30 of the Best Romantic Meals You Can Cook For Your Boyfriend

Isn’t love great? 

Whether your answer is yes or no, one way of getting someone (Read: your boyfriend/girlfriend) to really appreciate you is by planning, preparing, and feeding them a delicious meal.

It’s often said food can be the best way to someone’s heart – and who can blame them? It’s certainly worth trying something that’ll make your boyfriend fall in love with you even more and appreciated your effort.

Don’t worry – you don’t have to be a Michelin star chef to be able to cook some fine-tasting food for your other half!

Keep reading for some heartwarming and belly-filling meals that can be easily prepared – and get ready to win your partner’s heart!

1. Spaghetti Bolognese

Who doesn’t love spaghetti bolognese? This is a home-cooked classic that is paired well with a glass of wine or goes well in a three-course meal. Spaghetti Bolognese comes from Bologna, Italy, and contains spaghetti-type pasta, tomato sauce, and mincemeat. 

Depending on how authentic you want to make it, you could also opt for tagliatelle to make it like the original. 

Directions:

1. Boil spaghetti in water, and drain.
2. Fry the mincemeat.
3. Add tomato sauce and some red wine (if you wish) to the mincemeat, and mix well. 
4. Add the pasta.
5. Stir well, and serve. 

2. Steak with Garlic Herb Butter and Asparagus

Steak is always such a good idea for a cooking date, but it’s important you know your boyfriend’s preferences. You can cook a fillet of steak easily in a frying pan or grill it – but we recommend doing it in a pan. 

Directions:

Mix finely-chopped garlic with some butter in the frying pan. Add the steak, and allow it to cook and soak in the juices.

For a good side option, you can sauté the asparagus with olive oil in the same frying pan. 

If you want to add more flavor, you can always purchase a ready-made peppercorn or Diane sauce from the grocery store to pour over the steak.

3. Vegetable Moussaka

If your boyfriend is a vegetarian, this is a damn tasty dish to make! This dish will undoubtedly bring a bit of culture to your date night, as it comes from the middle east. It’s regularly eaten in Turkey and Egypt, and there are different variations surrounding the dish.

While there is a meat version, the vegetarian one is equally as delicious. You’ll need a range of vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, red bean lentils, pasta/tomato-based sauce, and cheese. 

Directions:

1. Parboil the potatoes, peel them, thinly slice them, and line the bottom of a baking tray. 

2. Cut the eggplant into slices. Fry lightly, and lie them on top of the potatoes. 

3. Pour the red lentils on top, and cover with pasta sauce.

4. Chop and lightly fry the zucchini, and add to the top of the sauce. 

5. Add enough grated cheese to cover the entire bake. 

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

4. Baked Chicken with Garlic and Tomatoes

If you’re looking for something that’s not high maintenance and requires little washing, then this is an easy dish to make.

All you need are 3-4 chicken thighs (depending on how much you both eat), tomatoes, kale, garlic, and herbs of your choosing. Plus, it only requires an oven and a frying pan – so there’s not much cleaning up to be done afterward!

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Combine herbs with one teaspoon of sea salt, and rub it over the chicken thighs.
2. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil.
3. Once heated, place the chicken skin-side down.
4. Sear for up to 4 minutes until it becomes a deep golden brown.
5. Flip the chicken, and sear the other side for another 3 minutes.
6. Add the garlic, and cook for another 1 minute. 
7. Turn off the heat.
8. Add kale and tomatoes around the chicken thighs. Lightly add sea salt and pepper to taste, and place in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
9. You will know it’s done when the chicken reaches 165 degrees f, and the tomatoes begin to bubble. 
10. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

To know more about the exact measurements for this recipe, check it out here.

5. Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Okay, so this isn’t exactly a full meal…. but it’s sure to be appreciated at any time of the day! Everybody loves a gooey and comforting grilled cheese sandwich (anyone who likes cheese, of course).

All you need is bread, butter, and the cheese of your choice. You can make the sandwich by frying it in a skillet or on a grill.

6. Cheese Fondue

Yes, another cheese dish!

Cheese fondue can make for quite a romantic meal, especially when paired with crusty bread and wine. To make it, you’ll need to have good quality tasty cheeses and a high-quality wine like Sauvignon blanc.

What’s great about cheese fondue is that it’s easy to make, tasty, and you can fill up on bread. Plus, you can even make it a day prior and gently reheat. 

To know more, here’s a good recipe to follow.

7. French Onion Soup

The French are known for romance – and what better dish to bring in as a starter than French onion soup?

French onion soup involves delicious, crunchy caramelized onions and tasty croutons – with some crusty bread to dip in. To know more, check out this simple recipe.

Do note that this dish is not vegetarian-friendly, as many recipes call for beef stock in the soup. You can substitute for vegetarian beef broth, or use vegetarian bullion cubes.

8. Foil-Baked Salmon

You can’t go wrong with salmon! After all, it’s just so juicy – and fish can often be an aphrodisiac (wink, wink!). Baking it in foil helps retain all the moisture and enhances the many flavors.

