Running low on ideas for Valentine’s Day? Organize a nice dinner for your valentine; skip the dinner reservation. To make their gift even more special, make their dinner and/or dessert at home. Below I will be listing 6 recipes, sweet and savory, to make for your very special valentine. These recipes can also be used for a Valentine’s Day dinner. The more effort you put into your valentine, the more special it turns out to be!

Recipe #1: Marry Me Chicken
Recipe By: Test Kitchen

Ingredients:

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces spaghetti

3 tablespoons olive oil

Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 large shallot, halved and thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

One 6.3-ounce jar sundried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped

One 0.4-ounce chicken bouillon cube

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 2 ounces)

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Recipe:

1). Gather all the ingredients.

2). Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Season the water generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. (Keep warm.)

3). Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken breasts generously with salt and black pepper on both sides. Carefully add to the skillet and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken with tongs and continue to cook until golden brown on the other side, about 5 minutes more.

4). Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the shallot to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring continuously, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the sundried tomatoes, chicken bouillon cube, heavy cream, oregano, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir until the bouillon cube is dissolved.

5). Bring the sauce to a boil then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Nestle the chicken breasts in the sauce. Cook until the sauce has thickened slightly and the chicken is cooked through (registering internally at 165 degrees F), 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan and basil. Divide among 4 dinner plates and serve with the spaghetti.

Recipe #2: Steak Diane for Two
Recipe By: Ree Drummond

Ingredients:

2 (8-oz.) strip steaks

Kosher salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

2 Tbsp. salted butter

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 small red onion, finely diced

3 garlic cloves, sliced

1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

1/2 cup brandy

1 cup heavy cream

1 Tbsp. whole-grain mustard

1 Tbsp. balsamic reduction

3 Tbsp. minced chives, for sprinkling

Recipe:

1). Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.

2). Season all sides of the steaks generously with salt and pepper.

3). Heat the butter and oil in the skillet. Add the steaks and cook to the desired temperature, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F internal temperature). Remove the steaks from the skillet and place on a cutting board to rest.

4). Add the onion, garlic, and thyme to the steak drippings in the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the brandy and stir to combine. Return the skillet to the heat and deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to release all the flavorful bits. Stir in the heavy cream, mustard, and balsamic reduction and bring to a simmer.

5). Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook to thicken, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

6). To serve, slice the steaks and shingle the pieces on a platter or onto plates. Spoon the sauce on top and sprinkle with the chives.

Recipe #3: (Classic) Linzer Cookies

Recipe by: Mandy Merriman

The Linzer cookie is a classic cookie to bake for your loved ones! This is a sandwich cookie, meaning you can put any kind of filling in between the two halves. The classic Linzer cookie has a jelly filling, but this can always be substituted for anything, like chocolate, peanut butter, etc. This cookie is known to be very plain, so if your valentine is someone who does not enjoy overly sweet cookies, this one is perfect for them!

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter (left out at room temperature for 10 minutes)

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

3 cups all purpose flour

1-2 cups of raspberry or strawberry jam (can be substituted for any kind of filling)

1 cup powdered sugar (for sprinkling on top)

*To make the cute little shapes, make sure to buy Linzer Cookie Cutters or a small heart cookie cutout.*

Recipe:

1). In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy.

2). Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until thoroughly combined. Slow the mixer to low, then add in the flour until combined but don’t overmix.

3). Dump out the dough onto a sheet of parchment paper then place another sheet on top. Use a rolling pin to flatten out the dough to be about 1/8 inch thick.

4). Place the flattened/covered dough on a cookie sheet then refrigerate for 20 minutes until firm.

5). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

6). Use the Linzer cookie cutouts (one should be plain and the other should have the heart cut-out, OR you can use the bottom of a small glass for half the cookies and a heart cutout for the center of the other half) to make half the cookies plain and half the cookies with the heart cut-out. Place the cut out cookies onto the prepared cookie sheet.

7). Place the cookie sheet into the freezer for 3-5 minutes then bake for 8-10 minutes. The edges should not be brown, so keep an eye on them. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.

8). Add a dusting of powdered sugar on the heart cut-out cookies (on top of the outside) then spread the jam on the inside of the plain cookies. Sandwich them together with the powdered sugar hearts on top.

* Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week for best taste and texture! *

Recipe #4: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Recipe by: All Recipes Kitchen 

If you aren’t much of a baker, this recipe is for you! Chocolate covered strawberries are an easy and simple treat you can make for your valentine this year! This simple treat only requires a few ingredients and you’ll be able to show your love and appreciation with this simple treat! If your valentine isn’t much of a fan of strawberries you can always substitute strawberries for any other fruit. Some of the fruits I recommend trying would be grapes, raspberries, or any other fruit you could think of! Surprise your valentine with this simple recipe!! Or if your valentine isn’t much of a fruity person, replacing the strawberries with pretzels could help!

Ingredients:

16 ounces milk chocolate chips (or you can substitute for dark/white chocolate)

2 tablespoons shortening (or coconut oil)

Toothpicks

1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

Recipe:

1). Gather all ingredients; ingredients can be found at local grocery stores.

2). Melt chocolate and shortening in a double boiler, stirring occasionally until smooth. If you don’t have a double boiler, mixing the chocolate in a glass bowl over a boiling pot of water works as well.

3). Insert toothpicks into tops (stem ends) of strawberries. Hold a strawberry by the toothpick and dip it into the chocolate mixture.

4). Turn the strawberry upside down and insert the toothpick into a Styrofoam block or place strawberry on a sheet of waxed paper; allow chocolate coating to cool. Repeat with remaining strawberries.

5). Add sprinkles or drizzles with the leftover chocolate. Once completed, enjoy!

Recipe #5 Strawberry Jell-O Cake!
Recipe By: Test Kitchen

Not only is this cake easy to make, it’s also very appetizing! This Jell-O cake was well known in the 70s and 80s and is making its way back into the year 2025. This cake is all known for looking like a strawberry shortcake, and we’re here for it! If your friends and family are strawberry lovers, this dessert is perfect for them! Make sure to try this easy and delicious recipe!

Ingredients:

You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy strawberry Jell-O cake. All these ingredients can be found in your local grocery store!

White cake mix (vanilla cake mix or yellow cake mix or you can substitute with your favorite brand of boxed cake mix.)

Strawberry Jell-O; look for the 3-oz box of Jello or generic strawberry gelatin (any brand of gelatin works for this recipe)

Water (hot water and cold water to mix the gelatin)

Eggs and butter (or oil for the cake)

*You will also need a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and a straw or wooden spoon to make the cake.*

Recipe:

1). Follow the directions on the back of your preferred cake mix.

2) Once the cake is baked, let it cool slightly and poke holes into the baked cake with a large drinking straw or the handle of a wooden spoon.

3). Next, mix up the Jello gelatin powder in a medium bowl. Just add the gelatin and pour very hot water or boiling water over the powder. Mix until the gelatin is mostly dissolved. Then, add the cold water and mix until the gelatin is completely dissolved.

4). Pour the liquid Jello mixture all over the top of the cake. Make sure you get the Jello into the holes. You can also use a spoon to spread it evenly over the top to make sure the holes are filled with Jello.

5). Place the strawberry Jell-O into the refrigerator for at least 2 hours; this will allow the Jello to firm up.

6). Next, frost this delicious poke cake with your favorite frosting or leave it as is. I suggest using Cool Whip to frost the cakes to keep it nice and fluffy. (You can also substitute the Cool Whip for whipped cream if you’re serving the cake right away.)

7). Decorate the cake with festive sprinkles and fresh strawberries before serving!

But what about dinner before dessert? Consider these dishes to make for your friends, family, or your valentine! These dishes are savory and just right for a perfect Valentine’s Day dinner! These recipes are very different and unique, and if you’re on a budget, these recipes are especially for you!

Make sure to give these recipes a try this Valentine’s Day! They are sure to delight and will be appreciated!

Works Cited

• All recipes Test Kitchen. “Chocolate Covered Strawberries.” allrecipes, 29 Jan 2023. Accessed 30 Jan 2025.
• Food Network Kitchen. “Marry Me Chicken.” food network, 28 Jan 2024, m. Accessed 3 Feb 2025.
• Merriman, Mandy. “Soft and Sweet Linzer Cookies.” Baking With Blondie, 7 Jan 2024. Accessed 29 Jan 2025.
• Rummond, Ree. “Steak Diane.” The Pioneer Woman, 3 Jan 2025. Accessed 3 Feb 2025.