19 Home-Cooked Valentine's Dinners That Only Look Fancy

Recipes anyone can make, guaranteed to impress your date.

1. If you're thinking about staying in and cooking dinner this Valentine's Day (or really any date night), we've got your back. Here are a handful of recipes that seem seriously fancy, but in reality, they're totally no-fuss.

2. One-Pot Orzo With Shrimp

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Think tangy shrimp scampi meets creamy orzo, and the whole thing comes together in a single pot. Get the recipe for one-pot orzo with shrimp here.

3. Cheese Tortellini with Butter, Mushrooms, and Crispy Sage

Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

Start with either store-bought cheese or meat-filled tortellini, then toss it with buttery cremini mushrooms, garlic, and sage. Don't forget a drizzle of olive oil and a shake of Parmesan cheese. Get the recipe for cheese tortellini with butter, mushrooms, and sage here.

4. Grilled Ribeye Steak With Herb Compound Butter

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If you want to save time and effort, you can find herb compound butter at most grocery stores. It's such an easy way to make a home made steak dinner taste restaurant-quality. Get the recipe for grilled ribeye steak with herb compound butter here.

5. Red Wine–Braised Short Ribs With Polenta

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This melt-in-your-mouth short rib comes together with just garlic, herbs and red wine. Serve it over polenta or mashed potatoes for a decadent meal. Get the recipe for red wine braised short ribs with polenta here.

6. Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta

Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

Nothing says "I love you" like a bowl of rich and creamy pasta. You could always swap the Italian sausage for something like spicy chorizo or forget about the meat all together. Get the recipe for creamy Tuscan sausage pasta here.

7. Pan-Seared Scallops With Lemon Caper Sauce

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For some reason, scallops seem like an intimidating meal, best left for ordering at restaurants. But the truth is, they're actually really simple. Take, for example, this pan seared recipe with a zesty sauce made of white wine, garlic, chicken broth, lemon, and capers. Get the recipe for pan-seared scallops with lemon caper sauce here.

8. 30-Minute Caprese Chicken

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So easy, so simple, so wholeheartedly satisfying. This cheesy, juicy chicken recipe pairs best with a bottle of Beaujolais or a similar easy-drinking red. Get the recipe for 30-minute caprese chicken here.

9. Zucchini Lasagna Rolls

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These meatless lasagna rolls are perfect for sharing. If you want to really impress, dress up this dish with a drizzle of pesto, some truffle oil, and fresh herbs. Get the recipe for zucchini lasagna rolls here.

10. Crock-Pot Beef Ragu

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Thanks to your trusty slow cooker, you can let your romantic dinner cook itself while you get on with more important things. Get the recipe for Crock-Pot beef ragu here.

11. Chicken Thighs With Mushroom, Bacon, and Thyme Sauce

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If you're looking for a budget date night recipe, this is it. Not only is this recipe easy to make, but it's also very affordable, thanks to just a few basic ingredients. Get the recipe for chicken thighs with creamy mushrooms, bacon, and thyme sauce here.

12. Pecan-Crusted Halibut

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Don't be intimidated by the thought of cooking seafood at home. In fact, this meal calls for just four ingredients plus salt and pepper: halibut (or any similar white, flaky fish), egg, chopped pecans, and olive oil. Get the recipe for pecan-crusted halibut here.

13. Slow-Roasted Citrus Salmon

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Not only is this slow cooked salmon super tender and delicious, but it's also almost too pretty to eat. Get the recipe for slow-roasted citrus salmon here.

14. 30-Minute Gnocchi With Burrata

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As if this tomato-based gnocchi dish weren't indulgent enough, how about a big spoonful of creamy burrata? Get the recipe for gnocchi with burrata here.

15. Garlic Butter Lamb Chops

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Why go out to dinner on Valentine's Day when you can make perfectly seared lamb chops at home like a pro chef? Get the recipe for garlic butter lamb chops here.

16. Cauliflower Steaks With Walnut-Kale Pesto

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If you're looking for a meatless date night recipe, these hearty cauliflower steaks are a perfect solution. If you want to save time on the walnut kale pesto, any good store-bought pesto should do the trick. Get the recipe for cauliflower steaks with walnut kale pesto here.

17. Butternut Squash Risotto With Brussels Sprouts

Connoisseurus Veg / Via connoisseurusveg.com

Made with coconut milk and lots of veggies, this rich risotto is dairy-free yet totally crave-worthy. Get the recipe for butternut squash risotto with Brussels sprouts here.

18. Zucchini and Herbed Ricotta Flatbread

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Upgrade pizza night with these ~fancy~ homemade flatbreads, topped with soft goat and ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini. If you're afraid of making the dough from scratch, opt for some store-bought flatbreads or naan. Get the recipe for zucchini and herbed ricotta flatbread here.

19. Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese

Spices In My DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com

Upgrade ordinary boxed mac 'n' cheese for this version featuring the ultimate Valentine's Day food: Lobster. Get the recipe for lobster mac 'n' cheese here.

20. Baked Eggplant Parmesan

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Baked from start to finish and never fried, this crispy-on-the-outside-tender-on-the-inside eggplant parm comes together in well under and hour. Get the recipe for baked eggplant parmesan here.