Whether you’re planning a date night for someone you’ve recently started dating or your partner of many years, you want to make it extra-special. But with so many delicious foods to choose from, it’s difficult to choose the perfect date night recipes. Plus, your cooking skills may vary, so you want to choose a main dish you know you can pull off well.

Then, what about dessert? No date night is complete without it. Consider a box of strawberries hand-dipped in real, gourmet semisweet chocolate and white chocolate for the perfect romantic shareable dessert. Or, for something a little different yet still extraordinary, our signature Apple Fruit Truffles® are sure to impress.

Maybe you’re not sure what types of desserts your date likes. In that case, a box of assorted chocolate dipped fruits paired with rich, yet airy mini cheesecakes topped with fresh fruit or chocolate dipped fruit and lightly sweetened whipped topping offers the choice of several decadent treats. Or, choose a box of our scrumptious mini cheesecakes and gourmet chocolate brownies for a sensational selection of gourmet desserts.

For more delicious date night recipes, we put out a call for ideas and curated responses below. (Note: Edible Arrangements® is not endorsing any of the companies or ideas discussed below, but we asked for suggestions to get some different perspectives.) Keep reading to find out what the contributors who responded to our query had to say about their favorite date night recipes.

Jessica Clark

@glutenfreefeeds

Jessica Clark is a 35-year-old mother and wife from Nebraska and the founder and gluten-free eating expert at Gluten Free Supper.

“Here are a couple of my absolute favorite date night recipes that I have created for my blog:

Gluten Free Chinese Food Recipe

No need to grab takeout when you can easily make yummy Chinese food at home! This Gluten Free Chinese Food Recipe is so delicious and easy.

Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Supper (Gluten Free)

If you are looking for an easy last-minute, meal for supper tonight, try this easy and delicious Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Supper recipe.”

Jessica Randhawa

@theforkedspoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer behind The Forked Spoon. She creates delicious family-friendly recipes that anyone can make, and her website has over one million users per month.

“My favorite date night recipe is Greek Chicken, which brings all the classic Greek flavors to your kitchen table.

Made with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs, this chicken marinade takes just minutes to whip together and calls for only a handful of fresh and healthy ingredients. It is both easy and delicious, which makes the night easier to focus on the other person.”

Dan McCormick

Dan McCormick is the Director of Partnerships and Senior Content Strategist for Perfect Brew.

“I’m not sure if this counts as a recipe or not, but you can actually add a little twist to your movie date night snack by making some peanut butter popcorn.

You simply put some peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it until it’s nice and melted before drizzling the popcorn with it. It’s a sweet and salty snack that you can both enjoy guilt-free because peanut butter is a great source of healthy fats and protein!”

Melissa Collins

Melissa Collins is the Partnership Manager of PerfectBrew. She is a chef, brewing and coffee expert, who loves to share recipes and guides on coffee, tea, bar, kitchen and cooking.

“My favorite date night recipe is chicken piccata.

It is essentially a collection of chicken breast cutlets served with a dash of lemon-butter sauce and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup flour
• Olive oil
• ½ tablespoon water
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup dry white wine
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Sliced lemon

Follow these steps to prepare a tasty chicken piccata for yourself and your loved one:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
2. Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound out to ¼ inch thickness. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
3. Mix the flour, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a shallow plate.
4. Using a second plate, beat the egg and ½ tablespoon of water together.
5. Place bread crumbs on a third plate.
6. Dip each chicken breast in the flour, shake off the excess and then dip in egg.
7. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-low heat.
8. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
9. Place them on a sheet pan and allow them to bake for 10 minutes.
10. Over medium heat, melt a tablespoon of butter and add lemon juice, wine, salt and pepper.
11. Boil over high heat, discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate.
12. Serve with a slice of lemon and fresh parsley.”

Lori Bogedin

Lori Bogedin is a chef & culinary expert from Pennsylvania, United States. She runs a restaurant & blog, TwigsCafe, that is all about cooking up healthy eating ideas, easy healthy recipes, cooking techniques & hacks, healthy meal plans, and health and wellness tips.

