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    Home » Recipe Collections

    Valentine’s Day Dinners

    Published: Jan 22, 2021 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by Elizabeth · 2 Comments

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    A collage of images of recipes featured in the article. In the middle there's a graphic with the title in pink letters.

    This Valentine’s Day forget trying to figure out dinner plans at crowded restaurants, booking a babysitter, or waiting long times for take-out, instead treat yourself and your loved ones to a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner at home.

    A collage of four images, short ribs, pork chops with mushroom gravy, linguine with chicken and red sauce, and Cuban shredded beef.

    Whether you’re celebrating with your special someone, the whole family, or a group of friends, don’t let Valentine’s Day go by the wayside this year. Even if you don’t want to go out, treat the special person (or people) in your life to a delicious meal at home.

    Choose something fun (or sappy) for movie night and mark the occasion in the comfort of your own home. Here are 20 Valentine’s Day dinner ideas to help you plan your evening.

    1. Chicken and Mushrooms

    Thin chicken breasts covered in brown mushroom gravy served on a bed of mashed potatoes on a gray plate.

    In this recipe, thin chicken cutlets are seasoned with a combination of spices and cooked until golden brown. Then the mushrooms are cooked in the pan juices to make a wonderful sauce. Serve on a bed of mashed potatoes for a meal that is worthy of a special occasion.

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    2. Lemon Pepper Pasta

    Lemon Pepper Pasta garnished with lemon zest and parsley

    In this lemon pepper pasta recipe, linguine noodles are tossed with a light, lemony, black pepper sauce. The pasta is simply garnished with lemon zest and chopped parsley. It’s a simple, delicious dinner.

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    3. French Onion Soup

    A close-up image of the soup with the cheese melted on top and a little down the sides of a white bowl.

    This flavorful onion soup is topped with bread and covered with melted cheese. This classic soup is best made with a partner, serve up your favorite beverage, and take it slow. Your patience will be rewarded with a wonderful soup.

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    4. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Italian Sausage

    A large platter of spaghetti aglio e olio with Italain sausage arranged around the pasta.

    Most of the ingredients needed to make this meal are probably in your pantry already. Spaghetti, garlic, olive oil and seasonings are the basics, grab some fresh Italian sausage and parsley at the market and you’re on your way to dinner.

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    5. Meatballs and Gravy

    Small meatballs smothered in a light colored gravy served on a bed of egg noodles on a white plate.

    In this recipe, meatballs are browned and cooked in rich and creamy gravy. The best part of this dish is that it’s really easy to make and doesn’t take very long at all. Once the meatballs are formed, you’re basically home free!

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    6. Steak and Mushrooms

    A thick sirloin steak covered in a dark brown mushroom gravy on a bed of mashed potatoes served on a blue plate.

    This steak and mushrooms dinner comes together quickly, and it’s absolutely delicious. Thick sirloin steaks are pan fried until golden and cooked to your liking. Then the pan juices are used as a base to make a flavorful mushroom and onion gravy.

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    7. Short Ribs

    Short ribs and sauce served on a bed of mashed potatoes on a gray plate.

    In this recipe, short ribs are cooked in a flavorful sauce. Really, the sauce is just as good as the ribs! Don’t be put off by the long cooking time. The prep work is quick and easy and once everything is in the pot it’s mostly hands off.

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    8. Italian Sausage Meatballs

    Italian sausage meatballs in a red sauce, served on a bed of spaghetti in a white bowl and garnished with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

    These Italian sausage meatballs are cooked in a tomato sauce that’s made with crushed tomatoes, garlic, onions and olive oil. It’s really simple and very good! Pair the meatballs with your favorite pasta and enjoy.

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    9. Orange Beef

    The orange beef garnished with orange zest, sesame seeds and sliced green onions and served in a rectangular, white platter.

    Forget ordering in, this take-out classic is quick and easy. It’s made with thinly sliced beef and a sweet and tangy orange sauce. It only takes about 30 minutes to make, including the prep work.

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    10. Mushroom Pork Chops

    A thick pork chop covered with brown mushroom gravy served on mashed potatoes on a gray plate.

