How To Cook The Perfect Valentine’s Day Dinner

Five super-simple options with step-by-step instructions: roast chicken, filet mignon, duck breast, fettuccine alfredo, and vegan cauliflower steaks.

4. Roast Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Roast Carrots

RIGHT FOR YOU IF: You want a light, classic meal that isn’t difficult and doesn’t cost too much. Get directions here.

You will need
1 2-3 lb chicken
3 or 4 potatoes, preferably a mix of medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes and Russets
1 bunch of carrots
4 sticks of butter
1/3 cup whole milk
kosher salt
olive oil
special equipment: butcher’s twine

Game plan: This one’s super-easy.
1. Get the chicken in the oven.
2. Start the potatoes.
3. Prep the carrots.
4. Finish the potatoes.
5. Take chicken out of the oven, put in carrots.
6. Carve chicken.
7. EAT!

7. Filet Mignon with Red-Wine Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, and Roasted Carrots

RIGHT FOR YOU IF: You want a slightly more impressive meal that has red meat and a sauce. This one is more expensive than the chicken, pasta, and cauliflower option because of the steak, but still very simple to make. Get directions here.

You will need
2 filet mignon
3 or 4 potatoes, preferably a mix of medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes and Russets
1 bunch of carrots
4 sticks of butter
1/3 cup whole milk
kosher salt
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup beef or vegetable stock
olive oil

Game plan: It’s not hard but not simple.
1. Start the potatoes.
2. Start the sauce.
3. Get the carrots in the oven.
4. Start the filets.
5. Check the potatoes and check the sauce.
6. Finish the potatoes.
7. Check the carrots and the filet.
8. Finish the sauce.
9. EAT!

10. Duck Breast with Red Wine Sauce, Simple Mashed Potatoes, and Roasted Carrots

RIGHT FOR YOU IF: You want to make something truly impressive but still doable. Duck breast is a little pricey, but the rest of this is basic. Get directions here.

You will need
1 duck breast
3 or 4 potatoes, preferably a mix of medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes and Russets
1 bunch of carrots
4 sticks of butter
1/3 cup whole milk
kosher salt
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup beef or vegetable stock
olive oil
optional : 1 garlic clove, few sprigs of thyme

Game plan: This is the most advanced, but still simple.
1. Start the potatoes.
2. Start the sauce.
3. Get the carrots in the oven.
4. Star the duck breast.
5. Check the potatoes and check the sauce.
6. Finish the potatoes.
7. Check the carrots.
8. Finish the duck breast.
9. Finish the sauce.
10. EAT!

13. Fettuccine Alfredo with an Herb Salad

RIGHT FOR YOU IF: You’re very short on time or cooking on a tight budget but still want something delicious and impressive. Or if you’re cooking vegetarian. Get directions here.

You will need
1 lb fettuccine
kosher salt
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 lb Parmesan cheese
olive oil
lemon

herbs for salad:
frisee or mixed greens
Italian parsley
optional: tarragon, chives

Game plan: This one’s the easiest.
1. Boil water.
2. Prep sauce.
3. Prep herbs for salad.
4. Cook pasta.
5. Sauce pasta.
6. Finish salad.
7. EAT!

16. Vegan Cauliflower Steaks over Cauliflower Puree with Roasted Carrots and Herb Salad

RIGHT FOR YOU IF: You’re cooking vegan or on a very tight budget. This isn’t as simple as the pasta but is delicious while still light and healthy. Get directions here.

You will need
1 bunch of carrots
olive oil
kosher salt
1 head of cauliflower
1 pomegranate
4 cups almond milk
optional: bay leaf

herbs for salad:
frisee or mixed greens
Italian parsley
optional: tarragon, chives

special equipment: a food processor or blender is ideal; you can make it work without

Game plan: This is easy, especially if you have the blender/food processor.
1. Get carrots in oven.
2. Prep and start to simmer cauliflower.
3. Prep herbs for salad.
4. Seed pomegranates.
5. Check carrots.
6. Cook cauliflower steaks.
7. Mash/puree cauliflower and add pomegranate seeds.
8. Reheat carrots.
9. Finish herb salad.
10. EAT!

17. Easy Brownie Sundaes

RIGHT FOR YOU IF: You are human. These are awesome and so easy. Get directions here.

INGREDIENTS
Your favorite store-bought:
brownies
ice cream
chocolate sauce

GAME PLAN:
1. Heat sauce.
2. Scoop ice cream onto brownies.
3. Pour sauce over ice cream.