30 Romantic Dinner Ideas

At the top of all romantic dinner ideas: seared scallops! This seafood is easy to cook but feels like a restaurant. Serve it with a lemon herb butter sauce, which makes it taste absolutely divine.

This chicken piccata recipe is a classic romantic dinner recipe that’s simple and bursting with flavor! Tender chicken cutlets are pan-fried to golden perfection, then bathed in a vibrant lemon butter sauce.

Here’s a decadent dish for a romantic dinner: Truffle Mac and Cheese! This cozy pan mixes a rich, creamy white cheddar sauce with just the right hint of earthy truffle oil. If you're cooking for two, make a half recipe.

Here’s a deliciously creamy, cozy romantic dinner idea for any season: Mushroom Risotto! Throw mushrooms together with Parmesan cheese, white wine and if you like, a homemade mushroom broth. You won’t believe the silky, irresistible flavors.

This Tuscan Salmon might result in a few marriage proposals, which is why we also like to call it “Marry Me Salmon!” The tender fish is bathed in a luscious cream sauce with garlic, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and capers, making each bite bright, salty, and luxurious. 

If we had to name a romantic recipe, Cacio e Pepe would be at the top of the list! This Italian "cheese and pepper" pasta is creamy and savory, with spicy bursts of pepper.

Shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon, and white wine: what could be better? Our recipe for Shrimp Scampi is pretty stellar: juicy, garlicky shrimp swimming in a rich, tangy butter sauce. Sop it up with crusty bread, or pour it over pasta: either way, it’s divine.

Here’s a romantic dinner idea that consistently makes everyone who takes a bite say Wow. This Pecan Crusted Salmon is restaurant-style fancy, but quick and easy to whip up. It takes basic salmon to the next level, coating it in a crunchy topping of nuts, seasoned breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese.

When it comes to romantic recipes, we love a good cozy lasagna! The spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy, scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest. Leftovers save well if you're cooking for two!

This epic homemade pan pizza tastes just like the thick crust pizza from your favorite pizzeria. Cooking in a cast iron skillet makes the crust crispy on the outside and soft on the inside: and the cheese goes all the way to the edges.

It’s surprisingly simple to make chicken paillard that tastes like it’s straight out of a French bistro! It comes out tender and bathed in a tangy pan sauce—a perfect dish for a romantic dinner together.

Shrimp and grits is a luxurious comfort food that's perfect for sharing bowls on a romantic dinner! These creamy grits, tender shrimp, and luscious veggie gravy are bursting with flavor: the ideal meal for a splurge.

Here's an easy romantic dinner idea you can eat right out of the skillet: cheese tortellini in creamy marinara sauce! In just 15 minutes, you’ve got a pasta skillet that’s a symphony of flavor. The fresh basil-infused marinara sauce is perfectly complimented with pillows of tangy goat cheese.

Black truffles are the ideal romantic food. Their aroma is earthy and intoxicating. For a romantic dinner, try this Truffle Pizza! It's all about channeling that truffle love: savory mushrooms, gooey cheese, and finished off with a truffle oil that infuses the entire pie.

Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that has loads of variations. Often it’s made with seafood, but we’ve also tasted many delicious vegetable-based versions while traveling in Spain. The saffron-scented rice is loaded with a colorful assortment of vegetables, and it’s a true delight. 

A romantic dinner is an ideal time to break out Eggplant Meatballs! Garlic, herbs, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese make one insanely juicy and savory meatball. Roasted eggplant makes them moist and textured, bathed in a tangy marinara sauce.

Seared ahi tuna is bursting with savory flavor and only takes 5 minutes to cook! It's ideal for a romantic dinner, perched atop a bed of cilantro rice or even sweet potato puree.  The way the light, sweet puree enhances each bite of savory protein is unreal! 

Burrata cheese is one of life’s greatest pleasures. One of the best ways to make it into a romantic dinner is this Burrata Pasta. The majestic balls of fresh mozzarella sit atop a pasta twirls entwined with a rustic tomato basil sauce. 

On to side dish ideas for romantic dinners: this brilliant Pear Salad is a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing,

Try this pomegranate salad to accessorize your romantic dinner recipes! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a beautiful confetti over the top of leafy greens. Add tart green apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles,

When it comes to vegetables, there’s nothing quite like the crispy perfection of Roasted Brussels Sprouts! This basic oven roasted Brussels sprouts recipe brings those crispy, French-fry like addictiveness of these veggies to your plate.

Bright green string beans make a perfect side dish: tasty and easy to make. Sauteed green beans are simple to whip up and go wtih just about any main dish.

This Parmesan broccoli is crispy, crunchy and irresistible. Roasting broccoli brings a sweetness and lightly charred edges to this green vegetable, paired with savory, crispy Parmesan cheese,

Here’s a great side dish that's elegantly simple: roasted broccolini! Broccolini is broccoli’s cooler and more sophisticated cousin, with a long elegant shape and sweeter, milder flavor. It's perfect for a fancy romantic dinner!

Classic is classic for a reason, and the classic wedge salad does not disappoint. Every time we serve it, people ooo and ahh: the crunch of iceberg lettuce against the creamy, savory blue cheese dressing just makes sense.

Let's move on to desserts for a romantic dinner! What’s more romantic than bananas foster? Sautéed bananas float in a dreamy sauce of caramelized sugar and rum, topped with melty vanilla ice cream. O

Not sure what romantic dessert to make? These chocolate covered strawberries might be the easiest! The sweet tart fresh berries are covered with crunchy semi-sweet chocolate.

Rich and fudgy, dense and dark chocolaty, this is a chocolate lover’s dream cake. Top it with this easy raspberry compote for a sweet tart pairing that cuts the sweetness of the cake perfectly.

Here’s an iconic dessert that’s the pure definition of decadence: Molten Chocolate Lava Cake! It gets its name from its liquid “lava” center, which flows like a volcano when you dig into it with a fork.

Last up in our romantic dinner ideas is the classic Italian affogato! Two ingredients come together in the most exciting flavor pairing: sweet, creamy vanilla gelato and bitter, rich espresso.