• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Champagne Tastes®
  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipes
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Cooking Basics

    Recipes for Date Night at Home

    Published: Dec 19, 2016 · Modified: Sep 30, 2022 · 28 Comments

    Date Night doesn’t have to be at a restaurant to be special and delicious! These 22 Recipes for Date Night at Home will help you plan a gourmet meal without setting foot in a restaurant!

    Date Night doesn’t have to be at a restaurant to be special and delicious!  These Recipes for Date Night at Home will help you plan a gourmet meal without setting foot in a restaurant!

    graphic reads "recipes for date night" and includes a photo of salmon

    Do you love Date Night? 

    Do you get excited about a chance to dress up, eat delicious food, and stare dreamily into each other’s eyes? 

    I do!

    Sometimes, however, date night also means making a reservation, parking blocks away from a restaurant, paying to park, and handing over a credit card for obscenely expensive meals. 

    If the chilly winter wind has you dreading the walk to your destination, if your credit card needs a break, or if you simply want to impress your significant other with your mad-crazy cooking skills– keep reading!

    These 22 Recipes for Date Night at Home will have you romancing your way through the night with decadent, gorgeous food from the comfort of your own space.

    Cocktails

    This list of at-home date dinners starts with homemade cocktails.

    Whether you try a spicy Rosa Picante Margarita or a sweeter Lychee French 75, these drinks will help you look terribly impressive with your bartender moves!

    How to Make a Mint Julep
    Love bourbon?  Learn how to make a mint julep from scratch!  This classic Kentucky cocktail is perfect for hot summer days and Derby day!
    Make It
    How to Make a Mint Julep- Finished Julep
    Rhubarb Pink Gin
    This sophisticated Pink Gin spring cocktail is carefully crafted with a dash of bitters, a splash of rhubarb simple syrup, and of course– gin.
    Make It
    This sophisticated spring cocktail is carefully crafted with a dash of bitters, a splash of rhubarb simple syrup, and of course-- gin. champagne-tastes.com
    Kentucky Bourbon Coffee
    This Kentucky Bourbon Coffee is a Southern take on an Irish coffee, and is the perfect drink to keep you warm on chilly days. This caffeinated cocktail is made with freshly-brewed coffee, coffee liqueur, bourbon, and cream. 
    Make It
    This Kentucky Bourbon Coffee is a Southern take on an Irish coffee, and is the perfect drink to keep you warm this winter. This caffeinated cocktail is made with freshly brewed coffee, coffee liqueur, bourbon, and cream.
    Rhubarb Champagne
    This Rhubarb Champagne is a springtime take on a mimosa, and is made with sparkling wine or champagne and rhubarb simple syrup.
    Make It
    This Rhubarb Champagne is a springtime take on a mimosa, and is made with sparkling wine or champagne and rhubarb simple syrup.
    Bourbon Sour with Lavender
    This Bourbon Sour with Lavender is a sweet spring cocktail! Mix one up in no time with lavender simple syrup, lemon juice (or Meyer lemon juice), and bourbon.
    Make It
    This Lavender Lemon Bourbon Sour is a sweet spring cocktail! Mix one up in no time with lavender simple syrup, lemon juice (or Myer lemon juice), and bourbon.
    Rosemary Bee’s Knees
    This rosemary bee's knees drink is made with rosemary honey syrup, lemon juice, and gin. It's a sweet and sprightly botanical cocktail!
    Make It
    Rosemary bees knees cocktails in martini glasses.

    Dinner

    Next– the main attraction– dinner.  

    Start with a rainbow salad from Lauren Caris Cooks, or break out the fancy-schmancy seafood with seared ahi tuna, pan seared halibut, and this king salmon recipe.

    Want more even dinner ideas?  Check out this recipe for sea bass, and this one for halibut cheeks!

