Valentine’s Day is on a weekday this year and, even when it fall on a weekend, many of us don’t want to be bothered with the hustle and bustle of dining out with millions of other couples. It’s kind of like last-minute Christmas shopping with crowds, noise, and an abundance of commercial cheesiness. So, if you want to stay home this year but still treat your Valentine (maybe you’re doing one of my date night in a box ideas?), I’ve got you covered with a bunch of homemade Valentine’s Day dinner ideas in this post! Below, you’ll find mix and match options to easily build a romantic dinner menu. You can pick something from every category to create a full, multi-course meal or go the laid-back route with a couple of fun appetizers and a bottle of wine. A guide to some of my favorite wines can be found here.
Salads & Appetizers
- Addictive Massaged Kale Salad (GF)
- Crunchy Kale Salad (GF)
- Cheese Board (GF)
- Dodo (Fried Plantain) (Vegan, GF)
- Praline Brie Dip (GF)
- Veggie Rose Tart
Entrees
- Bacon-Wrapped Steak Medallions (GF)
- Easy Pasta Bake
- Five-Star Chicken Breast (GF)
- Just Like Mom’s Lasagna
- One-Pot Chicken & Rice
- Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
- Simple Seared Salmon and Naked Pasta
- Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken (GF)
- Spaghetti Carbonara
Side Dishes
- Brown Butter Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes (GF)
- Garlicky Green Beans & Mushrooms (Vegan, GF)
- Ginger Curry Carrots (Vegan, GF)
- Nigerian Jollof Rice
- Spicy Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts (GF)
- Summery Lemon Garlic Potatoes (GF)
- Zesty Lemon Squash (Vegan, GF)
Desserts
I have a big sweet tooth so this is usually my favorite part of any meal. If your Valentine is the same way, focus on this course. All of these desserts can be made ahead and you can even cheat with box cake mix for some of them. The Red Wine Chocolate Cake for Two was practically made for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner and has the added bonus of easy cleanup!
- Best Box-Mix Brownies
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
- Easy Apple Tarts
- Fruit Salad with Sweet Orange Mint Dressing (GF)
- Naked Bourbon Carrot Cake
- Red Wine Chocolate Cake for Two
- Strawberries & Champagne Donuts
- Strawberry Cake Donuts
- The Ultimate Red Velvet Cake
Cocktails
If you haven’t been dating your Valentine long or y’all are pressed for time on the actual day, skip dinner and whip up an impressive cocktail.
- Bubbly Bourbon & Berries
- Cherry Elderflower Smash
- Citrus Champagne Sparklers
- Hibiscus French 75
- Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
- Spicy Love Potion
I hope these homemade Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas are helpful to you in planning a memorable February 14th. If you need mood music and decor ideas, check out this little game plan for the perfect Valentine’s Day date night-in. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
I'm a young professional with serious domestic skills and I'm here to inspire kitchen confidence and southern hospitality in busy boss women.
I know going out on a wednesday just doesnt seem so fun! Its also ash wednesday! I was thinking of going to one of the local places aroundme that do heart shaped pizzas. And a heart carvel cake! We have a busy week so dont see how i am going to cook!
Great recipe round up. So many good options to try.
I’m seeing some great recipes. I love the layout of this post. It reminds me of a restaurant menu. I found myself choosing one from each section to put together a meal.
Wow! I love your menu ideas, this really helps a lot with Valentines coming up. Yum!!
Such great inspo for a romantic dinner at home! My hubby and I have a tradition of getting Chinese take out for V-Day…its always a fun meal to look forward to!