50 Date Night Dinner Ideas (2024)

Do you have a romantic date night dinner coming up that you want to make extra special? It all starts with the perfect dinner main course — something that is delicious, fancy, and comforting. So if you are wondering what to make for date night that will wow your significant other, then you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 50 of the best date night dinner ideas for a romantic dinner at home including everything from seafood recipes, pasta recipes, chicken recipes, vegetarian recipes, and more!

Best Date Night Dinners

Surf and Turf Steak and Lobster Tails

Fancy, restaurant-quality surf and turf is super easy to make with fresh lobster tail and tender rib-eye steak with a delicious garlic butter sauce. One of my favorite romantic dinner ideas.

Easy Chicken Parmesan (Parmigiana)

Easy chicken parmesan (parmigiana) with crispy breaded chicken, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The best comfort chicken dinner for date night.

Creamy Garlic Shrimp

Creamy garlic shrimp is a delicious, quick and easy 15-minute meal (including prep!) that you need to include in your weeknight dinner meal plan. It's perfect for a romantic dinner at home.

The Best Ribeye Steak

Better than the steakhouse, the best tender and juicy ribeye steak with a perfect seared crust is garlicky, buttery and packed with so much flavour. Serve with a side of Air Fryer Asparagus or Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes.

Creamy Chicken Roulade with Spinach and Mushrooms

Give your chicken breasts an upgrade by stuffing them to make fancy, juicy chicken roulade with spinach and mushrooms topped with a creamy alfredo sauce. Serve it over spaghetti alfredo with spinach and mushrooms.

Seared Scallops

Garlicky, buttery, and perfectly seared scallops take less than 10 minutes to prep and cook. It's the easiest fancy, restaurant-grade meal to make at home.

Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb

This delicious garlic and herb-crusted rack of lamb is tender, juicy, and flavourful. It is surprisingly quick and easy to make at home in about 30 minutes.

Creamy Parmesan (No Wine) Risotto

Creamy Parmesan (No Wine) Risotto is a rich, creamy, and comforting classic Italian dish that may be intimidating but is actually quick and easy to make.

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Sticky and sweet, easy honey garlic glazed salmon is one of the best salmon recipes to add to your weeknight dinner rotation. Ready in under 25 minutes.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Creamy Tuscan chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach is a quick and easy 30 minute Italian chicken dinner that is delicious, flavorful, and comforting. Easy instant pot instructions in the recipe tips.

Honey Glazed Roast Pork with Vegetables

Easy one pan honey glazed roast pork is moist, tender, and juicy, coated with an irresistible honey glaze and packed with potatoes, green beans and apples. A romantic dinner.

Seafood for Date Night

Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

Creamy Tuscan shrimp packed with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, is creamy, rich, and delicious. Make it in just 15 minutes, including prep!

Greek Salmon

Greek salmon is delicious, flaky, and tender. This healthy oven-baked salmon is packed with Mediterranean flavors and is ready in just 20 minutes.

Yellow Curry Mussels

Yellow curry mussels are the epitome of delicious seafood - creamy, spicy, and savory. This flavourful one pot dish is quick + easy to make in 25 minutes. Seafood is always a good choice for a romantic dinner at home any night of the week.

Miso Black Cod (Sablefish)

Flaky, oily, and tender, miso black cod (or sablefish) packed with delicious Asian flavours is an indulgent meal that’s as healthy as it is delicious.

Almond-Crusted Halibut

You won't believe how easy it is to make fresh, flavourful and delicious almond-crusted halibut with lemon garlic butter this season.

Tigers Prawns in Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce

10-minute tiger prawns in garlic ginger soy sauce is juicy, tender and immersed in incredible Asian flavours. It's the perfect weeknight meal.

Pistachio-Crusted Salmon

Pistachio-crusted salmon is a gourmet dinner without the gourmet skills! Prepare this with a handful of ingredients in less than 20 minutes!

Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Garlic shrimp skewers are delicious and full of fresh flavor. These quick and easy kabobs can be grilled, baked or air fried for an easy summer date night dinner.

Steamed Mussels in Tomato Sauce

Steamed mussels in tomato sauce is an impressive restaurant-quality dish that is so quick and easy to make at home in less than 25 minutes.

Date Night Pasta

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake

Creamy shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta bake is garlicky, buttery, cheesy, loaded with shrimp + parsley and topped with mozzarella. Easy comfort food goals.

Spaghetti Carbonara

Creamy spaghetti carbonara (Spaghetti a la Carbonara) is a simple classic Italian pasta with pancetta that's quick and easy to make in minutes.

Pesto Penne Pasta

Quick and easy pesto penne pasta is a simple and light Italian pasta dish made with just five ingredients in under 15 minutes. The easiest summer dinner recipe. If you like this recipe, try Mascarpone Pesto Pasta.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine alfredo is a classic Italian pasta dish that is rich, creamy, and delicious. Plus, it comes together in less than 15 minutes!

Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes

Creamy shrimp pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is a delicious, quick and easy meal that takes just 20 minutes to prep and make. The perfect weeknight dinner.

Cheesy Tortellini and Sausage Bake

Quick and easy, cheesy tortellini and sausage bake is a delicious 30-minute dinner packed with flavour. A family-favourite comfort food for busy weeknights.

