The occasional romantic home dinner for two can work wonders for every relationship. The best thing about it is that you don’t have to spend too much time dressing for the occasion, and you don’t have to worry about whether you’re going to drink a glass of wine or two since you’re not driving.
The only thing you have to worry about here is finding a good enough recipe that’s going to satisfy both parties. The dinner itself can be something that contains elements of surprise (especially if you’re not both cooking at the same time), and this is something that can really make a positive impact on your significant other. So here are some romantic dinner recipes that are going to make your evening truly memorable.
One Pan Creamy Chicken Marsala With Pasta
If you’re a little short on time and you’re looking for an awesome recipe that doesn’t require too much time (or pans/dishes) to make, then one pan creamy chicken marsala with pasta is something you should definitely consider.
In order to make this dish, you’re going to need some chicken thighs. Fold them over some oven-baked cheese and sear on all sides. After that, the only thing that’s left is to simmer everything with mushrooms, marsala wine, and onions to get a tasty, creamy sauce. Cook your favorite pasta at the same time, and you’re all set.
Vegetarian Pot Pie
If one of you isn’t eating meat, or you’re both more into vegetarian food, then this recipe is going to bring something to remember. It takes a bit more time to make this pie (over an hour), but it’s definitely worth the trouble.
The first thing you want is to make the pot pie crust and put it into the fridge to chill. Then it’s time to work on the filling. Use potatoes, carrots, peas, and white beans that are pan-fried together with shallots. To make the recipe into something truly special, make sure to stir in a bit of basil pesto and shredded Parmesan, as well. This delicious home-cooked dinner is really going to make the night for both of you.
Rosemary and Garlic Roast Beef
The next dinner recipe we’re going to talk about is for all of you meat aficionados out there. It takes some 45 minutes to make, so it’s really not that long for a recipe this tasty. This flavorful meat dish should be crusted with garlic and rosemary, but the key to making it even more finger-licking lies in roasting it to perfection. You really want to let the meat juices and flavor dominate the dish, so garlic and rosemary are here to further accentuate the taste. Add some buttery mushrooms to go along and enjoy.
To make the dinner even more enjoyable and memorable, it’s essential to include some dessert afterward. A great way to add an element of surprise here would be to order some fruit and chocolate bouquets, for instance. Also, make sure there’s enough wine that both of you like, and your significant other will definitely be beyond words with the whole experience.
Beer Cheese Fondue With Roasted Veggies
After the vegetarian pot pie, we want to suggest to you another vegetarian dish that’s really going to help you unwind and relax.
This recipe is truly the perfect date night idea and it’s also great for some special occasions such as Valentine’s day, for example. Probably the best thing about it is that it’s not that complicated to make, although it requires a little bit of your time. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to make it (it’s 30 minute preparation time and 45 minutes cook time).
Start off by cleaning a bunch of veggies and fingerling potatoes. Then you chop up some bread (or pretzels) and whip them into the cheese sauce. Make an olive dish and add some fruits to go along, and it’s all set. To make sure you’re getting everything right, closely follow the instructions for the full recipe.
Gluten-Free Engagement Dinner: Fresh Chickpea Pappardelle With Buttered Chanterelles, Thyme, and Wine
If you want your engagement dinner to be something else, then we’d advise you to look no further than this fresh chickpea pappardelle with buttered chanterelles, thyme, and wine. Not only does it taste out-of-worldly, but it’s also gluten-free, in case one of you is on a gluten-free diet.
We should immediately tell you that this is not the easiest dish to make. It’s pretty time-consuming as well, but if you want to really surprise your significant other, it’s definitely worth all the trouble. And in case you don’t want to make the whole thing from scratch, there are some short-cut options that you might want to consider.
Roasted Chicken
You can’t go wrong with this traditional recipe. It’s something almost any meat-eater out there enjoys, so you know you’re on a safe path here. The important thing to note here is that this recipe is probably something more suited for couples who are just starting to go out.
Try to keep things as simple as possible here since you’re not really that familiar with everything that your soon-to-become significant other (fingers crossed) likes or enjoys eating. That’s why you want to include only stuff like lemon, garlic, and onions. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and stuff it with lemon wedges, and a whole head of garlic, brush it with olive oil, and roast the chicken for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The Bottom Line
Going out for dinner is great, but occasionally cooking a romantic meal for your significant other is really something special. If you want to make a romantic home-cooked dinner that’s really going to make your date night unforgettable, you should try with some of the recipes that we’ve presented to you, in this article. Whether you’re having a regular dinner or you’re celebrating something special, with these romantic meal ideas you simply can’t go wrong. Just don’t forget to include some fine wine and a tasty dessert to further spice things up.
About Mia
Mia Johnson is a writer with a ten-year-long career in journalism. She has written extensively about health, fitness, and lifestyle. A native to Melbourne, she now lives in Sydney with her 3 dogs where she spends her days writing and taking care of her 900 square feet garden.
