10 Valentine’s Dinner Party Ideas for Family and Friends. Regular, Vegan and for Kids

Valentine’s Day can be about more than just a couple in love. A Valentine’s Day dinner is also a wonderful way to welcome love in all its forms. You can celebrate this day with your other half, or with your circle of friends, or maybe your closest people. In any case, a beautiful table setting and a thoughtful menu will make this evening special.

Here I will try to share with you tips on how to set the table beautifully for Valentine’s Day without spending too much, and share 10 amazing dishes, including vegan, children’s and even savory desserts!

How to beautifully set the table for Valentine’s Day dinner without spending too much

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to decorate the table.  You can create a romantic atmosphere quite simply and budget-friendly by following some tips. 

1. Layered decor

Start with a tablecloth, such as a simple white or soft pink one. Add a lace path or even a strip of kraft paper with hearts drawn on it. Using inexpensive cloth napkins in deep shades of red or delicate pink will really brighten up the table.

2. Selecting the dishes

Tableware also plays an important role. I think white ceramic or porcelain dishes are a great choice. It is versatile and goes well with any decor. But if you want to add even more romance, then use plates with gold or silver border, as well as transparent glasses with elegant design.

Let’s turn cutlery into a decorative element.  Wrap them in a cloth napkin and tie them with a thin ribbon or twine. It’s a simple but elegant touch that will put the finishing touch on the table.

3. DIY centerpiece arrangement

Let’s not buy expensive floral bouquets.  Instead, we’ll use:

• Small glass jars with sprigs of gypsophila and eucalyptus (it’s cheap but looks insanely elegant!)
• Tea candles in glass candle holders give off a soft warm glow.
• A bowl of fresh strawberries and grapes as an edible centerpiece would be very appropriate on the table.

4. Personal touches

Think over name cards for guests, for this purpose cut out small hearts from colored cardboard and write the names in a beautiful font. And if you put a small chocolate or truffle on each plate, guests will definitely appreciate the surprise. Cute and delicious!

5. Atmospheric lighting

What’s romance without the right lighting? For this, use garlands with warm light, candles of different heights, and be sure to turn down the brightness of the main lighting. There we have created a cozy and warm atmosphere.

Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for family and friends 

Now that the table is set and decorated, it’s time to talk about the menu. This includes vegan entrees and appetizers, options for kids, even savory desserts and other tasty dishes for adults.

1 . Steak with garlic butter and potatoes

Ingredients:

• Beef steak – 2 pieces (such as ribeye or striploin)
• Garlic – 3 cloves
• Butter – 50 g
• Potatoes – 4 pieces (young potatoes are better)
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp.
• Rosemary – 2 sprigs
• Salt, black pepper – to taste

How to cook:

• Steak. 

1. Take the steaks out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling – this way they will grill more evenly. Blot with a paper towel and rub with salt and pepper. 
2. Heat a skillet (cast iron is best) over medium-high heat, add a little oil.
3. Place steaks and fry for 2-4 minutes on each side (depending on desired degree of doneness). Add butter and crushed garlic cloves. Drizzle the steaks with melted butter for 1-2 minutes to make them juicier.

• Potatoes. Preheat the oven to  400°F (200°C). Slice the potatoes into wedges or in half if they are small. Mix with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary. Place on a baking tray and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the potatoes are soft inside and crispy on the outside.

Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving to Valentine’s Day dinner, to allow the juices to evenly distribute. Serve with the baked potatoes, garnished with fresh herbs.

2. Salmon in honey-mustard sauce

This dish has the perfect balance of flavors. The salmon turns out tender, juicy and flavorful, and is ready in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• Salmon fillet – 2 pieces (150-200 g each)
• Honey – 2 tbsp.
• Mustard (grainy) – 1 tbsp.
• Soy sauce – 1 tbsp.
• Lemon juice – 1 tbsp.
• Garlic – 1 clove (chopped)
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp.
• Salt, black pepper – to taste
• Fresh thyme (optional)

How to cook:

1. Prepare the marinade by mixing the honey, mustard, soy sauce, lemon juice and garlic. Stir until smooth.
2. Blot the salmon fillets with paper towels, salt, pepper and generously coat with the marinade. Leave to marinate for 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator (you can go longer, but no longer than 2 hours so that the lemon juice doesn’t start to “cook” the fish).
3. Place the salmon on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or in an oiled baking dish, drizzle with the remaining marinade and bake in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 12-15 minutes.

