The ultimate guide to Valentine’s Day Recipes! Whether you want appetizers, main dishes, desserts, or drinks we’ve got you covered!
Move over flowers and bring on the chocolate! Valentine’s Day, to me, is allllll about the food. I’d much rather be spoiled with a homemade meal (complete with appetizer, dessert, and fun cocktail pleaseandthankyou), than with gifts and flowers. I know you’re all with me!
What foods are associated with valentine’s day?
Red wine, chocolate, and strawberries are most commonly associated with Valentine’s Day. Elegant pastas, steak dinners, seafood dishes, cheesecake desserts, and champagne are also often found on romantic Valentine’s Day dinner menus.
What is a good meal to cook for valentine’s day?
The perfect Valentine’s Day meal is one that doesn’t require a lot of hands-on time, but tastes like it did. 😉 For a complete Valentine’s Day meal, be sure to include an appetizer, a main protein (such as steak), a pasta, a vegetable side, soup, and/or salad, a dessert, and a fun cocktail!
Whether you’re cooking for 1, 2, or the whole family, we’ve got you covered with easy and delicious Valentine’s Day recipes.
appetizers
These starters are the perfect way to get dinner going. They’re elegant and impressive, but are all quick and easy.
Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta
This Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta is my new favorite appetizer. Slightly chewy bruschetta is topped with creamy goat cheese, peppery arugula, juicy strawberries, and earthy basil!
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
These Smoked Salmon Pinwheels are perfect for easy and elegant holiday entertaining. Quick and easy to make with only four ingredients: tortillas, a lemon pepper and asiago spread, smoked salmon, and spinach!
Crab Cake Recipe
This Crab Cake Recipe is light, fresh, crispy, and paired with a creamy crab cake sauce. Ready in under 20 minutes, making it the perfect appetizer for any get-together!
Warm Walnut Goat Cheese Bites
Warm Walnut Goat Cheese Bites. Goat cheese mixed with honey and spices, rolled in crushed walnuts, and baked until warm!
Cranberry Brie Bites
These Cranberry Brie Bites are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Made with buttery, golden-brown puff pastry and topped with melty brie cheese, cranberry sauce, and crunchy toppings, these are sure to be a hit at any party!
Salmon Patties
These Salmon Patties are crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. Loaded with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon, hot sauce, and more, this appetizer is packed with flavor!
Strawberry Baked Brie Recipe
This Strawberry Baked Brie is the easiest appetizer for spring! Warm brie is topped with strawberries, basil, pecans, & a simple balsamic/honey marinade.
sides
Depending on your main dish, serve a soup, salad, vegetable, and/or carb-y delight to round out your meal.
Garlic Bread Recipe
This Garlic Bread Recipe is so quick to make and results in moist, chewy, buttery, garlicky, and deliciously crispy side dish or appetizer.
Mashed Potatoes
These are the BEST Mashed Potatoes! They're fluffy, yet rich and creamy, ultra buttery, and only require 4 ingredients!
Instant Pot Basmati Rice
This Instant Pot Basmati Rice is easier than making rice on the stove. This perfectly fluffy rice is a quick and easy side dish that's great served with any dinner.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe
This Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe is smothered in a bacon fat, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar dressing and tossed with goat cheese, parmesan, and bacon!
Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
This Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans is everything you could ask for in a salad. Crispy romaine paired perfectly with fresh, juicy pear, creamy blue cheese, sweet and crunchy pecans, and a fresh, tangy red wine vinaigrette dressing.
Instant Pot French Onion Soup
This Instant Pot French Onion Soup is loaded with buttery caramelized onions, a rich and flavorful broth, ooey-gooey, melty cheese and homemade crispy croutons!
Drop Biscuits
These Drop Biscuits are crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle! These easy biscuits are ready in under 30 minutes and made with Bisquick, buttermilk, and white cheddar.
Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
This Balsamic Roasted Vegetables Recipe is gluten-free, vegan, and so easy to make. This healthy side dish is made up of your favorite veggies coated in a tangy balsamic dressing.
Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This Strawberry Pretzel Salad has a crunchy pretzel crust, a tangy cream cheese filling, and a sweet topping made with strawberry jello and fresh strawberries. The BEST side dish or dessert for the holidays!
Cornbread Recipe
This is the BEST Cornbread Recipe! Made with cornmeal, creamed corn, and sweet corn – it's gluten free, perfectly sweet, and PACKED with corn flavor.
Rhodes Rolls
How to Make Frozen Rolls Better: a few simple ways to make your store-bought Rhodes Rolls taste homemade. They’re SO easy, pillowy soft, and ultra buttery.
Valentine’s day dinner recipes
Seafood and pasta SCREAM Valentine’s Day dinner. Whatever you choose, I love a dinner that tastes complicated, but is deceivingly easy to make.
Air Fryer Salmon
This Air Fryer Salmon is crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, and coated in a sweet and spicy brown sugar chili rub. Quick, easy, and healthy weeknight dinner.
Easy Shrimp Alfredo
This easy shrimp alfredo is an impressive dish that's so easy to make! Penne pasta, shrimp, vegetables, and a creamy alfredo. What's not to love?
Lasagna Recipe
This Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe is a family favorite! This classic dinner is full of homemade bolognese, a creamy cottage cheese or ricotta filling, and gooey cheese.
Baked Crab Mac and Cheese
This Baked Crab Mac and Cheese requires JUST ONE pot and is loaded with perfectly-cooked pasta, crab, a creamy cheese sauce, white wine vinegar, Old Bay seasoning, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping!
Chicken Parmesan
This is the BEST Chicken Parmesan! You're only 45 minutes away from crispy chicken topped with marinara and ooey-gooey cheeses. Serve with pasta for the perfect weeknight dinner.
Lemon Pepper Scallops with Orzo Pasta
This Lemon Pepper Scallops with Orzo Pasta Recipe is surprisingly quick and easy to make! Full of fresh lemon, garlic, and just a touch of butter!
Easy Lemon Honey Baked Salmon
Easy Lemon Honey Baked Salmon. A quick, easy, gluten free, and healthy recipe made with salmon fillets, salt, pepper, garlic powder, honey, lemon juice, butter, and dijon mustard!
Chicken Cordon Bleu
This Chicken Cordon Bleu is a classic family favorite that only requires 20 minutes of prep! Chicken is rolled with ham and melty Swiss cheese then baked to golden-brown, crispy perfection!
Truffle Mac and Cheese
This Truffle Mac and Cheese is restaurant quality, but made with every day ingredients! This easy dinner is rich, creamy, and loaded with bacon — what's not to love?!
Vegetarian valentine’s day meals
Cooking up a meatless meal? These vegetarian dinners won’t disappoint!
Cacio e Pepe
This Cacio e Pepe is a classic Italian pasta dish! Bucatini pasta is tossed in a buttery cheese sauce and flavored with plenty of freshly ground black pepper!
Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
This Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto is insanely creamy thanks to three kinds of cheese: asiago, romano, and parmesan! It's loaded with butter, onions, baby Bella mushrooms, spinach, peas, a splash of wine, and lemon. A decadent vegetarian main or a creamy side dish to your favorite protein!
Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff Recipe
This Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff Recipe is a healthy twist on the classic beef stroganoff and it's loaded with tons of mushrooms, spices, almond milk, and a little splash of wine! Serve it over pasta, spaghetti squash, mashed potatoes . . . the choice is yours!
Manicotti Recipe
This Manicotti Recipe is the perfect vegetarian weeknight dinner — stuffed pasta tubes doused in your favorite sauce and topped with melty cheese! Ready in under an hour!
Stuffed Shells
These Stuffed Shells are packed with cheese and kid approved! This quick weeknight dinner is easy, cheesy, perfection!
One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta
This One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta is even better than the original! The pasta cooks directly in the sauce made with chicken or vegetable broth, skim milk, butter, garlic, parmesan, and italian seasoning!
