When planning a date night at home, you don’t have to make it look “simple.” You can hang some string lights, light some candles, and prepare a meal that will come off as restaurant quality. Sure, those fun nights eating frozen pizza while in your PJs are great, but this article will help if you want to up your game. These recipes are simple yet taste fancy and even look good on the plate. Have fun preparing it before your partner comes home, or make it something you all cook together. That way, you can have fun and create new memories in the kitchen. Then, pour your favorite mocktail or cocktail, put on some light music, and start having fun!
1. Salmon Wellington
Seafood automatically makes any dish more elegant than it would have been with chicken or something less classy. This recipe from Tasty puts delicate filling inside a puff and appetizing pastry that will have your partner wondering when you took cooking classes. Pair it with a nice spinach, cranberry, and walnut salad, and your partner is guaranteed to be impressed.
2. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
The fact that you can set this one up in the slow cooker and not have to worry about it for hours is a major perk. The flavors marinating slowly in your crockpot guarantee this dish from The Recipe Critic will be savory and your meat super tender. Pair it with some cornbread (the easy boxed kind only takes around 20 minutes to whip up), and your partner will be pleading for seconds.
3. Chicken Piccata
Moist chicken breast meets a creamy lemon sauce in this chicken dish that is sure to be a win for your date night. You can pair it with mashed potatoes, angel hair pasta, long grain rice, or even some sauteed veggies. It takes only 20 minutes to cook and can be a unique way to jazz up ordinarily boring chicken. Insanely Good Recipes gives you pointers throughout to make it as foolproof and delicious as possible.
4. Seared Corn Quesadilla
If you want to put a little fiesta theme to your date night, these quesadillas are quick, fun, and flavorful. Play some Selena, make a margarita with a salt rim (mocktails can be fancy, too!), and pair these yummy quesadillas from All Womens Talk with a light cucumber salad or some chips and queso. Have fun with it! Your partner will be impressed with how all of the flavors marry together and will think it came straight from your favorite Mexican joint.
5. Butternut Squash Potstickers
A fun at-home date night could be a tapas night where you enjoy several different ppetizers. These potstickers are yummy, easy to make, and vegetarian. You can keep the Asian theme going and make other appetizers similar to these or create an around-the -orld feel and have several different cuisines. This recipe from Delish looks amazing and simple. This definitely comes off as one that would be fun to make together.
6. Awesome Baked Sea Scallops
As mentioned above, seafood automatically heightens the elegance of a dish. These baked sea scallops have a crunchy breading and a nice zest from the lemon they’re paired with. They would be great served with some sauteed green beans or a nice risotto. This recipe from All Recipes even has an easy-to-follow video to ensure you’re confident in your culinary skills. You’re sure to impress your partner here.
Whatever dish you make for date night, make sure you have fun with it. Use it as bonding time and make new memories with your partner. Challenge yourself, but don’t make it stressful. Do you have any fancy yet simple recipes you like to whip up? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash
Sure, those fun nights eating frozen pizza while in your PJs are great, but this article will help if you want to up your game