Looking for date night dinner recipes? This menu for Easy Date Night Recipes is filled with romantic dinner ideas for two at home including dinner and dessert. Serve it for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, and days off together.
One feedback I hear often is how much you enjoy my small batch recipes. Dinners for two, 6 inch cake recipes, a pint of ice cream.
Not everyone, including myself, cooks for a huge family.
That brings us to that one special day in February where everyone thinks about dinner for two. Couples around the U.S. will be thinking about flowers, chocolate, and dinner reservations.
However, restaurants take advantage of this by offering an exclusive (read – expensive) romantic dinner menu or reservations are full.
Plus who really wants to spend a date together in a crowded room of strangers?
The point of going on a date is to connect, whether you’re getting to know each other or whether you’ve been so busy you haven’t had a chance to catch up.
The best way to do that is at home in your own kitchen where not only can you hear each other and share secrets, but you can cook the menu together to make memories.
If you’re asking yourself, “What should I cook for a dinner date?”, you’ve come to the correct place!
Today I’m posting a progressive dinner series called Easy Date Night Recipes where I’m providing you with a menu for a romantic meal at home.
It starts with an appetizer, moves into the main course, then ends with dessert.
Although I’m providing a specific menu shown in the photos, I’m also listing my other recipes for two so you can mix and match your menu. It’s like one of those create your own adventure books!
Even though this post is intended for Valentine’s Day, really it’s for any date night throughout the year. Anniversary? Check. Birthday? Check. Both have the evening off together? Check.
And for my single readers out there, you can easily make this menu for yourself.
Treat yourself with a dozen clams, pizza makes great leftovers, and you can easily freeze the second mini tart. Your future self will thank you.
The menu for easy date night recipes you see pictured above is made up of 5 categories:
Drinks
Above I served white wine poured straight from the bottle.
Did you know wine companies now make 4-packs of wine in tiny bottles? Each little bottle serves about 1-2 glasses.
I love it because I hate opening a regular bottle if I don’t plan on finishing it, especially if a recipe calls for a small amount for cooking.
Not a wine drinker? Serve a sparkling non-alcoholic drink, such as grape or apple juice.
Appetizer
Start the meal off with a simple appetizer of Steamed Clams with Pan-Roasted Tomatoes.
Seafood always makes a meal feel more special, and steamed clams is one of the easiest appetizers you can make. Throw everything in a pan and cook.
Not a seafood fan? You can make General Tso’s Chicken Baked Wontons or Pimento Goat Cheese Spread served on crostini.
Side Dishes
I made a simple side salad to get some vegetables into the meal.
Choose a mild-tasting green such as spinach, stir in some more vegetables, and toss it with a simple vinaigrette, which is 1 part vinegar mixed with 3 parts oil.
The easy dressing I made was 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and sea salt to taste. It should be a little on the salty side because it will also be seasoning the salad.
If you don’t have balsamic, you use most other vinegars such as red wine or apple cider (except white distilled. Don’t use that).
Looking for other ways to eat your vegetables? Make some Green Beans with Almonds and Olives or Really Good Freekeh Salad.
Main Dish
To keep with the seafood theme, I elevated pizza night at home with Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza For Two.
You don’t need to get all gourmet with things like steak tartare or shrimp ceviche during date night. A pizza dressed up in flavor does the trick!
Plus the cast iron skillet (affiliate link) bumps up the presentation.
But if you don’t eat seafood or pizza isn’t romantic enough, you can make Caprese Steak Dinner For Two or Cornish Hen With Homemade Classic Stuffing.
I also have plenty more recipe ideas on my Romantic Meals For Two At Home post.
Dessert
The best part of the meal in my opinion! These Mini Peanut Butter Mousse Tarts For Two take the best part of Valentine’s Day (chocolate) and makes it even better by pairing it with peanut butter.
I love dessert so much, I wrote a post about Easy Romantic Desserts For Two At Home.
Some of my favorite recipes to end date night are Deep Dish Brownies For Two and Cheesecake For Two.
In the mood for cake? Make my small 6 inch cake recipes for two.
Easy Date Night Recipes
Looking for date night dinner recipes? This menu for Easy Date Night Recipes is filled with romantic dinner ideas for two at home including dinner and dessert. Serve it for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, birthdays, and days off together.
Steamed Clams with Pan Roasted Tomatoes
Learn how to make Steamed Clams with Pan Roasted Tomatoes as an easy date night appetizer to make at home!
General Tso's Chicken Baked Wontons
General Tso’s Chicken Baked Wontons combines everyone’s favorite general tso’s chicken dish with the concept of crab rangoons into crispy baked wontons that will disappear quickly.
Pimento Goat Cheese Spread
Bring a little Southern charm to your kitchen with this creamy Pimento Goat Cheese Spread served on crostini or crackers.
Green Beans with Almonds and Olives
Looking for an easy small batch side dish? Learn how to make these healthy Green Beans with Almonds and Olives!
Really Good Freekeh Salad
Looking for a filling side salad? Make this Really Good Freekeh Salad with arugula, tomatoes, goat cheese, and pickled red onion.
Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza For Two
Turn pizza night at home into a special date night dinner with Shrimp Scampi Skillet Pizza For Two with a white wine garlic butter sauce and homemade pizza dough.
Ginger Garlic Marinated Salmon
This moist and flaky Asian inspired Ginger Garlic Marinated Salmon is ready in 30 minutes! Serve with rice and fresh vegetables for a complete meal.
Caprese Steak Dinner For Two
Make a romantic meal for two at home with pan fried Caprese Steak Dinner For Two with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and arugula.
Cornish Hen with Homemade Classic Stuffing
Keep dinner small by roasting a Cornish Hen with Homemade Classic Stuffing.
Mushroom Rice Stuffed Chicken Breast
Mushroom Rice Stuffed Chicken Breast with cheese and spinach may seem like a fancy dinner for two, but it’s an easy technique sure to impress.
Balsamic Tomato Skillet Chicken
No more guessing what’s for dinner when you can make Balsamic Tomato Skillet Chicken with ingredients in your pantry right now!
Maple Roasted Chicken Quarters (Dinner For Two)
A hearty and comforting dinner for two, Maple Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters with roasted vegetables baked in the same pan is simple yet packed with flavor.
Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs (Dinner For Two)
Looking for a sweet and savory easy weeknight dinner for two? These Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs with fresh rosemary and crispy chicken skin will not disappoint.
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells For Two
Take some time from your busy schedule for a good home-cooked meal with Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells For Two with homemade Alfredo sauce.
Guinness Shepherd's Pie For Two
Guinness Shepherd’s Pie is a comforting meat and potatoes dish made with stout beer. This version serves two people.
Pork Roast Dinner For Two
Enjoy a classic Sunday dinner for two without the leftovers by cooking Pork Roast For Two in the oven with vegetables and gravy.
Spaghetti Carbonara (Dinner For Two)
Have an easy romantic dinner at home with Spaghetti Carbonara For Two with bacon and cheese!
Creamy Tomato and Mushroom Pasta (Dinner For Two)
This meatless Creamy Tomato Mushroom Pasta with spinach is a filling vegetarian weeknight dinner for two you can make without needing to buy a jar of sauce.
Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells For Two
Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells For Two is a small-scale version of traditional Italian stuffed shells filled with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses for dinner.
Brussels Sprouts and Goat Cheese Risotto
This hearty vegetarian Brussels Sprouts and Goat Cheese Risotto pairs shredded Brussels sprouts and creamy goat cheese with a traditional Italian dish.
No Bake Mini Peanut Butter Mousse Tarts For Two
No Bake Mini Peanut Butter Mousse Tarts made with a chocolate cookie crust, eggless peanut butter mousse, and chocolate drizzle on top.
Deep Dish Fudge Brownies For Two In Ramekins
Ooey gooey Deep Dish Fudge Brownies For Two In Ramekins are homemade from scratch and make the perfect dessert for two.
Cheesecake For Two In Ramekins
This plain mini cheesecake recipe baked in ramekins makes enough dessert for two and can be customized with different toppings and batters. Mini chocolate cheesecake recipe for two also included.
Toasted Coconut Skillet Cakes
These Toasted Coconut Skillet Cakes with coconut milk are so tender and moist, you don’t need to add frosting on top!
Raspberry Almond Crisp For Two
Enjoy a sweet ending to your day with mini Raspberry Almond Crisp For Two with a sweet and slightly tart raspberry filling topped with a crispy almond streusel baked in two ramekins.
S'mores Baked Alaska For Two
S’mores Baked Alaska For Two is a mini decadent dessert that pairs the contrast of toasted, crispy marshmallow meringue with still-cold chocolate ice cream and graham cracker crust.
Small 6 Inch Cake Recipes For Two People (Dessert For Two Guide)
A comprehensive dessert for two guide about Small 6 Inch Cake Recipes For Two People made from scratch for beginners.
2pots2cook says
Perfection at its’ peak ! Thank you !
Wilma Manasse says
Love the recipes for 2. I’ve tried lots of them and they are all excellent.
Thank You. We are a family of two and I prefer not to have too much leftovers from making the complete recipes for 4 or more.
Carla says
I’m thrilled to hear you’re enjoying my recipes for two! Thank you for your feedback.
Reenie says
Carla,I love your small batch recipes and appreciate all the time and energy you put into them. I also love it that you share yourself with us. So refreshing! Thank you :0)
Carla says
Thanks, Reenie! Glad you find the recipes helpful.