Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas For Two On A Budget

Feast on these Valentine's Day dinner ideas for two and enjoy a romantic dinner date with your beau in the comforts of your home.

In this article:

Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas | Appetizer Recipes for Two
Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas | Side Dish Recipes for Two
Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas | Main Course Recipes for Two
Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas | Dessert Recipes for Two
Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas | Drinks Recipes for Two

Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for DIY Date Night

Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas | Appetizer Recipes for Two

1. Creamy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll-Ups

Add a twist on everybody's favorite lasagna! Instead of preparing a classic layered lasagna, why not make lasagna roll-ups with a lighter filling: chicken, spinach, and mozzarella.

2. French Onion Soup

This soup is the perfect meal to kick off your Valentine's Day dinner. It's super flavorful and will wake up your taste buds as move forward to your next course.

3. Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili

You'll love this comforting jalapeno popper chicken chili soup to start off your romantic dinner with someone special. Every flavor you love about jalapeno poppers, you're going to taste here!

4. Creamy Garlic Chicken Soup

Give your darling the most satisfying sip of his or her life with this tasty, creamy, and garlicky chicken soup recipe. The flavor is mild and subtle but will leave your taste buds hankering for more!

5. Black-Eyed Pea Soup With Chicken Sausage

A quintessential Southern soup for a chilly romantic evening. It's a delectable soup with so much flavor and texture —it'll take your lover's breath away.

6. Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup

This creamy and velvety coconut shrimp soup with an authentic Thai flavor is so appetizing. It's a unique flavor you don't get everyday, making it the perfect special date night recipe.

7. Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

You don't have to make your soup course complicated. Even a simple and light Greek lemon chicken soup can satisfy your date on a whole new level!

8. Tennessee Onions

This recipe for Tennessee onions will please both meat lovers and veggie lovers. The taste is quite similar to a meat dish, even though it doesn't have any.

It's cheesy, meaty, and earthy, in short, a must-try! A healthy dish to bring vegetarian lovers closer.

9. Seared Scallops With Cauliflower Puree

Decadent seared scallops atop a creamy cauliflower puree drizzled with rich walnut butter sauce and garnished with fresh herbs and pomegranate seeds.

You would think an easy gourmet dish isn’t possible at home but this recipe proves otherwise. It would even pass as your main dish if you like it light or if you're a pescatarian.

10. Restaurant-Style Stuffed Mushroom Appetizer for Two

No appetizer says, “You're special” better than restaurant-style stuffed mushrooms baked to perfection. With only five ingredients and 20 minutes of prep time, it's effortless cooking.

Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas | Side Dish Recipes for Two

11. Fettuccine Alfredo With Broccoli

This is a light and easy pasta recipe with broccoli and lots of cheese! It's also a healthier meal to make your sweetheart completely satisfied despite being a meatless recipe.

12. Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta

Go healthy with this delicious and hearty chicken and broccoli pasta with sun-dried tomatoes. Toss in the tasty pesto sauce with the pasta and chicken breast, and have it on the table in less than 30 minutes!

13. Spaghetti Carbonara

Five-ingredient carbonara in 15 minutes! Yes! This is the easiest pasta dish to fall in love with.

And because we don't want our sweethearts to wait, this simple and quick carbonara recipe couldn't be any perfect.

14. Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce

Ditch the store-bought product and try this delicious homemade marinara sauce with fresh herbs and tomatoes atop pasta! You can pretty much use this rich sauce in any of your favorite pasta noodles.

15. Baked Ravioli With Vodka Sauce

This amazingly creamy and comforting baked ravioli with a kick of vodka sauce makes a perfect meal for a romantic night with the love of your life. It's also very easy to cook —perfect for busy romantics!

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16. Baked Parmesan Mushrooms

Parmesan cheese, lemon, and thyme make this mushroom dish a winning side to a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day. It's simple yet super flavorful, which is perfect if you prefer healthy dishes, too!

17. Potato Stir Fry Flavored With Garlic and Cumin

This recipe is an exciting side dish you can easily prepare for a date night. It's not just a basic potato dish. It's well-spiced and tastes even better with red chili powder, turmeric powder, and more incredible seasonings.

18. Baked Zucchini Crisps

You and your Valentine will enjoy the healthy goodness of this crispy vegetable side dish. These baked zucchini crisps taste really good and savory–vegetarian or not, you'll both love it!

19. Broccoli Cheddar Twice-Baked Potatoes

Nothing beats a healthy side dish bursting with extremely delicious flavor! This cheesy carb side will leave you both full and satisfied.

20. Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice

With this flavorful fried rice recipe, you're adding a beautiful side dish to your menu, which will make your darling fall in love again and again! It's a dish to enjoy and to feel good about.

Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas | Main Course Recipes for Two

21. Black Bean Ribs

Treat your date to a good and one-of-a-kind rib experience. These tender ribs are covered with a rich and thick black bean sauce which is simply amazing.

22. Steak Fajita Roll-Ups

It only takes 30 minutes to cook these tender, succulent, and flavorful steak fajita roll-ups with juicy and well-seasoned bell peppers.

23. Honey Sriracha Skillet Pork Chops

If you both dig sweet and spicy flavors, this dinner idea is the ultimate choice for you on the big night! It is simple to cook and pairs really well with any side dish you wish to prepare.

24. BBQ Braised Pot Roast

There's nothing as perfect as taking a bite of this fancy dish with your love while listening to romantic music. This barbecue braised pot roast is perfection!

25. Perfect Ribeye with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

This steak is soaked in olive oil and fresh rosemary before grilling. It is then topped with a delicious mushroom and onion mixture with a mild tangy taste from balsamic vinegar — you simply cannot resist.

26. Lemon Garlic Steak

An absolutely melt-in-your-mouth lemon garlic steak to tickle your taste buds on your date night. This steak is easy and comes together in less than 15 minutes!

27. Cilantro-Lime Grilled Tuna With Avocado-Cucumber Salsa

The name pretty sums up everything about this mega-delicious grilled tuna dish. Of course, he or she will absolutely fall in love with all the fresh and festive flavors.

28. Simple Rosemary Oven Roasted Chicken

This super easy oven-roasted rosemary chicken with cauliflower tastes divine. It also so aromatic — it can make anyone fall in love in an instant!

29. Schnitzel

You'll love to add this simple yet tasty Austrian dish on your Valentine's Day dinner menu! It's scrumptious and perfect when you want to serve something new yet comforting.

30. Pan-Fried Duck With Massaman Curry Sauce

Have you ever cooked duck or do you want to try an easy duck recipe? This is the best recipe to get you started!

It's an addictive and succulent pan-fried duck that would look elegant on a special date night.

31. Ketchup Sriracha Shrimp

It only takes 15 minutes to make this tangy, sweet, and spicy ketchup Sriracha shrimp! If you and your date are both spice lovers, then this shrimp recipe is for you!

32. Smoked Salmon Tart With Sweet Potato Crust

The long list of ingredients for both filling and crust is just worth it! Once you have gathered all the things you need for this recipe, you're just a few steps away from a delectable and mouthwatering smoked salmon dish.

33. Pan-Seared Scallops With Chermoula Sauce

Get a bit of a Moroccan experience on the sweetest day of the year with this elegant dish. You don't have to worry because despite this dish looking pretty classy, it definitely is so simple and easy to prepare.

34. Italian Stuffed Flank Steak

This is a tender steak slathered with a special garlic mixture, then filled with prosciutto and provolone cheese, tucked into little pinwheels then pan-seared to absolute perfection!

35. Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Green Beans

For those who want it healthy, here's this Valentine's Day dinner idea to please you and your beau: Stuffed chicken breasts for two with green beans on the side.

For dessert, you can have fresh strawberries dipped in skinny chocolate dipping. Scroll down to pick a drink recipe (I suggest the pomegranate ginger Paloma) to complement this light and happy meal.

36. Filet Mignon for Two

Fine dining at a fraction of the cost is possible with homemade filet mignon. To make perfect filet mignon, use a cast-iron skillet, one that's oven-safe to cook in.

You don't need fancy seasoning, because a quality filet mignon cut is flavorful in itself. The twice-baked potatoes or baked parmesan mushrooms will make a perfect side to this gourmet dish.

37. Chicken and Broccoli Pasta for Two

Give this crazy-easy pasta recipe a go on your Valentine's date night and have a filling meal without the horrors of prepping. It's a main dish and side rolled into one, plus the appetizing veggies to get your appetite worked up.

Now all you have to worry about are the desserts and drinks. We also have here some great choices for you, so keep reading! A Valentine's day sangria and flourless chocolate cake should complement the dish well.

38. Mushroom Topped Pepper Steak for Two

This mushroom-topped pepper steak will give steakhouse steaks a run for their money. Give it some garlic-roasted asparagus on the side and it's solid!

39. Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe for Two

For pescatarians, this savory honey garlic shrimp recipe is a dream. And it gets even better if you're also a busy bunch since this is super easy to prep and cook.

Adding a spoonful of butter while sauteeing works wonders for me. Serve it with rice and broccoli on the side and you get a restaurant-style main dish on your dinner date.

