30 Real Food Romantic Dinners & Desserts For Date Night (Best Valentine’s Day Food)

Does anyone else prefer to enjoy a date night in on Valentine’s Day?

My husband and I do. We have three kids and are at a busy stage in our lives, so we don’t need much to feel like we’re on a date.

If this rings true to you, too, here’s a collection of romantic date night recipes so you can celebrate a special holiday without spending a lot of money or fighting the crowds at restaurants.

The two most important courses on Valentine’s Day are, of course, dinner and dessert! This round-up offers you 15 fun and special real food romantic dinners and 15 of the best homemade desserts from which to choose.

I love thinking about my husband and what he loves to eat as I choose what I’ll make. What does your loved one LOVE to eat? Or, what do you both love to share? Enjoy these suggestions and your meal together. 🙂

16 Romantic Dinners

Images courtesy of My Everyday Table, Savoring Today, Learning to Smoke, and The PKP Way.

• Easy Broiled Lobster Tail* (Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, GAPS)
• Chimichurri Steak, Potato and Salad (Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30 if salad is not included)
• Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach and Goat Cheese, with Roasted Asparagus (Gluten-free, Primal)
• Scampi-Style Steak and Scallops with Roasted Asparagus (Gluten-free, Paleo)
• Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Salmon with Potatoes and Asparagus (Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30 if butter is replaced with ghee, Keto)
• Filet Mignon with Garlic Herb Butter (Beef Tenderloin) (Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30 if butter is replaced with ghee, Keto)
• Lemon Butter Crab Stuffed Salmon (Paleo, Low Carb)
• Bacon Cheese Walnut Crusted Steak (Primal, Keto, Low Carb)
• Grilled Lamb Chops (Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto, Low Carb) with optional Saffron Rice or serve with 30-Minute Smashed Baby Potatoes With Lemon & Tarragon
• Smoked Prime Rib (Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Low Carb) consider serving with 4-Ingredient Rosemary Oven-Roasted Baby Potatoes (Paleo, Whole30)
• Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles (Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Low Carb)
• Roasted Salmon with Dill Butter and Butter Lettuce Salad (Gluten-free, Primal)
• Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken (Gluten-free, Paleo [but does contain wine])
• Best Spaghetti and Meatballs (Gluten-free, Primal option)
• Steak Frites (Gluten-free, Whole30)
• Instant Pot Lemon-Dill Salmon & Asparagus (Paleo, Keto, Grain-free)

*I never thought I’d make lobster at home… until I read this recipe and looked at the photos taken by the author! She makes it all SO easy, and it’s not as expensive as I would have thought! So if you love lobster, this would be a fun and easy dinner that’s definitely special.

15 Romantic Desserts

Images courtesy of  Flavour & Savour, Supergolden Bakes, Joy Food Sunshine, and Christina’s Cucina. 

• Meringue Hearts with Whipped Cream and Raspberries (Gluten-free)
• Fudge Brownies with Raspberry Sauce (Gluten-free)
• Chocolate Rose Pot de Creme (Gluten-free, Primal)
• Keto Triple Chocolate Cheesecake (Keto, Low Carb and it may work well to sub another sweetener for a Gluten-free or Primal version)
• Truffle Chocolate Cream Pie (Gluten-free, Paleo)
• Dark Chocolate Custard (Gluten-free, Primal if sugar is replaced with coconut sugar)
• Four-Ingredient Chocolate Soup for Two (Gluten-free)
• Cheesecake Filled Chocolate Cake {with Instant Pot option} (Gluten-free, Primal)
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue (Gluten-free, Grain-free, Refined Sugar-free option, Vegan)
• No-Bake Chocolate Raspberry Tart (Gluten-free, Keto, Low Carb)
• Double Chocolate Mousse Torte (Gluten-free, Paleo, Vegan)
• Individual Lemon Raspberry Trifles (Gluten-free)
• Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce (can be Gluten-free, Primal if grain-free bread and coconut sugar are used)
• Einkorn Skillet Brownie (Refined Sugar-free)
• Chocolate Avocado Truffles (Gluten-free, Paleo, AIP option)

Which Valentine’s Day food ideas will you try for your next date night?

Looking for more romantic and healthy chocolate recipes here at Traditional Cooking School? You’ll love these:

• Paleo Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting (Gluten-free, Paleo)
• The Best Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Cake Ever (Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto and Low Carb if you sub in your favorite low-carb sweetener)
• Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies (Gluten-free, Paleo)
• Chai Chocolate Truffles (Gluten-free)

And here’s my husband’s favorite dessert: Sprouted Strawberry Shortcake! 🙂

Main image courtesy of Joy Food Sunshine, Savoring Today, My Everyday Table, and Live Simply.