13 Date Night Dinner Ideas for Valentine’s Day and Beyond

by Beth - Budget Bytes
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Some of my favorite emails from readers are the ones describing how learning to cook together as a couple has been a highlight of their relationship (I even got invited to a wedding once!). Every task is more fun when you do it with a friend, and cooking together is one where you’ll learn about yourself and each other in the process. AND you get to enjoy a really awesome meal when you’re done. So, crack a bottle of wine, pick one of these 10 Date Night Dinner Ideas, and have fun cooking dinner together tonight! 

Date Night Dinner Ideas

What Makes a Great Date Night Dinner?

My criteria for these Date Night Dinner Ideas is that they be at least a little bit fancy (no hamburger helper style meals here), but still very easy. Because while you want to make a really awesome meal, you don’t want it to be so complicated that you can’t have fun or interact with your partner. ;) I kept the sides simple, again to reduce stress, but you can always add more when your skills improve!

Date Night for Less than $15

Most of these dinners will cost less than $15, depending on how stocked your pantry is or what prices are like in your area, but I can pretty much guarantee that it will be less than half the cost of going out to eat. Plus, most of these dinners make 4-6 servings, so you’ll have a couple servings leftover to eat for lunch the next day, allowing you to relive the magic of the night before. ;)

13 Date Night Dinner Ideas for Valentine’s Day and Beyond:

 

Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Dinner

Close up of roasted tomatoes on top of Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken DInner
Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Dinner is an easy to execute, simple yet elegant, and flavorful weeknight dinner that you’ll want to add to your weekly rotation! 
4.74 from 19 votes
$11.99 recipe / $3.00 serving Get the Recipe

Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Dinner – This recipe has everything you need for a full dinner in one recipe. The chicken, potatoes, and tomatoes roast together on one sheet pan as you whip up a simple salad for the side. This is restaurant quality goods with very little effort, so you can chat up you date while the food roasts. Approximate cost: $11.99

Blackened Shrimp Pasta

This quick and easy 30 minute Blackened Shrimp Pasta with homemade blackening seasoning boasts huge flavor without a lot of work.
4.77 from 52 votes
$8.11 recipe / $2.01 serving Get the Recipe

Blackened Shrimp Pasta with Homemade Garlic Bread – If you can’t afford a romantic weekend getaway to New Orleans, bring it into your kitchen with this super simple Blackened Shrimp Pasta and a side of buttery Homemade Garlic Bread. Besides, date night is definitely a good excuse to splurge on shrimp! Approximate cost: $10.53


20 Minute Honey Mustard Chicken

This sweet and tangy 20 Minute Honey Mustard Chicken will be your new family favorite weeknight dinner. Only a few pantry staples needed! Budgetbytes.com
This sweet and tangy 20 Minute Honey Mustard Chicken will be your new family favorite weeknight dinner. Only a few pantry staples needed! 
4.88 from 39 votes
$5.28 recipe / $1.32 serving Get the Recipe

20 Minute Honey Mustard Chicken with Parsley Salad with Almonds and Apricots – Pan sauces are a great technique to learn for new cooks, so if you and your sweetheart are new in the kitchen, this 20 Minute Honey Mustard Chicken is a great place to start. It’s fast, easy, and you get a super luscious pan sauce as a result. Pair it with this Parsley Salad with Almonds and Apricots to play up the sweet-savory flavor combo and you’ll feel like you’re at a fancy bistro. Approximate cost: $9.56


Spinach and Feta Turkey Meatballs

Spinach and Feta Turkey Meatballs are an easy way to add flavor and protein to your meal using inexpensive ground turkey. Perfect for meal prep! Budgetbytes.com
Spinach and Feta Turkey Meatballs are an easy way to add flavor and protein to your meal using inexpensive ground turkey. Perfect for meal prep! 
4.94 from 49 votes
$7.83 recipe / $1.96 serving Get the Recipe

Spinach and Feta Turkey Meatballs, with pasta, marinara, and sautéed zucchini – This is one of my favorite meals, so easy and tasty! You’ll find the recipe for the meatballs in the link above, but I simply paired it with 8 oz. pasta (cooked), a store-bought jar of marinara, and then I quickly sautéed about a pound of sliced zucchini in the skillet after browning the meatballs. Super easy! Approximate cost: $12.26


Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce

Close up of Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce
Do something special for yourself and make this simple, yet elegant Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce. Restaurant quality without the enormous bill! 
4.78 from 35 votes
$4.87 recipe / $2.44 serving Get the Recipe

Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce and Homemade Garlic Bread – This Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce is the epitome of low maintenance meals that feel fancier than they really are, making it perfect for date night! Pair it with some simple garlic bread on the side and you’re good to go! Approximate cost: $5.30


Blackberry Sage Pork Chops

Finished Blackberry Sage Pork Chops in the skillet
A quick pan sauce turns run of the mill pork chops into restaurant quality, date night worthy, Blackberry Sage Pork Chops. 
4.98 from 43 votes
$6.30 recipe / $1.58 serving Get the Recipe

Blackberry Sage Pork Chops with Maple Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes – The sauce on these pork chops is soooo good, it will make your date weak in the knees! It’s sweet, savory, rich, and perfect for spooning over the nutty flavor of the Maple Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes. It’s a match made in heaven (like you two!). Approximate cost: $12.02


Sushi Bowls

Completed sushi bowl from above on a dark background.
Sushi Bowls are a fast, easy, and inexpensive alternative to your favorite sushi bar. Get your sushi fix without spending a fortune. 
4.99 from 54 votes
$8.824 recipe / $2.21 each Get the Recipe

Sushi Bowls with Sriracha Mayo and Sesame Slaw – Sushi is a really fun project to learn together in general, but if you’re not quite up for the rolling technique yet, you can do your sushi bowl-style! It’s really easy and you can customize the toppings based on your preferences. Sushi Bowls are kind of a meal on their own, but if you want to bulk up your meal a bit, Sesame Slaw makes a nice side. And if you happen to be near a Trader Joes, their frozen gyoza are THE BOMB and would go great with both of these recipes. Approximate cost: $14.05


Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta with Ricotta

It only takes a few fresh ingredients make this Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta with Ricotta, the perfect light lunch or dinner for summer! BudgetBytes.com
It only takes a few fresh ingredients make this Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta with Ricotta, the perfect light lunch or dinner for summer! 
4.80 from 25 votes
$8.69 recipe / $2.17 serving Get the Recipe

Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta with Ricotta and Homemade Garlic Bread – This Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta with Ricotta is ridiculously simple, but the addition of fresh basil and creamy ricotta makes it just a little extra special. I would splurge on good Ricotta for this one to take it over the top. Pair it with some simple Garlic Bread for a classic, light, summery date night dinner. Approximate cost: $11.12


Vegetarian Sweet Potato Tacos with Lime Crema

These light and refreshing Sweet Potato Tacos are filled with a simple sweet potato and black bean hash, and topped with a tangy lime crema. BudgetBytes.com
These light and refreshing Sweet Potato Tacos are filled with a simple sweet potato and black bean hash, and topped with a tangy lime crema. 
4.89 from 36 votes
$5.14 recipe / $1.29 serving Get the Recipe

Sweet Potato Tacos with Lime Crema and Cilantro Lime Rice – Tacos for date night?? YEAH! Who doesn’t love tacos?? Plus when you’re making tacos with love, they’re totally special enough for date night. Make sure to give those corn tortillas a good char for that extra special touch, and I promise this will be a meal to remember. Plus, this one is really easy to make vegan if you swap out the regular sour cream for a vegan sour cream alternative. :) Approximate cost: $7.13


Delicious Homemade Chicken Piccata

This rich and tangy Chicken Piccata is a fast, easy, and elegant answer to dinner. With just a few ingredients and a lot of flavor! BudgetBytes.com
This rich Chicken Piccata in a buttery lemon caper sauce is a fast, easy, and elegant answer to your weeknight dinner with just a few simple ingredients!
5 from 23 votes
$7.27 recipe / $1.45 serving Get the Recipe

Chicken Piccata with Parsley Pesto Pasta – Chicken Piccata is another example of a recipe where a simple pan sauce transforms a plain piece of meat into something seriously special. Drizzle that sauce all over your plate and the Parsley Pesto Pasta for maximum yumminess! Approximate cost: $11.45


Pasta with 5 Ingredient Butter Tomato Sauce

Pasta with 5 Ingredient Butter Tomato Sauce uses five simple pantry ingredients to make an incredibly rich and delicious sauce, perfect for any weeknight.
4.84 from 48 votes
$4.23 recipe / $1.06 serving Get the Recipe

