Valentine's Day Ideas For Dinner At Home

Traditionally, dining out is the thing to do on Valentine's Day. In fact, according to a January 2020 release from OpenTable, it's the service's most popular day for reservations. But, like most things in the last 12 or so months, Valentine's Day 2021 is bound to look a little different this year.

If you're looking for quarantine Valentine's Day ideas, then consider cooking at home instead of heading to a restaurant — whether you want to prepare a nice dinner for someone special or decide to turn the meal prep into a couple's activity.

Of course, even if you're staying in this February 14, you're still going to want a special menu. To help you plan that out, we've curated 25 recipes for a romantic dinner at home.

Low-alcohol cocktails are a great way to start out the evening while focusing on the flavor of your drink. This floral, refreshing elderflower spritz is bubbly and pairs well with just about any meal.

For the Elderflower Spritz recipe, click here.

If you're a tequila fan, this ruby red spritzer is the Valentine's Day cocktail for you. Pomegranate juice, apple cider and a dash of Angostura bitters give this cocktail a fruity flavor without being overly sweet.

For the Ruby Spritzer recipe, click here.

If you're doing a lot of cooking on Valentine's Day, a charcuterie board makes for a great appetizer. The effort here all comes in how you shop, so make sure to pick up a wide selection of cheeses, a few different cured meats, high-quality bread or crackers and a little something sweet (like grapes, figs, honey or a jam) to balance it all out.

To learn how to curate the perfect charcuterie board, click here.

If you're having a heavier entree, it's nice to start your meal off with something light, like a caprese salad. This recipe has a bit of a twist, skewering the elements instead of serving them on a plate, so you can eat, talk and cook with your beau at the same time.

For the Caprese Skewers With Pesto recipe, click here.

If you and your Valentine are seafood lovers, you already know that few dishes can compare to a lobster bisque. We're not going to lie, this dish takes a lot of effort and time, but the end result is out-of-this-world, thanks to butter-poached lobster. If you're looking for quarantine Valentine's Day ideas, consider this an activity and meal all wrapped into one delicious package.

For the Lobster Bisque recipe, click here.

Cooking scallops on the stove isn't especially hard, you just need to keep an eye on them. You can simply serve them with a squeeze of lemon and parsley, but this herby, creamy white wine and citrus sauce is great for taking your shellfish to the next level.

For the Scallops With Citrus Dill Butter recipe, click here.

If you're looking for something more special than your everyday roasted chicken, cornish game hens are the way to go. Simply seasoned, this delicate poultry pairs well with just about anything.

For the Lemon Basil Cornish Hens recipe, click here.

With a touch of cream, this mushroom risotto is so rich and luscious, you won't even believe it's vegetarian! It's certainly special enough to serve as a main dish, but it also pairs well with red meat.

For the Creamy Mushroom Risotto recipe, click here.

A crisp caesar salad with bitter radicchio, homemade croutons and a thyme and lemongrass-infused caesar dressing is the perfect light side for a big dinner.

For the Thyme Caesar Salad recipe, click here.

These couscous and olive stuffed tomatoes will add a bright pop of color to your plate, and they'll go especially well with cornish hens or fish.

For the Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes recipe, click here.

No Valentine's Day is complete without chocolate, and this ooey, gooey lava cake is the perfect cocoa treat that will transport you back to your favorite restaurant — in spirit, anyway.

For the Chocolate Lava Cake recipe, click here.

If you're having a heavier meal filled with cream, meat and cheese, then a bright, slightly tart dessert like these strawberry-lemon bars will be the perfect balance.

For the Strawberry-Lemon Cream Cheese Bars recipe, click here.