Having a cozy, low key and private dinner at home on date nights can be a wonderful idea, especially if you prefer to avoid the crowded and noisy environment of restaurants. Besides, it's a cost-effective way to spend quality time with your significant other. Cooking together can also be a fun and bonding experience! This list of easy date night recipes features quick and simple meals, as well as takeout-inspired options, there's something here for everyone!
Pad Thai
This easy authentic Pad Thai recipe is incredibly quick to prepare and has a perfect balance of sweet, salty and sour flavors. Ready from start to finish in 30 minutes or less!
Get the Recipe: Pad Thai recipe
Teriyaki Chicken Yaki Udon
This delicious teriyaki chicken yaki udon is made with chewy udon noodles that are stir-fried with chicken and tossed with a sweet teriyaki sauce. If you're pressed for time and want to keep things even more simple, you can use store-bought rotisserie chicken instead cooking the chicken from scratch
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Yaki Udon recipe
Crispy Beef
This popular Hakka crispy beef takeout dish is made with thin strips of steak, marinated with garlic and ginger and deep fried to give it a super crispy crunch. It's then tossed in a very sticky sweet and savory sauce and garnished with toasted sesame seeds. Definitely a favorite, and still tastes great the next day as cold takeout.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Beef recipe
Peking Chicken
This Chinese five spice chicken is marinated overnight in five spice, ginger, garlic and soy sauce and then baked in the oven and glazed to get that delicious looking skin. It's full on flavor and pairs amazing with a ginger scallion sauce. If you're looking for a very flavorful roasted chicken then you definitely need to try this one.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Five Spice Chicken recipe
Beef Noodle Stir-Fry
This dish is as easy as it gets! It's made by stir frying spaghettini with onions, beef (or chicken) and with a sweet soy sauce. If you're looking for a quick and easy meal for date night, then this takes 15 minutes from start to finish!
Get the Recipe: Beef Noodle Stir Fry recipe
Baked Mussels with Cheese and Garlic
Super simple and easy to make garlic cheese baked mussels filled with a garlicky cream cheese topped with melted cheddar cheese! Fantastic as an appetizer or as a snack-y date night dinner with some drinks.
Get the Recipe: Baked Mussels with Cheese and Garlic recipe
Easy Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)
If you love Thai food, then try this quick and easy, creamy, authentic tom kha gai (Thai coconut chicken soup) packed with flavor and made with coconut milk and aromatics like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal root. It has a great balance of tangy, sweet and savory with a delicious creamy finish.
Get the Recipe: Tom Kha Soup recipe
Easy Cheesy Cheese Ramen
It's not super fancy or romantic, but I love to make this for date nights because its comforting like a mac and cheese but a lot more easier to make. 2 packs of instant ramen noodles will make you enough for 2! It's cozy and quick!
Get the Recipe: Cheese Ramen recipe
Sesame Crusted Teriyaki Salmon
This sounds more complex than it is. The sesame crust is pressed on right before pan-frying, which makes it super fool-proof because the salmon will never stick to the pan this way! Bonus: the sesame crust adds a lot of delicious flavor as well. Once that is done, brush on the homemade teriyaki sauce (which is also very easy to make) and you're good to go!
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Salmon recipe
Beef Chow Fun
This beef chow fun recipe is a classic Chinese takeout dish and is absolutely delicious. It's made with thinly sliced beef, stir-fried with thick and chewy rice noodles. I show you how to use both fresh rice noodles and dried ones as well so you don't need to worry if you can't find any fresh noodles.
Get the Recipe: Beef Chow Fun recipe
Sweet and Sour Chicken
If you're a fan of sweet and sour pork, then you should definitely try sweet and sour chicken. If you're wondering what the difference is, the batter is lighter with less aromatics so it is a lighter version which brings out the flavor of the sweet and sour sauce more. Alternatively, I also have an awesome sweet and sour pork recipes as well if that's what you prefer!
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe
Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers
Smoky grilled chicken skewers recipe marinated in ginger, garlic, coconut cream, and soy sauce. Then finished with a sweet coconut cream glaze and served with a simple peanut sauce. Big on flavor, and super easy to throw together! That being said, if you don't have a grill, you can also make this on a very hot cast iron pan over a stovetop as well!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers recipe
Crispy Cantonese Beef Chow Mein
A crispy Cantonese beef chow mein recipe, made with crispy chow mein noodles, and topped with a savory sauce made with beef, peppers, and onions. A popular and delicious Chinese takeout dish that's easy to re-create right in the comfort of your home!
Get the Recipe: Crispy Beef Chow Mein recipe
Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)
Thai Basil Chicken is a delicious and simple Thai dish made with diced or ground chicken, yardlong beans (or green beans), and lots of fresh Thai basil tossed in a savory umami sauce. If you're looking for something quick and full of flavor, this would be it! You can have this ready from start to finish in about 15 minutes if you're using ground chicken, and your taste buds will love you for it!
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow) recipe
Sweet and Sticky Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork)
Here is another Chinese takeout recipe you can try to make at home together! I show you how to make this both on a BBQ grill and in the oven and this can be served with a side of rice or with any of the sides or noodle dishes on this list!
Get the Recipe: Char Siu recipe
Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi
An easy Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi recipe made with thin slices of pork belly and a sweet gochujang sauce that can be served with a side of rice, wrapped in a lettuce or used in tacos!
Get the Recipe: Spicy Korean Pork Bulgogi recipe
Honey Sriracha Chicken
A super easy, 6-ingredient, sweet and spicy honey sriracha chicken recipe that's sweetened with a sticky honey sriracha glaze! Grilling and oven-roasted instructions are included!
Get the Recipe: Honey Sriracha Chicken recipe
The Perfect Grilled Ribeye Steak
There are few things that a perfectly grilled ribeye steak can't make better.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ribeye Steak
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
This 15-minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is an irresistible combination of tender shrimp, al dente pasta, and flavorful garlic butter sauce! A very romantic meal!
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe
Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin Medallions
The delicious flavours of cayenne, garlic, chilies, horseradish and more, these seared beef medallions with tomato relish sauce are sure to tantalize your taste buds with this 30 minute meal. Less time in the kitchen, more time for the date!
Get the Recipe: Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin Medallions
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This article originally appeared on Pups with Chopsticks.
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