80 Cheap & Easy Date Night Dinners That Beat a Fancy Restaurant

If you've got a date night on the books and a hole in your wallet, you might be wondering exactly what to do. The good news is, a lot of the time you can re-create a fancy restaurant experience at home for a fraction of the cost. 

From steak frites and shrimp scampi to eggplant gratin and French onion soup, here are 80 ideas for a cheap, easy date night dinner.

Flatbreads are easy every time, especially if you feel like cheating and buying a pre-made crust. Go on, nobody will know.

Recipe: Camille Styles

A nice gourd-based pasta is a killer in the fall, and is often just as tasty with canned pumpkin as it is with the fresh stuff.

Recipe: Feel Good Foodie

This is probably more for a cozy-up-and-watch-movies type of date night, because Alfredo sauce is quite the trip to Sleepytown.

Recipe: Allrecipes

Here's a secret: Cooking is not hard. If you cover something in butter, it's going to taste very good. This recipe is good practice.

Recipe: Cafe Delites

Did you know ground coffee is actually a delicious seasoning for pork chops? You do now.

Recipe: My Colombian Recipes

The Tampa-born crab croquette is always a hit, and if it's feeling more like a night of nibbles than a night of a full meal, this is super fun to make together.

Recipe: The Beach House Kitchen

Fondue is an especially good time at home when you get to choose your dippers. Go for breadsticks, go for fruit, go for whatever you want. 

Recipe: Food & Wine

Scallops, though precise, are actually not too hard to nail. Two minutes on each side is all you need, and make sure you're basting them with butter the whole time.

Recipe: Pinch of Yum

Typical coq au vin is made with wine-braised chicken, mushrooms, and more, but this fun little Cajun twist tosses in some Andouille sausage. 

Recipe: Country Living

Even with a premade crust, you can top Marie Callender's. Just give 'er a try. 

Recipe: Oh Sweet Basil

Dutch babies are essentially pancakes that are baked in the oven, but their crispy nature really lends themselves to savory toppings. In this case, roasted mushrooms and bacon are a winning combo.

Recipe: Country Living

Grab some oysters. Top 'em with butter, parsley, lemon, and breadcrumbs. Broil 'em. Enjoy 'em.

Recipe: Chef Denis

Patience is a virtue here, so take your time and slice the veggies thin. If you have a pet rat, the obvious move is to put him on your head while you make this.

Recipe: Chef de Home

Go seasonal! If it's winter, go for sprouts, kale, radish, or anything else in season. If it's summer, you want tomato and corn at the minimum.

Recipe: Italy Magazine

Garlic, butter, white wine, and lemon are a perfect sauce, and shrimp is the perfect vessel.

Recipe: Cafe Delites

Any old anybody can make classic mac and cheese. But you're the one that's gonna add spinach and artichoke. Congrats.

Recipe: Half-Baked Harvest

Baked ziti is not only easy, but the freedom you have to swap different sauces in is positively liberating.

Recipe: Spend With Pennies

Pork one way is a little too boring; add a layer of texture and deep umami flavor by wrapping it in bacon.

Recipe: Allrecipes

No need to reinvent the wheel just for date night. This salmon recipe is a tried-and-true health-conscious standby.

Recipe: The Recipe Critic

OK, so maybe you're not married yet, but it doesn't mean you can't whip up some wedding soup. A subtle hint for things to come. But if they ask what it's called, maybe just say "soup."

Recipe: Food Network

Date night lobster bisque is so 2023. It's all about the cauli, these days.

Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen

Halibut is a top-shelf fish, and if you simmer it gently in an aromatic coconut milk curry, it'll be real hard to overcook. Just be attentive.

Recipe: Food Network

The beloved English pub staple is actually very easy to assemble at home, and any fridge leftovers are always welcome.

Recipe: The Wholesome Dish

Risotto is famously hard to make, but guess what? Unless your date is with Tom Colicchio, something tells me they're not going to be too hard on you. Plus, somebody needs to stir it the entire time, so that makes it a good group activity.

Recipe: The Burnt Butter Table

You can achieve fresh-out-of-the-wok crispiness on that tofu with just an air fryer and a little bit of panko.

Recipe: Hello Spoonful

Quality raw tuna isn't always easy to come by (check the freezer section of any Asian grocery stores in your area), so if you can't get any, this is actually an incredibly tasty treat with canned tuna as well.

