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
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
Crab Cake Recipe
Warm Walnut Goat Cheese Bites
Cranberry Brie Bites
Salmon Patties
Strawberry Baked Brie Recipe
sides
Depending on your main dish, serve a soup, salad, vegetable, and/or carb-y delight to round out your meal.
Coconut Lime Rice
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
French Onion Soup Recipe
Drop Biscuits
Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
Cornbread Recipe
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.
Easy Shrimp Alfredo
Lasagna Recipe
Baked Crab Mac and Cheese
Chicken Parmesan
Lemon Pepper Scallops with Orzo Pasta
Easy Lemon Honey Baked Salmon
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Vegetarian valentine’s day meals
Cooking up a meatless meal? These vegetarian dinners won’t disappoint!
Cacio e Pepe
Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto
Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff Recipe
Manicotti Recipe
Stuffed Shells
One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
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 Pot Roast
Honey Dijon Crockpot Ham
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Cauliflower Leek Soup Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe
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!
Chocolate Pudding Pie
Cake Mix Chocolate Lava Cake
Oreo Balls
Deep Dish Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two
Chocolate Mug Cake
Red Wine Chocolate Pudding Pie Recipe
One Bowl Brownies
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
Vegan Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
Lemon Cookies
Mini Apple Pies
Peach Crisp
No-Bake Champagne Cheesecake
Lighter Lemon Walnut No Bake Cheesecakes
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
Strawberry Basil Gin Cocktail
Four Champagne Cocktails for New Year's Eve
Red Velvet Hot Chocolate for Two
Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita Recipe
Happy Valentine’s Day!
– Jennifer