68 Date Night Recipes That Are Shockingly Simple (and Romantic)

This classic French dish is a breeze to assemble, yet decidedly elegant. Serve it on its own or pair it with chicken, steak or fish.

Close your eyes and you're in Italy. Did we mention that the main and sides will be ready to devour in 25 minutes flat?

A stunning main that requires minimal effort? Count us in. Use a grill pan to get wow-worthy char marks on the chops.

Is there any dinner as impressive as a whole roast bird? We think not. Sit back and relax as your kitchen fills with the aromas of rosemary and citrus.

Sticky-yet-classy is our favorite kind of dinner. Serve this caramelized masterpiece with a side of roasted potatoes.

Consider this spicy, savory masterpiece your gateway to cooking scallops at home on the reg. (Seriously—they only require two minutes of searing per side.)

Pasta is timelessly sexy in our book, and even more so when it's doused in homemade sauce. This is also a great option for vegetarians celebrating V-Day.

Nothing says romance like, "it's an Ina Garten recipe." The sauce is positively drool-worthy, thanks to onions, leeks and tangy crème fraîche.

A low-key, slightly fancy date night recipe for the books, by Coterie member Heidi Larsen. Make double of the paprika spice blend to use on other proteins or vegetables.

Yup, it’s basically a big bowl of shrimp-crowned Southern comfort. And thanks to almond milk in the grits, it's totally dairy-free.

Aka the most succulent meat main you'll ever make. Don't even get us started on the zingy horseradish sauce, which will taste divine on leftover beef sandwiches.

When you resist the urge to call your local pizzeria but still get your 'za fix, that’s amore. Serve with dressed greens or soup.

Oh, citrus season. We love you so. Warm spices drive the Moroccan flavor home, but you can make it even tastier by finishing the salmon with almonds, olives and orange zest.

Any excuse to open a bottle of good wine, right? We sub pecorino for traditional ricotta salata, which may be tougher to find at your local supermarket.

It only takes six ingredients and 20 minutes to make this cheesy masterpiece. Even picky kids will have no complaints about this amped-up spaghetti.

There's no better time to splurge on filet mignon than Valentine's Day. This recipe will give your fave steakhouse a run for its money, so it'll be worth every penny.

Breaded in a crunchy herb coating and roasted to perfection. We'd find your "Kiss the Cook" apron, stat.

Nothing cures a long day like a low-and-slow meal. This main is as simple as adding all the ingredients to your Crockpot and pressing a button.

A sink full of dirty dishes is sort of a vibe-killer, no? Luckily, you'll only have one pot to wash after dinner (or heck, tomorrow morning).

Vegan "seafood" in less than 30 minutes? It's a date night miracle. You'd be shocked what an uncanny scallop substitute seared shrooms are.

The tastiest way to say “I love you” is by cooking Parmesan-herb risotto topped with the meatiest lobster tails you can find for your boo.

Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and downright delicious. We’d serve the zoodles alongside tropical salmon or red snapper.

Sweet dreams are made of butter, pasta, Parmesan and sirloin. Let the meat rest for ten minutes once it's finished before slicing it against the grain.

Sure, this vegetarian gem made with easy store-bought pie crust is a side dish…but it can be an entrée if you want it to be (especially if you serve it with your go-to white wine).

In case you *don’t* want to spend three hours of your date night in the kitchen, lean on this lightning-fast pasta dish.

Just as easy a meal to make as chicken (in 20 minutes, no less), only way more exciting. It's bursting with tang and acidity, courtesy of fresh citrus, mustard and briny capers.

Oh, hi there, meatless main. Even carnivores will fill up on this hearty meal, which boasts 20 grams of protein per serving.

Because dirty dishes are far from romantic. Make this once and you'll never be too intimidated to cook steak at home again.

In case your date nights tend to include kids. If they're anti-spice, nix the jalapeños on half the pie and lay the honey on thick.

It sounds fancy, but you’ll only need ten ingredients and 30 minutes to make it. Serve with steamed white rice.

Reapplying the sweet-and-sour glaze as the pork cooks helps build layers upon layers of flavor. Serve it with roasted potatoes, a side salad or cilantro rice.

Dining with another couple? This meal for four is sure to impress. Feel free to go the casual route by substituting chicken wings or pork ribs for thighs and drums.

Bookmark it now to devour alfresco next summer (or use ripe pears or apples in place of peaches in the off-season).

