38 Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinners to Make at Home
Updated: Jul. 21, 2022Forgo fancy food at an expensive restaurant! You and your sweetie will adore these romantic Valentine's Day dinners to make at home.
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Cast-Iron Skillet Steak
If you’ve never cooked steak at home before, it can be a little intimidating. That’s why I came up with this simple steak recipe that’s so easy, you could make it any day of the week. It’s the perfect romantic Valentine’s Day dinner to make at home. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
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Cheesy Chicken Parmigiana
My husband used to order chicken parmigiana at restaurants for years. I found this cheesy chicken parmesan recipe in our local newspaper, adjusted it for two and began making this at home. After 50 years of marriage, I still enjoy making his favorite recipes. -Lola Butler, Sun City, California
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Walnut and Oat-Crusted Salmon
I think this recipe gives you the most omega-3 fatty acid bang for your buck! —Cristen Dutcher, Marietta, Georgia
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Homemade Fettuccini Alfredo
This easy Alfredo sauce is creamy, comforting and coats fettuccine noodles in fine fashion. This recipe is wonderful as is, but sometimes I like to add sliced fresh mushrooms and black olives that have been sautéed in butter and garlic. —Jo Gray, Park City, Montana
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Parmesan Pork Medallions
Here’s one of the best pork medallion recipes I’ve found. With my own special tweaks, I have served this tender pork countless times for family and friends. It takes very little prep time and adapts easily to serve any number. —Angela Ciocca, Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
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Air-Fryer Garlic-Butter Steak
This quick and easy air-fryer steak recipe is restaurant-quality. It’s about to become a staple at your house, too! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
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Slow-Cooker Italian Chicken
My father used to love it when I made this slow-cooker Italian chicken. Since it includes a flavorful tomato sauce, it’s especially good served over pasta or rice. —Deanna D’Auria, Banning, California
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Cranberry Short Ribs
We live in the Yukon bush, so I pick wild cranberries for this incredibly tender comfort food. I sometimes substitute moose for the beef. —Cathy Wylie, Dawson City, Canada
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Shrimp Pasta Primavera
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So when I invite that special guy to dinner, I like to prepare something equally wonderful. This well-seasoned pasta dish has lots of flavor, and it won’t hurt your budget! —Shari Neff, Takoma Park, Maryland
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Turkey Cutlets with Pan Gravy
Using cutlets or any boneless meat speeds up cooking time for this quick entree. You can use thin boneless, skinless chicken breast as well. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
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Air-Fryer Scallops
I never liked seafood until my husband urged me to try scallops, and now I love them. With the crunchy breading, my air-fryer scallops are the best you’ll ever have. —Martina Preston, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
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Quick Carbonara
Carbonara is a dinnertime classic, but my version cuts down on the time it takes to make. Loaded with ham, bacon, olives, garlic and Parmesan, it certainly doesn't skimp on flavor. —Carole Martin, Tallahassee, Florida
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Flavorful Salmon Fillets
Compliments are a sure thing when I fix these fabulous salmon fillets. A tasty marinade pumps up the flavor and keeps them moist and tender. —Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon
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Four-Cheese Stuffed Shells
More cheese, please! You’ll get your fill from saucy jumbo pasta shells loaded with four kinds—ricotta, Asiago, mozzarella and cottage cheese. Do the prep work, and then freeze according to the recipe directions to have a ready-to-bake meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Chicken Reuben Roll-Ups
My Nebraska-native husband loves Reuben sandwiches and anything with chicken, so I combined his two favorites in a fun roll-up. —Ashli Kottwitz, Hermitage, Tennessee
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Tenderloin with Herb Sauce
Tender pork is treated to a rich and creamy sauce with a slight red pepper kick. This hearty dish is very simple to prepare and is always a dinnertime winner at my home. —Monica Shipley, Tulare, California
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Best Veal Scallopini
I found the best veal scallopini recipe in a magazine and adjusted it to suit our family’s tastes. Delicate, fine-textured veal requires only a short cooking time, making this simple entree even more attractive. —Ruth Lee, Troy, Ontario
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Goat Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Chicken
This spinach-stuffed chicken breast recipe is special to me because it has so much flavor, yet not too many calories. I love Italian food, but most of the time it is too heavy. This is a healthy twist on an Italian dish! —Nicole Stevens, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
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Sweet Potato Tortellini with Hazelnut Sauce