Pasta with 5 Ingredient Butter Tomato Sauce and Homemade Garlic Bread – If you and your date are true beginners in the kitchen, this recipe is a great place to start. You’ll have fun making your pasta sauce “from scratch” and you’ll be amazed at just how rich and flavorful it can be with so few ingredients. Pair it with the classic homemade garlic bread and you will have mastered Cooking for Couples 101. Approximate cost: $9.69


Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs

You won't find an easier, more flavorful dish than these Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs. Sweet and savory, this dish is a family pleaser. BudgetBytes.com
You won't find an easier, more flavorful dish than these Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs. Sweet and savory, this dish is a family pleaser.
4.92 from 69 votes
$6.70 recipe / $1.12 serving Get the Recipe

Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs with Carrot Orzo Salad – These Maple Dijon Chicken Thighs look a lot fancier than they really are. Just mix up a quick sauce, poor it over the chicken, and let the oven do the rest of the work while you chat up your date. :) This one is just begging for a crisp white wine, so pair it with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or one of my favorites, Albariño. Approximate cost: $10.77


Tuscan White Bean Pasta with Homemade Garlic Bread – Just look at how pretty this dish is! I mean, if you want to impress your date or even just impress yourself with the cooking skills you’ve gained, make this amazing Tuscan White Bean Pasta. Your date will be “picture perfect.” Again I paired this with a simple Homemade Garlic Bread because we don’t want to get too complicated and garlic bread is a must with a big plate of pasta! Approximate cost: $8.88

Want Dessert?

I have to admit that I don’t cook a lot of desserts, but here are two really great options that aren’t too complicated and the flavors are universal enough to go with just about any meal:

Fudge Brownie Pots (for two)

When you want just enough indulgence for two, these rich fudge brownie pots are just what the doctor ordered. 
4.53 from 51 votes
$1.04 recipe / $0.52 serving Get the Recipe

Fudge Brownie Pots for Two


Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake is a simple yet impressive dessert that requires nothing but some fresh fruit and a few pantry staples. BudgetBytes.com
Strawberry Shortcake is a simple yet impressive dessert that requires nothing but some fresh fruit and a few pantry staples. 
4.94 from 15 votes
$6.63 recipe / $0.83 serving Get the Recipe

Strawberry Shortcake 

Also, check out my friend’s blog, Dessert For Two, for lots of great dessert (and dinner) ideas for two! She knows what’s up!

Share for fun…

And just for fun, if you want to share how cooking together has brought you and a loved one (anyone, not just a date) together, or you have a funny date night dinner story, feel free to share them in the comments below!

 

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  1. Made this last night and it was fabulous! Served with mashed potatoes and salad. I enjoyed how easy it was to make, and the sauce while admittedly a bit oily, was very tasty!

  2. A few of these recipes are already favorites. I prep and he cooks! Thank you for your wonderful recipes, suggestions, and advice.

  3. I thought I would use the chicken piccata recipe, but since that shows up often in my regular rotation, I went with the blackberry sage pork chops–OMG, what a hit! Thanks, so much, Beth–can’t believe I missed these when you first posted the recipe!.

  4. HI Beth– I just discovered your wonderful site last week. It is absolutely great!! So far I have tried three recipes – –and they have all been delicious. I especially like being able to adjust the number of servings, as ninety percent of the time there are only two for dinner.  Thank you!!! A fan!! Nancy

  5. When my husband and I moved in together, I was delighted to discover he liked cooking as much as I did.  We would fix dinner together every night.  It was so romantic.  Then I fell and broke my arm.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he couldn’t even chop an onion!  I was so in love I hadn’t noticed that I was doing all the prep work while he simply tossed the ingredients together.
    That was years ago, and we still cook together.  I still do the prep work, while he is El Sazonador (he’s much better than me at adjusting the seasoning) and does all the frying and sautéing. It works for us!

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  6. Love the idea of these recipes! Especially the blackberry sage pork chops! I’ve got a lot of new recipes to try now!! Thanks so much

  7. These ideas are fun. Cooking together is the best! Just wanted to say thank you for all the ideas and hard work you put into this blog. My husband and I are on first name referral basis with you after discovering and regularly using your blog since 2014:) “Beth wants us to try…” anyway may your readers all enjoy romance and love and fun in the kitchen, like we have!

      1. My husband and I do the same thing! I say, “Beth says…”, and my husband knows she’s usually right.