12 Best Ideas for a Cozy Valentine’s Day Dinner at Home

Skip overpriced restaurants and avoid waiting in lines this Valentine’s Day by whipping up a delicious and easy Valentine’s Day dinner at home. 

Even if you don’t consider yourself a chef, the good news is that there are lots of great ways to celebrate the holiday and your loved with a cozy dinner at home. From a tender cut of beef or a glazed plate of salmon to a cheesy, one-pot sausage meal or a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish, these recipes are sure to please.

Check out these top 12 ideas to create a cozy and delightful Valentine’s Day dinner in the comfort of your own home.

1. Maryland Crab Cakes; Tartar Sauce

You don’t need to live near the eastern shore to indulge in tasty crab cakes made from Old Bay and fresh lump crab. Get an easy, authentic flavor by adding the perfect tartar sauce for dipping.

2. Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine

Feeling fancy but don’t want to hit up the town? Bask in the red-wine-braised ribs that carry all the flavor of beef bourguignon.

3. Cioppino 

Enjoy a cozy Italian-American fisherman’s stew with fresh seafood swimming in a wine and tomato broth that’s reminiscent of the sea.

4. Coq au vin

Red wine, chicken, and mushroom stew make this the perfect French main dish with a crisp pancetta side.

5. Carrot and Potato Beef Stew 

Hearty, comforting, and packed with tender beef flavor, this stew provides the ultimate coziness for a special night in.

6. Creamy Tuscan Chicken

This one-pot meal is filled with such creamy deliciousness that you’ll even want to drink the sauce out of the pan.

7. Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Rich, elegant, and tender, this salmon coated in a honey and garlic glaze provides the ultimate mouthful of savory sweetness.

8. Sheet Pan Burrata Gnocchi

When you roast this dish to lightly brown the outside of the pasta, you get a heavenly gnocchi meal that contains a fluffy and chewy inside. You can even add sweet bell peppers to waken Caprese flavors without hunting for seasonal tomatoes.

9. Caprese Steak

Skip the wait at an overpriced steakhouse and create a delightful Caprese steak that’s bursting with all the flavors of sweet, tart tomatoes and roasted red peppers.

10. One-Pan Cheesy Sausage Gnocchi

If you’re looking for an easy one-pot meal that’s both cozy and satisfying, try making a one-pan Gnocchi dish that’s bursting with flavor. Even better, it’s packed with carbs-, coziness, and cheesy sausage.

11. Boursin Stuffed Chicken

This delightful entrée is sure to win hearts wherever it graces the table. Celebrate this day of love with tender chicken wrapped in prosciutto.

12. Classic Spaghetti and Meatball

Nothing says classic romance like sharing a dish of spaghetti and meatballs (think: Lady and the Tramp). Throw on a red and white checked café tablecloth to give your cozy candlelit evening the glamor of a traditional Italian trattoria.

Whip up an easy and delicious recipe or create your own twist on this favorite Valentine’s Day dish.