“My favorite date night recipe is a Steakhouse Sheet Pan Dinner for Two.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, it should be preferably melted
• Tail-on jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Fresh thyme leaves (2 Tbsp)
• 3-5 small cloves of garlic, should be minced
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• A cup full of heavy cream (use ⅔)
• 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, further sliced into 1/8-inch rounds
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• One 10-ounce package of frozen spinach, completely dry
• 2/3 cup shredded Gruyere
• Two 8-ounce New York strip steaks

How to make:

1. Place an oven rack in the top of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
2. Mix the shrimp with melted butter and add 1 teaspoon of thyme and some minced garlic. Sprinkle with pepper and salt and mix until well combined.
3. Mix the 1/3 cup heavy cream with Parmesan. Add another teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a few sprinkles of pepper in a bowl.
4. Place half your potato slices on a buttered baking sheet and pour all the heavy cream on top of them. Bake the potatoes for 15 minutes until they feel tender.
5. Combine the cream cheese, some garlic, and heavy cream until they form a smooth mixture.
6. Remove the pan from the oven, take off the foil and garnish the potatoes with the Gruyere. Keep the steaks down the middle of the pan and add salt and pepper. Make sure that the ramekins are on one end of the empty third of the pan.
7. Insert an instant thermometer into the steak and bake until it shows 95 degrees F. It should take about 14 minutes from the offset. Now heat the steaks again until the instant thermometer reads 125 degrees F. Make sure that the cheese turns golden and the shrimps and potatoes are crisp. Now, slice your steaks and serve them with your shrimp and cheese potatoes.”

David Adler

@TravelSecret_

David Adler is the Founder and CEO of The Travel Secret. David is a seasoned entrepreneur who has had extensive experience in travel, e-commerce, marketing, and work-life balance.

“On a date night, I like to make pasta carbonara. Apart from being delicious, this recipe is also very easy to make and looks great in pictures, which is essential for a date night.

In a pan, add butter and two cloves of chopped garlic. Add the bacon, chopped into small pieces. In a bowl, mix half a glass of milk cream, an egg white, salt, and pepper. Finally, add the bacon to the mixture and stir everything together with some delicious spaghetti. This creates a delicious and creamy carbonara with a delicious flavor.”

Kyrie Luke

Kyrie has a degree in psychology and organizational leadership. She is a healthy living expert and founder of the blog Healthfully Rooted Home. Her mission is to help families thrive through living a more clean and non-toxic lifestyle while also enjoying delicious food and the simple joys in life.

“A great date night recipe is my Spiced Pumpkin and Chorizo Soup.

It’s perfect for a cozy fall or winter evening by the fire with your honey.

Ingredients:

Chili

• 1 Tbsp ghee
• 1 diced sweet onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 4 tsp harissa (or chile) paste
• 4 cups pumpkin puree
• 4 cups bone broth
• 1.5 cups shredded cheddar (we use raw cheddar)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
• 2 tsp chile powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Chili Topping

• 1 large honeycrisp apple
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 lb chorizo (sometimes we use one pack of the soy chorizo from Trader Joe’s)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Side (optional)

• 1 loaf sourdough bread

Instructions:

Chili:

1. Dice your onion and apple and shred your cheese.
2. In a dutch oven or large stockpot, preheat some ghee over medium heat and then add your onion. Saute the onion until it has softened and started to become translucent. This step should take about 3-5 minutes.
3. Toss your harissa (or chile) paste in with the onions and stir it up. Let these flavors blend together for about 1-2 minutes.
4. Stir in your pumpkin puree and bone broth until it’s all combined.
5. Toss in your chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper, then stir until combined.
6. Let the chili simmer for about 5-10 minutes over low-medium heat. The flavors will marinade together and it’ll start to smell like fall in your house!
7. This is totally optional, and I sometimes omit this step entirely. Either use an immersion blender or transfer the chili to a stand blender and puree until smooth. Sometimes I’ll just puree a little bit so there are still some chunks of onion.
8. Add your cream and cheese, stir into the chili and let simmer while you make the chorizo and apples.

Topping:

1. Preheat a cast-iron skillet and then some ghee over high heat. Toss in your apples, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Toss the apples until caramelized. Remove the apples onto a plate but keep the sauce in the pan.
2. Make the crispy chorizo component by adding your chorizo directly into the pan with the glaze from the apples. Cook until crispy and then set aside on a plate.
3. Serve the soup with some glazed apples, crispy chorizo, and some cheese on top. Then enjoy the taste of fall in a bowl with this heart-healthy chili! Serve with some homemade sourdough bread on the side.”

Mike Miller

@TimesWilderness

Mike Miller is the Editor-in-Chief of Wilderness Times.

“When it comes to date night recipes, a simple rule applies – go with something light.

The last thing you want is to be forced to unbutton your jeans because you feel stuffed.