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
This Sun Dried Tomato Pesto is a sweet, tangy, fresh twist on a classic Italian sauce. Perfect for pasta, pizza, or dipping!
Slow cooker valentine’s day recipes
Valentine’s Day is great if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday and you have plenty of time to cook a meal. But what if it falls on a weekday? Enter: Valentine’s Day slow cooker meals! Prep in the morning before work and dinner is ready to go when you walk through the door.
Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu
This Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu is a classic comfort food made casserole-style in the slow cooker! Salty ham, tender chicken, gooey Swiss cheese, stuffing mix, and more in a rich and creamy sauce.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a stick-to-your-ribs meal made healthier. Loaded with chuck roast, veggies, and a rich broth, this is the perfect, hearty fall meal!
Slow Cooker Flank Steak
This Slow Cooker Flank Steak is ultra tender and coated in a flavorful brown sugar chili powder rub. This easy weeknight dinner requires less than 10 ingredients!
Crockpot Lasagna with Ravioli
This Crockpot Lasagna with Ravioli is the best hands-off dinner! Frozen ravioli, three kinds of cheese, pasta sauce, and Italian sausage are layered in the slow cooker then cooked to cheesy and flavorful perfection!
Crockpot Lemon Chicken
This Crockpot Lemon Chicken is light and fresh yet rich and creamy. Tender chicken is tossed in a lemony cream cheese sauce and served over brown rice!
Crockpot Chicken Parmesan
This Crockpot Chicken Parmesan is a classic Italian-American dinner made in the slow cooker! Juicy breaded chicken, tender spaghetti noodles, and flavorful pasta sauce all topped off with melty cheese.
desserts for chocolate-lovers
Chocolate is THE classic Valentine’s Day food. Whether it’s in the form of store-bought candies or a homemade indulgent dessert, chocolate is always on my Valentine’s Day menu.
These easy-to-make desserts are decadent and delicious but simple to make and are the perfect way to wrap up any Valentine’s day meal!
Red Velvet Ice Cream
This No Churn Red Velvet Ice Cream is swirled with gooey cake batter, tangy cream cheese frosting, and fluffy cake pieces. Bonus: no ice cream maker required!
How to Make Box Brownies Better
How to Make Box Brownies Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed brownies taste like they're made from scratch. Moist, fudgy, chocolate-y, and so easy!
Fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
If you love fluffy, soft, dense, gooey cookies, then this Fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe with toasted pecans and two kinds of chocolate is for you!
Chocolate Pudding Pie
This Chocolate Pudding Pie is rich, smooth, and ultra creamy. Homemade chocolate pudding is set in a crispy Oreo pie crust, then topped with fluffy whipped cream.
Cake Mix Chocolate Lava Cake
Lava cakes just got easier with my fool proof short cuts: cake mix and muffin tins! This cake mix chocolate lava cake recipe uses devil's food cake mix, chocolate pudding, and is filled with a two ingredient chocolate ganache! Fluffy cake with a molten lava center . . . what's not to love?
Oreo Balls
These No-Bake Oreo Balls are made with Oreos, cream cheese, vanilla, salt, and chocolate. They make the perfect quick and easy treat for any occasion! I've also listed different cookies, extracts, and chocolates below for fun variations!
Deep Dish Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two
These Deep Dish Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two are the perfect easy small batch sweet treat! A classic cookie loaded with walnuts and dark chocolate chips and baked in a jumbo muffin tin!
Chocolate Mug Cake
This is the best Chocolate Mug Cake! It's moist, rich, ooey-gooey, and packed with chocolate. The perfect personal-sized, microwave dessert!
Red Wine Chocolate Pudding Pie Recipe
This Red Wine Chocolate Pudding Pie will be the star of your next holiday gathering. A simple graham cracker crust is filled with the most decadent, rich, red wine chocolate pudding!