Recipe: Recipe Tin Eats

You can re-create some romantic Parisian bistro vibes at home with this one, especially if you've already got some cute little oven-safe bowls.

Recipe: Gimme Some Oven

Cold with mayo like in Rhode Island, or hot with butter like in Connecticut? That's your choice. Make it wisely. And serve them with these fries.

Recipe: Serious Eats

The truth is, there are very few ways to go wrong with homemade pizza toppings. In this case, caramelized broccoli and red onions are a veggie pairing made in 'za heaven.

Recipe: Serious Eats

Pork and beans as you know it from the can is hardly romantic, but when elevated? It can be a meal you remember for a long, long time.

Recipe: Rancho Gordo

Whether you've got a fridge full of shrimp or a fridge full of fresh veggies, springs rolls are fun and easy to make together. Don't skip on the peanut sauce; it's non-negotiable. 

Recipe: Tastes Better From Scratch

You could steam these for a healthier technique, but why bother? Searing them in a hot pan with some sesame oil is far and away the tastiest way to do it.

Recipe: Healthy Nibbles

Don't let annoying TikTokers scare you away from this trendy baked feta dish, which has actually been around for a very long time before a bunch of teenagers "discovered" it. Good feta, olive oil, and tomatoes are a true holy triumvirate.

Recipe: Bon Appétit

There are a host of ways to make a great cake, so get creative. For a vegan spin, try hearts of palm.

Recipe: Sally’s Baking Recipes

The iconic California dish is always delicious, and can simmer and build flavor for as long as you need.

Recipe: Damn Delicious

Anybody can make plain old shakshuka. Only you can add white beans for some earthy flavor and texture.

Recipe: The Mediterranean Dish

Tomato, mozzarella, and chicken are natural friends; you've probably enjoyed them together on a sandwich at some point. Now you can give 'em the oven treatment for another tasty way to celebrate their friendship.

Recipe: Modern Honey

If you want to show off a little more technique than just an air fryer, check out this pan-fried tofu recipe that also tosses in a little bit of spicy, ground pork-based flavor.

Recipe: The Woks of Life

Despite its simplicity, the iconic pasta can actually be quite hard to nail. You may want to practice a few times before trying to impress somebody with this one. It’s all about not forgetting the pasta water.

Recipe: Gimme Some Oven

The ease of a sheet pan meal is satisfying to its core. Just make sure your sauce isn't so sweet that the sugar burns up in the oven.

Recipe: Sweet Savory and Steph

One thing's for sure: "Top Chef" darling Sheldon Simeon is most certainly the person to listen to when it comes to garlic shrimp. Check out his recipe below.

Recipe: Sheldon Simeon

Spaghetti and meatballs will certainly work, but why not top that? Curry meatballs are about 10 times more exciting.

Recipe: Cooked and Loved

It could be argued that stuffed shells can't really be improved, but swapping traditional marinara sauce for ranchero sauce is extremely intriguing. 

Recipe: Life With the Crust Cut Off

Spice up your classic chicken parm with a little bit of Buffalo sauce. You know you're curious.

Recipe: The Curious Plate

Why is this dish always served with fettuccine? It's way harder to eat with a fork. Spaghetti's here for you.

Recipe: Food & Wine

Former nuclear budget analyst Ina Garten's got a killer recipe for eggplant gratin, AKA a fancy casserole.

Recipe: Ina Garten

The Italian red sauce joint-style classic is always a crowd pleaser, even for people who don't like capers.

Recipe: The Modern Proper

Cooking a perfect steak is a skill in its own right, but hitting it with a little fresh chimichurri sends it into another league. Go ahead and char some whole tomatoes on the fire of your stove too, while you're at it.

Recipe: Creme de la Crumb

Fresh or frozen, mussels love to swim in a nice Thai curry.

Recipe: Little Ferraro Kitchen

Here's another thing that's been around for a while that a bunch of Gen Z TikTokers think they came up with. But rest assured, it's delicious.

Recipe: Moribyan

If you're trying to send a message, tell them the name of this dish. If not, maybe just call it "creamy tomato chicken" or something like that. Better yet, just avoid it entirely.

Recipe: Little Sunny Kitchen

If this is one of your takeout go-tos, it could be fun to reinvent the experience at home. It's surprisingly easy, and this way, you get to add as many extra crushed peanuts as you want.

