If you’re looking for ideas to make a romantic dinner for two, I have the most awesome recipes that are guaranteed to impress your date! With your loved one and one of these perfect romantic dishes, you can make dinner at home a special experience!
A collection of tasty & impressive dinners that are perfect to share with the one you love on special occasions and date night!
A nice restaurant is not always necessary when you want an intimate date night. In fact, spending time and effort preparing a dish is arguably more romantic because it comes from the heart.
Whether you are a rockstar in the kitchen, or you are still finding your footing, there are plenty of impressive and romantic dishes for cooks of any skillset!
Jump to:
- 1. Pan Seared Scallops
- 2. Filet Mignon on Asparagus Spears And Portobello Mushrooms
- 3. Spaghetti Bolognese
- 4.?Grilled Lamb Chops
- 5. Broiled Ribeye Steak
- 6. Blackened Cod
- 7. Baked Flounder
- 8. Shrimp Scampi
- 9. Broiled lobster tail
- 10. Crab Risotto
- 11. Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
- 12. Creamy Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken
- 13. Salmon With Dill Sauce
- 14. Grilled Chicken Fettuccine
- 15. Pan Seared Duck Breast
- ? Recipe
Below are a variety of dishes for different palates that will look beautiful when plated. Your job is to choose the one your date will enjoy most!
1. Pan Seared Scallops
Perfectly pan seared scallops are not only delicious, but extremely quick and easy to make. If you can get that perfect golden-brown sear on the outside, the hardest part is done!
Scallops are light enough that you can serve them with carb-heavy sides like fondant potatoes or parmesan risotto, and they go with pretty much everything!
2. Filet Mignon on Asparagus Spears And Portobello Mushrooms
This recipe for a grilled filet mignon is all-inclusive, meaning the sides are included in the recipe! If your date is a steak lover, this is the recipe for you.
A filet mignon is a gourmet cut of steak, so cook it perfectly and you’ll knock this out of the park! Pair it with a dry red wine like Malbec and a few candles, and you’ll have a picture-perfect romantic dinner for two.
3. Spaghetti Bolognese
Italian food is romantic in general (think the Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene), and a nice spaghetti Bolognese is easy and satisfying. If you are a novice chef, this is a great opportunity to surprise your date with a homemade meal while taking very little risk.
No need to worry about sides with this dish, but a little garlic bread never hurts.
4. Grilled Lamb Chops
Lamb is usually a special treat in itself, so an elegant grilled lamb chop is sure to impress. These grill up in about 20 minutes and will have your house smelling lovely from the aromatic herb rub.
Any traditional steakhouse sides will go well with lamb chops or keep it light and serve it with a Caesar salad and some homemade dressing.
5. Broiled Ribeye Steak
This list had to have a couple of steak options, and a perfectly cooked ribeye is another great choice. By broiling this ribeye, you can have a restaurant-quality steak in a matter of minutes.
Pick a nice thick cut and serve it up with some asparagus and oven roasted potatoes and you have yourself a well-rounded meal.
6. Blackened Cod
If seafood is more your thing, blackened cod is an easy choice. Cod is a mild tasting fish, so the seasoning really has room to shine. Use a good Cajun seasoning, and pair it with a few light sides so you can save room for dessert!
It only takes 13 minutes from start to finish, so you don’t have to spend all evening in the kitchen.
7. Baked Flounder
Another great seafood option, flounder is also a less “fishy tasting” fish. Crispy breading on the outside gives it a great textural profile and will go well with any sauces you may want to try.
Baked flounder can be made in roughly 20 minutes and will go with any savory or light side dishes. A nice white wine will complete the meal perfectly.
8. Shrimp Scampi
Butter, lemon, and white wine make up the delicious scampi sauce and provides a bright, citrus flavor to the pasta. It’s an extremely easy dish, but with some parsley as a garnish and nice dinnerware it will look like it took a lot of effort.
Peel and de-vein your shrimp ahead of time, and this recipe only takes 15 minutes. Set some candles and enjoy your romantic scampi dinner.
9. Broiled lobster tail
Talk about elegant, a lobster tail is the universal sign of a “fancy” dinner. Surprisingly enough, they cook quickly and taste great with very little intervention.
Serve it with some fondant potatoes and a green veggie of your choice, and you have a beautiful spread that only took minutes.
