream of mushroom soup is a rich and comforting dish perfect for a cozy Valentine’s Day dinner. Tender chicken is smothered in a velvety, flavorful sauce, making it an easy meal that feels indulgent and satisfying.
Cuban Shredded Beef (Ropa Vieja)
Ropa Vieja is a popular Cuban dish made with shredded beef in a flavorful tomato sauce. It’s easy to make and so good! Serve ropa vieja with white rice, black beans, and a side like fried sweet plantains or tostones for a great meal with a tropical flair.
Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry
Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry is quick, easy and really good. Here, steak strips are quickly browned then combined with mixed vegetables and a homemade stir fry sauce. Serve with white rice or noodles and enjoy this take-out favorite at home.
Shrimp Lo Mein
This shrimp lo mein is a delicious dinner option that’s sure to impress. Made with tender shrimp, crisp broccoli, and a flavorful sauce, it’s a versatile dish that can be customized with pantry staples.
Sausage Tortellini Soup
This soup is loaded with Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, vegetables and spices. It’s more than a soup, it’s a meal and really easy to make too. Pair it with homemade garlic bread for a wonderful meal.
Baked Ziti with Sausage
In this recipe we use Italian sausage; it adds a ton of flavor so we can use just a handful of ingredients. We also cheat a little by using jarred pasta sauce and canned tomatoes, but onions and a ton of garlic give it a homemade taste.
Chicken Francaise
Chicken Francaise is a simple, yet elegant dish that’s worthy of a special occasion. Thin chicken cutlets are dredged in seasoned flour, dipped in egg, then gently fried in olive oil and butter. The pan drippings are used to make a white wine and lemon sauce. Then it’s served on a bed of pasta and lightly drizzled with the sauce. Delicious!
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