One of my favorite dishes is honey-balsamic glazed salmon. It’s super easy to make and not too hard on your stomach.

Here’s what you need:

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 4 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper (as per your liking)
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano for garnish

And here’s what you need to do:

First, grab your saucepan and cook the garlic in the olive oil until tender. This should take around 2-3 minutes.

Then, add honey, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper. Simmer the mixture for another 2-3 minutes, until you get a slightly thicker consistency.

Now brush salmon fillets with the glaze you’ve just made, but leave half of it for later. Place it in the oven, preheated to 400 degrees. Bake until flesh flakes easily with a fork. This shouldn’t take more than 8-10 minutes. When that’s done, glaze the fillets again.

And that’s it!”

Kim Abbage Hart

@kimabbage

Kim Abbage Hart is a certified personal trainer and fitness and nutrition specialist. Her specialty is reimagining meals in a healthy way, without skimping on flavor. Her philosophy when it comes to food is that it must taste great without making your waistline suffer. She loves to layer simple ingredients to make amazing dishes that would be perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or for any meal prep.

“When I think of date night, I think of a decadent meal complete with wine and tons of good conversation.

In my household, I have a fail-safe recipe that my husband absolutely loves. It’s filled with lots of cheesy, creamy goodness, loaded with veggies, and bonus, you won’t feel any guilt after eating every last bite. Is that even possible, you say? I’m here to tell you it is!

Lasagna is the quintessential date night meal, and I’ve created a recipe that is lower in carbs, lower in fat and calories, and has a hidden layer of veggie noodles that no one will be the wiser about. A few simple swap-outs of brown rice noodles (for white noodles), a layer of zucchini noodles, lean ground turkey instead of traditional beef or pork, and a reduced-calorie ricotta and mozzarella completes this meal.”

Alexandra Shytsman

Alexandra Shytsman is a recipe developer, food writer, photographer, and creator of The New Baguette, a plant-based recipe site. She is also the author of Friendsgiving and co-author of The Complete Vegan Cookbook. Her mission is to inspire people to cook more healthy, plant-centered meals at home.

“Sushi is my favorite thing to make on date night.

It’s so much easier than most people assume, and you don’t actually need any special
tools (like a rice cooker, sushi mats, etc.). Plus, it’s hands-on and interactive, and fun to do as a duo – especially if you open up a bottle of wine and get some tunes playing. My go-to are these plant-based sushi rolls with crispy tofu, quick-pickled red onions, and spicy mayo.”

Ese Disi

Ese Disi is the Owner of Gifted by Essy. In 12 years of marriage and motherhood, she has learned the importance of date nights. 2020 helped Ese and her husband be even more creative with date nights.

“My husband doesn’t enjoy cooking. This recipe is easy for him to make and fun for us to do together. Our favorite date night recipe is a dish I learned to make when we lived in Bogotá, Colombia.

It’s quite simple to make, and if one of you isn’t the best cook, there are easy steps they can follow.

Arroz, frijoles con plantanos

• 1 chicken breast cut thin to make 2-4 thin pieces
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1-2 cloves of garlic
• 1 small to medium white onion
• 1 Tbsp of your favorite cooking oil
• Frying oil
• 1 cup of white or brown rice
• 1-2 canned black beans
• 1-2 ripe plantains

What to do:

1. Add seasonings to sliced chicken and let it marinate for 30 minutes to overnight.
2. Boil your rice.
3. Pan fry chicken.
4. Remove chicken from pan (save the pan to cook the beans).
5. Add rinsed black beans to the same pot you use to cook the chicken.
6. Slice 1-2 ripe plantains.
7. Season with salt to taste (optional).
8. Deep fry.

Serve with avocado and your favorite pico de gallo. Of course, margaritas or your favorite wine is highly recommended.”

Ang Paris

@jugglingactmama

Ang (short for Angela) is the multi-tasking mama. She’s a mother, wife, daughter, sister, auntie, friend, PTA volunteer, and business woman attempting to do it all. She knows what it means to juggle priorities. Sometimes it’s smooth sailing and sometimes – just like all of us, she gets overwhelmed and needs a hand! On Juggling Act Mama, she offers solutions to tame your hectic lifestyle!

“When it comes to date night recipes, I like to kick back with a glass of wine while we make dinner together – which is so much more enjoyable than rushing around to make weeknight family meals!

