35 Romantic Recipes for Valentine’s Day From Lobster Thermidor to Pasta with Black Truffle Butter Sharing a special meal on the biggest date night of the year doesn’t have to mean crowded dining rooms or prix fixe menus. By Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Michelle Darrisaw Michelle Darrisaw Michelle Darrisaw is a developmental editor for People. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and has over 10 years of experience writing, editing, and fact-checking for publications like Oprah Daily, Southern Living, Cooking Light, The Spruce, MyRecipes.com, and Tidal. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 1, 2026 Add Us On SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Victoria Granof / Prop Styling by Karin Olsen You have two choices for Valentine’s Day dinner: Jockey for a reservation or make a meal from scratch. If you decide to cook, we’ve gathered a selection of elegant, romance-ready recipes to help fill out your menu. Think earthy mushroom and truffle pasta, Nobu‘s classic black cod with miso, and fragrant Thai-spiced rib eyes, with a few salads and vegetable sides to match. Add a nice bottle of wine and some candles, and you’ll be glad you stayed in. Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app. 01 of 35 Lobster Thermidor Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell A rich sauce infused with cremini mushrooms and wine balances the natural sweetness of lobster in this classic French recipe, with Parmesan cheese adding a golden brown crust. We can’t think of anything more impressive (and delicious) for date night. Get the Recipe Save 02 of 35 Red Wine–Braised Short Ribs Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Shannon Goforth / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali This dish from 1990 F&W Best New Chef Tom Valenti is a lesson in the art of seduction. Short ribs are cooked low and slow in red wine with thyme and a whole head of garlic, building anticipation with a glorious savory aroma for three hours before emerging with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a deeply flavorful sauce. Get the Recipe Save 03 of 35 Chicken au Poivre Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood Nicole Hopper’s riff on the French bistro classic swaps steak for juicy chicken thighs, whose drippings form the base of a luscious pan sauce with shallots, garlic, thyme, and coarsely ground black pepper. Get the Recipe Save 04 of 35 Wedge Salad with Candied Bacon and Gorgonzola Dressing Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen If steak is on your Valentine’s Day menu, this salad would make a sexy side. Crunchy iceberg lettuce, crispy candied bacon, and a creamy Gorgonzola dolce dressing combine for the ultimate version of the steakhouse classic. Get the Recipe Save 05 of 35 Petite Beef Wellington Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen You know love is in the air when these Wellingtons are on the menu. The single-serving format feels especially extravagant; a higher ratio of crackling puff pastry and earthy mushroom duxelles envelops juicy roast beef to delight your guest of honor. Get the Recipe Save 06 of 35 Venetian Shrimp with Polenta Victor Protasio Inspired by his travels in Italy, David McCann’s simple yet sophisticated recipe comes together in less than an hour, starting with creamy polenta followed by buttery shrimp simmered in chicken stock and white wine. Get the Recipe Save 07 of 35 Black Cod with Miso Food & Wine / Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Marinated in a signature blend of mirin, sake, white miso, and sugar, this streamlined version of the famous black cod from 1989 F&W Best New Chef Nobu Matsuhisa delivers all the elegance and flavor you’d expect at a five-star restaurant — only here, you get a delicate fish dish without booking a reservation. Get the Recipe Save 08 of 35 Prakas’ Rib Eye Aubrie Pick 2016 F&W Best New Chef Kris Yenbamroong marinates rib eye steaks in Thai seasoning sauce, white pepper, and soy sauce, then finishes them with an unexpected shower of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for a nutty, savory twist. A quick sear builds a dark crust before the sliced steaks soak up a glossy pan sauce. Get the Recipe Save 09 of 35 Creamy Seafood Risotto Food & Wine / Photo by Carson Downing / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Addelyn Evans Arborio rice simmered with onion, saffron, wine, and clam juice forms a fragrant, savory