If you’ve been seeing someone for awhile, the same types of dates can get boring. And the last thing you want to do is to bore your date. While it is too forward to invite someone over for a home-cooked meal for the first few dates, once you feel comfortable taking this step, you can impress your date with a good home cooked dinner. We’ll review some date night dinner ideas for men, as well as all the extras you should bring to the table.
If you hardly ever cook, it might be best to order something in. Seriously. Cooking well takes time and practice, and it’s best not to stress yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Know your date
This should be a no-brainer, but it bears repeating – know the things your date actually likes and doesn’t like. Account for any food allergies too. You don’t want to serve lobster if they have a shellfish allergy, and you don’t want to cook up a perfect steak if they don’t eat red meat. The same goes for wine, dessert, and anything else you plan to serve.
If she likes to cook, you may want to include her in the process as part of the fun. Or she might prefer something full-service. Figure this out and build around it.
While you should know these things after a few dates with someone, don’t be afraid to ask.
Household hygiene
Another no-brainer – make sure you’ve thoroughly cleaned your place. This detail will set the first impression and mood more than anything. Yes, this means hauling out your vacuum and dusting everything, not just putting up the dishes and dirty laundry. A high quality candle works wonders too.
And make sure to clean your bathroom (including the toilet), leaving no visible debris of any kind, as well as your sheets (even if you think the night may not lead there). These two things, if left unattended, can turn your night in the wrong direction very quickly.
Appetizers
Although it’s not necessary, it’s always a benefit to have something to snack on when your date arrives. Just like appetizers are an amazing way to start a meal at a restaurant, you should take the extra steps to replicate this experience at home. It doesn’t need to be too fancy or expensive either. Stick with the basic ideas below, and you should be good to go.
- Charcuterie board – suggestions include prosciutto, Genoa salame, Spanish chorizo, brie, manchego, comte, gruyere, goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, some baguette slices or nice crackers, nuts, nice jams or honey, and many more ideas here. No need to go too crazy, it’s just the two of you. Pick a couple of meats, a couple of cheeses, one or two other extras, and arrange them nicely on a cutting board or platter.
- Bacon-wrapped dates – make in advance so they’re ready when your date arrives
- Caprese salad – great for warmer weather
- Stuffed mini peppers
- Hummus and pita (go ahead and buy pre-made and put in a nice bowl) – basic, but better than nothing
Vegetarian dinner ideas
Back to date night dinner ideas. Women are more likely to be vegetarian than men. If your date leans in this direction, below are a few good recipe ideas. Pasta is always a good default idea – easy to make, good comfort food for a date, and delicious. Just try to make your own sauces and use fresh pasta if you can.
- Homemade veggie pizza – a fun one to make together
- Spaghetti with black bean “meatballs” – bean balls are good, and feel free to make some Italian sausage on the side if you’re a meat eater
- Baked ziti – remove the meat from this recipe to make vegetarian
- Creamy mushroom gnocchi – a decadent recipe
- Mushroom risotto – an advanced recipe, only make if you have good kitchen skills
Meat-based dinner ideas
If your date prefers more meat based fare, the recipes below make for excellent romantic dinners. A couple points: buy the best quality meat you can afford, make sure you know how they like it cooked, and practice at least once beforehand if you’ve never cooked the type of meat you’ve chosen.
Seafood:
- Shrimp tacos – make sure to get the best quality taco shells you can find, bonus points if you procure fresh ones from a Hispanic grocery store
- Seared tuna or scallops – takes some finesse and experience, but these are definitely a step up from normal seafood fare
- Slow-roasted salmon and potatoes – tasty and hearty, plus it’s a one-pan meal
Meat:
- Chicken parmesan – seems basic, but execute this well and you are a hero
- Chicken enchiladas – basic is fine, and these are always a winner, especially if you buy a rotisserie chicken and break it down; don’t skimp on the cheese
- Steak and baked or mashed potatoes with roasted brussels sprouts – easy crowd pleaser if your date likes steak, and ribeye or NY strip are safe bets, plus you probably know how to cook a good steak
- Braised short-ribs – perfect if they like rich foods and you have a few hours to passively braise some short-rib
Dessert
Unless you usually make desserts, your best bet is to buy something premade. It’s fine if you go simple here, even a basic brownie with ice cream gets the job done. Figure out what your date likes, and make this part easy. Could be getting some cookies from a local bakery, or a small cake or pie, or some nice chocolate – just have something for dessert. Trust me, this is very underrated.
Other useful information
Prep as much as you can ahead of time. You don’t want to be rushing around when your date arrives, this will stress everyone out and not create the relaxed atmosphere you want.
Pair wine or a special drink (if your date doesn’t drink) with your main course, depending on what your date likes. You can look up wine pairings with your meal and go from there. And don’t go super cheap on the wine, you’ll want to spend at least $10-12 on a bottle, if not a bit more. Any employee at a local wine shop will give you the best recommendations.
Follow this advice for date night dinner ideas, and she may go crazy for you.