This Petite Sirloin Steak Recipe is my go-to for date night because it’s easy and always comes out perfectly juicy and delicious. The steak rub is a little sweet, with a spicy kick, and smoky with a hint of coffee. It is so good! You can serve your steaks with a simple side salad or try your hand at this Crispy Smashed Potatoes Recipe. No matter what you cook, the important thing is having one on one time to connect with your partner in a meaningful way.”

Craig Miller

Craig is the Co-Founder of Academia Labs LLC.

“My favorite date night recipe is Skillet Porterhouse Steak.

My wife loves meat, so this is our go-to date night recipe. Here’s how to do it:

1. Pre-heat the broiler so it will be ready to use for step 6.
2. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.
3. Season the steak with salt and pepper on all sides. Add the olive oil to the skillet, then place the steak in the skillet and do not move it. Cook until a nice sear forms for about 3 minutes.
4. Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the steak to a cutting board. Then cut both the filet and sirloin from the bone. Slice the steak against the grain into thick pieces.
5. Put the bone back into the skillet and reassemble the steak around it with the seared side up. Top with pieces of butter. Add a couple cloves of garlic and a few sprigs of thyme or rosemary, if desired.
6. Broil to desired doneness.
7. Transfer to a serving plate and pour the pan drippings over the steak.”

Angela Latimer

@bakeitwithlove

Angela is the at-home chef writing the recipes for Bake It With Love. She’s an avid vintage cookbook collector, recipe creator, animal lover, and total foodie. She loves sharing recipes that are new, fun, and creative, as well as great classic recipes just like her Grandma used to make!

“My husband and I have date night dinners all the time! Here are a couple of our seafood favorites:

These Pan Seared Scallops are super easy to make at home with a delightfully golden crust on absolutely tender, tasty, restaurant-quality scallops. Cooking your sea scallops to perfection is much easier than you think and a real treat to enjoy on special occasions, date night, or when entertaining guests.

Enjoy this elegant Crab Stuffed Salmon dinner that features tasty crab meat in a creamy filling, all stuffed into tender baked salmon fillets. The salmon turns out beautifully with a crunchy Panko topping and rich, flavorful stuffing like you’d expect at a fine seafood restaurant.”

Harland Adkins

@FastFoodPrices

Despite holding a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Harland never imagined that one day he would be the founder of a website dedicated to fast food menu prices. In his leisure time, he likes to crack jokes, take snapshots of his dog Hyde and assist individuals in promoting healthy eating habits through scientific and food-based strategies.

“Whether it’s a friendly get-together with a friend or a romantic first date at my place, I mostly enjoy making an appetizing salad to start things off, followed by a mouth-watering main dish, and ending it with a sweet decadent dessert.

Now since it’s a date, you’re going to want to go beyond the table and set the mood, too. Add some great music, dim the lights, and get yourselves a fine bottle or two of wine.

My go-to meal:

I like to start with a roquette salad, to which I add some red quinoa, a few mango slices, salt-roasted chestnuts, a handful of feta cheese, and a vinaigrette enhanced with a dash of soy sauce and honey to taste. I like this mix as you get a feel of sweetness, salt, and tanginess.

Then I move on to the main dish. I like to go for a steak for each of us. If you frequently cook for dates, then there’s no reason to break the bank with fillet mignons each time. Faux-fillet and Entrecote cuts work great too, and I sometimes prefer them over the tenderloin. You just need to practice cooking a steak well (pan-searing, basting, adding aromatics and herbs…). Make some veggies with your steak based on what you have (potatoes, carrots, asparagus) or even add some carbs by making a nice tortellini side dish with a spicy ragu or tomato-based sauce.

For dessert, I would make a red fruit salad. So, I’m talking strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and blueberries. You can even make a sauce using some of the strawberries and raspberries by mixing them with sugar and heating them in a saucepan then straining the sauce to get rid of the tougher fiber and seeds.

If possible, maybe prepare all these before your date arrives except for the steak and the tortellini. Fresh tortellini won’t need more than 3 minutes to cook. I personally enjoy cooking the steak and some parts of the dinner with my date as it gives us a chance to interact and cook together.”

MD Kamruzzaman

MD Kamruzzaman is the CEO of Substitute Foods and a food blogger. Substitute Foods is all about healthy substitute foods and how they can be used to improve your health and lifestyle.

“Prior to my date with my girlfriend, I always make sure that I take into consideration not only her tastebuds but also which foods she is allergic to.

The goal is that we will both enjoy the night, sharing sumptuous-healthy food and the highlights of our week or day. I see to it that I prepare the food myself, because who doesn’t appreciate that?