One Bowl Brownies
These One-Bowl Brownies are so easy to make requiring just 10 minutes and 8 ingredients! They're perfectly moist, fudge-y, gooey, chocolatey, and delicious!
Levain Cookie Recipe
This Levain Cookie Recipe is a copycat version of the famous Levain Bakery's signature cookie: chocolate chip walnut! These ultra-thick cookies are crispy on the outside and ooey-gooey in the middle.
Crockpot Lava Cake
This Crockpot Lava Cake is ooey-gooey and packed with chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding, and melty chocolate chips.
Brownie Mix Cookies
These Brownie Mix Cookies are fudge-y, chewy, and extra chocolatey! Made with brownie mix, pudding, and chocolate chips, these cookies couldn't be easier or more delicious.
desserts for fruit-lovers
Chocolate may be a classic, but if you’re more of a fruity dessert lover don’t worry…I’ve got you covered on that front too. 😉
Lemon Lava Cake Recipe
An ultra tender cake with slightly crisp edges and a perfectly white chocolate lemon-y molten lava gooey center, this Lemon Lava Cake is surprisingly easy and so decadent!
Strawberry Brownies
These Strawberry Brownies are made with strawberry cake mix AND strawberry jello mix to form this fruity, ooey-gooey dessert.
Vegan Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
These Vegan Raspberry Bars are so easy to make. They're gluten free and loaded with oats, brown sugar, walnuts, raspberry preserves, and more!
Lemon Cookies
These Lemon Cookies are perfect for lemon lovers! These fluffy cookies are made with lemon cake mix, lemon pudding mix, and topped with a sweet and tangy lemon glaze.
Mini Apple Pies
These Mini Apple Pies are like individual, perfectly portioned deep-dish pies! This twist on a classic is brimming with gooey apple filling, topped with a crumb topping, and wrapped in a flaky pie crust.
Instant Pot Rice Pudding
This Instant Pot Rice Pudding is ultra creamy, buttery, and packed with tender rice and chewy raisins. This quick and easy dessert is great served warm or chilled.
Peach Crisp
This Peach Crisp is a classic summer comfort food! Frozen peaches are baked into a gooey filling and topped with a crispy oat, pecan, and brown sugar streusel.
No-Bake Champagne Cheesecake
Layered with a delicious graham cracker crust, a sweet and creamy filling, and a light and fluffy whipped topping, these no-bake champagne cheesecakes are the perfect dessert for any party!
Lighter Lemon Walnut No Bake Cheesecakes
Lighter Lemon Walnut No Bake Cheesecakes. A naturally sweetened walnut date crust topped with a creamy coconut yogurt, cream cheese, honey, lemon filling!
Key Lime Pie
This Key Lime Pie Recipe has a shortbread cookie and pistachio crust and a bright, yet creamy filling made with sour cream and condensed milk!
Lemon Bars
This Lemon Bars Recipe is the perfect Summer dessert! A buttery shortbread crust is topped with a sweet, citrusy, and perfectly gooey lemon curd filling.
Valentine’s day drinks
You can’t go wrong with a simple bottle of your favorite red wine or bubbly, but I love to get a little creative with a cocktail or a mug of spiked hot chocolate for an after dinner night cap!
Mimosa
This Mimosa recipe is as easy as it gets. Two ingredients and two minutes for the perfect bubbly brunch cocktail!
Strawberry Basil Gin Cocktail
This strawberry basil gin cocktail is perfect for summer! Subtly sweet, a little tart, and truly refreshing!
Four Champagne Cocktails for New Year's Eve
These Champagne Cocktails are made FOUR ways: Raspberry Royale, Mimosa, Poinsettia, and Classic — the perfect addition to your New Year's Eve party!
Red Velvet Hot Chocolate for Two
This red velvet hot chocolate for two is so luxurious, chocolatey, and really does taste just like a drinkable version of cake batter! Chambord optional!
Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita Recipe
This Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita Recipe is sweet from strawberries, spicy from jalapeno, tart from lime juice, & a little smoky from the chili salt rim!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
– Jennifer