80 Easy Date Night Dinners That Beat A Fancy Restaurant (2024)

The truth is sometimes, just like with pasta, the simplest preparations of gnocchi really hit the spot—think cacio e pepe or spaghetti with garlic and oil. This dish hits the mark somewhere in between the two. It’s one of those back of the shelf recipes you’ll basically memorize after making it a few times and can prepare whenever you want a dish that’s ultra-comforting.

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Pad see ew is on everyone’s top 10 Thai dishes list, and after you give it a try at home, you’ll understand why. The combination of thinly sliced, wok-seared meat, Chinese broccoli, and the signature wide, chewy rice noodles will make this Southeast Asian specialty an instant favorite.

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Recreate the CPK fave with this insanely delicious (mostly) homemade pie. To save on time, use store-bought pizza dough. Or, better yet, pick some up from your favorite pizzeria!

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We took an easy shortcut here by using wonton wrappers, but trust us—they are so tender and light that you really only taste the decadent lobster filling. If you want actual pasta-encased lobster ravioli, then our pasta dough is great; otherwise, we promise you’re going to make these over and over again.

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In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

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If your chicken dinners are leaning toward being less-than-exciting, then this creamy feta and tomato chicken skillet will be the one to amp them up. The key is building the flavor in the skillet, starting with the bacon and ending with adding a sprinkle of feta.

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Meat and potatoes will always be a winning combo, but it's still important to keep things interesting. In this simple version of the dynamic duo, a skillet of crispy potatoes and tender flank steak gets bathed in a tangy, savory garlic mustard butter sauce. Now that’s what we call interesting!

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If you're craving a comforting dinner that's also vegan, look no further. This curry is bursting with flavors inspired by chana masala, bolstered by hearty sweet potatoes—it's so delicious, no one will miss the meat.

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While we’re all for a dinner, that’s not the most family-friendly weeknight meal. Instead, we combined everything we love about our favorite dip with quick-cooking gnocchi, turning it into an easy meatless dinner that’s loaded with flavor.

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We love dishes high in flavor, low in commitment, particularly during the winter. And if it comes together in one pot? WIN. Nabeyaki udon is a one-pot Japanese noodle soup that is exactly this. Get creative with your toppings to make it your own.

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Oh, chicken Alfredo: It's the classic pasta we just can't seem to get enough of. Of course there are tons of jarred pasta sauces you can buy, but making Alfredo sauce from scratch is actually so easy.

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Miso is a Japanese cooking staple made from fermented soybeans, and it’s the ultimate pantry powerhouse. It’s got toasty, deeply savory, and slightly sweet notes that pair well with hearty fish like salmon or cod, but it can also amplify the flavor of roasted veggies or even baked goods.

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Chicken Alfredo and pizza are two kings of the comfort food realm, so when they join forces, you get something truly magical. Creamy Alfredo sauce is topped with sliced chicken, broccoli, and oodles of gooey mozz for a rich, saucy pizza that will revolutionize your weeknight dinner routine.

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We know what you may be thinking: enchiladas + pasta? Hear us out. Taco spaghetti is a classic weeknight dinner for us at Delish, which inspired this genius dinner hack.

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Our ever-popular Peruvian roast chicken will forever be one of our favorites…unless we need to get dinner on the table ASAP. If that's you at any point this year, lean on chicken thighs instead for that smoky, garlicky chicken with its crispy skin, in less than half the time.

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Pad krapow is Thailand’s most popular stir-fry dish for a reason. It’s got saucy ground meat tossed with sliced bell peppers, spicy chiles, and a handful of fresh, sweet basil, served over steaming rice. As an added bonus, it’s usually accompanied by a runny fried egg, making this a filling and wallet-friendly meal.

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To make this a true weeknight winner, spoon the meatballs, vegetables, and sauce over steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles for a filling dinner. The super-flavorful curry sauce will soak into your base, giving sweet and savory heat in every bite.

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What happens when you give chicken Parm the Buffalo treatment? Well, you get this: a crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken cutlet smothered in spicy sauce and topped with bubbling cheese. An absurd mashup? Maybe. Delicious? Also yes.

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If you’ve never made risotto because you didn’t want to stand there stirring forever, then this recipe is for you. It packs all the satisfying flavor of a slow-stirred version into a fraction of the hands-on time!

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When it comes to chicken breast recipes, it's hard to beat this one. The sauce is full of garlic, tomatoes, and most importantly, cream. It's bright and easy and is a great dinner for when you want comfort food and to impress a dinner guest.

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