Romantic 2024: 15 Easy Recipes for Couple's Outings

Date nights are special, and there's something incredibly intimate about preparing a meal together. The hustle and bustle of a busy week often means I long for those moments where it's just the two of us, sharing a laugh over a sizzling pan or playfully critiquing each other’s chopping skills. Cooking together doesn’t just feed our bodies; it nourishes our relationship.

Hello, food therapy! And that's why I'm thrilled to share my favorite couple's outing recipes for two. These meals are perfect whether you're staying in for a cozy night or packing a picnic for a romantic date. Let’s dive into these delightful dishes crafted just for two lovebirds.

Also Read: 15 Easy One Pan Gnocchi Recipes

1. Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast

Imagine tender chicken breasts brimming with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. It's as mouthwatering as it sounds.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup mozzarella balls
• Fresh basil leaves
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cut a pocket into each chicken breast and season with salt and pepper.
3. Stuff each chicken breast with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves.
4. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sear the chicken breasts until golden brown.
5. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

2. Lemon Butter Shrimp Pasta

This fancy yet simple dish is the perfect blend of zesty lemon and rich butter.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat.
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Squeeze in lemon juice and add zest.
5. Toss in shrimp, cooking until they turn pink.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the pan, mixing well.
7. Season with salt, pepper, and garnish with fresh parsley.

3. Steak and Veggie Skewers

These skewers scream summer evenings and are delightful paired with some wine.

Ingredients:

• 2 ribeye steaks, cut into cubes
• 1 bell pepper, cubed
• 1 red onion, cubed
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat your grill.
2. Thread steak and veggies onto skewers.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Grill skewers for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally until the steak is your desired doneness.

4. Margherita Pizza

A classic favorite that's easy to make and perfect to share.

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups fresh mozzarella, sliced
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 500°F.
2. Roll out your pizza dough on a floured surface.
3. Spread tomato sauce evenly over the dough.
4. Scatter mozzarella slices and basil leaves on top.
5. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

5. Tacos Al Pastor

Sweet, spicy, and savory – these tacos are a fiesta in your mouth.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pork shoulder, sliced thinly
• 1 pineapple, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• Corn tortillas
• Lime wedges

Instructions:

1. Marinate pork with chili powder, cumin, salt, and olive oil for at least an hour.
2. Cook pork in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through.
3. Grill or pan-sear pineapple and onion slices until caramelized.
4. Warm corn tortillas and fill with pork, grilled pineapple, onion, and a sprinkle of cilantro.
5. Serve with lime wedges.

6. Garlic Butter Lobster Tails

Elevate your date night with succulent lobster tails draped in garlic butter.

Ingredients:

• 2 lobster tails
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Lemon wedges
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat your broiler.
2. Split lobster tails in half lengthwise.
3. Melt butter and mix with minced garlic.
4. Brush lobster tails with garlic butter.
5. Broil for 10 minutes or until lobster is opaque and cooked through.
6. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.

7. Blackened Salmon

A flavorful treat that's also healthy and quick to make.

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.
2. Rub the mixture onto the salmon fillets.
3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook salmon for about 4 minutes on each side until blackened and cooked through.

8. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

A vegetarian delight that's creamy, cheesy, and soul-soothing.

Ingredients:

• 18 jumbo pasta shells
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook pasta shells according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
3. In a bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, and egg.
4. Fill each shell with the ricotta mixture.
5. Spread marinara sauce in a baking dish and place stuffed shells on top.
6. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbling and golden.

Also Read: Pineapple Upside-down Martini Recipe

9. Chicken Alfredo

An all-time favorite that hits all the right creamy and cheesy notes.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb fettuccine
• 2 chicken breasts, sliced
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Cook fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, cook chicken until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Melt butter in the skillet, add garlic, and cook until fragrant.
4. Pour in cream, bring to a simmer and stir in Parmesan until smooth.
5. Add the chicken and pasta, tossing to coat.
6. Garnish with chopped parsley.

10. Raspberry Chocolate Fondue

For dessert lovers, this fondue is a luxurious, fun way to end the meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 pint raspberries
• 1 banana, sliced
• Marshmallows

Instructions:

1. In a pot, heat cream until warm (do not boil).
2. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth.
3. Transfer chocolate to a fondue pot to keep warm.
4. Serve with raspberries, banana slices, and marshmallows for dipping.

11. Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

A simple appetizer that's elegant and tasty.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch asparagus
• 6 slices prosciutto
• Olive oil
• Lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Wrap prosciutto around groups of 2-3 asparagus stalks.
3. Place on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and roast for 10-12 minutes.
4. Finish with a sprinkle of lemon zest.

12. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Colorful and filling, these peppers make a hearty, wholesome meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 bell peppers, halved and seeded
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• Salsa

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Mix quinoa, black beans, corn, and half the cheese.
3. Stuff the mixture into bell pepper halves.
4. Place in a baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is melted.
6. Serve with salsa.

13. Garlic and Herb Roast Chicken

There’s nothing like a perfectly roasted chicken, especially with lots of garlic.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp chopped rosemary
• 2 tbsp chopped thyme
• Lemon wedges
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
2. Mix garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
3. Rub the mixture all over the chicken.
4. Place lemon wedges inside the chicken cavity.
5. Roast for 1 hour 20 minutes or until golden and juices run clear.
6. Let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

14. Classic BLT Sandwiches

A classic sandwich that's perfect for a picnic or a light meal.

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of bread (toasted)
• 6 slices bacon, cooked
• 1 tomato, sliced
• Lettuce leaves
• Mayonnaise

Instructions:

1. Spread mayonnaise on toasted bread.
2. Layer lettuce, tomato slices, and bacon.
3. Top with another slice of toasted bread.
4. Cut in half and serve.

15. Chocolate-covered Strawberries

A romantic treat that’s as easy as it is delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 pint fresh strawberries
• 8 oz dark chocolate
• 1 tsp coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Melt chocolate with coconut oil over a double boiler.
2. Dip strawberries into melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off.
3. Place on parchment paper and refrigerate until set.

Also Read: Mexican Corn & Chicken Bowls Recipe

Each recipe here not only promises a delightful culinary experience but also strengthens those precious bonds. Cooking together, and then enjoying the fruits of your labor, can make for some of the most memorable and cherished moments. So, pick a recipe (or two!) and get cooking with your special someone. Cheers to love, laughter, and delicious food!