Looking for some fun and healthy recipes for date night at home? Check out these 35 healthy recipes for date night at home! They’re simple with a little bit of a fancy flare, which makes them perfect for date night in! Pour a glass of wine and have some fun in the kitchen with the one you love!
If you’re reading this at the time I post this when the corona virus pandemic is happening in the United States, then it’s safe to say going out to eat is not happening for you either. Restaurants have unfortunately been greatly impacted by the corona virus, and while we don’t know exactly what the future of restaurant dining will look like yet, we know carry out (in some cases) and date nights at home are our only options.
Rob and I have actually enjoyed pushing ourselves to get more creative in the kitchen and to make things we normally wouldn’t now that we’re forced to eat every meal in. I do think one of the silver linings of this quarantine is that it’s inspired us to get more creative in the kitchen and make things we’ve always wanted to.
And that’s exactly what I want you to consider for your next date night in! See what recipes peak your interest below and challenge yourself to get crafty in the kitchen to make them with your significant other!
Not only do I think you learn a lot about each other when making a meal together, but it can also be a good bonding activity that turns into something you guys realize you love doing together — another silver lining!
Food has an amazing ability to bring us together in good times and in bad. Plus, making a special family recipe can make us feel connected to our loved ones even when we can’t be with them at the moment.
So tell Alexa to play “love music” pour a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc (my personal favorite 🙂 ) and get cooking in the kitchen!
how to make date night at home special:
- set the mood. Turn down the lights and light some candles. Ambiance makes the experience. Who cares if all your crap is in the corner. Pretend it’s not!
- start with a charcuterie or appetizer board. It doesn’t have to be exclusive to meats and cheeses. Get creative with what’s in your fridge and pantry
- dress up! I know, I know sweats are life right now, but it can still be a fun pick-me-up to dress up even if you are just staying home!
- create a signature cocktail or mocktail. Recreate your drink of choice at home or make up your own! Bonus points for the person who gets the most creative using herbs, spices, and random ingredients from your cupboards.
- turn it into a chopped challenge. Challenge each other to cook with what you have on hand! Grab the directions for how to create a chopped challenge here!
I’ve included one of our favorite date night at home inspired recipes. This lemony white wine zucchini noodle pasta dish is delicious and easy to make! Grab the recipe here and bon appetite!
ingredients for lemony white wine zucchini noodle pasta
- spaghetti or bucatini
- zucchini
- fresh garlic
- lemon
- olive oil
- butter
- cherry tomatoes
- capers
- parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
- red pepper flakes
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Lemony white wine zucchini noodle pasta is a delicious and simple recipe that you’ll love to make anytime you’re in the mood for a simple pasta dish!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb spaghetti or bucatini
- 2 medium zucchinis, spiralized
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup white wine
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp. salted butter
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup capers
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Cook it 1 minute less than the package directions instruct. Before draining the pasta, reserve about a cup of the water for later use.
- Mince the garlic and zest the lemons using a microplane. Cut the lemons in half and add the juice to a small container so it’s ready to go.
- Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned, about a minute. Add the red pepper flakes and stir for a few more seconds.
- Add lemon juice and white wine, increase the heat to medium-high, and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3-4 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Add 2 tbsp. of the pasta water, add the butter, and turn off the heat once it’s melted.
- Add the pasta back into the pan, followed by the lemon zest and parmesan cheese, tossing to coat all the spaghetti with the sauce. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and zucchini noodles Add more pasta water as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time. Cook a little more just until the zucchini noodles and cherry tomatoes are cooked but not mushy.
- Serve topped with additional lemon zest, capers, and red pepper flakes, if desired. Enjoy!
Keywords: white wine pasta sauce; lemon pasta
35 dietitian approved date night recipes:
- One Pot Creamy Mushroom and Shrimp Pasta Recipe
- Mussels Fra Diavolo
- Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Mug Cakes
- 30 Minute Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata
- SCALLOPS AND GRITS WITH BALSAMIC CHERRY TOMATOES
- LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN IN A WHITE WINE SAUCE
- Blackened Tilapia with Mango Avocado Slaw
- Easy Egg Noodle Stir Fry with Veggies and Chicken
- Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Burgers
- PECORINO ROMANO RISOTTO
- Baked Pesto Salmon
- VEGAN DARK CHOCOLATE ANTIOXIDANT PUDDING
- SIMPLE SAUSAGE AND KALE PIZZA ON A CRISPY TORTILLA
- Mussels with White Wine, Garlic and Herbs
- ORANGE MAPLE GLAZED SALMON WITH GARLIC AND KALE FARRO SALAD
- ONE PAN LEMON ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
- GRILLED SHRIMP AND VEGGIE KABOBS
- One-Pan Turmeric Chicken and Rice
- SALTED TAHINI BROWNIES (SMALL BATCH)
- Cast Iron Pizza
- STIR-FRIED THAI CHICKEN WITH NOODLES AND PEANUT SAUCE
- PORK CHOPS AND POTATOES SMOTHERED WITH CREAMY DIJON-SPINACH SAUCE
- Seared Scallops with Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Vegan Mediterranean Vegetable Salad with Prunes and Fruit Dressing
- Date Night Herb Crusted Lamb Chops
- Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu
- ROMESCO CHICKEN WITH KALE MASHED POTATOES RECIPE
- MUSTARD GREEN AND SAUSAGE ORECCHIETTE
- Healthy Lemon Carbonara
- Cod, Carrot & Green Bean Foil Packets with Lime Avocado Sauce
- 30 Minute Butter Dill Baked Salmon with Roasted Asparagus
- SCALLOPS IN BROWN BUTTER SAGE SAUCE {DATE NIGHT PASTA}
- Pan seared salmon and caramelized grapes
- Healthy Baked Orange Chicken
dessert recipes for date night at home:
- pumpkin chickpea blondies {GF & DF}
- lemon sugar cookies {GF & DF}
- pumpkin chocolate chip cookies {GF & DF}
- pumpkin cookie skillet {DF & GF}
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I love all of these recipes for a date night IN! I could can do one every night now for a month. :- Thanks for including my Grilled Shrimp and Veggie Kabobs.
Of course! It’s so fun to make meals at home a little more special!
Great list Maggie, I’m all for continuing the date nights at home by making special food and drinks right now! I’m currently loving mocktail experiments. Thanks for including my tahini brownies in the roundup!
Yes, so am I! Your recipe looks delicious!