Mascarpone Pesto Pasta

Quick and easy mascarpone pesto pasta is the tastiest creamy pasta dish you’ll ever make in under 15 minutes. It's the best weeknight dinner.

Mussels Pasta in Tomato Sauce

Mussels pasta in tomato sauce is a simple, light and fresh, seafood pasta dinner that you can make at home in 30 minutes. Easiest weeknight dinner.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick easy spaghetti bolognese with a rich, thick, delicious and flavourful meat sauce is a family favourite ready in 30 minutes. Best weeknight dinner.

Romantic Chicken Dinners

Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata

Quick and easy, creamy lemon chicken piccata is a simple and delicious 30-minute meal made with tender chicken breast in a light lemon sauce with capers.

Chicken Marsala

Chicken marsala in creamy mushroom sauce is a quick and easy 30-minute chicken dinner that is pure comfort food goals. A total crowd favourite.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Baked parmesan crusted chicken is breaded in a herby parmesan breadcrumb mixture and baked until crispy perfection. So flavourful and delicious.

Baked Souvlaki Chicken Breast

Juicy, tender, and moist, baked chicken breast with the best Greek souvlaki marinade is the most flavorful and delicious chicken dinner in under 30 minutes.

Roasted Spatchco*ck Chicken (Butterflied Chicken)

Quick and easy roasted spatchco*ck chicken (butterflied chicken) seasoned with garlic and thyme is juicy, tender, delicious and flavourful with minimal prep. Serve with some creamy mashed potatoes and garlic green beans.

Baked Queso Chicken

Baked queso chicken with tomatoes is an easy, cheesy, delicious chicken dinner that takes just 30 minutes to cook. One of the best comforting summer dinner ideas. Serve it on its own with or over Cilantro Lime Rice.

Roasted Balsamic Chicken with Cranberries

If you’re scrambling to figure out dinner with less than 30 minutes on hand, this sweet and tangy roasted balsamic chicken with cranberries will save the day. Serve with some creamy mashed potatoes or garlic mashed cauliflower.

Apple Cider Chicken with Butternut Squash

One of my favourite chicken recipes is quick, easy, one pan apple cider chicken with butternut squash, apples, and thyme, cooked in an apple cider sauce. Serve this fall meal in just 40 minutes. Don't forget some crusty bread to soak up all that juice.

Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken

Creamy lemon parmesan chicken is a simple, quick and easy 30-minute meal that is packed with flavour. The most comforting and easiest weeknight dinner.

Skillet Chicken Thighs and Potatoes

Tender, juicy, and crispy one pan skillet chicken thighs and potatoes and carrots is an easy weeknight dinner on your dinner table in less than 45 minutes. Serve with a warm brussels sprouts salad on the side.

Skillet Chicken with Lemon Garlic Sauce

Delicious creamy skillet chicken with lemon garlic sauce is a one-skillet meal that is ready in 30 minutes. It's garlicky, saucy, creamy, and so flavourful. Bread is a must to dip into this delicious sauce. Try pull apart garlic bread or easy no yeast biscuits.

Vegetarian Date Night Dinners

Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Easy vegan stuffed peppers are filled with brown rice, mushrooms, veggies, and seasonings, then baked for 40 minutes. It's a perfect date night dinner. Serve it with a Classic Coleslaw on the side.

Stuffed Butternut Squash with Wild Rice

Healthy hearty and wholesome stuffed butternut squash with wild rice and mushrooms is an easy cozy vegetarian fall dinner or side. The best comfort food.

Spring Vegetable Frittata

Spring vegetable frittata is a delicious breakfast or served at any time of the day. It's a one-pan meal that starts on the stove and moves to the oven.

Falafel

Homemade falafel are delicious, golden brown and crispy on the outside, fluffy tender and soft inside. Plus, they're vegan, loaded with plant-based protein.

Potato Galette with Arugula and Crème Fraîche

Potato galette with arugula and crème fraîche is a rich, light, and delicious savoury tart to serve for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A total crowd-pleaser.

15-Minute Lo Mein

Say goodbye to takeout and make easy 15-minute lo mein at home using fresh and healthy ingredients. Or try Vegetarian Chow Mein for an easy summer dinner recipe.

Spinach and Feta Quiche with Cauliflower Crust

Spinach and feta quiche is healthy and gluten-free with a keto cauliflower crust and savoury vegetarian filling. Serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Romantic Date Night Dinner Tips

1. Plan your menu ahead of time. You can prepare some of these recipes in advance, and store them in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature or longer in the refrigerator. Some can even be made much further in advance and frozen, according to recipe directions.
2. Prep your ingredients. If you aren't able to make something completely in advance, then prepare as much as you can ahead of time, whether that is chopping ingredients, making a sauce, or assembling the dish and storing in the refrigerator until it's ready for the oven. Anything that you can prepare in advance will make things go much more smoothly on date night.
3. Set the table. Take out the fancy plates, mugs, flatware, placemats, and napkins to make date night dinner even more special. If you have time, set the table early so that you don't have to worry about it later.

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Did You Make Any of These Romantic Date Night Dinner Recipes?

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