Using wonton wrappers instead of fresh pasta dough makes homemade tortellini easy to prepare. For more formal dinners, this makes an impressive vegetarian entree. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
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Corsican Chicken
Moist and tender chicken thighs make a delicious hot entree for winter months. Just add a salad and a lemon dessert. —Mary Bergfeld, Eugene, Oregon
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Ricotta Gnocchi with Spinach & Gorgonzola
When my family comes for a visit, they always ask me to make this unique dish for dinner. Homemade cheesy gnocchi is topped with a rich sauce made with butternut squash, spinach and Gorgonzola.— Brud Holland, Watkins Glen, New York
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Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken
My chicken bundles are simple, clean and comforting. Serve them with wild rice and green beans for one of our favorite meals. —Jim Knepper, Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania
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Slow-Cooked Beef Tips
These slow cooked beef tips remind me of a childhood favorite. I cook them with mushrooms and serve over brown rice, noodles or mashed potatoes. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
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Lazy Lasagna for 2
One day when I craved lasagna, I devised this simple recipe and it worked out beautifully. Celebrate weeknights, too! —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico
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Seared Scallops with Citrus Herb Sauce
Be sure to pat the scallops with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This helps create that perfectly browned and flavorful scallop your better half will love. —April Lane, Greeneville, Tennessee
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Italian Chicken Skillet Supper
Romano cheese, sliced vegetables and pine nuts jazz up this Italian sauteed chicken. It’s easy, and my whole family loves it. —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania
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Merlot Filet Mignon
Although this is a simple recipe, the filet is rich and elegant enough for a special occasion. Add a salad and rolls, and dinner is done! —Jauneen Hosking, Waterford, Wisconsin
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Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups
One night friends on a tight schedule stopped by. I invited them to stay for dinner, so I needed something I could fix in short order. I created these savory roll-ups, featuring a creamy three-cheese filling. They taste like lasagna but bake in a fraction of the time. —Julia Trachsel Victoria, British Columbia
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Steak Strips with Dumplings
Come home to this slow-cooked specialty all ready to eat! —John Smalldridge, Princeton, Idaho
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Pork Chops with Cranberry Pan Sauce
Moist and tender pork chops are treated to a sweet, light cranberry glaze in this weeknight-friendly entree. It's one of my husband's favorite recipes, and it's quite suitable for company, too. —Stephanie Homme, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Special Slow-Cooked Beef
This hearty entree is easy to prepare for Sunday dinner. While the beef is slow cooking, the cook has lots of time to attend to the other details. With mashed potatoes on the side, it’s comfort food for the cool months ahead. —Juli George, Grandville, Michigan
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Garlic Lemon Shrimp
You'll be amazed that you can make this simple, elegant pasta in mere minutes. Serve with crusty bread to soak up all of the garlic lemon sauce. —Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina
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Beef Filets with Portobello Sauce
These tasty steaks seem special, but they are fast enough for an everyday dinner. We enjoy the mushroom-topped filets with crusty French bread, a mixed salad and a light lemon dessert. —Christel Stein, Tampa, Florida
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Asparagus ‘n’ Shrimp with Angel Hair
We’ve all heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so when I plan a romantic dinner, this shrimp asparagus pasta with angel hair is one dish I like to serve. It’s easy on the budget and turns out perfectly for two. —Shari Neff, Takoma Park, Maryland
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Beef Steaks with Blue Cheese
My guests often ask for this winning recipe and are surprised at how simple it is to prepare. —Gloria Nerone, Mentor, Ohio
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Peppery Herbed Turkey Tenderloin
I won the North Carolina Turkey Cook-Off one year with these full-flavored tenderloins in rich sauce. Marinating the turkey in wine, garlic, rosemary and thyme gives it a fantastic taste. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida
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Sirloin Strips over Rice
I found this recipe in a movie magazine some 20 years ago. It was the favorite of some male star, but I don’t remember which one. Its great flavor and the fact that leftovers just get better have made it a family favorite! —Karen Dunn, Kansas City, Missouri
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Garlic Salmon Linguine
The garlic-seasoned main dish calls for handy pantry ingredients, including pasta and canned salmon. I serve it with asparagus, rolls and fruit. —Theresa Hagan, Glendale, Arizona
Originally Published: December 20, 2017
