23 Romantic and Easy Valentine’s Day Food Ideas
This Valentine’s Day, what better way to win the heart of your lover than with a delicious meal?
Enjoying a romantic meal together is a great way to spend Valentine’s Day. If you want to really impress, you’ll want to start planning and preparing early on. Get a head start using some of the Valentine’s Day food ideas below and avoid any last-minute kitchen disasters from burning up your love life.
1. Chicken parmigiana
A Valentine’s Day dish should be indulgent. Breaded chicken smothered in Parmesan cheese, fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce definitely check those boxes. Plus, it is fairly easy to make in just over an hour. Try this oven-baked chicken parmigiana recipe to impress your loved one.
2. Sous-vide steak
Sous vide is a method of cooking in which the meat is placed in a sealed plastic bag and placed in a hot water bath. After cooking to temp, the meat is removed and browned in a skillet or on a grill before serving. Steak prepared this way yields a tender cut of beef cooked to perfection. You can cook sous vide style at home with common kitchen tools, but it is easier with a specialized sous vide machine.
3. Pasta puttanesca
Fragrant and flavorful, pasta puttanesca combines olives, capers, anchovies, garlic and tomato sauce together into an Italian classic fit for sharing. Serve with fresh garlic bread and decadent chocolate mousse cake for dessert.
4. Shrimp scampi
Cooked in a broth of lemon, white wine and butter, shrimp scampi is a delicacy that satisfies any seafood-loving romantic interest. This Valentine’s Day food pairs well with linguini noodles and a salad for a complete meal.
5. Tuscan chicken
Take your significant other on a culinary journey to Italy with this delicious recipe idea. With low heat and rich flavor, this is a perfect themed dish for Valentine’s Day. Follow this Tuscan chicken recipe for an easy yet romantic dinner.
6. Honey garlic salmon
Salmon is always a fan favorite for romantic dinners, and this particular recipe is no exception. As simple as it is tasty, if your loved one also loves fish, give this honey garlic salmon recipe a try.
7. Heart-shaped homemade pizza
This dish idea just screams “Valentine,” and it’s ideal for pizza-loving couples. Make this homemade pizza dough recipe your own by switching up the toppings for a truly special dinner.
8. Cheese board
A cheese board for two is easy to make and fun to share together. Combine a mix of hard and soft cheeses like fontina, brie, smoked gouda and stilton with an assortment of crackers or bread. Add additional accouterments like olive tapenade, flavored almonds and fruit preserves.
9. Fresh raw oysters on the half shell
Nothing beats fresh raw oysters when it comes to Valentine’s Day foods. Serve over ice with lemon wedges, and indulge in your fresh oysters.
10. French dip sandwiches
French dip sandwiches are indulgent roast beef and Swiss sandwiches served on a soft baguette. Be sure to have hot beef broth for dipping so you and your partner can share the experience together.
11. Lobster mac and cheese
Not sure how to elevate your Valentine’s Day dinner? Add tender pieces of lobster meat to rich and creamy mac and cheese for an out-of-this-world combination that will surely delight your partner.
12. Four-cheese ravioli
Cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella and provolone create a winning flavor combination perfect for stuffing handmade ravioli pillows. This ravioli recipe allows you to show off your budding culinary skills.
13. Eggs Benedict
Practice makes perfect when it comes to mastering the poached eggs used to make a classic eggs Benedict. Complete with Canadian ham, English muffin and an ample drizzle of silky hollandaise sauce.
14. Croque madame sandwich
Kick up your normal breakfast sandwich with the French classic Croque madame. The hot sandwich consists of ham and melted Gruyere cheese on rye, with a poached or fried egg on top.
15. Waffles with fresh berries
Hot waffles with berries, cream and maple syrup sweep just about anybody off their feet. Just don’t forget the waffle iron.
16. Creme brûlée French toast
Try this trendy take on French toast to excite the taste buds of your beloved. Featuring a crackly brown sugar, these custard-like slices will become their new favorite.
17. Huevos rancheros
If this south-of-the-border classic isn’t a staple in your breakfast nook, making it for Valentine’s will be quite the special treat. Serve a fried egg with refried beans on a tortilla and top with fiery ranchero sauce as hot as you desire — the perfect huevos rancheros!
18. Chocolate lava cake
Not sure how to make box cake better? The ultimate Valentine’s Day dessert, chocolate lava cake is actually easier to make than you might think. But you still should practice first, just in case!
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19. Tiramisu
Add a hint of sweetness for your valentine with this vegan tiramisu recipe. Ladyfingers soaked in espresso, layered with mascarpone cream (or a dairy-free alternative) and other indulgent elements make this Italian dessert a winner for Valentine’s Day.
20. Strawberry trifle
This layered cake combines angel food cake, strawberries and sweet cream and is chilled in a deep dish overnight. Though it’s served cold, this trifle will melt your partner’s heart.
21. Cheesecake
Not sure what to make your loved one? Try this easy cheesecake recipe you can customize with any toppings. Dress it up with chocolate chips, raspberry compote or anything else your companion’s heart desires.
22. Chocolate-covered strawberries
The good news is if you waited until the last minute to pick up Valentine’s Day dessert, many grocery stores carry chocolate-covered strawberries. You can also make your own with this easy chocolate-covered strawberry recipe.
23. French macarons
Prove your devotion when you master making these delicate French macarons. These require expert timing and kitchen skills to make correctly, so you better start practicing.
Additional Resources Related to Valentine's Day Food
If you found this guide helpful and you're looking for more related Valentine's Day content, check out our other posts:
- cadAdorable Valentine Cookie Ideas + Recipes
- Dinner Ideas for Two
- Sweet Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Ideas
A Valentine's Day to remember
Express your love with food this Valentine’s Day. Nothing shows you care more than a delicious home-cooked meal. Cut down on the grocery shopping process and place your order through Instacart — receive all your items right to your door. This way, you can make prepping for Valentine’s Day easier.
Cady Cohen
Author
Cady Cohen is a culinary writer at Instacart who empowers home cooks to navigate the exciting world of food with confidence. She has worked in digital media for over seven years covering food, health, and wellness. From handy conversion charts and recipe calculators to in-depth cooking guides, Cady's work makes grocery shopping a breeze and empowers you to make informed choices about what you put on your plate.
Heather Matley
Editor
Heather Matley is an editor at Instacart whose passion for food and cooking has inspired her work on everything from grocery guides to recipe development. With over eight years of experience in editing, content creation, and search engine optimization, she strives to empower readers with the most effective tools, guides, and ideas to transform their home cooking.
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