    In this recipe, thick pork chops are fried until golden and covered with a luxurious mushroom sauce. This pork chop dinner is easy enough for a weeknight but elegant enough for a special occasion. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables.

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    11. Chicken Fricassee

    Close up image of the finished chicken fricassee.

    Fricassee is a cooking method, where meat is cut into pieces, braised and served with the sauce it was cooked in. This version is a traditional Cuban dish. Made with chicken, stewed in a flavorful tomato sauce and finished with potatoes and olives.

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    12. Beef and Broccoli

    Beef and Broccoli served over white rice in a white bowl

    Another take-out favorite, the prep work on this dish is a snap; you can even get some help from the market by purchasing pre-sliced beef and mushrooms. Serve it over white rice or noodles for a great meal.

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    13. Chicken and Tomato Pasta

    Linguine noodles tossed with tomatoes and sliced chicken breast served on a gray plate on a red cloth napkin.

    In this pasta recipe, linguine noodles are tossed with seasoned chicken breasts and an easy tomato sauce. After the chicken is seasoned it is pan fried and the light and tasty tomato sauce is made in the same skillet.

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    14. Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli

    Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli served in a white bowl and garnished with crushed red pepper flakes

    This orecchiette with Italian sausage and broccoli dish is a quick and easy. The sausage flavors the sauce beautifully keeping the number of ingredients to a minimum. Plus, using milk instead of cream keeps the creamy sauce light.

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    15. Cuban Shredded Beef (Ropa Vieja)

    Ropa vieja served with white rice and fried sweet plantains on a white plate.

    Ropa Vieja is a popular Cuban dish made with shredded beef in a flavorful tomato sauce. It’s easy to make and so good! Serve ropa vieja with white rice, black beans, and a side like fried sweet plantains or tostones for a great meal with a tropical flair.

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    16. Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry

    Beef and vegetable stir fry served on a green plate with a side of white rice and soy sauce.

    Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry is quick, easy and really good. Here, steak strips are quickly browned then combined with mixed vegetables and a homemade stir fry sauce. Serve with white rice or noodles and enjoy this take-out favorite at home.

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    17. Cuban Chicken and Rice (Arroz con Pollo)

    Arroz con pollo served in a terracotta bowl and garnished with sweet peas.

    Arroz con Pollo is a classic Cuban one pot dish. Made with chicken and seasoned yellow rice it’s a favorite! Arroz con pollo isn’t difficult to make, but it does take some time. In the end though, you’ll be rewarded with a big pot of deliciousness.

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    18. Sausage Tortellini Soup

    The sausage tortellini soup served in a beige and black rimmed bowl with sliced bread to the right and a spoon to the left on a light colored linen.

    This soup is loaded with Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, vegetables and spices. It’s more than a soup, it’s a meal and really easy to make too. Pair it with homemade garlic bread for a wonderful meal.

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    19. Baked Ziti with Sausage

    The finished baked ziti in a white casserole dish.

    In this recipe we use Italian sausage; it adds a ton of flavor so we can use just a handful of ingredients. We also cheat a little by using jarred pasta sauce and canned tomatoes, but onions and a ton of garlic give it a homemade taste.

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    20. Chicken Francaise

    Chicken Francaise on a bed o spaghetti, served on a green plate.

    Chicken Francaise is a simple, yet elegant dish that’s worthy of a special occasion. Thin chicken cutlets are dredged in seasoned flour, dipped in egg, then gently fried in olive oil and butter. The pan drippings are used to make a white wine and lemon sauce. Then it’s served on a bed of pasta and lightly drizzled with the sauce. Delicious!

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    Comments

    1. Trish

      February 14, 2023 at 12:57 pm

      Your CHICKEN AND MUSHROOMS is a great recipe that my family enjoys! We eat it at least once a month since we found it! So delicious and easy to make. I can’t wait to try your ham and bean soup!

      Reply
      • Elizabeth

        February 14, 2023 at 2:07 pm

        Hi Trish,
        That is wonderful to hear! I’m so glad you all enjoy it. I hope you like the ham and bean soup as well.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Elizabeth! welcome to Cook2eatwell. Food is my favorite subject; I like to cook food, talk about food, write about food, and most importantly, eat food. Lucky for me, my husband Eddie feels the same way. 

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