When it comes to connecting with your significant other, there’s nothing better than a date night at home. Whether you’re in the mood for a completely vegetarian menu, are ready to Lady and Tramp it over pasta recipes, or are craving a fancy seafood date night in, we’ve got you covered.
This collection of romantic dinner ideas includes super fun things to make together for date night – whatever you’re hungry for. Picture it: staying in, turning up the music, pouring a glass of your favorite red, and dancing the night away while chopping, stirring, and taste testing.
Making a romantic date night meal together is sure to heighten your senses and bring the ultimate connection. No more mediocre takeout or frozen pizza nights. Try one (or more!) of these easy and approachable, yet totally impressive recipes instead.
And nothing says “date night” better than sharing a dessert at the end of your meal. Definitely be sure to check out some yummy, indulgent sweet-tooth recipe ideas, too!
Pasta Recipes
Whether you decide to make a quick 30-minute pasta dish for a weeknight date, or a more elaborate homemade pasta dinner that you can linger over for hours, you’ll find it here!
Do note there are several seafood pasta recipes in this category (and not included under seafood).
Homemade Cheese Ravioli with Ricotta
Make a batch of homemade pasta and fill ravioli pockets with a luxurious, delicate, and bright ricotta cheese filling. This is a super fun "date night project" recipe!Ingredients: fresh pasta dough, ricotta, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, basil, nutmeg, and sauce for serving
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Or make homemade fresh ravioli together and add your own filling! There are endless options!
Shrimp Scampi Pasta for Two
You'll love this super easy date-night-worthy recipe. It's ready in 20 minutes but feels totally fancy and restaurant-worthy!Ingredients: fettuccine pasta, shrimp, butter, shallot, garlic, white wine, lemon
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Creamy Red Wine Spaghetti
What's more romantic than pasta and red wine? Make this creamy pasta in just 20 minutes, yet revel in how luxurious it is!Ingredients: spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, red wine, butter, parmesan cheese, pine nuts
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Creamy Garlic Pasta with Pan Seared Scallops
This luxurious pasta is definitely date-night-worthy. Creamy, cheesy garlic parmesan pasta is topped with perfectly pan-seared scallops. Even better? It's ready in just 20 minutes!Ingredients: spaghetti, butter, garlic, milk, vegetable stock, parmesan, sea scallops
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One Pot Creamy Tomato Spinach Gnocchi
This restaurant-worthy dinner is ready in just 25 minutes but will make your night extra special!Ingredients: onion, leek, garlic, tomatoes, gnocchi, parmesan cheese, spinach, half-and-half
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Salmon Pasta with Lemon Garlic Butter
You’ll love the light yet luxurious garlic butter sauce with lemon, whole-wheat pasta, and flaky salmon. It’s a wholesome, filling dinner that comes together quickly!Ingredients: salmon, whole wheat pasta, garlic, butter, lemon
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5 Ingredient Blistered Tomato Pasta
It's a super easy pasta recipe, and is only made with 5 simple ingredients, and is ready in less than 20 minutes…but you'll feel fancy with this indulgent yet light pasta!Ingredients: orecchiette pasta, butter, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, garlic, pasta water
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Fettuccine Alfredo for Two
Italian-inspired date night could not be easier or more romantic than with Fettuccine Alfredo! This recipe is made for 2 and ready in just 15 minutes!Ingredients: fettuccine noodles, butter, garlic, half-and-half, parmesan cheese
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Creamy Mushroom Pea Risotto
Enjoy the process of making this savory, creamy, rich risotto – be sure to turn up the music and dance away the night in between all that stirring!Ingredients: vegetable broth, onion, mushrooms, arborio rice, white wine, peas, parmesan cheese, peas, butter
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Salmon Pesto Pasta with Corn
Bursting with fresh basil pesto, corn, and rich salmon pieces twirled into fettuccine pasta, this pasta is easy and delicious!Ingredients: fettuccine noodles, pesto, corn, salmon, shallot, garlic, parmesan, milk
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Creamy Romesco Sauce Pasta with Burrata
Nothing says "I love you" quite like pasta and burrata cheese.Ingredients: bucatini pasta, romesco sauce, burrata cheese
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The Easiest One-Pan Orecchiette Pasta Recipe
It's a quick one-pan recipe that's savory and hearty!Ingredients: orecchiette pasta, broccolini, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, onion, parmesan cheese
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Homemade Vegetarian Lasagna with Spinach Ricotta
Have fun assembling lasagna together. Make it even more fun by rolling out homemade pasta sheets for it, too!Ingredients: dried or homemade noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, spinach
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Seafood Recipes
There’s just something about seafood recipes that feels extra elegant for a romantic date night. Take note that there are several seafood pasta recipes above in the pasta recipes section.
