12 Simple and Elegant Appetizer Recipes for Valentine's Day You’ll Love

You'll find that 70% of couples celebrate Valentine's Day with a romantic dinner. You're planning to cook for your loved one and you're looking for simple, yet elegant appetizers.

You'll want to explore these 12 recipes, featuring options like Baked Brie and Strawberry Bruschetta, to make your evening special - but can you really prepare a delicious meal in under 15 minutes?

1. Baked Brie and Fresh Fruit

Indulge in a romantic Baked Brie and Fresh Fruit platter, perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz) wheel of brie cheese
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 baguette, sliced
• 1 cup fresh grapes
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 cup fresh figs

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Remove the brie cheese from its packaging and place it on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle the honey over the brie cheese and sprinkle with chopped thyme.
4. Bake the brie cheese in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, or until softened.
5. Arrange the sliced baguette, fresh grapes, strawberries, and figs on a platter.
6. Remove the brie cheese from the oven and place it on the platter.
7. Serve the Baked Brie and Fresh Fruit platter immediately and enjoy.

2. Strawberry Bruschetta Recipe

Sweet and savory Strawberry Bruschetta perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 4-6 baguette slices
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/4 cup balsamic glaze
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Slice the baguette into 1/2-inch thick rounds and place on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle the olive oil over the baguette slices and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly browned.
4. Top each toasted baguette slice with a slice of mozzarella cheese, a few slices of strawberry, and a sprinkle of basil.
5. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the top of each bruschetta.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy.

3. Valentine's Day Caprese

Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil come together in a romantic Valentine's Day Caprese.

Ingredients

• 3 large tomatoes
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Slice the tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
2. Slice the mozzarella cheese into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
3. Arrange the tomato and mozzarella slices on a plate or platter.
4. Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the top.
5. Sprinkle the basil leaves over the dish.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy.

4. Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Creamy spinach and artichoke dip perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz) can of artichoke hearts
• 1 package of frozen chopped spinach
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Drain the artichoke hearts and chop them into small pieces.
3. Thaw the frozen spinach and squeeze out excess water.
4. In a large bowl, combine the chopped artichoke hearts, spinach, mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and garlic.
5. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
6. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake the dip in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until it's hot and bubbly.
8. Remove the dip from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

5. Mini Beef or Chicken Sliders

Tender mini beef or chicken sliders perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or chicken
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 hamburger buns
• Lettuce, tomato, cheese, and any other desired toppings

Instructions

1. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef or chicken, chopped onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
3. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until just combined.
4. Form the mixture into small patties, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick.
5. Grill the patties for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked to your desired level of doneness.
6. Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns on the grill or in a toaster.
7. Assemble the sliders by placing a cooked patty on each bun and topping with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and any other desired toppings.
8. Serve immediately and enjoy.

6. Grilled Shrimp Cocktail

Grilled shrimp cocktail is a romantic and delicious appetizer for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 cup cocktail sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and paprika.
3. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss to coat with the marinade.
4. Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink and cooked through.
5. Serve the shrimp with cocktail sauce for dipping.
6. Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley, if desired.

7. Roasted Vegetable Skewers

Colorful roasted vegetable skewers make a perfect appetizer for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup mushrooms
• 1 cup bell peppers
• 1/2 cup onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Thread cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and garlic onto skewers.
3. Brush the skewers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the skewers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
6. Serve hot and enjoy.

8. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Indulge in romantic chocolate covered strawberries this Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 12 large strawberries
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon shortening
• 1 tablespoon chopped nuts or sprinkles
• Fresh mint leaves

Instructions

1. Rinse the strawberries and gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring between each interval.
3. Stir in the shortening to help create a smooth coating.
4. Dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate, coating about 3/4 of the strawberry.
5. Immediately sprinkle with chopped nuts or sprinkles if desired.
6. Place the dipped strawberries on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set the chocolate.
8. Just before serving, garnish with a fresh mint leaf if desired.

9. Prosciutto Wrapped Melon

Prosciutto Wrapped Melon is a classic and simple appetizer perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe melon
• 6 slices of prosciutto
• Fresh mint leaves
• Honey

Instructions

1. Cut the melon into bite-sized balls or slices.
2. Wrap each melon piece with a slice of prosciutto.
3. Secure the prosciutto with a toothpick if needed.
4. Drizzle with honey and garnish with a fresh mint leaf.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy.

10. Asparagus and Cheese Frittata

A delicious and easy-to-make asparagus and cheese frittata perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 1 cup asparagus, chopped
• 1 cup cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
3. Add the chopped asparagus and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
5. Add the shredded cheese to the bowl and stir to combine.
6. Pour the egg mixture over the cooked asparagus in the skillet.
7. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the eggs are set.
8. Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
9. Slice the frittata into wedges and serve warm.

11. Heart Shaped Pizza Bites

Mini pizza bites cut into heart shapes for a romantic twist.

Ingredients

• 1 package of pizza dough
• 1 cup of pizza sauce
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup of chopped pepperoni
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Roll out the pizza dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
3. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the dough.
4. Place the heart-shaped dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Spread a small amount of pizza sauce on each heart-shaped dough.
6. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top of the sauce.
7. Add chopped pepperoni on top of the cheese.
8. Drizzle olive oil over the pepperoni.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
11. Serve warm and enjoy.

12. Fresh Fruit and Cheese Platter

A colorful platter of fresh fruit and cheese, perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh grapes
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 cup cubed cheese
• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves

Instructions

1. Arrange the fresh fruit on a large platter or board.
2. Cut the cheese into cubes and place on the platter.
3. Drizzle the honey over the fruit and cheese.
4. Sprinkle the fresh mint leaves over the top.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Conclusion

You'll fall absolutely, utterly, and completely in love with these 12 divine appetizer recipes, and honestly, they're a million times easier to make than you'd think, taking barely any time at all, so you can focus on what really matters - a truly unforgettable Valentine's Day celebration.