10. Crab Risotto
Creamy, indulgent crab risotto is a great all-inclusive dish. You don’ t necessarily need sides, I would focus more on dessert as the risotto is heavy on its own.
You will use a bit of wine making the risotto, so might as well share the rest of the bottle! If your date loves crab, this option will be a home run.
11. Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
Hear me out- pizza may not seem romantic, but it definitely can be. For a lovely date night idea, drink some wine while making a pizza together!
This recipe is fairly simple, and you can spend quality time talking and enjoying each other’s company! Sip your wine while it bakes, then share the fruits of your labor!
12. Creamy Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken
Not only is this creamy Parmesan garlic mushroom chicken easy to make, but it is also delicious! Serve it over some pasta, potatoes, or rice for an all-inclusive meal.
This warm dish is perfect for chilly evenings. The sauce is rich and comforting, you and your date will savor every bite!
13. Salmon With Dill Sauce
Dill has such an amazing, unique flavor and it’s known for pairing perfectly with salmon. While salmon may be delicious on its own, the creamy dill sauce takes it to the next level.
It's an elegant dinner that's perfect for two!
14. Grilled Chicken Fettuccine
If your date is not a fan of seafood, or is a picky eater in general, a nice grilled chicken fettuccine alfredo is a wonderful option. It’s a safe bet, so long as your fate eats meat.
Creamy alfredo sauce on fettuccine with perfectly grilled sliced chicken breast is savory and comforting. It doesn’t have to be an expensive cut of meat to make it date-night worthy.
15. Pan Seared Duck Breast
Last, but certainly not least, pan seared duck breast is an elegant and easy dish to make for a special date. Because duck is so fatty and flavorful, this recipe only requires the duck breasts and salt & pepper.
If your date has never tried duck, they are in for a treat! Duck and Pinot Noir are classically paired together and will create a date night to remember.
With so many options, you can make romantic dinners for two a reoccurring event. Try different dishes together and decide what your favorites are while honing your chef skills in the process!
Though I think you’ll come to find it is not the dish that’s important, it’s who you share it with!
If any of these dishes helped you impress your date, let us know by commenting below!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star??rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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? Recipe
Dinner For Two: Creamy Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken (+More Recipes!)
Ingredients
- 1 ? lbs chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- ? teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 8 oz mushrooms (cleaned and sliced, white button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms)
Creamy Parmesan Garlic Sauce
- ? cup butter (? stick or 4 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ? cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or whipping cream, or milk, or half & half)
- ? cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ? teaspoon garlic powder
- ? teaspoon onion powder
- ? teaspoon salt
- ? teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup baby spinach (washed and chopped)
Instructions
- Pat your chicken breasts dry and trim any excess fat if needed. Season both sides of the chicken.1 ? lbs chicken breasts, ? teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- Heat a large skillet with the olive oil over medium heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Pan fry the seasoned chicken breasts to brown both sides until cooked and the chicken has an internal temperature of 165°F (64°C). Remove the chicken from your skillet when done and transfer to a plate. Set aside.2 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the sliced mushrooms and saute until browned and tender. Remove from the skillet and set aside.8 oz mushrooms
Creamy Parmesan Garlic Sauce
- Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in your skillet. Add the minced garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the flour and mix into the melted butter and garlic, stir frequently and cook the paste for about 2-3 minutes.? cup butter, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- Slowly whisk in portions of the chicken broth and heavy cream until the sauce is smooth, then stir in the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper.? cup chicken broth, 1 cup heavy cream, ? cup Parmesan cheese, ? teaspoon garlic powder, ? teaspoon onion powder, ? teaspoon salt, ? teaspoon ground black pepper
- Add the chopped baby spinach and stir into the sauce, then allow the sauce to come to a simmer. Once the sauce thickens and the spinach is wilted, return the chicken breasts and sauteed mushrooms back to your skillet.1 cup baby spinach
- Stir to combine and heat to your satisfaction. Serve immediately over pasta, rice, or potatoes.
Notes
- When cleaning mushrooms, it’s best to wipe them clean with a damp paper towel. ?Mushrooms are like little sponges, so if you run them under water they’ll absorb the water and be harder to brown!
- After adding the flour to the butter, keep an eye on the roux! You don’t want it or the garlic to burn – you just want to cook for a couple of minutes to get the raw flour taste out. ?
- If the sauce thickens too much, you can add up to another cup to the sauce!
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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