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
Make a batch of homemade pasta and fill ravioli pockets with a luxurious, delicate, and bright ricotta cheese filling.Ingredients: fresh pasta dough, ricotta, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, basil, nutmeg, and sauce for serving
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Shrimp Scampi for Two
You'll love this super easy date-night-worthy recipe. It's ready in 20 minutes and full of flavor!Ingredients: fettuccine pasta, shrimp, butter, shallot, garlic, white wine, lemon
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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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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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Baked Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Cream Cheese Dip
This creamy baked sun-dried tomato dip is irresistibaleand perfect for those nights when you need a cozy appetizer or snacky dinner!Ingredients: pesto, cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, sour cream, garlic, dried herbs
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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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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, too!Ingredients: vegetable broth, onion, mushrooms, arborio rice, white wine, peas, parmesan cheese, peas, butter
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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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Quick Homemade Vegetable Lo Mein (Vegan Option)
When you want a take-out inspired meal that you can make together, give these lo mein noodles a go! They're super easy, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes!Ingredients: oyster sauce (vegan, if needed), dark and light soy sauce, Chinese or ramen noodles, onion, garlic, carrots, red bell pepper, snow peas
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Vegetable Potstickers with Ponzu Sauce
Have fun on date night and assemble potstickers together! These vegetarian dumplings are full of flavor and easy to make!Ingredients: onion, garlic, chives, carrot, cabbage, cilantro, wonton wrappers
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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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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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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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Chocolate White Russian
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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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 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
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!
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
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!