This is the recipe I use for preparing shrimp fettuccine alfredo. This is very easy and will not take much of your time.

1. Pasta/Fettucine
Cook your pasta in boiling water for about 3 to 4 minutes only. Check for its firmness, and try not to overcook as you will put it on a pan again when you mix the sauce. Reserve at least a cup of pasta water for sauce preparation.

2. Shrimp
Take into consideration the size of the shrimp. The smaller the size is, the faster it cooks. Heat your shrimp using melter butter instead, and as soon as it turns pink/light orange, flip them to the other side. Add some herbs and peppers if you like.

3. Sauce
Add cold milk and cream to your flour, then drop the egg yolk in the center, whisk it immediately, and don’t stop until you achieve a one-phase mixture. Start curdling the sauce in a pan with sauteed garlic in butter.

4. Parmigiano Reggiano
To achieve a favorable texture and to make it easier to melt the cheese, turn to Parmigiano Reggiano! This will definitely make your alfredo sauce smoother and creamier.

Lastly, garnish your pasta with parmesan and parsley. This worked for me, and she loved it! I hope this works for you too.”

Dan Alder

@levvvelgg

Dan Alder is the Editor in Chief of Levvvel.

“My favorite date night recipe that is quick and easy to make is this Caprese Chicken dish that is the perfect way to wrap up the night.

It’s easy to make too, with only 10 minutes of prep time and a total time of 30 minutes to cook.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pt. grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 Tbsp freshly torn basil
• 4 slices mozzarella

Recipe:

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook until golden and cooked through, 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
2. Add balsamic vinegar to skillet, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomatoes and season with salt. Let simmer until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in basil.
3. Return chicken to skillet and nestle in tomatoes. Top with mozzarella and cover with a lid to melt.
4. Spoon tomatoes over the chicken and serve.”

Dan Morris

@saw_fire

Dan Morris runs Fire And Saw.

“My wife and I enjoy cooking and eating outdoors on our at-home date nights.

Once the kids are fast asleep in bed, we head outside to use our chiminea to cook marinated steak and vegetables. A chiminea is an outdoor cooker that was originally used in Mexico.

This works best in the summer when it’s still light and warm outside later into the evening, and it makes for a magical evening.

It’s difficult to find babysitters, so we find having a late dinner works best for us for a date night.

Marinade steaks (rib eye, porterhouse, t bone) in the following:

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt

We sear the steaks on a hot plate in the fire and serve it alongside chargrilled asparagus, peppers, and mushrooms.

It’s delicious!

Along with the fire, being outdoors, and with a nice glass of wine, it’s the perfect date night dinner.”

Emily Appelbaum

@familydestguide

Emily Appelbaum is a contributing writer at Family Destinations Guide. Love to explore beach resorts and ski destinations together with her 12-year-old son.

“My favorite date night recipe is Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Pie.

Being a pasta lover while my husband loves pie, this recipe is really perfect for us. I discovered this a few years back and it became our favorite, especially during late-night dates at home. It’s really good with all those crunchiness and cheesy pasta flavors, plus the crunchy chicken too. We love to enjoy this together with our favorite wine. Totally a great and delicious recipe.”

Michelle Devani

Michelle Devani is a relationship expert and the founder of Love Devani.

“Date nights at home may be the thing for your relationship; it’s more intimate and enables you to reconnect with your significant other.

Dating and relationship experts like myself often suggest a tried and true date night idea: cooking together. You don’t have to be an expert in the kitchen; these recipes are delicious and easy to whip up:

• Surf and Turf Steak. Fancy restaurant-quality dining can be achieved with this very easy to cook rib-eye steak and fresh lobster tails. Top it up with creamy garlic sauce and you’re all set.
• Chicken pad thai. This recipe calls for chicken and tofu, but feel free to substitute your protein of choice. Get creative with this tasty vegetable dish.
• Shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta. The ultimate comfort food, serve this during date night and pair it with a bottle of wine. Cheesy, garlicky, and loaded with mozzarella and shrimp, it’s an easy yet tasty dish.
• Stuffed bell peppers. For vegetarians, bell peppers filled with brown rice, mushrooms, and vegetables baked for 40 minutes can be perfect for your weekly at-home dates.
• Charcuterie board. While not a dinner option, a charcuterie board can be fun to prepare and easy to eat. Have your choice of cold cuts, crackers, nuts, and dips, and enjoy it while watching a movie or cuddling with your spouse.”

Laura Ritterman

Laura Ritterman is the Owner of Recipe Fairy.