You can add a pinch of smoked paprika or a couple of drops of sesame oil to the marinade to deepen the flavor. Serve with roasted vegetables, rice or fresh salad. Garnish with thyme leaves or a slice of lemon.

3. Spicy chicken with vegetables in the oven

In this dish we put minimum effort but get maximum flavor for Valentine’s Day dinner!

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs or shanks – 4 pcs.
• Potatoes – 3 pcs.
• Carrots – 2 pcs.
• Paprika (smoked or regular) – 1 tsp.
• Coriander – 1/2 tsp.
• Garlic – 2 cloves (chopped)
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp.
• Rosemary or thyme – 2 sprigs
• Salt, pepper – to taste
• Red onion – 1 piece (optional).

How to cook:

1. In a bowl, mix the paprika, coriander, salt, pepper and crushed garlic. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil, mix until smooth.
2. Rub the chicken thighs with the resulting mixture and leave for 15-20 minutes for the meat to absorb the spices (you can marinate for longer – up to 2 hours).
3. Cut the potatoes into large slices, the carrots into bars and the onions into half rings.
4. Mix in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary sprigs.
5. Place the vegetables on a baking tray lined with parchment, top with the chicken thighs. Pour the remaining marinade over everything.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 400°F (200°C), stirring occasionally, 
7. so that they bake evenly.

Remove from the oven and leave for 5 minutes, so that the chicken is even juicier. Serve with fresh herbs and slices of lemon.

4. Crostini with strawberries and goat cheese for Valentine’s Day dinner

Creamy, tangy and sweet flavors combine beautifully in these crispy toasted baguette slices.

Ingredients:

• Baguette – 1 piece.
• Goat cheese – 100 g
• Strawberries – 5-6 pcs.
• Balsamic cream – 1 tbsp.
• Honey – 1 tsp.
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp.

 How to cook:

1. Cut the baguette into thin slices and lightly toast on a dry pan or in the oven.
2. Spread each slice with goat cheese.
3. Slice the strawberries into thin slices and arrange on top of the cheese.
4. Drizzle with balsamic cream, honey and olive oil.

This appetizer is delicious and a favorite at parties.

5. Vegan appetizer. Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts

The deep flavor of roasted beets is joined by the tanginess of arugula and the light crunch of walnuts. The flavorful citrus dressing ties all the components together, making the dish not only delicious, but also healthy!

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

• Beets – 2 pcs. of medium size
• Ruccola – 50 g
• Walnuts – 30 g
• Olive oil (cold pressed) – 2 tablespoons.
• Orange juice (freshly squeezed) – 1 tbsp.
• Mustard (grainy or Dijon) – 1 tsp.
• Balsamic vinegar – 1 tsp. (optional)
• Salt, freshly ground black pepper – to taste

How to cook:

1. Wash beets thoroughly, dry and wrap in foil (each one separately).Wrap in foil and bake in oven at 400°F (200°C) for 40 minutes.
2. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, orange juice, mustard and balsamic vinegar (if using). Add salt and pepper to taste, stir until smooth.
3. Toast the walnuts in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Cool and chop into large pieces with a knife.
4. Cool the roasted beets, peel and cut into thin slices or cubes.
5. Place a handful of arugula on a plate and arrange the beet slices on top. Sprinkle with the toasted nuts. Pour over the dressing and mix gently.

That’s the salad ready for Valentine’s Day dinner. It looks great on the plate thanks to the contrast of bright maroon beets, green arugula and golden nuts. By the way, you can add thinly sliced orange slices for those who like citrus notes.

