If you’re running out of date ideas for Valentine’s Day, we’ve got you covered! We recommend the classic at-home dinner date night. It’s easy, affordable, fun, and definitely romantic! Whether you’re newly dating or have been together for years, an at-home dinner date night is a staple that will show you care about spending quality time together.
Obviously, the dinner doesn’t have to be the complete and total highlight of the night. Spice up the evening with a fun movie, board games, “house hunting” on Zillow, or even just hanging out with some other couples!
In any case, you’ll need some good food to make the night memorable. After all, who isn’t impressed by a romantic home-cooked meal? We’re here to give you some inspo.
Check out some of our recipes that we think would be great for a Valentine’s Day dinner date! We’ve got salads, soups, pasta, entrees, and even desserts for you to get cookin’ with.
Valentine’s Day White Bean Salad
Whether it’s an appetizer, a snack, or a main course, this white bean salad is a great option for Valentine’s Day! It’s light, fresh, and features in-season winter citrus and Randall Great Northern Beans.
The dressing is made from tart grapefruit and sweet blood orange juice, and the finely grated ginger gives this salad a spicy-sweet flavor! Plus, the presentation is absolutely adorable. It’ll definitely be photo-worthy.
To create the presentation the way it looks in the recipe photo, use a round biscuit or cookie cutter to form the salad, then slice a thin piece of radish and carve out a heart shape! To get the recipe, simply click the name of it above.
Spicy Shrimp and Corn White Bean Chowder
Spice things up a bit with this creamy, light, and zesty chowder! Don’t worry, you won’t be all bloated from the dairy and starch that you’d expect from a usual chowder. This dish substitutes the potatoes with white beans, which when blended in a food processor make a pitch-perfect substitute for the thick, creamy base. This cuts out about half of the dairy called for in traditional chowder recipes by pureeing the beans, which gives them a creamy element without all the fat!
The creaminess is perfectly balanced with spicy chorizo, shrimp, corn, and fresh herbs which are bursting with flavor. You’ll love it! To get the recipe, simply click the name of it above.
Rustic Pasta é Fagioli
This pasta dish is an absolute classic. We don’t want to say that it’s a must-have, but it’s pretty darn close. Nothing says date night dinner like a gourmet pasta dish, and this is the way to go.
Starting with a traditional base, this dish adds some earthy notes with brussels sprouts, brightness with lemon zest, heat with chili flakes, and rounds out with the freshness of rosemary. Our recommendation is to serve this dish with some nice crust bread so you can soak up every little bit of sauce left in your bowl. Oh, and don’t forget the wine!
To get the recipe, simply click the name of it above.
Roasted Garlic and Dill Bean Spread with Smoked Salmon
Show how sophisticated and skilled you are by whipping up this amazing dill bean spread with smoked salmon! Creamy, flavorful, and light, this dish is a sort of “remix” on a bagel and lox. After all, smoke salmon goes perfectly with cream cheese! However, this recipe substitutes a blended bean mix for the cream cheese. This makes it a bit less heavy, so you’ll be able to eat a bit more without feeling super full!
This spread and salmon combo is great on crackers, but we particularly enjoy it over rye bread. You can also go the extra mile by adding capers and some red onion and tomato slices on top for the complete deli ‘bagel and lox’ vibe.
To get the recipe, simply click the name of it above.
Randall’s Rich Red Velvet Cupcakes
You’re so sweet for wanting to cook Valentine’s Day dinner. However, these cupcakes might be sweeter! They’re red, the color of love, so they’re perfect in both taste and appearance.
Since they’re made with beans as a substitute for more fat-laden ingredients, they’re lighter, healthier, but just as delicious as traditional cupcakes!
The recipe is easy; it calls for a typical boxed red velvet cake mix to help you cut down on prep time. The cupcakes are topped with cream cheese icing and fresh strawberries for extra freshness and romantic flair. You’ll fall in love with these delicious treats!
To get the recipe, simply click the name of it above.