Can you believe you're only four ingredients away from dinner, including salt and EVOO? The key is canned chipotle peppers in adobo.

Behold: a sheet pan chicken recipe that puts your usual takeout order to shame. All that’s missing is a pot of jasmine rice.

This classy dish gets much of its deliciousness from a whole head of roasted garlic. Might we suggest following up with fancy mints to make it date night-friendly?

Since it's cooked in your trusty cast iron skillet, you won't need to brown the bird before roasting it. We'll call that a win.

A French essential, ready for oohs and aahs in less than an hour. Her majesty Julia Child would be so proud.

There's a reason this vegetarian feat is the most popular recipe in PureWow history. (We think the magic lies in the chile-yogurt marinade.)

You can simply lay the dough sheets atop the pasta if you're pressed for time, but we're betting your date would prefer these phyllo rosettes over a real bouquet.

No heavy cream here. In fact, there's no dairy at all; the sauce is thickened with egg yolks and lemon instead.

Filling enough to satisfy, yet light enough that you’ll have plenty of room for dessert. We'd have a box of chocolate truffles at the ready if we were you.

This meal is as easy as stuffing a few long, thin slices of zucchini with seasoned ricotta. It's just the ticket if you or your S.O. is on keto.

Comfort food at its creamy, dreamy finest. Be patient with this slow cooker recipe; the fall-apart-tender short ribs are well worth the wait.

Salt the chops and let them come to room temperature for 45 minutes before cooking to achieve maximum tenderness. Oh, and make two times the rub to use on chicken or beef next.

Bone-in, skin-on thighs get super crispy without drying out due to their higher fat content, unlike chicken breasts.

Store-bought puff pastry does it again. The fresh herbs really elevate the mushroom filling, so much so that you won't miss the beef.

Bacon offers both serious savoriness and satisfying crunch to the tender, flaky fish. We bet you have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already, too.

Lemon-parsley butter, charred cauli and zingy capers? Excuse us while we swoon.

Although reliably delicious, spaghetti and meatballs can feel juvenile on date night. Classy four-ingredient polenta, on the other hand, fits the bill.

Make the sauce with whatever herbs and greens you have on hand. Chives, tarragon, watercress, dill and parsley are all fair game.

It turns out an empty sink is a major aphrodisiac, as are seven-ingredient recipes that taste and look this good.

Prepare 15-minute microwave mashed potatoes as a side, then sip cocktails while your Crockpot does all the heavy lifting.

Dinner tonight *and* lunch tomorrow. If you've never had romaine lettuce warm, this sheet pan main is sure to convert you at first bite.

When’s the last time you had eggplant that wasn’t breaded and drenched in tomato sauce? Here, it's stuffed with herby quinoa and roasted until tender.

Taco Tuesday meets date night. We’re here for it (and we brought guac). Serve with plenty of pickled red onions and lime wedges.

This one-hour beauty is basically foolproof, promise. Think of the herb sauce as a minty twist on chimichurri.

You had us at "potato chip." Use thick, kettle-cooked chips so they don't turn soggy as the chicken cooks.

It's loaded with fresh corn and tomatoes, but we think the nutty, savory brown butter (aka liquid gold) really seals the deal.

Surf and turf is our love language. The lemony garlic butter would taste great on everything from bread to pasta, so keep the recipe for it in your back pocket.

Five-ingredient homemade gnocchi is sure to wow your S.O. If you really want to go the extra mile, use home-grown herbs, which tend to be much more flavorful than those from the supermarket.

Your kids' favorite protein meets their most beloved soup. It's tasty enough to serve grown-ups though, and it's low-carb and keto-friendly to boot.

Have you only enjoyed parsley as a garnish? This underrated herb deserves your attention—and the spotlight.

Nothing puts us in the mood faster than spuds and cheese. The filling is a mix of cream cheese, Parm and finely sliced scallions.

Six ingredients, one pan, much flavor. The buttermilk brine guarantees tender, juicy meat and crackly skin.

This five-minute meal is a godsend for lazy cooks (and cheese-loving couples) who want to keep date night as casual as possible.

They're equal parts fancy and laid-back. Margaritas for two, anyone? (Or better yet, mezcalitas?)

A dinner date is woefully incomplete without dessert, so we present to you this decadent, seven-ingredient indulgence.