“My favorite date nights always involve good food and even better wine.

Food brings people together, and you can involve your partner by getting them to help or do some taste testing. My absolute favorite date night meal has to be pizza made from scratch. Pizza is always a people pleaser and can be made to adhere to individual tastes. It is also generally lighter on the stomach and is not too rich, which can make you feel sluggish and could end the night early.

My favorite pizza crust recipe is very simple and makes enough dough for two pizzas. It is simply warm water, bread flour, salt, sugar, olive oil, and instant dry yeast. Let the dough rise in a greased bowl for one hour (play a board game while you wait!) and then divide into two balls of dough, then let rest again for 10 minutes.

Once the dough is done, place it onto a perforated metal pizza pan for even baking and make sure the oven is at a high temperature. My favorite pizza combinations are a cream base with mushrooms, mozzarella, and goat cheese, peppers, and red onion, and then drizzled with pesto and balsamic vinegar.

Pizza is a versatile dish and is also easy to eat and can bring a couple together by building their own custom recipe. It is sure to be a winner at your next date night!”

Michelle Keldgord

@BakingHow

Michelle Keldgord is the Co-founder of BakingHow.

“One of my favorite date night recipes is Steak and Fettuccine Alfredo.

The combination tastes indulgent and fancy, which is exactly what date night is all about. I season my steak with salt and pepper and grill it. Then, I create fettuccine in the Instant Pot with chicken broth, garlic, fettuccine noodles, and heavy cream. When it’s done cooking, I swirl the parmesan cheese inside.

If I’m looking for something less indulgent, I will likely do tacos. Almost everybody loves tacos, so this creates a relaxed and fun environment. My favorite tacos are created in the crockpot using chicken, lime, cilantro, and taco seasoning. I will likely put together some strawberry margaritas, too.

Don’t forget dessert! A batch of my ooey-gooey brownies is all it takes to finish date night. My brownies are loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts to give it a little bit of crunch. Brownies work with any meal, so whether it’s steak or taco night, brownies come to the rescue!”

Samantha Moss

@romantific

Samantha Moss is the editor and content ambassador at Romantific.

“They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

As a relationship expert, I believe in food supremacy to win your partner. Other than romantic lights and decorations, the highlight of the night is your dinner together. Here are a few recipes that could make your dinner date the best of all:

• Chorizo Carbonara. This is best when you both love pasta. It has deliciously creamy pasta sauce made with eggs, pork, and cheese. This is not your everyday healthy choice; it is best for dates and is a super simple dish that delivers amazing strong flavor.
• Roast chicken with lemon, sage, and parsley stuffing. To show your love and patience, you can prepare a dish that requires a few hours to prepare. This roast chicken is best after seasoning it and letting it marinade to get the best flavor.
• Cheese and roasted cherry tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes can be roasted ahead of time and go perfectly with the creamy, milky cheese.”

Richard Hsu

Richard is a freelance illustrator who loves to draw, write, and cook in his free time. When he’s not drawing or working on his blog, he’s typically in the kitchen trying new and exciting recipes.

“My favorite date night recipe is shrimp pineapple tacos with creamy slaw.

I love a good grilled shrimp taco, especially on Taco Tuesdays. This simple recipe is a game-changer for me. I’ve made it for my girlfriend, family, and a few friends. For the shrimp, all you need is taco seasoning, or a mix of chili powder, paprika, cumin, and salt (1 teaspoon each). Simply pan fry the shrimp until slightly charred. You can also char pineapple slices to add to the taco.

For the slaw, you need a small blender. Add a clove of garlic, half a jalapeno (or more if you desire, I usually use jar-jalapenos because they’re more convenient), a handful of cilantro leaves, a cup of Greek yogurt, and add lime juice and salt to taste. Simply blend the ingredients by pulsing. You should still see small pieces of jalapenos and cilantro. Don’t blend it too smoothly for better texture. Then you can shred or chop up some cabbage to marinate in the mix as you cook the shrimp.

Lastly, for the tortillas, you can simply use store-bought ones or make your own using your favorite tortilla recipe!”

Looking for more delicious date night fare? Consider a box of delectable chocolate dipped fruits for the perfect shareable dessert, or opt for a box of assorted mini cheesecakes topped with fresh fruit or chocolate dipped fruit and lightly sweetened whipped topping. Or, make your own chocolate dipped treats with our Chocolate Strawberry Dipping Kit. Edible Arrangements® has everything you need to plan the perfect date night and make lasting memories with the one you love.