    Lemon Risotto with Roasted Cauliflower
    This vegan Lemon Risotto is a creamy citrus rice dish that's served with spiced and roasted cauliflower.  Serve this dish as a main course for Date Night, or as a fancy side dish at your next dinner party!
    Make It
    Lemon Risotto with Roasted Cauliflower in a serving bowl
    Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Charred Lemon
    This Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Charred Lemon is drizzled with olive oil, white vinegar, and fresh lemon juice. It’s fast, easy, and delicious!
    Make It
    Oven-roasted asparagus and charred lemons on a plate
    Red Wine Pasta Sauce
    This red wine pasta sauce is an easy twist on a classic Italian marinara, and is made with fresh or canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, herbs and wine.
    Make It
    Red Wine Pasta Sauce in a bowl
    Ahi Tuna Steaks with Ginger Soy Sauce
    These easy seared ahi tuna steaks are seasoned with sesame seeds and a ginger soy sauce marinade. This extra-quick main course is ready in 20 minutes!
    Make It
    ahi tuna steaks on a plate
    Salmon Wellington
    This Salmon Wellington recipe features puff pastry packets filled with spring greens, mushrooms, goat cheese, and salmon, along with an easy mustard sauce.
    Make It
    Salmon Wellington and yogurt sauce on a serving platter
    Halibut Salad with Bourbon Dressing
    This warm halibut salad is made with pan-seared halibut, a bed of wilted spinach, and a quick bourbon dressing. Serve this decadent seafood salad for date night!
    Make It
    This Kentucky Bourbon Seared Halibut is Date Night at its best!  It features delicious, meaty halibut drizzled with a quick bourbon sauce, served over a bed of wilted spinach.
    Honey Bourbon Salmon
    This honey bourbon salmon is marinated in an easy bourbon sauce, broiled until tender, and finished with the sweet honey bourbon glaze.
    Make It
    honey bourbon salmon on plates

    Desserts

    Finish your meal with something sweet, and maybe even some dessert! 

    This is where I pause awkwardly for my joke to register.

    Try making prosecco tiramisu from Sweet & Savory Meals, sticky toffee pudding from Krumpli, and adorable heart-shaped cookies from Meg is Well.

    The sweet treats below are some of the favorites, and will be the finishing note to a fabulously chic, and simultaneously cozy, stay-at-home date night!

    Chocolate Lava Cake
    This easy chocolate lava cake is based on the French moelleux au chocolat, and is the perfect dessert for two!  Plus, check out my secret for an extra chocolatey center!
    Make It
    two chocolate lava cakes on a serving platter with berries
    Apple Crostata (Galette)
    This vegan apple crostata (or galette) is an easy alternative to apple pie, and is made with puff pastry, apples, pears, and a quick orange glaze.
    Make It
    4 apple crostatas (galettes) on cooling racks + serving plate
    Chocolate Truffles with Chile Mocha
    Yields about 30 1″ truffles
    Make It
    Chocolate truffles with sugar, sesame seed, and chili flake coating
    Poached Pears with Cardamom
    These Poached Pears with Cardamom are a light, delicious dessert of ripe pears poached in a spice-infused white wine syrup.
    Make It
    These Poached Pears with Cardamom are a light and delicious dessert of pears poached in a spiced white wine.
    « Kentucky Bourbon Coffee
    How to Make French Press Coffee »

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meg | Meg is Well

      December 19, 2016 at 10:14 am

      Um, date night can be me, by myself, eating all of this right? Great gathering of recipes, and thanks for including me!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        December 19, 2016 at 11:49 am

        of course!!! Make yourself one of everything and get a movie– sounds perfect! 😀

        Reply
    2. Meg @ With Salt and Wit

      December 19, 2016 at 7:08 pm

      Well this gives me 22 reasons to stay home for a date now! I love all of them!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        December 19, 2016 at 7:26 pm

        Thanks!! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Diana

      December 19, 2016 at 7:25 pm

      These recipes look AMAZING! I never cook for date nights, but it might be a good idea to try that!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        December 19, 2016 at 7:27 pm

        It’s fun to do once in awhile!

