It’s DDAAATTTEEEE NIIIGGHHHTTT! Yes, date night! You remember what those are, right? Nowadays date night means a whole lot of figuring out something creative to do at home.
And I get it – you’re already doing so much cooking (because what else is there to do?!) and maayyyybe it’s not the first thing on your mind when the ‘date night at home’ brainstorm starts.
But I GOT YOU!
I’m here with my top date night recipes that are easy to make, impressive, and are guaranteed to make your date night at home feel extra special, fun, and delicious!
Some are vegetarian, others pescatarian and all are satisfying, fun, and interactive to make.
Cheers!
Homemade Cheese Ravioli
Fresh pasta filled with a melt-in-your-mouth creamy mixture of ricotta and parmesan cheese, mixed with fresh basil, lemon zest, and nutmeg for a simple, yet flavorful cheese ravioli!
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Shrimp Scampi for Two
The perfect date night at home dish! Large shrimp in a luscious butter and bright lemon sauce twirled in strands of fettuccine pasta and topped with fresh parsley. Perfectly paired with white wine for a spectacular meal.
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Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Dip
The perfect appetizer for any occasion! A decadent base of cream cheese and sour cream, paired perfectly with fresh pesto and the subtle sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes. Serve this dip with a warm baguette for a crowd-pleasing appetizer!
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Mushroom Pea Risotto
Savory, creamy, and rich – this risotto is a winner! Devour it as your main dish or a side to meat, and enjoy it with a glass of wine!
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One Pot Creamy Tomato Spinach Gnocchi
A luxurious, one-pot vegetarian dinner ready in 20 minutes!
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Creamy Red Wine Spaghetti
Rich wine flavored pasta tossed with butter and parmesan to create a creamy red wine sauce and pine nuts. A quick weeknight dinner or romantic date-night-in!
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Easy Baked Teriyaki Salmon
This baked teriyaki salmon recipe is an easy, quick, and healthy weeknight dinner! The homemade teriyaki sauce adds a ton of flavor making this the perfect Asian salmon. Serve with rice and a side of greens for a meal you can feel good about.
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Creamy Garlic Pasta with Pan Seared Scallops
Creamy, cheesy parmesan pasta loaded with fresh garlic and topped with perfectly pan-seared scallops. It's a rich and indulgent 20-minute dinner for two that's perfect for date-night, and easily doubled for more.
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Seared Scallops with Coconut Rice and Pineapple Salsa
A fresh, colorful dinner with sweet and spicy pineapple salsa, creamy coconut rice, and luscious pan-seared sea scallops. You'll be instantly transported to the tropics with the combination of flavors!
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Vegetable Lo Mein for Two
In just under 30 minutes you can have better-than-take-out Vegetable Lo Mein! Make this quick and easy recipe right in your kitchen, with its savory sauce, veggies, and soft, chewy noodles. It’s a recipe made for two, but you’re going to want to make a double batch once you take a bite!
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Vegetable Potstickers with Ponzu Sauce
Homemade vegetarian potstickers that are easy to make, and full of flavor! Serve with homemade ponzu sauce and a spicy corn flake garnish for a gourmet appetizer!
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Fettuccine Alfredo for Two
Fettuccine Alfredo for Two is the easiest date night recipe around, yet it still feels luxurious and indulgent. This version has garlic in the sauce and is super customizable with add-ins. It says ‘I love you’ in the most delicious way possible.
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Easy Shrimp Picatta
This Shrimp Picatta recipe is easy enough to make on a weeknight and also feeling fancy enough for a date night at home. Juicy shrimp are paired with briny capers in a bright, lemon wine sauce. Serve it with angel hair pasta or sourdough bread slices for a delicious dinner.
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Sautéed Plums in Wine Sauce with Ice Cream
An indulgent dessert that’s incredibly easy to make: sauté plums and deglaze with red wine to create a luxurious sauce. Pour it over ice cream et viola!
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Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée
A luxurious, classic dessert with a creamy custard base, topped with a layer of “burnt” caramelized sugar. Dive in with that perfect “crack” with this easy recipe!
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Chocolate White Russian
An indulgent dessert cocktail made with creamy sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, and coffee liqueur, it's a must-have!
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Date Night Recipes: Fettuccine Alfredo for Two
Fettuccine Alfredo for Two is the easiest date night recipe around, yet it still feels luxurious and indulgent. This version has garlic in the sauce and is super customizable with add-ins. It says 'I love you' in the most delicious way possible. Plus, enjoy 15 other date night recipe ideas above!
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Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
- 8 oz. fettuccine noodles high quality recommended
- 5 TBSP unsalted butter divided
- 6-8 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup half-and-half room temperature*
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt more or less to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water more depending on the sauce
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large stockpot with water and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and add fettuccine noodles, cooking a few minutes under package directions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter on low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn. Keep the heat low!
- Increase the heat to medium and whisk in the half-and-half; add half of the salt and pepper. Simmer for 1-2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Add the grated parmesan cheese and the remaining butter, whisking until smooth and combined. Test the sauce for salt levels, adding more as needed.
- Add the pasta into the sauce and toss to combine. Let the pasta simmer for 1-2 minutes until al dente. If the sauce is too thick (which may be the case especially if you used heavy cream), add additional pasta water 1-2 tablespoons at a time to loosen, stirring between each addition.
- Serve immediately. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley as desired.
Notes
Forgot to take your half-and-half out of the fridge when you started cooking? Put it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. You want it to be lukewarm/room temperature so it doesn’t shock up when you put it in the skillet.
Reheating? I don’t recommend it, but if you need to, I recommend reserving a bit of the pasta water and reheating it with 2-4 tablespoons of the pasta water on the stove over low-medium heat until heated through and the sauce has loosened.
Possible add-ins: chicken, shrimp, or broccoli. See the blog post for more ideas!
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!