Seared Scallops on Warm Corn Salad
A light, seasonal dinner for two that comes together in less than 15 minutes.Ingredients: corn, red bell pepper, jalapeno, large sea scallops
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Guajillo Chili Mussels
The mildly spicy, yet complex, tomato and chili broth is irresistible. Enjoy lingering over this dish with warm crusty bread or french fries!Ingredients: dried guajillo chilis, fire-roasted tomatoes, ginger, garlic, white wine, fresh mussels in the shell, saffron
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Parmesan Rosemary Crusted Fish
Lightly fried white fish with a parmesan rosemary panko crust – this recipe is perfect for a quick, yet elegant, dinner.Ingredients: white fish (like cod, haddock, or walleye), panko, fresh rosemary, parmesan cheese
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Rosemary Salmon Foil Packet
The most tender, flaky, luxurious salmon you’ll ever have! An easy main dish with endless side dish options.Ingredients: rosemary, red pepper flakes, salmon
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Easy Baked Teriyaki Salmon
Make this baked teriyaki salmon for an easy, quick dinner that's full of flavor!Ingredients: teriyaki sauce, salmon
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Seared Scallops with Coconut Rice and Pineapple Salsa
Transport you and your love to the tropics with this beach-vibe dinner! Creamy coconut rice, fresh and bright pineapple salsa, and rich sea scallops make a fantastic combination!Ingredients: rice, coconut milk, pineapple salsa, sea scallops
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Shrimp with Romesco Sauce
Marinade shrimp in bold, flavorful, and easy-to-make Romesco Sauce then sautee on the stove for a flavorful dinner! Serve it with rice and veggies for a satisfying meal.Ingredients: romesco sauce, shrimp
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Easy Shrimp Picatta
Juicy shrimp in a briny caper and lemon wine sauce is an irresistible combination! Serve it with bread, pasta, or some veggie sides.Ingredients: shallot, garlic, shrimp, white wine, vegetable stock, lemon, capers
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Firecracker Shrimp
Spice up date night with these firecracker shrimp skewers!Ingredients: raw shrimp, olive oil, red pepper flakes, ginger, garlic
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Date Night Desserts
Cooking for a date has got to include dessert! Make it as romantic as you want with classic options like creme brulee (or add Nutella) or keep it comforting with a fresh out-of-the-oven, warm brownie skillet.
All desesrt ideas lead to something sweet that you can easily share with two spoons. Oh the fun!
Sautéed Plums in Wine Sauce with Ice Cream
This indulgent dessert is so easy to make in just 10 minutes!Ingredients: butter, brown sugar, plums, red wine, vanilla ice cream for serving
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Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée
The most luxurious and indulgent creme brulee around is made with real vanilla beans and has that perfect sugar topping.Ingredients: heavy cream, vanilla beans, egg yolks, sugar
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Chambord Raspberry Sorbet
Not only is the color perfect for date night, this bright sorbet is the ultimate dessert when you need a light, refreshing bite.Ingredients: Chambord, frozen raspberries, sugar, lemon juice
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Irish Cream Chocolate Mousse
An easy, make-ahead option so you can enjoy dessert without worry and focus on each other.Ingredients: heavy cream, bittersweet dark chocolate, Irish Cream Liqueur, powdered sugar, espresso powder, vanilla
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Small Batch Peanut Butter Brownie Skillet
All you'll need is two spoons to share this warm brownie skillet!Ingredients: egg, sugar, cocoa powder, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips
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How to Make Homemade Chocolate Syrup
A date night with chocolate syrup? Of course! But really, make it ahead of time and have it on hand to drizzle on ice cream over your chocolate brownie and more!Ingredients: cocoa powder, water, sugar, vanilla extract
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Drink Recipes
Enjoy a fun and creative adult beverage to start the evening, or enjoy as a nightcap. Either way, one of these cocktail recipes will be just the thing date night needs!
Chocolate White Russian with Chocolate Syrup
Why not have dessert in cocktail form? This Chocolate White Russian is creamy, chocolatey, and irresistible!Ingredients: sweetened condensed milk, coffee liqueur, vodka, chocolate syrup
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Cranberry Ginger Cocktail
It’s punchy, not-too-sweet, and a perfectly festive beverage.Ingredients: gin, cranberry juice, ginger syrup, and ginger beer or club soda
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Cranberry Rosemary Prosecco Cocktail
An easy, celebratory cocktail — your love is worth celebrating, after all!Ingredients: prosecco or champagne, rosemary syrup, cranberry juice
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Blackberry Sangria
Make it ahead of time and sip this luxurious drink throughout the night! Ingredients: red wine, blackberry syrup, Chambord, apple, orange, blackberries
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Lavender Infused French 75
Enjoy this floral, elegant cocktail for a fancy night in!Ingredients: gin or vodka, lavender syrup, lemon juice, prosecco
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How to Have the Best Date Night at Home
Here are a few of my favorite tips for making sure you and your partner have a super fun, stress-free, and totally romantic date night at home!
- Plan a Theme. While not essential, it’s fun to have a theme for date night. It helps you plan the menu and cocktails, and you can take it a step further with on-theme outfits, too! Think: date night on the beach, sidewalk cafe in Paris, hibernating in the cold (ok, that one just might be real in MN).
- Handle the Prep Work Together. The best part about date night dinner at home is enjoying the entire process of cooking together. Have fun chopping, stirring, and preparing the meal together.
- Turn up the music! Keep it as part of the theme, find a classic kitchen mix, or shuffle your favorite play.
- Set the mood ahead of time. Set the table and include candles for the ultimate romantic setting. Arranging plates, tableware, and the ambiance before you start cooking means you can quickly transition into savoring.
- Will you need activities? One of my most favorite things to do is linger around the table after having had enjoyed a delightful dinner and talk. It’s helpful to have some activities on hand to keep the date night going. I really like these question cards to encourage conversation you might not otherwise have, or a deck of playing cards for simple games.
Having a movie date night? Make a big batch of homemade popcorn together and enjoy it with a variety of popcorn seasonings!
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!
Get the Recipe 32+ Date Night Recipe Ideas: Fettuccine Alfredo for Two
Plan your next date night dinner at home with these easy-to-make, yet impressive recipes. You'll find a collection of pasta date night recipes, seafood recipes, vegetarian recipes, and a few drinks and desserts to complete your feast!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. fettuccine noodles, high quality recommended
- 5 Tablespoon 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
Equipment
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!
Calories: 884kcal, Carbohydrates: 90g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 47g, Saturated Fat: 27g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 213mg, Sodium: 1085mg, Potassium: 447mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1376IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 350mg, Iron: 2mg
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!
