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    🏠Home » Holiday Recipes

    Valentine Day Recipe Roundup

    Feb 9, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 1 Comment

    Don't let that big game on Sunday distract you, Valentine's Day is coming fast, and you must get your plan in place. Not doing it is like missing your anniversary—no excuses. Get planning today with some of these easy and delicious recipes.

    Valentines Day recipe graphic with dogs
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect
    Jump To:
    • Breakfast
    • Steak, Steak, and More Steak
    • Steak Enhancements
    • Easy Italian
    • Soups
    • Veggies and other side dishes
    • Desserts
    • Candy

    We love Valentine's Day. Full of love and goodwill, along with great food. But I wouldn't say I like crowded restaurants. We can do much better at home. Let's review some of my top recipes that are easy to make.

    Breakfast

    We all need a great start to the day. We always go with the baked sausage and blueberry pancake. So good.

    How to Cook Bacon in the Oven—Quick and Easy
    Oven baked bacon is the easiest way to cook bacon with no mess and no splatter while you do something else—perfect crispy bacon every time from your convection oven on an aluminum foil covered tray.
    Check Out This Recipe
    pile of cooked bacon on a white plate
    How To Cook Sausage in the Oven
    Cooking sausage in the oven is the best and easiest way to cook any sausage, like breakfast sausage patties or links, smoked sausage, Kielbasa, Italian sausage, or even brats—perfectly moist and tender results.
    Check Out This Recipe
    baked sausage on a white plate
    Baked Blueberry Pancakes
    Delicious and fluffy oven-baked blueberry pancakes make a great breakfast. No standing there flipping all morning—just mix and bake. Make them as plain baked pancakes, or add the suggested blueberries or other fruit.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Baked Blueberry Pancakes on a gray plate
    Baked Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cream Cheese Glaze
    One of the best breakfast recipes is this amazing baked carrot cake pancake with cream cheese glaze. It is time for dessert for breakfast or breakfast for any meal.
    Check Out This Recipe
    bite of carrot cake pancake on fork
    Small Cinnamon Roll Cake
    Cinnamon Roll Cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. All the wonderful taste of gooey Cinnabon rolls and topped with a drizzle of vanilla icing. This easy smaller recipe is ideal for a small household or quickly doubled to full size.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Cinnamon Roll Cake from 101 Cooking For Two

    Steak, Steak, and More Steak

    For us, an extraordinary meal starts with beef, but we are flexible. Although pork and chicken are great, and I love Italian and Mexican, here are my top beef recipes, plus a chicken and pork if you must. I also include a couple of enhancements.

    How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
    Learn How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill that is tender and juicy with these easy step-by-step photo instructions. You can be the grill master, too.
    Check Out This Recipe
    cut ribeye steak on a gray plate
    How to Grill Filet Mignon
    Learn how to grill filet mignon to perfection with this simple technique in about 10 minutes. You can easily cook the best filets for your special dinner tonight.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Grilled filet mignon on a white plate
    Pan Seared Filet Mignon
    The perfect filet mignon recipe uses the tried and true sear and oven bake method to get the best filet mignon every time—moist, tender, and flavorful.
    Check Out This Recipe
    seared filet on a white plate with potatoes
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    Quick and easy, this New York Strip Steak Recipe uses the tried and true sear and oven bake method to get the best steaks every time. Your steaks will be moist, tender, and flavorful.
    Check Out This Recipe
    NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
    How to Grill Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
    Learn to grill your New York strip steaks to perfection on your grill. The best juice and tender strip steaks are easy with this never-fail recipe that will serve you well for many years.
    Check Out This Recipe
    a strip steak with grill marks on a gray plate
    How to Grill a T-bone or Porterhouse Steak – A Tutorial
    Grilled T-bone and Porterhouse steaks are easy with just a few steps. Start with a great steak, season simply, and cook over high heat. What is more traditional than grilled T-bone and porterhouse steaks? Let's get to it.
    Check Out This Recipe
    porterhouse steak with fries on blue plate

    Steak Enhancements

    The Best Steak Marinade
    This easy, mouth-watering steak marinade is not only insanely good but adds tenderness to any steak in as little as 30 minutes. Using soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and a few other pantry ingredients, you can have the best juicy steak at home in less than an hour.
    Check Out This Recipe
    grilled marinaded strip steak ona white plate
    Blue Cheese Compound Butter
    Make that steak or vegetables pop with this excellent blue cheese compound butter with garlic. Adding butter, blue cheese, and garlic will make any steak special and enhance most vegetable and potato dishes.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Blue Cheese Compound Butter on a strip steak

    Easy Italian

    I'm always up for great Italian and double points if it's easy.

    Crock Pot Baked Ziti
    This easy Crock Pot Baked Zit has delicious meat sauce, three kinds of cheese, and uses uncooked pasta. You can have the best Italian for dinner tonight.
    Check Out This Recipe
    baked ziti on a white plate
    Healthier Baked Chicken Parmesan
    Better than restaurant quality, this Healthier Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe can be made at home in about an hour with these easy step by step photo instructions.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Chicken Parmesan on plate
    Mayo Parmesan Chicken
    You can't have enough great chicken recipes, and this quick and easy recipe uses only a few ingredients and goes in the oven in about 10 minutes. Also known as Melt in Your Mouth Chicken (MIYM), it makes a moist and delicious easy dinner.
    Check Out This Recipe
    bite of mayo parmesan chicken on a fork

    Soups

    Soups are good as the main dish or an additional course. All are easy and can be made ahead.