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      December 19, 2016 at 8:55 pm

      What a beautiful roundup of date night recipes! I have to laugh though because my husband and I have a “not so private joke” — date night for us is when we buy a box of Just For Men — and I color his hair!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        December 19, 2016 at 9:13 pm

        LOL… throw in a cocktail and you’ll have a party! Hehehe

        Reply
    5. valentina

      December 20, 2016 at 12:12 am

      What a great idea for a post! Now if only we had a night alone without the kids. 😉 All looks delicious!

      Reply
    6. Debra C.

      December 20, 2016 at 12:56 am

      So many beautiful meals and delicious drinks – I can do date night this way. GREAT ideas!!

      Reply
    7. Sabrina | The Tomato Tart

      December 20, 2016 at 12:58 am

      What a great collection! Looking forward to trying them out. Yum!!

      Reply
    8. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      December 20, 2016 at 7:39 am

      I love date night! And I especially love date night spent at home with comfy clothes on! While going out every now and then is fun, nothing beats staying at home and enjoying a good meal all cozied up in the warm, especially this time of year. Great collection of recipes here. I would be more than happy with any of these!!

      Reply
    9. Amanda | Chew Town

      January 17, 2017 at 6:23 pm

      So, I basically want all the cocktails and desserts right now. Not discounting the dinner options – they look delicious too, my palate is just craving alcohol and sweets right now! 😉

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 17, 2017 at 6:24 pm

        I want them toooo and I’ve sworn them off until February! (Sadness!!! Lol)

        Reply
    10. Platter Talk

      January 17, 2017 at 6:51 pm

      Date Night, here we come! Thanks for all these beautiful pictures and recipes.

      Reply
    11. Luci {Luci's Morsels}

      January 17, 2017 at 7:35 pm

      I love this recipe round up – what great inspiration for a date night! My sample menu from these choices would include the Rosa Picante Margarita, Tomato Soup to start, Crusted Sea Bass as the entree, and finished with those adorable heart-shaped Butter Cookies. Thanks for the fabulous ideas!

      Reply
    12. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      January 17, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      Ok, I think I want to date you. In our house, “date night” is a glass of wine and a package of “Just For Men” hair color – don’t ask.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 17, 2017 at 7:55 pm

        Lolololol.. hey at least there’s wine! ????

        Reply
    13. [email protected]

      January 17, 2017 at 7:57 pm

      These look Perfect! Such lovely photography.

      Reply
    14. valentina

      January 17, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      Such a beautiful collection! Everything is romantic, pretty, and oh-so-delicious looking!

      Reply
    15. [email protected]

      January 27, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      What a great collection of ideas Sarah! Basically we have date night every night though. Cause I’m always cooking 🙂

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 27, 2017 at 1:33 pm

        Haha yes but I don’t have cocktails and desserts every night! ????

        Reply
    16. Mindy Fewless

      January 27, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      These all look great!! Perfect date night!!

      Reply
    17. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food

      January 27, 2017 at 2:52 pm

      These all look like winners: I’ll have a hard time choosing!

      Reply
    18. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

      January 27, 2017 at 3:19 pm

      Wow. I could eat and drink everything here, not in one sitting, mind you 😉 It’s a great line up!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 27, 2017 at 8:11 pm

        I want to eat it all too!

        Reply
    19. Christine

      January 27, 2017 at 3:38 pm

      There are some wonderful date night recipes here! Several caught my eye including the salmon and the caramel sauce over the delicious brownie!

      Reply
    20. Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon

      April 18, 2017 at 10:56 am

      I love having date night at home! No worrying about parking and we can stay all cozy in our house. This is a great roundup of ideas. I’m not sure what I’d want to eat first! Though all the those drinks do look very inviting. 🙂

      Reply

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • A Canned Sardine Recipe: Mini Fish Cakes
    • Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2023 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.