Valentine’s Day Meal Plan
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Skip the crowds! This Valentine’s Day meal plan features steak or scallops, easy sides, decadent desserts, and shopping list. Ready in under an hour. Updated for your 2026 Valentine’s Day celebration.
Table of Contents
Appetizer
Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe
Main Dish
Skillet Ribeye Steaks Recipe
Seared Scallops Recipe
Sides
Simple Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
Desserts
I’ve included options for your Valentine’s Day desserts, choose your favorites!
Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Chocolate Cake Hearts Recipe
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
The Best Brownies Recipe Ever
Skinny Chocolate Fondue Recipe
Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
Prep Timeline
- Day before: Make mousse (or other dessert), roast asparagus (to reheat), prep salad dressing.
- 1 hour before: Set table, bake potatoes.
- 30 min before: Cook steak/ scallops, plate dessert.
- Total active time: About 45 minutes (depending on which dessert chosen).
Valentine’s Day Meal Plan Variations:
Vegetarian: Make mushroom “steaks” or Alfredo pasta.
Lighter: Grilled salmon with same sides and dessert options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This plan is designed for minimal stress on February 14. Prepare the chocolate mousse or cake hearts up to 2 days in advance (store covered in the fridge). Make the salad dressing and chop veggies the day before. Roast the asparagus earlier in the day and reheat gently. The active cooking time stays under 45 minutes.
The plan includes flexible options: Choose seared scallops instead of skillet ribeye steaks (both pair beautifully with the sides). For a vegetarian twist, swap in grilled portobello “steaks” or a creamy mushroom pasta—check my related recipes for easy swaps.
Absolutely—it’s far cheaper than dining out (often $100+ per couple). Expect $50–$80 total, depending on steak/scallop quality and local prices. Use the printable shopping list to shop sales, and opt for frozen scallops or smaller ribeyes to save more.
Use what you have: Dim the lights, light candles (even tea lights), scatter rose petals from grocery-store roses, play a soft playlist, and fold napkins into hearts. A simple white tablecloth or placemats elevate it instantly.
Most elements adapt easily: Use gluten-free soy sauce if needed (though minimal here), skip dairy in sides if desired, or swap potatoes for cauliflower mash. The asparagus and scallops/steak are naturally low-carb/gluten-free. Desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries are flexible too.
Double or triple the recipes—they scale perfectly. The steak/scallops cook in batches if needed. Turn it into a small gathering with added appetizers.
It’s great for couples and family-friendly too. Kids often love the steak (cut into smaller pieces), potatoes, and chocolate desserts. Add heart-shaped cutouts to the food for fun, or serve them a simpler version.
Store cooked steak/scallops wrapped in foil in the fridge (up to 3 days). Reheat gently in a low oven or skillet to avoid toughness. Sides like asparagus reheat best in the microwave or air fryer. Desserts keep well for 2–3 days.
It’s more intimate (no crowds or rushed service), customizable to tastes/allergies, cost-effective, and lets you control timing so the focus stays on each other—not waiting for a table.
Yes! Explore my full collection of romantic recipes, including easy pasta dishes, seafood options, and more desserts. Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive holiday updates and printable tools.
Valentine’s Day Meal Plan
How to Save Your Own Favorite Recipes
We have created a Recipe Collections Tutorial as a guide. It is so easy to save your favorites, but this guide makes it even easier.
Create an Account and Save Recipes
Simply create an account and Save your favorite recipes!
Save and Customize Weekly Meal Plan
Once you have created your free account, you can save this meal plan to your personal recipe collection. If there is something else you’d rather have one night, swap out the recipes with your favorites!
Shopping Lists
Once you have your meal plan how you like it, you can create your Shopping List by clicking on the shopping cart in the top right corner. Make sure each recipe you plan to make for the week has a check beside it, and then click the shopping cart in the top right corner a second time to generate the Shopping List. Now, you can edit, save, share, print, and regenerate your Shopping List. How neat is that?
Please let us know if you have any questions so we can help you!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Robyn xo