base for this seafood-rich dish, finished with tender shrimp and sweet crab. A spoonful of mascarpone adds an extra layer of lush, velvety creaminess. Get the Recipe Save 10 of 35 Ricotta Gnocchi Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Prissy Montiel Homemade gnocchi is a great way to say I love you. These pillowy ricotta-filled gnocchi from chef Geoffrey Zakarian are tossed in a simple sage-infused brown butter sauce with crispy bits of pancetta. Get the Recipe Save 11 of 35 Pork Marsala with Mushrooms Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Christina Daley F&W recipe developer Renu Dhar treats tender bone-in pork chops to a luxurious bath of creamy wine sauce studded with a fresh blend of wild and cremini mushrooms. Get the Recipe Save 12 of 35 Scallop Grenobloise Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis It doesn’t get simpler than these seared scallops elevated by a Grenobloise sauce made of lemon and briny, tangy capers. Pair with your favorite pasta and you’ve got the ultimate couples’ dinner. Get the Recipe Save 13 of 35 Cocoa-Spiced Steaks with Red Wine–Chocolate Sauce Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Chocolate is an essential part of Valentine’s Day, but it doesn’t need to be in candy form. These steaks are ready for date night, starting with a mildly spicy cocoa rub and finishing with a luxurious pan sauce of butter, cocoa, and red wine. Get the Recipe Save 14 of 35 Oysters with Yuzu Kosho Mignonette Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Victoria Granof / Prop Styling by Karin Olsen This easy appetizer is perfect for romantic special occasions. The dish combines fragrant and slightly spicy yuzu kosho with briny oysters on the half shell to set the mood. Get the Recipe Save 15 of 35 Roast Chicken with Sauce Chasseur Victor Protasio Pan drippings become a French “hunter’s” sauce featuring mushroom and tomato that’s spooned over the carved bird. Rather than the usual demi-glace, cream thickens this version to allow the flavors to shine. Get the Recipe Save 16 of 35 Dirty Martini Salmon Food & Wine / Photo by Greg Dupree / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey If your special someone takes their martini with an olive or five, this recipe is a no-brainer. It’s a largely hands-off affair: Salmon roasts over a bed of sliced lemon in a low oven before it’s topped with a briny gremolata made from gin-soaked Castelvetrano olives and plenty of herbs. Get the Recipe Save 17 of 35 Potato Tarte Tatin with Bacon and Gruyère Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley This dramatic inverted potato tart with caramel, bacon, and Gruyère — a savory take on the French dessert — brings golden sheen to a special Valentine’s Day meal. Parcook and shingle potatoes ahead; bake and flip just before serving. Get the Recipe Save 18 of 35 Grilled Lobster Tails with Stelline and Lemon Antonis Achilleos Cookbook author and recipe developer Paula Disbrowe loves to make grilled lobster tails for Valentine’s Day, serving them over stelline (a small, star-shaped pasta) with a nice glass of white wine on the side. Get the Recipe Save 19 of 35 Miso Carbonara White Beans Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood Creamy cannellini beans soak up the essence of smoky bacon, sharp Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, rich egg yolks, and deeply savory white miso in Craig Ruff’s combo of Italian and Japanese flavors — a fusion cuisine called itameshi in Japan. Get the Recipe Save 20 of 35 Steak Frites Jerrelle Guy Deceptively simple and universally appealing, steak frites demands a perfectly cooked steak and golden, piping hot fries. Instead of pan-frying his steak, author Steven Raichlen opts to grill the meat before anointing it with a dollop of creamy Roquefort butter. Get the Recipe Save 21 of 35 Cod with Clams and White Wine Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless Littleneck clams steam in a garlicky white wine broth that becomes the foundation of this quick, elegant dinner from chef Jose Garces. Simply seasoned cod fillets bake in the oven to complete each bowl. Get the Recipe Save 22 of 35 Soppressata Pizza with Calabrian Chiles and Hot Honey Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Sweet meets heat in this pizza covered in hot honey, Calabrian chiles, and soppressata (Italian salami) plus torn mozzarella, thinly sliced red onion, and fresh oregano over an easy homemade tomato sauce. Get the