Recipe: Hot Thai Kitchen

Everybody knows chicken tikka masala, but gently cooking a beautiful piece of fish in that sauce can be even more rewarding.

Recipe: Swasthi’s Recipes

There's a reason mushrooms work as a meat substitute. When prepared right, they're the only taco star you need.

Recipe: Bon Appétit

Though Indian food can often feel heavy, there's so much more to the cuisine than just curry. Chicken tikka, for example, might not be as perfect in your oven as it is in a legit Indian tandoor oven, but it can still make for a delicious and light dinner.

Recipe: Cooking Curries

If you've got a good cast iron skillet, there's no limit to the wonders it can produce. Especially when the stars of the show are shrimp, feta, and white beans.

Recipe: Food Network

If you wanna get really fancy and Italian, you can try slicing the eggplant into as many thin layers as possible and stacking them up on top of each other before frying. You'll see.

Recipe: Serious Eats

Peruvian rotisserie chicken is wonderful, but if you don't have a rotisserie at home, you can still pull this off. That is, so long as you don't forget the key component: Beautiful, tangy, Peruvian green salsa.

Recipe: Platings + Pairings

The lettuce cups are obviously the best part of the meal at Chang's, and they're stunningly easy to make. All you need is one pan and a head of good butter lettuce.

Recipe: Damn Delicious

Lemon! Spinach! Feta! There are endless ways to spice up some herb-crusted salmon. Trust your instincts.

Recipe: Laughing Spatula

Frozen fish sticks and patties sticks make this whole process way easier.

Recipe: Posh Journal

Take the Juicy Lucy approach with meatballs. Nobody's gonna mind.

Recipe: The Lemon Apron

The American-Chinese classic is another easy one to pull off at home, particularly if you've got some of that Trader Joe's Tso sauce.

Recipe: Made With Lau

Regular brown potatoes get all the love. Go ahead and stuff a sweet potato this time.

Recipe: Love & Lemons

If you don't know what a versatile ingredient cabbage is, prepare to learn all about it. The strength here is in the sauce.

Recipe: Nom Nom Paleo

You don't need a legit tagine for this; a deep pan or Dutch oven will work perfectly.

Recipe: Rachael Ray

Still a little bit hung over from a terrific date yesterday? Knock it out with tom kha gai, one of the greatest hangover killers on the planet.

Recipe: Hot Thai Kitchen

Though it's simple, a good bowl of whipped ricotta, crusty bread, and roasty tomatoes are actually the perfect meal. Paired with wine, of course.

Recipe: Skinny Taste

The thigh is the best part of the chicken. Tequila and lime go with just about everything. This is what harmony is all about.

Recipe: Eat Be Fit Explore

If the attention risotto requires feels too demanding, make life easier and go for something like polenta. More time to focus on your mushrooms and leeks.

Recipe: What’s Gaby Cooking

One-pot meals usually translates to cheap and easy, and this garlicky shrimp and orzo dish is no exception. Frozen shrimp work just fine, too.

Recipe: How Sweet Eats

Halloumi can carry a team when it needs to, so check this out for a fun sheet pan meal that's extremely difficult to mess up.

Recipe: Happy Veggie Kitchen

With almost no exceptions, brown sugar makes things taste better every time. But you already know this. 

Recipe: I Am Baker

The beauty is, you can stuff 'em with whatever the hell you want. Cheese? Sausage? MORE peppers? No wrong choices.

Recipe: Once Upon a Chef

Turkish flatbreads are great, and often served stuffed with a variety of goodies. This recipe calls for eggs and sucuk, which is a type of Turkish sausage.

Recipe: Food Network

Marsala is sort of the friendly rival of piccata, made with red wine and mushrooms.

Recipe: Once Upon a Chef

If date night is on a really tight budget, there's still hope. Roy Choi's instant ramen recipe, which calls for butter and cheese, helps fortify the noodles and bring major umami in. A perfect ramen egg also goes a long way.

Recipe: Cooking Sessions

It's 2024, and gnocchi isn't just for the pan. In fact, it's not even just for Italian flavors anymore, it seems.

Recipe: Stef's Eats and Sweets

Grain bowls are all the rage these days, but they can be far tastier when you make them at home.

Recipe: Delish

Steak frites are timeless, and as long as your sauce is robust and full of flavor, this is a winning dish.

Recipe: Lindsey Eats

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