Valentine’s Day is a little less than a month away- do you have a plan? Many couples like to go out for the evening, but some of us…. Well, we have kids ;). Or maybe you like to go out on a different night just to avoid the crowds at all the tasty restaurants! If you are staying home this Valentine’s Day, you definitely need a special meal to take your romantic dinner to the next level!

Now, since you want your romantic home-cooked dinner to go well on Valentine’s Day, it’s probably best to not try any new recipes. Which is why I’m writing this article a month in advance- so you have plenty of time to give these recipes a shot before the big day arrives ;). And these are definitely recipes you’ll want to give a try! Valentine’s Day or not ;).

*Cajun Chicken Pasta. This is one of my family’s favorite recipes. I have made this for our Valentine’s dinner a couple times because it’s one of my husband’s favorites. It’s also pretty easy to make, and even better- it reheats REALLY well, so you can even make it that morning and just heat it up on the stove before your romantic dinner! It’s also full of red and green peppers which just gives it a beautiful (and thus, romantic) presentation. Pair it with your favorite garlic bread recipe and a salad!

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*Steak. I don’t have a specific recipe for this, but it’s pretty hard to mess up steak (unless you overcook it ;) ). If you want an easy, man-approved (and wife ;) ) dinner, steak is definitely a safe way to go! You can start marinating the night before or early in the morning, and when it comes time to cook dinner, your steak can be ready in less than 20 minutes! Pair it with fresh green beans and potatoes (baked is super easy, or you can do boxed mashed potatoes if you’re desperate ;) ).

*Italian Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches. If you’re looking for something a little lighter than pasta or steak, these are a great option! They are super flavorful, are beautiful, and are another super easy recipe to make! My husband loves these, and they are filling without making you feel TOO full. These would be the perfect light start if you want to have a fruit and fondue night later, or fill up on chocolate covered-strawberries! Serve with homemade Italian sodas to complete the meal.

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*One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken. This is an elegant-looking meal, and it just requires one pan, which makes it great for easy clean-up on your stay-at-home date night! I love the flavor the honey garlic sauce gives, and it’s another lighter meal that sits well, making it a great date night food. Pair it with a salad and breadsticks, a fruit concoction, or just a yummy dessert ;).

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*Your Valentine’s favorite meal. Ok. So maybe pizza or nachos isn’t considered a highly romantic food, but if it’s your spouse’s favorite food- than it’s definitely going to be romantic! Forget what a “typical” Valentine’s meal may look like and just make a smorgasbord of all your spouse's favorite things! Nothing says “I love you” like a plate of your favorite food, right?

What do you like to make for Valentine’s Day dinner? Share with us below!