Ideas for an easy dinner for two that won’t break the bank. Make date night, your anniversary, or a cozy dinner on a crazy weeknight a meal to remember. What better way to say “I love you” than a delicious home-cooked meal? And you can do it in style without spending hundreds of dollars or waiting your turn at a busy restaurant.
As an all-around working girl, finding the energy to prepare something fancy at the end of the day is challenging. Luckily, these dinner-for-two recipes are effortlessly delicious. Any night becomes extra special with these dishes, and I’ll show you how to make yours memorable.
Recipes that fit any theme you have in mind are just a click away. Romantic dinner ideas create great bonding opportunities, from cooking to dining! Here’s a list of my favorite recipes that you can prepare for an intimate date night at home.
Seafood Dinners
Pan Seared Scallops
Let’s start our list with an easy seafood dinner. The rich, buttery umami complements the sauce’s lemony freshness. You can impress your significant other with this simple recipe any night of the week. It’s so quick and easy that my hubby cooks the scallops while I make the California spaghetti salad to serve on the side.
Simple, beautifully seared scallops with a delectable garlic butter sauce boasting a refreshing citrusy zing. So easy, tasty, and juicy! An elegant dish to impress without the hefty price tag – perfect for weekend date nights.
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Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Bring on the heat for a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner with spicy shrimp and grits. The juicy shrimp and creamy, cheesy grits are a match made in heaven.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you. This flavor combination spells F-A-N-C-Y! Kind on the wallet and packed with flavor, this Southern dish is totally for you.
Creamy, soul-satisfying grits are topped with juicy, bold, and spicy, Cajun-seasoned shrimp. An elevated classic Southern comfort food guaranteed to please!
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Broiled Lobster
Exotic broiled lobster delivers the natural taste of the sea. The homemade butter sauce provides extra personality. Enjoy fuss-free home cooking for those special occasions instead of forking out buku bucks at a fancy restaurant.
Impress your guests with these deliciously beautiful and easy-to-make BROILED LOBSTER TAILS! Get all the ingredients and have a restaurant-style dinner on your dining table in less than an hour.
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Broiled Salmon
An elegant offering, broiled salmon is quick and easy; just prep and pop in the oven. Vamp up the flavor with different herbs and spices. Then, infuse it with the zingy freshness of lemon.
Serve it with pesto pasta and finish it with a refreshing papaya fool for a memorable dinner.
Naturally delicious salmon ramped up with a delectable mustard butter sauce is broiled for a fork-tender treat. Healthy eating has never been this delicious! And, like most fish, it cooks up quickly for a perfect busy weeknight meal!
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Meaty Main Course
Steak Au Poivre
This classic French recipe is popular in fancy restaurants. Perfectly seared steak coated in crushed peppercorns and topped with a rich cream sauce is simple to make at home! The best thing? Simple and affordable ingredients have never tasted so awesome.
Steak au Poivre – a classic French dish that features perfectly seared steak coated with coarsely crushed peppercorn and served in a rich, creamy and flavorful sauce. Fancy restaurant-quality meal made at home. Perfect for Father’s Day and on special occasions!
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Tuscan Chicken
Up next on our list of the easiest dinners for two is creamy and chunky Tuscan chicken. The creamy, flavorful sauce with Italian seasonings, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese smothers tender chicken for an elegant yet affordable meal. Open a bottle of good Chardonnay for even more romance!
Tuscan Chicken – deliciously creamy one-pot chicken meal served in a rich garlic cream sauce with flavor punches from sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Fantastic weeknight family meal loaded with flavor!
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Beef Bourguignon
Julia Childs made this recipe famous. Flavorful, fall-off-the-bone beef slow-cooked in a wine-based sauce is everything you need for an exciting dinner. Hey, the French really know how to beef up the beef for date night. Yes, this recipe serves six, but it freezes great. Package this goodness in serving-size freezer bags, and your entree is ready to go.
Deliciously tender BEEF BOURGUIGNON slow-cooked in a red wine sauce along with different flavorful veggies. This French beef recipe can be easily made at home for a special dinner or for an intimate occasion. Truly a must-try!
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Easy Hearty Side Dishes
Creamy Polenta
You can’t go wrong with a bowl of creamy polenta with steak, chicken, or seafood. This filling carb is delicious topped with any of the main dish recipes. Top it with a scoop of chili for a cozy dinner.
Creamy Polenta – Fuss-free, smooth, cheesy, and creamy POLENTA made with cornmeal, cheeses, milk, and chicken stock. It makes a luscious bed for sautéed vegetables or braised pork, chicken, lamb, beef, or veal. The ultimate Italian comfort food that spells restaurant-quality. Great for regular nights or special holidays!
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Tomato Basil Soup
This simple, hearty, and vibrant soup rich in flavor goes well with bread. It’s also freezer-friendly, so you can make it ahead of time. Enjoy it as a side, or turn it into a Meat-Free Monday dinner with a loaf of freshly baked bread and a salad.
Tomato Basil Soup – creamy, thick and delicious freezer-friendly dish with flavors from roasted tomatoes and garlic, fresh basil, Italian seasoning and a hint of heat from red pepper flakes to awaken your tastebuds. Soul-warming soup that is fantastic year-round, with or without any accompaniment!
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Cream of Mushroom Soup
Soup is perfect for alfresco dinners on the balcony. They warm your belly for a cozy evening and complement any entree. A handful of simple ingredients delivers a soul-satisfying side or vegetarian main course.
Fancy Desserts
Crepe Suzette
Finish off an intimate dinner for two with an easy and impressive dessert! Crepes drizzled with buttery orange syrup and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is incredible.
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Flourless Chocolate Cake
No meal is truly complete without dessert. So whip up this guilt-free flourless chocolate cake for a fudgy treat that comes together with just seven ingredients. Dust it with powdered sugar and sweet berries for a gluten-free delicacy.
A super easy, decadent, fudgy, and deliciously elegant dessert perfect for any occasion. Seven gluten-free ingredients come together effortlessly in one bowl. Top it with homemade raspberry sauce for a gourmet-style treat that is heaven in every bite!
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Lemon Tart
Sunshine on your plate with upbeat citrusy zing cleanses your palate from the saucy, savory dishes. Incredibly uncomplicated homemade lemon curd is the star of this dessert. Reduce stress by making it ahead and chilling it before dinner.
Sweet bright classic lemon treat LEMON TART dessert easily made in your kitchen. With its soft citrusy lemon curd filling and buttery crumbly crust, it’s a total melt-in-your-mouth experience. Don’t let the summer pass by without trying this sweet bright sensation.
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By Imma
This blog post was originally published in February 2021 and has been updated with additional tips and beautiful photos