20 Best Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

Our best Valentine’s Day dinner ideas! Find everything you need for a date night at home—cozy pastas, elegant risottos, side salads, and more.

These Valentine’s Day dinner ideas will help you plan the perfect date night at home! Jack and I gave up going to restaurants on Valentine’s Day years ago. We realized that it was way more romantic—and more fun—to spend time in the kitchen together than it was to eat at a crowded restaurant that we chose weeks or months in advance (because that’s how far ahead you have to plan in order to get a reservation).

I’ve rounded up some of our go-to date night dinner recipes below. They include classic Italian pastas, comforting risottos, soups, and more. Choose one for a delicious, romantic meal this weekend. I promise, with these recipes, you won’t regret dining in!

Our Top 5 Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

Homemade Pasta

What’s more romantic than homemade pasta?! This recipe calls for four simple ingredients and is fabulous with any sauce—marinara, pesto, arrabbiata…

Mushroom Risotto

Risotto requires a little too much stirring for a regular weeknight, but on a date night? It’s fun to hang out by the stove with your Valentine, sipping a glass of wine while this creamy, savory Italian dish comes together.

Eggplant Parmesan

With over 500 5-star reviews, this comforting recipe is a date night favorite among Love & Lemons readers. Corina wrote, “My partner and I made this together on Valentine’s Day and it turned out so good! We will definitely be keeping this recipe for special occasions.”

White Pizza

For Jack and me, homemade pizza is a go-to date night move. He makes the pizza dough while I prep the toppings, then we both assemble and eat. I especially love this white pie for Valentine’s Day. The creamy ricotta topping feels elegant and indulgent.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Coated in a silky cream sauce, this simple pasta is a restaurant-worthy date night dinner. Balance out your meal with a lemony arugula salad or sautéed broccolini.

Pasta Dinners for Valentine’s Day

Homemade Potato Gnocchi

If you’re ready to level up from homemade pasta, try making homemade gnocchi! These delicate potato pillows are like little clouds. Use them in this pesto gnocchi recipe or gently toss them with red sauce.

Lemon Pasta

Valentine’s Day dinner recipes don’t have to be complicated in order to be impressive! This zesty spaghetti is lightly creamy, bright, and ready in 20 minutes.

Penne alla Vodka

With its light red color, this classic penne alla vodka couldn’t be a more perfect Valentine’s Day dinner. The creamy sauce is easy to make with pantry ingredients and full of rich tomato flavor.

Mushroom Pasta

If your Valentine loves mushrooms as much as mine does (they’re one of Jack’s favorite foods!), then this pasta belongs in your date night rotation. Tip: Use a mix of varieties like cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms for extra depth of flavor.

Cacio e Pepe

Wish you could spend Valentine’s Day in Rome? Same! But the next-best thing is eating like you’re in Rome. Make this classic pasta with salty pecorino, freshly ground black pepper, and a touch of butter for a culinary trip to the Eternal City.

Pasta Puttanesca

Capers, olives, and plenty of garlic pack this pantry pasta with bold, briny flavor. L&L reader Eileen wrote, “Wow—the flavors are wonderful. This is a keeper!”

Vegetarian Lasagna

Hosting a Galentine’s Day dinner? This comforting classic would be the perfect main! It’s delicious, easy to make ahead, and great for feeding a crowd.

More Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

French Onion Soup

Bring French bistro vibes to your at-home date night by serving this savory French onion soup. Tip: Make extra cheesy toasts for topping. They’re totally addictive!

Butternut Squash Risotto

Tender rice, creamy butternut squash, and earthy sage team up in this flavorful one-pan meal. Serve it with your favorite wine and a simple green salad for an elegant Valentine’s Day dinner.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

L&L reader Roxanne called this soup “impressively tasty.” Fresh thyme, garlic, and white wine—along with plenty of mushrooms—fill it with earthy, savory flavor.

Roasted Cauliflower Steak

Jack and I have made this recipe for Valentine’s Day multiple times, and it’s always a memorable meal. I serve seared cauliflower steaks over a swoosh of arugula pesto and top them off with a nutty, herby Italian salsa verde.

On the Side

Citrus Salad with Fennel & Avocado

February is peak citrus season, so if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day side dish that will wow your sweetheart, this salad is for you. It combines juicy mandarins and grapefruit with raw and roasted fennel, creamy avocado, and bitter greens.

Arugula Salad

Bright and refreshing, this quick and easy salad is the ultimate side dish for a comforting plate of pasta.

Simple Green Salad

Another delicious side salad to serve with risotto, pasta, or pizza. My lemon vinaigrette fills this one with zesty flavor.

Caesar Salad

Even salad skeptics can get behind a classic Caesar! Doused in a 5-minute homemade Caesar dressing, this one is simple to make and packed with lemony, garlicky flavor.