40 Impressive Date Night Recipes That Are Absolutely Worth The Effort (2024)

Turn Sunday morning into a fancy brunch date at home. Frittatas are so simple to make, but this veggie-packed version tastes totally restaurant quality. Pair it with mimosas, of course.

Recipe: Sweet Potato, Kale, and Goat Cheese Frittata

Nothing says "I love you" like a warm stack of pancakes filled with melted chocolate, sliced bananas, and savory walnuts.

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Banana Walnut Pancakes

Don't be intimidated by the idea of making hollandaise sauce from scratch. All you need are egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, dill, and cayenne pepper.

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

Think of these baked eggs in tomato sauce as the Italian take on shakshuka. The dish gets a kick from garlic, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes.

Recipe: Eggs in Purgatory

Chicken breasts are dredged in flour, pan-fried, and then cooked in a sauce made with olive oil, butter, shallots, garlic, broth, and Masala wine.

Recipe: Chicken Marsala

Pecan-crusted fish sounds pretty fancy, huh? Well turns out, you can whip this recipe up with just a few basic ingredients. Toss pecans, panko, and parsley into a blender or food processor, dredge the salmon in the pecan mixture, and bake it in the oven.

Recipe: Pecan Crusted Salmon With Lemon Glaze

10 minutes of prep and five ingredients is all that's required to make this easy and lightened-up take on eggplant Parmesan.

Recipe: Stuffed Roasted Eggplant

Transform bone-in pork chops into an elegant meal with the help of a sweet and tangy glaze made with maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, beef broth, Dijon, and garlic.

Recipe: Maple Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops

You can use any type of lamb chops you like best for this recipe, but if you're looking for a more affordable option, go for loin chops over rack of lamb.

Recipe: Lamb Chops With Mustard Thyme Sauce

Linguine and clams are prepared in bianco, with a decadent sauce made of white wine, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.

Recipe: Linguine With Clams

Forget about all that stovetop stirring. This indulgent risotto starts on the stove then it's baked in the oven so you can sit back and relax.

Recipe: Baked Mushroom Risotto

How do you mac creamy, rich mac 'n' cheese even more indulgent? Just add lobster.

Recipe: Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese

You deserve to pamper yourself, and this fettuccine alfredo packed with savory mushrooms is an excellent way to do just that.

Recipe: Mushroom Fettuccine

While seared tuna may look like a dish better left to the pro chefs, the truth is you can make it very easily at home. Just heat up a skillet until sizzling and sear the fish for a minute or two on each side.

Recipe: Seared Ahi Tuna With Sesame Dressing

This ridiculously easy shredded chicken calls for just three ingredients: boneless and skinless chicken thighs, marinara sauce, and chicken broth. Serve it over creamy polenta or mashed potatoes for a rustic yet sophisticated meal.

Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Marinara With Polenta

Cauliflower steaks, which are breaded and pan-fried, take the place of chicken in this creative take on classic Italian Parmesan.

Recipe: Cauliflower Parmesan

Rack of lamb is a bit of a splurge, but for a special occasion there's nothing more luxurious. This recipe calls for lamb, which is coated in a mixture of panko, Dijon, fresh herbs, and olive oil. Then it's baked in the oven until the breading is golden and crispy.

Recipe: Dijon Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb

These pan-seared sea scallops are special enough for an occasion yet simple enough for any old weeknight meal.

Recipe: Scallops With Lemon Caper Sauce

If carbs are the key to your heart, this creamy gnocchi will have you head over heels.

Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin and Sausage Gnocchi

This Argentinian stuffed steak (also known as matambre) is made with flank steak, which is stuffed with hard boiled eggs, peppers, and chimichurri. Then, it's rolled up, grilled, and finally baked in the oven.

Recipe: Argentinian Stuffed Flank Steak

You can make this bright and juicy baked fish with any flaky white fish like halibut, fluke, or striped bass.

Recipe: Cod With Tomato and Herb Butter

Everything tastes better wrapped in prosciutto, but stuff it with creamy goat cheese and you've got something truly spectacular.

Recipe: Goat Cheese Stuffed Rosemary Chicken in Prosciutto

Stuffed with pancetta, wild rice, apple, and herbs, this savory squash makes for a delicious appetizer or main dish.

Recipe: Stuffed Acorn Squash

A slow braise turns this tough cut of meat into a dish that quite literally falls off the bone.

Recipe: Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs

Remember: It's always a good idea to eat more chocolate.

Recipe: Five-Ingredient Easy Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes

Made with Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese, these lightened-up mini cheesecakes still taste like quite the treat.

Recipe: Greek Yogurt Strawberry Cheesecakes