Valentine’s Day Recipes for a Healthy Romantic Dinner

While many couples opt to go out to eat to celebrate Valentine’s Day, some couples may prefer a more intimate (and likely less expensive) home-cooked meal. This is especially true for those looking for a healthier dinner option to celebrate the holiday. This article provides several healthy dinner recipes that you and your partner are sure to enjoy!

Valentine's Day – healthy dinner recipes:

Below you can find tasty and healthy recipes for a romantic dinner on the upcoming Valentine's day.

Marry Me chicken

As the name suggests, this is a romantic and healthy dinner option that is sure to be enjoyed by all – and who knows, maybe it will even lead to a Valentine’s Day marriage proposal! This dish is simple, yet packs a punch of flavor, making it hard to believe that it is made at home and not in a gourmet restaurant. The best part is that it only takes 30 minutes to prepare and cook.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil;
• 3 to 4 large chicken breasts;
• Salt;
• Pepper;
• 2 cloves garlic (minced);
• 1 teaspoon thyme;
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or ½ teaspoon for less spice);
• ¾ cup chicken broth;
• ½ cup heavy cream;
• ½ cup sundried tomatoes (chopped);
• ¼ - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese;
• Fresh basil.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet heat over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and sear until golden (about 4 to 5 minutes per side). Transfer chicken to a plate.
3. Return skillet to medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in thyme, red pepper flakes, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
4. Return chicken to skillet and spoon sauce all over the chicken breasts. Bake until chicken is cooked through; about 15 to 18 minutes. Garnish with basil and grated parmesan cheese, if so desired.

Sweet & tangy salmon with green beans

This recipe is perfect for seafood lovers and those looking for a way to get some extra omega-3 in their diet, which has been shown to help with cognition and memory. Covered in a sweet sauce, this recipe is a great option for a healthy Valentine’s Day dinner and it only requires one baking pan!

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets (6 oz. each);
• 1 tablespoon butter;
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar;
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce;
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard;
• 1 tablespoon olive oil;
• ½ teaspoon pepper;
• ⅛ teaspoon salt;
• 1 pound fresh green beans (trimmed).

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Place fillets in a baking pan coated with cooking spray. In a small skillet, melt butter and stir in brown sugar, soy sauce, mustard, oil, pepper, and salt. Brush half of the mixture over salmon.
3. Place green beans in a large bowl. Drizzle with remaining brown sugar mixture and toss to coat. Arrange green beans around fillets. Roast until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork and green beans are crisp-tender, 14 to 16 minutes.

One-pot puttanesca

This recipe is perfect for couples looking for a healthy vegetarian option for a Valentine’s Day dinner celebration. As the name suggests, only one pot is used to make this dish, leaving the rest of the evening free to spend time together doing something other than the dishes.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces cherry tomatoes;
• ½ cup pitted green olives;
• ½ cup fresh parsley leaves, plus more for garnish;
• 4 ½ cups water;
• 12 ounces dried linguine pasta;
• ½ cup capers;
• 2 tablespoons olive oil;
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt;
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper;

Directions

1. Halve cherry tomatoes and olives and place both in a large, straight-sided skillet. Coarsely chop parsley leaves and add to the skillet. Add water, linguine, capers, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat (this will take about 5 minutes). Boil the mixture, stirring and turning the pasta with tongs to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat. Top with more fresh parsley. Taste and season with more salt as needed.

Apple crisp for two

Is it really Valentine’s Day without a sweet treat? This apple crisp recipe was made specifically for two people, so it’s a great dessert option for you and your partner after dinner on Valentine’s Day. It’s so good you may not even realize it contains fruit!

Ingredients

Filling ingredients:

• 2 small tart apples, cored and thinly sliced;
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup;
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice;
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract;
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon;
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg;
• ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice;
• 1 pinch salt.

Topping ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons rolled oats;
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour;
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup;
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon;
• 1 pinch salt;
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two 8-ounce ramekins and place them on a baking sheet.
2. Make the filling: Combine apples, maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt in a bowl; toss until thoroughly mixed. Divide mixture between the prepared ramekins.
3. Prepare the topping: Combine oats, flour, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl; mix until thoroughly combined. Cut in softened butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle crumb topping evenly on top of the filling in the ramekins.
4. Place baking sheet with ramekins into the preheated oven and bake until apples are tender and the topping is slightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

For couples looking for an alternative to dining out for Valentine’s Day, consider trying to make your own healthy recipe at home. It’s a great way to ensure that you are not only eating healthier, but it’s also likely to be less expensive for the budget-conscious, and it provides a more intimate setting for a Valentine’s Day dinner with your partner.