Directions:

1. Place two, 6-ounce fillets in foil that’s been lightly coated with oil. 
2. Sprinkle rosemary on the middle of the fillets, and add thinly lemon slices in the foil.
3. Add olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper on top of the salmon.
4. Fold the aluminum foil over the salmon until completely shut – but make sure there’s a small space for air to move around inside.
5. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, and remove.
6. Open the foil to get rid of the steam, and broil in the oven for 3 minutes, or until golden.
7. Remove from oven, and serve.

9. Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is also referred to as chicken parmigiana and was introduced to the USA by Italian immigrants.

This dish involves coating chicken with breadcrumbs, frying it, covering it in tomato sauce, and melting mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top. It’s not that hard to make, and it’s super tasty!

There are lots of quick and easy recipes online for this dish, including this quick and easy one!

10. Veggie Pad Thai

While Thailand is renowned for its seafood delicacies, vegetable pad thai is equally as delicious. It involves rice noodles, peanuts, and lots of different vegetables.

To be honest, each recipe can vary depending on vegetable preference, and you can experiment with them accordingly. Here is a good baseline idea for how to make a vegetable pad thai.

11. Pork Chops

Pork chops are a great succulent dish to serve for two. They’re readily available from butchers, and you can either cook, grill, or fry them.

One of the easiest ways to cook them is by seasoning them to taste, and putting them in a frying pan with oil and butter – but if you’re looking to spice things up a bit, here’s a scrumptious recipe you can try.

Pork chops go well with potatoes and many types of vegetables as side dishes..

12. Lamb Chops

Lamb chops are similar to pork chops – and often equally as tasty. Cook lamb chops the same way as you would cook pork chops, or try this super easy lamb chop with garlic recipe.

Do note, though, that lamb chops often taste nice with a mint sauce you can buy from the grocery store – and paired with some herby potatoes and wine. 

13. Sticky Teriyaki Aubergine

If your boyfriend is a vegetarian and you’re looking for something a bit different, this is a simple and unique dish to cook. All you need is some oil, eggplants, teriyaki sauce, spring onion, red or yellow chili, and a frying pan.

Directions:

1. Heat up your frying pan, and fill with 250 ml (about 1 cup) of water.
2. Cut eggplants in half, lengthwise. Then, slash the skin side of each half horizontally a couple of times.
3. Place the eggplant in the pan, skin facing up. Add salt and pepper.
4. Cover the pan, and cook for 10 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when it starts to sizzle. 
5. Cut the spring onions, leaving 3cm of the white parts.
6. Remove the seeds of the chili pepper and finely slice. 
7. As soon as the eggplant begins to sizzle, add 1tbsp of olive oil, white onions, chili, and peanuts.
8. Stir for about 2 minutes.
9. Add water and teriyaki sauce.
10. Stir and cook on medium heat, turning the eggplant occasionally.
11. When ready, serve and enjoy!

14. California Sushi rolls

Add a bit of an Asian fusion to your romantic dinner for two. Sushi rolls are an easy dish to make – and are also fun to prepare in the process.

In fact, California rolls are quite universal for everyone, as they don’t contain any fish at all! These rolls have avocado, sesame seeds, rice, and cucumber. It’s healthy and vegetarian-friendly! Learn how to make the recipe here.

15. Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is no doubt a comfort meal – but it’s definitely a heart and belly-warming one. It’s so tasty and filling that you just can’t go wrong making it.

All you need to do is:

1. Boil and cook the macaroni
2. Combine milk and cheese to make a sauce
3. Pour it all over the macaroni!

It’s cheap, simple and delicious – what more could you want?

15. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Bring an element of France to your table with the scrumptious beef Bourguignon dish. You might know this dish as a stew, but it’s way more than that – and best served on a cold evening.

It’s really simple to make and can save you a lot of time, as you can prepare the dish in advance and let it cook and stew in the slow cooker before sitting down for a meal with your partner.

You can learn how to make beef Bourguignon here.

16. Ravioli

Italians are renowned for their love of coffee, good food, and romance! Yes, most of their classic dishes are fitting for a romantic meal – and this also applies to the delicious pasta known as ravioli. You can make ravioli from scratch if you have time to spare, or you can buy it ready-made from the store. 

There are many places nowadays selling fresh ravioli! What’s tasty about ravioli is that it can have different fillings inside, including cheese, meat, or vegetables.

Pick any type of filling you like, and boil them. Sautee garlic and onions in a frying pan. Add the ravioli, and stir in a sauce of your choice. 

17. Steamed Mussels

Mussels have been a popular romantic meal for two since the days of the ancient Greeks. They’re tasty, healthy, and full of omega-3’s – plus, they’re really simple to prepare for a meal. 

Directions:

1. Preheat a frying pan with olive oil.
2. Finely chop garlic and onion, and add to the pan.
3. Saute for 5 minutes, or until softened. 
4. Add mussels, cream, butter, white wine, and parsley.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Transfer to a big pot, and cook for around 12-15 minutes. 
7. Start serving once the mussels have opened. Serve with delicious crusty bread!