40. Beef Tenderloin Fillets With Spinach Cambozola Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce

You can say this is a little too much, but for Valentine's Day, this is just the fancy meal you need. It is a perfect balance of creamy spinach cambozola and savory beef steak with mushrooms.

Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas | Dessert Recipes for Two

41. Layered Cherry Cheesecake

Don't worry, this elegant dessert is easy to make. Not only that, but it's also so sinful with vanilla wafer crust and a delightful pudding and cream cheese filling.

42. Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies

A lovely cheesecake recipe to make for Valentine's Day. It's a very easy recipe guaranteed to make your evening sweeter and more romantic.

43. Bonet

Cocoa + Amaretti + Rum = seductively delicious dessert to indulge in with the love of your life. This bonet is such a fine and classy treat you might want to try!

What is a bonet? It is a typical sweet with a Piemontese preparation often served in noble banquets all the way back the 13h century.

44. Meyer Lemon Graham Parfait

Parfaits are one of the easiest and simplest desserts anyone can make, especially this particular recipe. With honey and lemon, this parfait is heaven in every spoonful, for sure!

45. Brownie Truffles

I love truffles and this recipe is definitely my favorite. It's delightful enough for a special night and also easy enough to whip up any time you crave for sweets.

46. Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies

These heart-shaped cookies will look lovely on your Valentine's day dinner table. Red velvet cookies have never been this good — they're almost too good to eat!

47. Raspberry-Covered Devil's Food Cake

Heart-shaped, red, sweet, and perfectly studded with fresh raspberries — this stunning cake hits the spot for the best Valentine's Day dessert recipe!

48. Flourless Chocolate Cake

If chocolate is the food of love, then this flourless chocolate cake will make you fall in love again and again. You will also love that you can make this ahead, keep it in the fridge, and serve it on your date night.

49. Valentine Butterscotch Cake for Two

Sweet butterscotch is great for Valentine's Day, but a butterscotch cake on your dinner date couldn't be any more perfect. Serve it hot or cold topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce.

Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas | Drinks Recipes for Two

50. Valentine's Day Sparkling Sangria

Let love reign supreme on your dinner table with this red berry drink. It's a delicious drink with sweet, tangy, and fresh fruity flavors from fresh raspberries, blueberries, and cranberry juice mixed with some booze.

51. Strawberry Bourbon Cocktail

This delightfully refreshing cocktail drink would make a great addition to your Valentine's Day dinner. It's a boozy drink linked to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, after all.

52. Pink Lemonade Vodka Slush

Who wouldn't love this pretty-in-pink cocktail drink for a very romantic evening? Nothing too fancy, yet it's an incredibly tasty drink to share with your loved one.

53. Winter Witbier and White Grape Vodka Man-gria

How do you like some fresh fruit soaked in vodka? Sounds tempting, right? Stun your date with this drinkable jar of art!

54. Smoking Violets Cocktail

Add a wow factor to your Valentine's Day dinner with this smoking cocktail! Prepare the ingredients needed for this drink ahead of time, then go for it post-dinner and you won't regret it!

55. Blackberry Bourbon Smash

Share a glass of this sophisticated blackberry bourbon smash with someone you love. It's always nice to share such a wonderful experience with the people close to your heart.

56. Pomegranate Ginger Paloma

Toast to this refreshing drink with no artificial sweetener. It has a tasty ginger syrup with honey, mint leaves, and fresh ginger.

57. Frozen Cherry Daiquiris

Frozen cherry daiquiris is a boozy and delectable drink to indulge in! You can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an ultimate cocktail and dessert experience.

58. Blood Orange Champagne Mule

This blood orange champagne mule is a drool-worthy drink perfect to serve at any special occasion like New Year, Christmas, and of course Valentine's Day. Let's toast to that!

59. Heart Beet Smoothie

A revitalizing and delicious drink to keep you hyped the whole night. This beet smoothie is a healthy drink rich in fiber and vitamin C that's also good for your heart.

60. Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade

Keep it simple and refreshing with this zesty and delicious sparkling lemonade recipe. It's loaded with wholesome sparkly blueberry goodness, not to mention how easy the recipe is!

This video from Tasty will show you how to prepare a romantic steak dinner for two at home:

With restaurants so crowded on this day, these Valentine's Day dinner ideas for two make the perfect case for staying home and preparing your own dinner date. Not to mention the fact that you also want to stay on budget for that vacation for two you're saving for.

Now, you can get a steakhouse-style romantic dinner or a gourmet meal at a fraction of the price. Plan your menu with these sweet Valentine's Day dinner ideas for two!

Which of these dinner ideas for two are you planning to add to your menu? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 12, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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