Oh, Valentine's Day. It's the holiday that inspires us to celebrate love — and wait forever to sit down at a restaurant for a romantic meal.
This year, we suggest skipping the busy restaurants and long waits that can make Valentine's Day unenjoyable. Instead, you and your significant other should whip up a meal at home. Cooking together can get saucy — pun intended — and so can surprising your love with a home-cooked dinner. Plus, you can make a meal that's just as memorable as what you'd have in a restaurant.
Of course, you need a recipe to kick things off. Here are 10 ideas for that sweet Valentine's Day meal you've been picturing.
1. Pasta With Sundried Tomatoes and Burrata by Halfbaked Harvest
What's the one thing you love more than your partner? Pasta, of course! But the three of you can make amends for the sake of Valentine's Day.
Jokes aside, this easy recipe incorporates a slew of ingredients you're likely to have in your pantry already. Once you finish the pasta, you top it all off with delicious globs of burrata cheese. Yum!
2. New York Strip Steak by Good Housekeeping
Perhaps you have a partner with carnivorous tendencies. If so, this recipe teaches you how to prep a NY strip like a pro. You won't need to go outside and fire up the grill, either.
Instead, all you need is a cast-iron skillet and five ingredients. With that, you'll have savory steaks that go with all of your favorite chophouse sides.
3. Smothered Pork Chops With Broccoli and Mushrooms by Country Living
Valentine's Day doesn't necessarily mean you want to indulge in an over-the-top dinner. Instead, you can whip up this delectable dinner, which features a lighter sauce than a traditional smothered pork chop.
Of course, using white wine, Dijon mustard and creme fraiche means that your chops will still have plenty of flavor. The recipe calls for you to roast mushrooms and broccoli, but you could add any of your favorite veggies to the menu.
4. Mussels in Wine and Garlic by Maine Lobster Now
For an amateur cook, mussels may seem daunting. However, it turns out that this seafood dinner doesn't require a high level of culinary skill. Plus, you'll be serving your love a plate of garlic-and-wine-infused mussels — it's impressive for Valentine's Day! You can make things even tastier by pairing your shellfish with warm homemade biscuits.
5. Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs by the Salty Marshmallow
Let's say your partner loves fried chicken. You might not want to bring home a bucket for Valentine's Day. Instead, whip up this classy, oven-baked version of their favorite treat. The recipe has plenty of seasoning to make your chicken just as savory as the fried stuff. And oven-baking it makes it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Your spouse will be kissing the chef for that!
6. Creamy Parmesan Linguine With Shrimp by Cooking Classy
Do you remember the iconic scene from "Lady and the Tramp?" The one where the pups share a plate of pasta? You could have the same romantic linguine-centric kiss that the two pups share. Just prepare one giant bowl of this shrimp linguine, grab two forks and hope for the best!
7. French Onion Pot Roast by Little Spice Jar
This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Friday, which means you probably have to go to work all day before making dinner. If you're super organized, you can prepare this pot roast in a slow-cooker before work. Set the device to cook while you're at the office. Then, you'll come home to a hearty and warm Valentine's Day dinner — and you can both relax and enjoy the evening.
8. Spinach-and-Goat-Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Breasts by The Organic Kitchen
The name of this recipe says it all. To make it, you'll be slicing chicken cutlets in half, then stuffing them with a savory goat-cheese-and-spinach filling. Roll up the chicken bundles, then bake them so they're cooked through. Warming up the cheese will make it nice and gooey, just like your heart when you see your spouse. Awwww!
9. Strawberry Ravioli With Balsamic and Basil by A Beautiful Mess
What's better than pasta for Valentine's Day? Pink pasta for Valentine's Day, of course!
This recipe incorporates strawberry into the pasta shell, but the final product will be more savory than sweet. After creating the pasta dough yourself, you'll spoon a ricotta-based filling inside. Finish it all off with a tangy balsamic reduction and you've got a perfectly festive main course.
10. Vegetarian Pot Pie by A Couple Cooks
A cozy night in calls for an equally warm recipe. This vegetarian pot pie piles potatoes, peas, cannellini beans, onions and more beneath a sage-infused crust. You can prep the ingredients in advance so you can quickly throw them into your pie crust, bake it and then enjoy Valentine's Day with your spouse.
Make Valentine's Day Yours
As you can see, there's no reason to make a reservation this Valentine's Day. Instead, you and your love can stay in, cook a delicious meal and enjoy each other in your home. There's not much that's more romantic than that!
