10 Last-Minute Valentine's Day Dinner Recipes You’ll Love

You're standing in your candlelit kitchen, the aroma of sizzling meat filling the air, as you frantically search for a Valentine's Day dinner recipe. You're running out of time, but you won't settle for takeout. You need a dish that's quick, delicious, and impressive - can you really whip up a romantic dinner in no time?

Valentine's Day Beef Recipes

Tender beef fillets served with a rich, creamy sauce.

Ingredients

• 4 beef fillets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Season the beef fillets with salt, pepper, and thyme.
3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sear the beef fillets until browned.
4. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and cook for 10-12 minutes.
5. Remove the skillet from the oven and set the beef fillets aside.
6. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until softened.
7. Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet and cook until they release their moisture.
8. Pour in the beef broth and heavy cream, and stir to combine.
9. Return the beef fillets to the skillet and spoon the sauce over them.
10. Serve the beef fillets hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

Quick Shrimp Scampi Dish

Quick Shrimp Scampi is a classic Italian dish with garlic and lemon.

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook linguine according to package instructions.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.
3. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
4. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through.
5. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
6. Add white wine, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes to skillet, stirring to combine.
7. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, until slightly reduced.
8. Stir in Parmesan cheese and cook until melted.
9. Add cooked linguine to skillet, tossing to combine with sauce.
10. Return shrimp to skillet and toss to combine with linguine and sauce.
11. Season with salt, pepper, and basil.
12. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley.

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Creamy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic Italian dish.

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup fettuccine pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine pasta according to package instructions.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and cook the chicken until browned and cooked through.
3. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
4. Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add the cooked fettuccine pasta to the skillet and toss with the cream sauce until well coated.
7. Slice the cooked chicken and add it to the pasta, tossing to combine.
8. Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.

Simple Seafood Paella

Savor the flavors of Spain with this simple seafood paella recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded
• 1 pound clams, scrubbed
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon saffron threads
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large paella pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
4. Add the shrimp, mussels, and clams, and cook until the seafood is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the smoked paprika, saffron threads, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine.
6. Add the Arborio rice and stir to combine with the seafood and spices.
7. Add the chicken broth, water, and lemon juice, and bring to a boil.
8. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid has been absorbed.
9. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped parsley.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Fast Rack of Lamb

Tender and flavorful, this rack of lamb is perfect for a romantic dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 rack of lamb (6-8 bones)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Season the lamb rack with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, and chopped rosemary.
4. Brush the mixture evenly onto the lamb rack, making sure to coat all surfaces.
5. Place the lamb rack in a roasting pan and put it in the oven.
6. Roast the lamb for 20-25 minutes per pound, or until it reaches your desired level of doneness.
7. Remove the lamb from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Pan Seared Salmon Fillet

Delicious salmon fillet cooked to perfection with a crispy crust.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 lemons, cut into wedges
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Season the salmon fillets with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Add olive oil to the preheated skillet and swirl it around.
4. Place the salmon fillets in the skillet, skin side up.
5. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
6. Flip the salmon fillets over and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until cooked through.
7. Remove the salmon from the skillet and garnish with lemon zest and chopped parsley.
8. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Easy Lobster Ravioli

Indulge in a luxurious and easy-to-make Easy Lobster Ravioli dish.

Ingredients

• 1 package of fresh ravioli
• 1/2 cup of lobster meat
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup of white wine
• 1/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ravioli according to package instructions.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and add the lobster meat, cooking until heated through.
3. Add the white wine to the skillet and cook until reduced by half.
4. Stir in the heavy cream and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the cooked ravioli to the skillet and toss with the lobster sauce.
6. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
7. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Rapid Fire Steak Recipe

Quickly cooked steak with a flavorful crust.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs steak
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika

Instructions

1. Preheat a skillet over high heat.
2. Season the steak with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
3. Add olive oil to the preheated skillet.
4. Sear the steak for 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook to desired doneness.
6. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Classic Chicken Parmesan

Breaded and fried chicken topped with melted mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 2 eggs
• Olive oil

Instructions

1. Prepare the breading station with flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.
2. Season the flour with salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
3. Dip each chicken breast in the flour, then eggs, and finally breadcrumbs.
4. Heat about 1/2 inch of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Fry the breaded chicken breasts until golden brown and cooked through.
6. Transfer the fried chicken to a baking dish and spoon marinara sauce over each breast.
7. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Serve hot and enjoy!

Speedy Veal Marsala Cutlets

Tender veal cutlets cooked with Marsala wine and mushrooms.

Ingredients

• 4 veal cutlets
• 1 cup Marsala wine
• 1 cup mixed mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Season the veal cutlets with salt and pepper.
2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the veal cutlets and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.
4. Remove the veal cutlets from the skillet and set aside.
5. Add the mixed mushrooms and garlic to the skillet and cook until the mushrooms release their liquid.
6. Add the Marsala wine to the skillet and bring to a boil.
7. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
8. Return the veal cutlets to the skillet and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
9. Serve the veal cutlets with the Marsala sauce spooned over the top.

Conclusion

You've found the perfect last-minute Valentine's Day recipes. Will you impress your loved one with a beef fillet or shrimp scampi? These delicious dishes are sure to delight, and with quick cooking times, you'll have a romantic dinner ready in no time, making your evening truly unforgettable and stress-free.