6. Vegan dish. Pasta with tomatoes and basil

A simple but incredibly delicious and flavorful Italian-style pasta! We use just a few ingredients and end up with a juicy dish with the perfect balance of sweet tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil.

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

• Spaghetti – 250g
• Tomatoes (sweet, ripe) – 4 pcs.
• Garlic – 2 cloves
• Olive oil (extra virgin) – 2 tablespoons.
• Basil (fresh) – a handful
• Salt, black pepper – to taste
• Oregano (optional) – ½ tsp.
• Hot pepper flakes (optional) – ¼ tsp.

How to cook: 

1. Making the sauce. 

Dice the tomatoes into medium sized cubes (you can go a little shallower if you want a homogeneous sauce). In a deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and fry for 1-2 minutes, until it starts to give off flavor (don’t fry until dark or it will be bitter). 

Add the chopped tomatoes to the garlic, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the tomatoes soften and turn into a thick sauce. Salt, pepper, add oregano and hot pepper flakes (if using). At the very end, put fresh basil (leaves can be left whole or lightly torn with your hands).

2. Boil the spaghetti al dente.
3. Transfer the spaghetti to the pan with the sauce. Stir and braise for 1-2 minutes over low heat to allow the flavors to blend.

Arrange the pasta on plates. Add a little more fresh basil on top. You can drizzle with an extra drop of olive oil to enhance the flavor.

7. A dish for children. Mini heart-shaped pizzas

These mini pizzas aren’t just a tasty treat, they’re also fun for kids to make. These hearts are just the thing for Valentine’s Day dinner, plus the ability to choose the toppings will appeal to every child.

Ingredients (for 6-8 mini pizzas):

• Ready-made pizza dough – 1 pack (or make your own if you have time)
• Tomato sauce – 100 ml
• Grated cheese (mozzarella or a mixture of cheeses) – 150 g
• Favorite toppings (to taste, cooked chicken, ham or sausage, mushrooms, or porcini mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes)

 How to cook:

1. Roll out the dough on a lightly flour-dusted surface to about 5mm thick. Take a heart shaped mold (or just a knife) and cut out hearts from the dough.
2. Place the hearts on a parchment-lined baking tray and brush each mini pizza with tomato sauce.
3. Sprinkle the pizzas with grated cheese.
4. Arrange your favorite toppings. This is where you can trust the kids to choose!

By the way, if you use mushrooms, pre-fry them for 2-3 minutes so they don’t give off excess moisture.

5. Send the pizzas to the preheated oven and bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 10-12 minutes. 

Let the pizzas cool slightly (kids can burn themselves!). You can garnish with fresh basil leaves or add some grated cheese on top. Serve with sour cream-garlic, ketchup or pesto.

8. Dish for children. Strawberry-banana pancakes for Valentine’s Day dinner

These tender, flavorful strawberry and banana pancakes are a great option for breakfast or a holiday dinner. They are slightly sweet, soft and fruit-filled and are much loved by kids.

Ingredients (for 6-8 pancakes) :

• Eggs – 2 pcs.
• Milk – 200 ml (can be replaced with oatmeal or almond milk for children with lactose intolerance)
• Flour – 120 g
• Sugar – 1 tbsp.
• A pinch of salt
• Vanilla extract – ½ tsp (optional)
• Baking powder – ½ tsp.
• Vegetable oil – 1 tbsp. (into the dough)
• Filling. Strawberries – 5-6 pieces, banana – 1 piece, sour cream or Greek yogurt – to serve

How to cook:

1. In a deep bowl, break the eggs, add sugar, salt and beat with a whisk until smooth. Pour in the milk and vanilla extract and stir again. Sift in the flour and baking powder and gradually incorporate into the liquid mixture, stirring to prevent lumps. Add the vegetable oil and stir.

Tip. If the dough is too thick, add a little milk. If liquid, add a little flour. The consistency should resemble liquid sour cream.

2. Heat a frying pan on medium heat, grease with a little oil.
3. Fry the pancakes and wrap the sliced strawberries and banana in them.

In the filling you can add a little cottage cheese or ricotta, finely chopped nuts. Children like such combinations. 