    Easy Crock Pot French Onion Soup—Long and Slow
    Classic French onion soup features beefy broth loaded with caramelized onions, then topped with crusty bread and melted cheese. With only 10 minutes of preparation, you let your crock pot handle the all-day long low and slow cooking.
    Check Out This Recipe
    French Onion in a bowl covered with browned cheese
    Quick & Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
    This quick and easy Broccoli Cheese Soup uses fresh or frozen broccoli and cheddar, Velveeta, or other cheeses. Make it a copycat of Panera's Broccoli Cheese Soup or one of the other variations.
    Check Out This Recipe
    broccoli cheese soup in blue bowl
    Easy Pasta e Fagioli Soup—Stovetop or Crock Pot
    Pasta e Fagioli soup is thick and hardy with beans, pasta, vegetables, a spicy tomato sauce, and optional meat. You can easily make this Olive Garden copycat at home on the stovetop or in your crock pot.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Pasta E Fagioli Soup in spoon

    Veggies and other side dishes

    Side dishes make or break the meal. Here are some of our favorites—a little of this and a little of that.

    Roasted Red Potatoes
    Quick and easy with only four ingredients, crispy oven Roasted Red Potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal, including that special holiday spread—crispy on the outside with a tender inside.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Roasted baby potatoes on a white plate
    Baked Green Beans with Bacon
    Baked green beans with bacon are the perfect side dish for almost any meal. This easy green bean recipe features a sweet and savory sauce with brown sugar and garlic topping tender green beans sprinkled with bacon.
    Check Out This Recipe
    green beans with bacon on an orange plate
    Parmesan Baked Potatoes
    Quick and easy Parmesan Baked Potatoes halves have a creamy center and a crispy Parmesan cheese crust with butter and garlic.
    Check Out This Recipe
    parmesan baked potato on a white plate
    Green Beans with Almonds—Quick & Easy
    One pan and 20 minutes to make this delicious side dish of fresh green beans with toasted almonds and garlic. Use only fresh ingredients to make the simplified version of Green Beans Almondine the whole family will love.
    Check Out This Recipe
    green beans with almonds on a white plate
    Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
    This caramelized Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe will become your favorite way to cook cauliflower. Using fresh or frozen, it makes a great hot baked side dish.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower from 101 Cooking for Two
    Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
    Cheesy potatoes with real potatoes from scratch, like grandma would make. Perfect with almost any meal. With no soup and no frozen potatoes, it is loaded with creamy real potatoes, sour cream, melted cheese, and a browned top.
    Check Out This Recipe
    close up image of cheesy potato casserole on a white plate
    Easy Yeast Dinner Rolls in 60 Minutes
    Do you need a bread course for that special meal? Whip up some homemade 60 minute rolls with this easy recipe. Golden brown and buttery these tender yeast rolls will be the talk of the meal.
    Check Out This Recipe
    nicely browned dinner rolls still in a baking pan being brushed
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Desserts

    Sweet endings are a must for a great meal but are especially important on Valentine's Day. I would skip everything for one of these.

    Berry Crisp for Two or More
    An irresistible berry crisp for two that's easy to adjust up or down to fit your needs. While I used fresh blueberries, any fresh or frozen berries will work. Just follow the easy step-by-step photo instructions.
    Check Out This Recipe
    berry crisp on a fork
    Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache Glaze
    It's easy to make this classic, eloquent dessert by following simple step-by-step instructions. Finish with a chocolate ganache glaze, and you have the perfect decadent ending to any special dinner.
    Check Out This Recipe
    Closeup image of Flourless Chocolate Cake on a spatula
    Easy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
    Chocolate chip cheesecake is a creamy, decadent dessert but is one of the easiest recipes to make. While it is not "cheesecake for two," it will become your signature dessert for gatherings. Just follow the easy step-by-step photos to impress your friends and family.
    Check Out This Recipe
    chocolate chip cheese cake on a spatula
    Apple Berry Crumble—Quick & Easy
    A quick and easy version of an old-fashion apple crumble even the beginner can make. Go the easy route with frozen berries and pie filling, or use fresh berries and apples. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect company dessert or a family favorite.
    Check Out This Recipe
    blue bowl of apple berry crumble with ice cream

    Candy

    Something special for the ones you love. Add red sprinkle candies to the nut clusters to make them special for the holiday.

    Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
    Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
    Check Out This Recipe
    white chocolate almond clusters on a white plate
    Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
    Chocolate peanut clusters are the best candy treat and are super easy to make at home in your crock pot. Lightly salted peanuts covered with sweet chocolate coating make the perfect gift, or keep them all for yourself—you can always make more with this smaller recipe.Only a few ingredients.
    Check Out This Recipe
    red plate full of chocolate peanut clusters
    Candied Almonds or Other Candied Nuts
    This easy roasted candied almonds recipe makes the perfect holiday gift and a great crunchy party snack. Or make some delicious candied mixed nuts or other nuts with only a few ingredients and minimal skill.
    Check Out This Recipe
    finished candied nuts on the cooking tray with white parechment paper
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect
    Happy Valentine's graphic with dogs playing
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    Editor's Note: Originally Published February 11, 2017, and updated yearly with new recommendations.

    More Holiday Recipes

    • Cheesecake bars on a blue plate
      Easy Cheesecake Bars
    • close up image of cheesy potato casserole on a white plate
      Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
    • pile of oreo fudge
      Easy Oreo Fudge
    • image of cut turkey with gravy on plate
      Turkey Tenderloin with Gravy

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    1. Jane

      February 09, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Your Flourless Chocolate Cake is a favourite in this Canadian household. The only debate is to whether the Ganache tastes better made with cream or sour cream. Thank you for your sensible achievable recipes.

      Reply

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    Steak, Steak, and More Steak

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      How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
    • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Grilled filet mignon on a white plate
      How to Grill Filet Mignon
    • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
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    • a strip steak with grill marks on a gray plate
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    Chicken, Chicken, and More Chicken

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