18. Wild Mushroom Risotto

If you are vegetarians and wanting something more suitable for your diet or is really simple to make, then wild mushroom risotto is a warm and filling meal. If you’re not aware, Risotto is a dish that derives from Northern Italy and mainly consists of rice and vegetables.

On average, it takes around 30 minutes to make – and you can learn how, here.

19. Tomato Soup with Croutons

Looking for something quick to make or as a starter for your romantic meal for two? If so, tomato soup is a staple dish that’s very hard to mess up.

All you need to do is sautee half an onion and some tomatoes in butter. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic.

Add broth (and some cream if you’d like!) and let it simmer for 20-40 minutes. Once done, place in a blender, blend and serve. Add croutons to the soup, and serve with a side of bread.

21. Chicken Curry and Rice

Curry is a tasty dish that always pairs well with a refreshing beer. Instead of getting takeout from your local Indian or Chinese restaurants, go the extra mile and make a mouthwatering chicken curry for your boyfriend. 

In fact, you don’t have to be an expert in spices to make a good chicken curry. All you need is 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, low sodium chicken broth, instant rice, and cilantro.

Directions:

1. Put 1tbsp of butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and saute until tender and golden.
2. Remove from the pan.
3. Mix the flour and seasonings in a bowl, and coat the chicken.
4. Add more butter to the skillet, add the chicken, and cook for around 4-6 minutes, until it’s no longer pink.
5. Add the broth and onion, and stir.
6. Bring to a boil.
7. Stir in instant rice. Slowly remove from heat, and cover for 5 minutes.
8. Garnish with cilantro before serving.

22. Beef Stroganoff

Bring Russia to your dining table by making beef stroganoff! This dish involves beef, mushrooms, and a mouthwatering sour cream sauce. If your partner doesn’t like beef, there are other variations for this dish – including some with vegetables for those who are vegetarian. 

Click here for a beef stroganoff recipe that’s sure to be a real crowd pleaser.

23. Dal Curry and Rice

Another great Indian dish to bring to the table is the tasty lentil curry known as dal! Dal mainly consists of yellow split peas, butter, masala, and tomato. There are vegan variations, too, where you can replace the butter with a vegan alternative.

Here’s a classic dal curry recipe you’ll be sure to enjoy!

24. Broccoli Lemon Chicken with Cashews

Lemon chicken originates from Italy, but since its invention, it has become popular all over the world. Today, even China has its own version of lemon chicken – which is what is primarily used in this recipe. 

This is a healthy yet romantic dish to make, so if you two are dieting, this is a tasty and healthy meal. Plus, it’s really easy to make!

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Add mini chicken breast fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden.
2. Remove from pan, and add garlic and broccoli. Stir for 2 minutes and cover, cooking until tender.
3. Mix honey, cornflour, and stock into the pan, and stir until it becomes thick.
4. Return chicken to the pan, and reheat.
5. Add juice, cashew nuts, and lemon zest. Serve with noodles or rice.

25. Prawns with garlic butter

If you’re both seafood lovers, prawns with garlic butter will tease his tastebuds. It’s a quick dish to whip up. On average, it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook. It can go well as part of a tapas dish or just as a starter with bread and wine. 

Directions:

1. Heat oil and butter in a large wok.
2. Add prawns and two crushed cloves of garlic, and stir.
3. Cook prawns in the wok for 3-4 minutes until pink and thoroughly cooked.
4. Add salt, pepper, and parsley to taste before serving.

26. Pasta Bake

Are you two pasta lovers? Do you enjoy cheese? Then you might want to try a pasta bake!

This dish involves cooking penne pasta, covering it with pasta sauce in a baking tray, adding LOTS of cheese, and baking it in the oven for around 30 minutes.

It’s super simple – but you can try this quick classic pasta bake recipe to start!

27. Paella

Originating from Valencia, Spain is a scrumptious seafood and rice dish known as paella. Paella is one of the most popular dishes in the Spanish region and is often eaten shared between two people.

Paella tends to consist of mussels, rice, red bell peppers, mushrooms, and more. In fact, the dish can vary based on your dietary requirements and is often ate out of the pan. Here’s a great Spanish paella recipe to try with your beau.

28. Baked Lobster Tails

Out of many seafood dishes, lobster is often thought of as the most luxurious seafood of them all. Simply prepare baked lobster tails and show your man that he’s thought off.

Lobster also tends to be a low-fat dish and a healthy one too. You don’t want to bake lobster tails on their own, though; ideally, you should cook them in a nice garlic or lemon sauce. To have a better idea, check out this recipe here.

29. Honey Glazed Salmon

Salmon is a fantastic fish to have in any meal – but especially for romantic evenings! Honey glazed salmon involves a brown butter and lime sauce that adds a sweet sticky overcoat to salmon.

Check out a great recipe here.

30. Lasagna

Lasagna comes from Naples, Italy, and is a dish that has a variety of different fillings and is great for two people. It’s really simple to make: simply buy lasagna sheets from the store, put them into a baking tray, layer them with meat, ricotta cheese, and tomato sauce – and bake.

The recipes for lasagna can vary a great deal, so take time to conduct research online to see which one suits your preferences. This classic lasagna recipe might be a great place to start!