Arrange the pancakes on a plate. You can decorate the top with sour cream, yogurt or additional slices of strawberries. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or grated chocolate for beauty.

9. Salty dessert. Tartlets with cheese and figs for Valentine’s Day dinner

In this dessert, sweet and salty perfectly coexist – tangy blue cheese, sweet figs and a drop of fragrant honey. The tartlets are prepared very simply, but look like a dish from a restaurant! If you don’t want to use ready-made dough, I’ll tell you how to make it yourself.

Ingredients (for 6-8 tartlets):

For the base:

• Ready-made puff pastry or sand dough – 1 package (or make your own)

For the filling:

• Figs (fresh, ripe) – 3 pcs.
• Blue cheese (gorgonzola, Dorbleu, Roquefort) – 80 g
• Honey (liquid) – 1 tsp.
• Walnuts – 30 g (optional, for crunch)
• Rosemary (fresh) – a few leaves (optional)
• Black pepper – a pinch

How to prepare dough for tartlets (if you do not use ready-made)

Ingredients:

• Flour – 200 g
• Butter (cold) – 100 g
• Egg – 1 pc.
• Salt – ½ tsp.
• Ice water – 2-3 tbsp.

How to prepare the dough:

1. In a deep bowl, combine the flour and salt.
2. Cut the cold butter into cubes and quickly knead with the flour (you should get crumbs).
3. Add the egg and mix.
4. Pour in 2 tbsp of ice water and knead the dough (don’t knead too long or it will be stiff).
5. Wrap in clingfilm and put in the fridge for 30 minutes.
6. Then roll out and use as a ready-made dough.

 How to bake:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 3-4 mm.
3. Cut out circles (6-8 cm diameter) – you can use a glass or a mold.
4. Place in tartlet molds (if you don’t have any, you can simply bake on a baking tray, carefully pinching the edges up to form a border about 1-1.5 cm high).
5. Prick the bottom with a fork to prevent it from puffing up when baking.
6. Put in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the tartlets are golden. Take out of the oven and cool.

Place a slice of blue cheese in each tartlet. Place a slice of fig on top. Add some walnuts and rosemary leaves (if using). Drizzle with a drop of honey to balance the flavors.

Return the tartlets to the oven for 5 minutes at 180°C (350°F), the cheese should melt slightly. Take out of the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

The tartlets are served warm or at room temperature. You can garnish with an additional drop of honey and a pinch of black pepper. Great with a glass of white wine or champagne.

10. Salty dessert for Valentine’s Day dinner. Crostini with chocolate and sea salt

This unusual dessert is simple to make and combines a crunchy baguette, rich dark chocolate, and the light savory flavor of sea salt.

 Ingredients (for 6-8 servings)::

• Baguette – 1 piece (lightly toasted is better)
• Dark chocolate (70% and above) – 50 g
• Sea salt (coarse, preferably flakes) – a pinch
• Olive oil (optional) – 1 tbsp.
• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts) – 20 g (optional)
• Honey or caramel (optional) – 1 tsp.

How to cook:

1. Slice the baguette into thin slices.
2. Place on a baking tray in an oven preheated to 180°C (350°F) and spray lightly with olive oil (this will make the crust crispier).
3. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes until the slices are golden and crispy.

You can toast the baguette on a dry skillet, it’s even quicker that way.

4. Melt the chocolate in a water bath or melt it in the microwave: heat for 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heat, until the chocolate is completely melted.

If you want a more delicate chocolate layer, add 1 tsp of cream or coconut oil when melted.

5. Spread a layer of melted chocolate over warm browned baguette slices. While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle sea salt over the top. You can add some chopped nuts for texture and extra flavor.
6. If you want a little more sweetness, drip a little honey or caramel.

Allow the chocolate to set slightly. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

A toast to love

Of course, at a Valentine’s Day dinner party, we only drink to love! And the kids can be served, for example, homemade strawberry lemonade. Now it’s up to you! What is your favorite Valentine’s Day dish? I’d love to know in the comments below.