Valentine's Day Menu for a Date-Night In

Who's staying in for Valentine's Day?! We've got your whole menu ready to go. Choose from these great recipes and

By
Summer Miller
Summer Miller
Summer Miller

Summer has spent the last 12 years working in food media and she's the author of the award-winning book "New Prairie Kitchen."

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Published February 07, 2019
Summer Miller

Since having kids ten years ago, my husband and I haven’t celebrated Valentine’s Day Dinner.

It’s not for lack of love. It’s more like a shift in lifestyle. Our son was born February 12, and for the past decade we’ve been planning, hosting, or cleaning up after a house full of rambunctious boys rather than feeding each other chocolate covered strawberries.

(And no offense to chocolate and strawberries but they are kind of pain to eat. Normal people can’t bite into a chocolate covered strawberry and look sexy. You need special training for that kind of thing.)

This year, however, is going to be different. I’m planning a romantic dinner in and I wanted to share a few menu ideas for the homebodies among us!

Pick one dish from each category or mix and match the recipes below to make the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner for your special someone.

Strawberries aside, an easy and romantic dinner at home can be accomplished with a little planning. The key to an enjoyable Valentine’s Day Dinner at home is to remember the meal should be elegant, but not heavy. No one wants to wear their Thanksgiving Pants on February 14.

As the cook you want to feel relaxed and in your element. A simple, low stress meal is best. Nothing is sexier than confidence, especially confidence in the kitchen.

  • Drinks

  • Blood Orange French 75 Cocktail

    Blood Orange French 75 Cocktail
    Elise Bauer

    Start the night off by handing your better half this blood orange twist on the classic French 75 cocktail. Few things in life say sexy better than Champagne.

  • Old Fashioned Pink Lemonade

    Pink Lemonade
    Elise Bauer

    If your partner is a non-drinker, make him or her a red zero-proof mocktail. This slightly sweet, but also tart beverage gets its color from cranberry juice! Serve it in a martini glass with a lemon twist to make it extra special.

  • Main Course

    Continue to 5 of 12 below.

  • Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Caper Sauce

    seared scallops brown butter caper sauce
    Elise Bauer

    Scallops are pricey, but the good news is a little goes a long way. Three large scallops are the perfect serving size when paired with a side and dessert.

  • Rolled Stuffed Flank Steak

    Rolled Stuffed Flank Steak
    Elise Bauer

    Not everyone loves seafood. Rolled flank steak filled with roasted peppers and prosciutto is sure to satisfy the meat lover in your life. The meat requires a 2-hour marinade, but it only takes about 20 minutes of active prep work and 30 minutes in the oven.

  • Vegetable Sides

  • French Green Beans with Butter and Herbs

    French Green Beans Haricot Verts
    Elise Bauer

    Green beans add a bit of color to your plate, and they are easy to cook. You can serve these hot or at room temperature. Knowing you have options will help you keep your cool.

    Continue to 9 of 12 below.

  • How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

    large globe artichoke for steaming
    Elise Bauer

    Artichokes are eaten slowly, one leaf at a time, dipped in butter. Cue Marvin Gaye.

  • Desserts

  • Moroccan Orange Dessert

    Moroccan Orange Dessert
    Elise Bauer

    I like to start and end the meal with similar flavors. Reusing ingredients in more than one recipe helps simplify your shopping list and keep stress to a minimum. Blood oranges started the night in a cocktail, and they finish the night in this simple, elegant fruit dessert of sliced oranges sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. This dish follows the rule of less is more.

  • Champagne Chocolate Truffles

    Cindy Rahe

    Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be Valentine’s day if we didn’t incorporate chocolate somehow. These Champagne Chocolate Truffles are decorated with gold leaf to add an extra special touch. The recipe makes a lot. Feel free to halve it and save yourself some time. These can be made up to 3 days in advance.