Recipe Save 23 of 35 Sauvignon Blanc–Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toast Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Called moules marinières in France, these mussels are steamed in Sauvignon Blanc and served in a sauce made from the cooking liquid, butter, and parsley. The dish is easy to customize and comes together in just about 20 minutes. Get the Recipe Save 24 of 35 Lamb Loin Chops Sizzled with Garlic Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Las Pedroñeras, in the Castilla–La Mancha region, is considered the garlic capital of Spain. These juicy, meaty lamb chops sizzled in extra-virgin olive oil with plenty of garlic cloves are food writer Janet Mendel’s homage to the village. Get the Recipe Save 25 of 35 Lobster Mac and Cheese Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley This decadent macaroni and cheese has it all: a generous amount of lobster meat and a rich three-cheese sauce made with Fontina, Gruyère, and mascarpone, mixed with pasta and baked under a crunchy topping of panko and Parmesan cheese. Get the Recipe Save 26 of 35 Pan-Roasted Chicken with Grapes, Garlic, and Rosemary Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell You only need one pan to bring this chicken dinner to life on Valentine’s Day. Cut a whole chicken into eight pieces before roasting with grapes, garlic cloves, and fresh rosemary sprigs to yield crispy skin and a schmaltzy pan sauce. Get the Recipe Save 27 of 35 Teriyaki Salmon Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Elegant yet low-lift, this salmon from F&W recipe developer Nicole Hopper is glazed with a sweet-savory teriyaki sauce that includes soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, sesame seeds, and fresh ginger. Broiling the salmon on a rack set over green beans also seasons the veggies as they cook. Get the Recipe Save 28 of 35 French Onion Soup Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Natalie Ghazali Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s take on the timeless French onion soup, called “soupe à l’oignon” in France, includes beef stock, dry sherry, Worcestershire sauce, and plenty of caramelized onions. Use Emmental or Gruyère cheese for the golden, gooey topping. Get the Recipe Save 29 of 35 Chili Crisp Shrimp Scampi Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Jasmine Smith / Prop Styling by Tucker Vines Bring the heat on date night with this tongue-tingling shrimp scampi. Packed with garlicky shrimp and topped with spicy chili crisp and crunchy fried shallots, it comes together in just 40 minutes. Get the Recipe Save 30 of 35 Salad of Pink Radicchio, Citrus, and Mushroom Bagna Cauda Gentl & Hyers Delicate pink radicchio, Cara Cara oranges, and a warm, nutty brown butter bagna cauda enriched with porcini powder and anchovy make for a gorgeous and bright winter salad that’s almost too pretty to eat. Get the Recipe Save 31 of 35 Farro Mafaldine with Black Truffle Butter and Mushrooms Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Truffles are undeniably a special occasion ingredient, and there’s no better time to use them than for a decadent Valentine’s Day dinner. Creamy butter and wild mushrooms lend maximum flavor to nutty farro pasta studded with black truffle. Get the Recipe Save 32 of 35 Roast Chicken with Hot Honey John Kernick A salt and spice mixture ensures these chicken legs retain all their flavor and tenderness. Save any leftover hot honey to drizzle on pizza, cheese plates, and more. Get the Recipe Save 33 of 35 Cacio e Pepe Duchess Potatoes Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle Rich and elegant, these duchess potatoes combine mashed potatoes with egg yolk and butter plus pecorino cheese and freshly ground black pepper for a visually striking side that has all the delicious flavor of classic cacio e pepe. Get the Recipe Save 34 of 35 Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Strawberry–Merlot Sauce Victor Protasio Nothing says romance like a sauce of roasted strawberries and Merlot, which is the real star of this simply seasoned pork dish from chef Alex Hrabovsky. Get the Recipe Save 35 of 35 French Seafood Bisque with Baguette Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen A rich, creamy bisque filled with fresh seafood is the perfect soppable start to your Valentine’s Day dinner. Get the Recipe Save Explore more: Food Holidays & Occasions Valentine's Day Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit