31 Romantic Dinner Ideas That Will Bring Back The Spark

Romantic recipe dinner dates come in handy as they allow you to bond over a meal within the confines of the home. Trying some of the best dinner date recipes is a sure way of keeping the conversation going.

Check Out This Table Of Romantic Foods And How Quickly You Can Prepare Them.

Recipe	Calories Per Serving	Preparation Time
Portobello Mushrooms With Truffle Mash	120	30 Minutes
Marry Me Chicken	290	30 Minutes
Corn And Sausage Pasta	665	35 Minutes
Seared Scallops And Mushroom Risotto	301	50 Minutes
Thai Green Chicken Curry	394	1 Hour 20 Minutes
Buffalo Cheese Crumbs Chicken Mac n Cheese	620	1 Hour
Butter-Basted Sirloin Steak	260	50 Minutes
Refried Butternut Tacos	560	40 Minutes
Sirloin Tip Roast	390	2 Hours 20 Minutes
Lemon Rosemary Chicken	286	45 Minutes
Honey Glazed Salmon	326	20 Minutes
Korean BBQ Beef Bowls	550	30 Minutes
Classic Lasagna	390	1 Hour 50 Minutes
Braised Chicken	123	1 Hour 40 Minutes
Steak Frites	800	1 Hour
Buffalo Chicken Bowl	690	1 Hour
Japanese Bento Box With Teriyaki	330	30 Minutes
Lemon Garlic Pasta	347	35 Minutes
Salmon Steak With Herbs	240	40 Minutes
Chicken Piccata	389	40 Minutes
Filet Mignon With Garlic Butter	580	35 Minutes
Shrimp Scampi	233	40 Minutes
Caprese Grilled Filet Mignon	426	30 Minutes
Crab Cake	266	30 Minutes
Crunchy Sushi Rice And California Rolls	170	1 Hour 20 Minutes
Linguine With Clams	395	1 Hour
Cheese Fondue	492	25 Minutes
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Risotto	250	35 Minutes
Whipped Sweet Potatoes With Butter	129	55 Minutes
Prime Rib Steak	410	1 Hour
Spicy Eggplant & Miso Tahini Sauce	254	30 Minutes

Romantic date nights as a couple are vital. However, for most couples, time is spent in expensive restaurants. More frequent dates are usually planned indoors, and takeout is the easy way to go when going for meals.

Although they are perfectly great options, the reality is that they quickly become routine and boring. Why not try something new, switch up a bit, and cook for your date?

Better yet, the dinner-making process can be a time to bond over the little things. 

Most people leave out this option, thinking they need to be world-class chefs to pull off something delicious, but that is not true. In fact, many recipes need basic everyday ingredients readily available from the store.

If you are looking for something to rekindle the fire, here are 31 romantic dinner recipe ideas to try.

1. Portobello Mushrooms With Truffle Mash

Portobello mushroom and truffle mash is the ultimate vegetarian food to start with when unsure of what to cook for your date.

With the decadent truffles and mashed potatoes served in every mushroom, the meal tastes more like steak and will be an instant hit with your date.

However, for that added oomph, adding a little bit of chive butter will make the dish literally melt in your mouth with every bite. 

Calories Per Serving: 120 

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes  

2. Marry Me Chicken

Marry me chicken is a famous skillet chicken recipe topped off with sun-dried tomato and parmesan cream sauce. Judging by its name, the dish lives up to its name and is often a go-to recipe in proposals.

The best part is the dish takes 30 minutes to prepare, and you are presented with yummy goodness within no time.

Calories Per Serving: 290

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes  

3. Corn And Sausage Pasta

Pasta is one of the easiest dinner recipes since the process of cooking is always so straightforward. However, throwing it in with chopped sausages and some vegetables will give it more color and flavor.

With the butter melting into the dish, the humble dish transforms and becomes a rich, delicious meal for two.

Calories Per Serving: 665

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes  

4. Seared Scallops And Mushroom Risotto

Seared Scallops and Mushroom Risotto is one of the few dishes that many choose to indulge in a restaurant. However, it’s perfectly possible to eat it at home.

Getting the right ingredients, fresh from the market, will make the dish outstanding. After mastering the recipe, it will take a bribe to get back to someone else doing the cooking.

Calories Per Serving: 301

Preparation Time: 50 Minutes 

5. Thai Green Chicken Curry

Steer off from more traditional foods into the world of Thai cuisine. With Thai curry, a dish many love as takeout, recreating it at home makes eating it a better experience.

However, be careful with the spice and build up your tolerance slowly.

Calories Per Serving: 394

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes  

6. Buffalo Cheese Crumbs Chicken Mac N’ Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese is an easy meal to whip up on any weekday. Go fancy with it and try the Buffalo chicken combination for a perfectly satisfying meal.

With the shredded chicken having the buffalo sauce and the cheese from the macaroni added to the mix, be prepared for a creamy, cheesy, tasty meal. For additional flavor, add ranch sauce (although the step is optional).

Calories Per Serving: 620

Preparation Time: 1 Hour  

7. Butter-Basted Sirloin Steak

It’s hardly impossible to go wrong with Sirloin steak. However, seasoning needs to be done just right to get it right. Start by marinating the steak enough to get the juices sipping into it.

Adding butter as the secret ingredient will make it a romantic dinner recipe to die for but make sure to have an excellent accompaniment for it.

Calories Per Serving: 260

Preparation Time: 50 Minutes 

8. Refried Butternut Tacos

Handling tacos expertly needs some expertise, but the reality is that it is totally worth it as a date night recipe. With all the ingredients, fresh and cooked, the different aromatic smells make it inviting.

The best part is that the butternut refried tacos have no meat in them and are still 100% delicious.

Calories Per Serving: 560

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes 

9. Sirloin Tip Roast

To impress your date, try something out of the ordinary, like a Sirloin tip roast. However, you will need to have the timers set correctly to achieve perfectly roast meat.

This way, it will be easier to tear into the meal and have it melt in your mouth.

Calories Per Serving: 390

Preparation Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes  

10. Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Rosemary is one of the herbs that, when infused in chicken, makes for a particularly savory flavor. The lemon works to make the chicken spices pop out. The chicken is tender such that it falls off the bone.

The recipe is relatively straightforward, and you can cook without supervision. This romantic dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner date.

Calories Per Serving: 286

Preparation Time: 45 Minutes 

RELATED: 17 Simple Weeknight Dinner Ideas

11. Honey Glazed Salmon

Salmon is one of those ingredients that is easy to make since it’s the most popular kind of fish and overall easier to handle. However, to make the salmon tasty, you have to remember seasoning is a priority.

Finishing it off with a honey glaze will make the dish sweet and savory.

Calories Per Serving: 326

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes 

12. Korean BBQ Beef Bowls

Korean BBQ is becoming widespread worldwide, and for a good reason. With so much flavor packed into a bowl, the final finished look is magazine worthy. However, to top it off, add sesame seeds and the signature fried egg.

Calories Per Serving: 550

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes  

13. Classic Lasagna

There are many ways to make lasagna, with people coming with new ingredients and methods of preparing it. However, sticking to the classics as a beginner is the best bet as it’s easy and has a refreshing taste.

Remember to layer the ingredients just right to make them appealing and juicy.

Calories Per Serving: 390

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 50 Minutes  

14. Braised Chicken

Braised chicken cuisine is an impressive dish meant for cold weather. The Thai Indian fusion in this dish makes it particularly interesting. Any braised chicken left can be used in tacos, making it a perfect romantic dinner recipe.

Calories Per Serving: 123 

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 40 Minutes  

15. Steak Frites

There are hundreds of ways to cook steak, but few can match up to steak frites. Ultimately to get that savory taste, it’s vital to have the ingredients fresh, spices, and herbs measured carefully.

Frying the streak should be done until it becomes golden and crunchy. The conversation is easier with frites as it is finger food that just needs a bit of sauce.

Calories Per Serving: 800

Preparation Time: 1 Hour  

16. Buffalo Chicken Bowl

The buffalo chicken bowl is a dish full of flavor. With numerous ingredients included in the dish, it is filling and delicious in every way. However, getting the chicken to take center stage will create a truly satisfying bowl of happiness.

Calories Per Serving: 690

Preparation time: 1 Hour 

17. Japanese Bento Box With Teriyaki 

A Japanese bento box is some of the traditions the world should emulate as it has a little bit of everything. The best part is that it’s nutritious, simple to make, and will generally take 20 minutes.

However, for a truly satisfactory dish, the Japanese Bento box with teriyaki is the way to go, as the results and taste are a five-star restaurant-worthy meal.

Calories Per Serving: 330

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes  

18. Lemon Garlic Pasta

The lemon garlic pasta recipe is one of those dishes that is easy to make and delicious.  When cooking, you want to go low on the heat to cook through but not overcook.

Top it up with a simple complimentary sauce and enjoy the meal with your date.

Calories Per Serving: 347

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes  

19. Salmon Steak With Herbs

Of course, as the date nights increase, so should your need to want to try something different from the rest. The salmon steak recipe is simple to make; it’s impossible to mess up.

However, get the herbs fresh from the market for a truly herbs-infused meal, and your taste buds will indeed thank you.

Calories Per Serving: 240 

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes 

20. Chicken Piccata

Chicken piccata sounds like an intricate dish, and although it is tasty, it is one of the easy recipes to master. However, to make it easier for you, use thin chicken cutlets and white wine in the sauce with lemon juice to get the perfect mix.

Pair your chicken with roasted potatoes; you are good to go. Some hard bread will also work well to soak up the delicious sauce.

Calories Per Serving: 389

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes  

RELATED: The 30 Best Easy Weeknight Dinners

21. Filet Mignon With Garlic Butter

The filet mignon recipe is a thick cut that can be intimidating to cook, to say the least. Rubbing some spices on it before frying will make the taste out of this world. Be sure to top up with garlic butter for that creamy and melting feeling. 

Calories Per Serving: 580

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes  

22. Shrimp Scampi Recipe 

When looking for a classy meal, try Shrimp Scampi. Not only is it delicious and rich in flavor, but it’s also saucy and creamy. Get it right in under an hour by infusing it with garlic and lemon ingredients.

The best part is that even after adding white wine and red pepper flakes, it does not overpower the shrimp flavor as each is perfectly balanced.

Calories Per Serving: 233

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes 

23. Caprese Grilled Filet Mignon

The trick to having the perfect grilled filet is using a super-hot iron cast pan. Get in with the spices and herbs to add flavor to the dish. Pop it into the oven with slices of tomato, mozzarella, and balsamic to make it a truly memorable dish.

Calories Per Serving: 426

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes  

24. Crab Cakes

Crab cakes are easier to make, especially if you already have hand-picked crab meat on the ready from any seafood store.

It’s worth the effort as the crab cakes are light, tasty, crunchy, and Sweet. Use bay seasoning and dry mustard to get a moist and tender finish.

Add some sauce, and you are good to go for the entire night.

Calories Per Serving: 266

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes  

25. Crunchy Sushi Rice And California Rolls Recipe

Making sushi at home will make you feel like a professional chef. On your next romantic dinner date, make California sushi rolls. Do not limit yourself to one kind of sushi recipe but don’t be afraid to start with the basics if it’s your first time. 

However, the twist to it is frying the out rice coat. The meal is savory and creamy, with a side sauce to dip into.

Calories Per Serving: 170

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes  

26. Linguine With Clams

Without an eye on the pot when cooking clam, they can turn out rubbery and bland. Cleaning them out is the most important part before starting to season. You might want to set the table next to the pot and watch as the clams open up.

Calories Per Serving: 395

Preparation Time: 1 Hour  

27. Cheese Fondue

It’s no secret that cheese makes the world better. Cheese fondue is the ultimate cheesy meal using just a few ingredients as accompaniments, such as sausages, bread sticks, and veggies.

However, the quality of the cheese is the most crucial part. You might want to spend time choosing one that is lightened and provides the ultimate flavor.

Calories Per Serving: 492

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes  

28. Creamy Garlic Parmesan Risotto

Can you imagine enjoying risotto at home in the company of your date? Well, it’s possible if you take the time to create the dish.

In the end, be ready for a creamy bowl of goodness, filling, and, most importantly, delicious. Drizzle some truffle oil on it, ready to be wowed.

Calories Per Serving: 250

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes  

29. Whipped Sweet Potatoes With Butter 

Sweet potatoes are a great dinner option as they go with everything. Whipping it together with plenty of butter makes it a recipe to die for. Add some vegetables to the velvety smooth sweet potato meal.

Serve with roasted chicken or pork chops to make the meal memorable.

Calories Per Serving: 129

Preparation Time: 55 Minutes 

30. Prime Rib Steak

Prime rib recipe is a recipe all meat lovers like to indulge in as it is the ultimate dream dish. If you are looking for an impressive romantic dinner, this recipe should be on top of your list.

To build up to the dinner, you might want to start the preparation process at least 24 hours after the marination. Afterward, cook it making sure that the juices never go dry to get tender, tasty meat.

Calories Per Serving: 410

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 

RELATED: 27 Super Quick And Easy Weeknight Dinners

31. Spicy Eggplant & Miso Tahini Sauce

Japanese cuisine is fast catching worldwide, and with good reason. The ingredients, although common, seem almost magical yet simple and elegant at the same time.

The combination of eggplant and umami sauce makes the perfect vegan dish, especially for cold nights. The best part is the cuisine, although simple, is mouth-watering and delicious.

Calories Per Serving: 254

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type Of Food Should You Prepare For A Dinner Date?

Simplicity is the best way to go when going on dinner dates. Choose a romantic dinner recipe that is simple to cook and takes an average of an hour to make.

Stick to dry foods or foods that can be handled well easily, meaning no messy foods with a lot of soup unless served as an accompaniment. 

Avoid foods with too much garlic and strong odors. Such foods can be disastrous to oral hygiene, especially when the conversation starts to pick up. 

How Do You Know What To Cook For Dinner?

The secret is planning. Find out what your guest likes and what they tolerate. Find out about their allergies. Most importantly, find out what they like eating and incorporate it into the recipe of the night.

However, try and have some serving of colorful veggies as it’s tasty and also nutritious.

What Are Seductive Foods?

A seductive food is something that attracts you to eat it and usually has a flavor of sweet, creamy, or a mix of both. They are deemed to be appetizing and alluring. They are thought to be irresistible and desirable and gives a visually stimulating view such as figs, carrots, oysters etc.