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Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to slow down, stay in, and cook something a little extra special. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two, a cozy family meal, or a sweet brunch to start the day, this collection of Valentine’s Day recipes has everything you need.
From elegant main dishes and classic sides to decadent desserts and festive treats, these recipes are designed to impress without feeling intimidating. Because celebrating love should feel fun and delicious.
Table of Contents
Elegant Main Dishes
These main dishes are perfect for creating a restaurant-worthy Valentine’s Day dinner right at home. The restaurants around here are always insane so we celebrate at home and I love it! Think comforting classics, elegant steaks, and rich, slow-cooked favorites that feel truly special.
Filet Mignon
Tender, buttery, and elegant, filet mignon is a classic choice for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.
Garlic Butter Steak
Juicy steak seared to perfection and finished with garlic butter for bold, indulgent flavor.
Authentic Bolognese
A rich, slow-simmered sauce that turns any Valentine’s dinner into a cozy, Italian-inspired evening.
Oven Braised Short Ribs
Slow-cooked until fall-apart tender, these oven braised short ribs are rich, comforting, and perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home.
Best Steak Marinade
This go-to marinade adds incredible flavor and tenderness, making any steak dinner feel extra special.
Hearty Meat Lasagna
Layers of pasta, sauce, and cheese create a comforting Valentine’s Day dinner that everyone loves.
Baked Maple Bacon Salmon
Sweet, savory, and perfectly flaky, this salmon is an easy yet elegant Valentine’s Day option.
Valentine’s Day Side Dishes
The right sides turn a great main dish into a complete Valentine’s Day meal. These classics are cozy, flavorful, and pair beautifully with everything from steak to pasta.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, rich, and buttery mashed potatoes that elevate any romantic dinner.
Easy Green Beans with Bacon
Crisp green beans and smoky bacon make a simple yet irresistible side.
Herb Focaccia Bread
Soft, fluffy focaccia infused with herbs, perfect for soaking up every last bite.
Sauteed Mushrooms
Earthy, buttery mushrooms that pair especially well with steak and short ribs.
Decadent Valentine’s Day Desserts
Valentine’s Day is all about dessert, and these recipes do not hold back. From rich chocolate treats to festive red velvet and fruity favorites, there’s something here for every sweet tooth.
Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Totally indulgent creamy cheesecake with rich chocolate and caramel sweetness in every bite.
Chocolate Cherry Cake
Moist chocolate cake paired with cherries for a classic Valentine’s flavor combo.
Valentine’s Day Thumbprint Cookies
Simple ingredients and a whole lot of heart make this Valentine’s thumbprint cookie recipe one you’ll want to make year after year.
Classic Cheesecake
Smooth, rich, and timeless, cheesecake is always a Valentine’s Day favorite.
Molten Lava Cakes
Warm chocolate cakes with gooey centers that feel straight out of a restaurant.
Chocolate and Strawberries
Simple, romantic, and iconic, perfect for sharing with the whole family.
Red Velvet Cake
Soft, velvety cake with rich cocoa flavor and a festive red color.
Chocolate Fondue
A fun and interactive dessert that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day night in.
Strawberry Jello Cake
Light, fruity, and colorful and a fun twist on a classic Valentine’s dessert.
Valentine’s Sugar Cookies
Decorated for Valentine’s day, these cookies are perfect for sharing or gifting.
Red Velvet Molten Lava Cakes
A Valentine’s Day twist on the classic lava cake with rich red velvet flavor.
Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée
Creamy custard with a crackly sugar topping for an elegant finish.
Nutella Stuff Strawberry Chocolate Cupcakes
Rich chocolate cupcakes hide a gooey Nutella center and are topped with fluffy strawberry frosting for the perfect chocolate-meets-berry dessert.
Valentine’s Day Breakfast & Brunch
Start Valentine’s Day on a sweet note with these breakfast and brunch favorites—perfect for surprising the family with something special in the morning.
Swedish Pancakes (Crepes)
Light, delicate crepes that can be filled with sweet or savory toppings.
Raspberry Sweet Rolls
Soft, fluffy rolls swirled with raspberry filling for a special morning treat.
Liege Waffles
These classic Belgian waffles are rich, buttery, and studded with pearl sugar that melts into irresistible caramelized pockets.
Best French Toast
Golden on the outside, soft and custardy on the inside, classic French toast is the ultimate comforting breakfast.
Valentine’s Day Snacks
Perfect for movie nights, gifting, or sneaking handfuls throughout the day, these snacks add a fun, festive touch to Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Snack Mix
A sweet-and-salty mix dressed up in Valentine’s colors and flavors.
Dark Chocolate Muddy Buddies
Dark chocolate muddy buddies are rich, crunchy, and dusted with powdered sugar for the perfect sweet snack.
Skip the dinner reservations and create a fabulous meal at home with these Valentine’s Day recipes. These romantic dinner recipes make celebrating easy and memorable. From elegant mains to indulgent desserts and festive snacks, there’s something here for every kind of Valentine’s Day celebration.
Easy Garlic Butter Steak
Ingredients
- 3 Rib-Eye Steaks, 12 oz each, 1 ¼-inch-thick*
- 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
For the Garlic Butter
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced (especially wonderful if you use roasted garlic)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- To make the garlic steak butter, combine butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Transfer the mixture to parchment paper; shape into a log. Roll in parchment to 1 ½ inches in diameter, twisting the ends to close. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 1 week.1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, 3 Cloves Garlic, 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- Preheat oven to broil. Place an oven-proof skillet, we prefer to use our Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, in the oven.
- Using paper towels, pat both sides of the steak dry. This is essential to get a nice caramelization on the steak. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper evenly to taste.3 Rib-Eye Steaks, 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil, Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Remove the skillet from the oven and heat over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
- Once the pan is hot, place the steak in the middle of the skillet and cook until a dark crust has formed, about 1 minute. Using tongs, flip, and cook for an additional 60 seconds.
- Remove the skillet from the stove.
- Place your skillet into the oven and cook until desired doneness is reached, about 4-5 minutes for medium-rare, flipping once. Let rest for 3-5 minutes, tented, not wrapped with foil.
- Serve immediately with a slice of garlic butter.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
