"We don’t always have the time, energy, or money to spend at a five-star restaurant, but that doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to treat ourselves every now and then. Maybe you have a special occasion coming up, like a birthday or anniversary, that you need to celebrate. Or perhaps, like many of us, you and your significant other are long overdue for a date night. Allow us to offer a solution: get all dolled up, light a few candles, and get ready for a five-star date night experience in the comfort of your own abode with at-home restaurant recipes.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of 20 recipes to make at home that will feel like they’re from your favorite five-star restaurant. And, since no restaurant-level dinner at home is complete without a delicious glass of wine (or two!), we’re also providing you with the perfect wine pairings for many of the meals listed. With the help of La Crema’s Executive Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami, check out the ideal La Crema wine pairings for main dishes that feature chicken, beef, pork, lamb, seafood, and pasta and keep reading for the delicious dinner recipes!]
20 At-Home Restaurant Recipes
Main Dishes
1. Pear, Brie, and Bacon Flatbread
Just because you’re eating at home doesn’t mean you should skimp on the extra sharable. This pear, brie, and bacon flatbread is the perfect addition to your five-star dining experience.
2. Easy Coq au Vin
Tender chicken thighs in a red wine sauce is exactly what you need to treat yourself at home. This classy dish is made easy with a simple recipe, but don’t worry, you won’t be missing out on any of the delicious flavors.
3. One-Pan Creamy Chicken Piccata
I may be making this up, but anything topped with capers automatically feels fancy to me. This creamy chicken piccata recipe looks way too impressive to be this simple, but trust us, it’s not too good to be true. Plus, we can always appreciate a Whole30 recipe!
4. Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli
These ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta are simply divine. Make the pasta as part of your date night activity and pair them with your favorite homemade pasta sauce. You may just want to kiss the chef!
5. Pumpkin Risotto
Though pumpkin is typically synonymous with fall, this risotto recipe is actually a perfect dish for any season because of its savory, comfort food-like qualities. Curl up with a bowl of this after a long day for all the feel-good vibes.
6. Pork Medallions with Blue Cheese Sauce
These gourmet-style pork medallions are decadent and delicious, and the blue cheese sauce adds a tanginess you won’t be able to get enough of. We know this will be a meal you’ll dream of for months to come.
7. Grilled Rack of Lamb
Follow this recipe for grilled rack of lamb and you’ll be left with a tender, juicy, and downright delicious meal. The marinade is made with garlic and rosemary, meaning you’re in for a flavorful evening.
8. Easy Italian Baked Fish
This Italian baked fish recipe goes perfectly with your favorite pasta for a dish as simple as it is flavorful.
9. Balsamic Brown Sugar Lamb Chops
Nothing says five-star experience quite like lamb chops, and we’ve yet to find a dish more appealing than this balsamic brown sugar recipe. We know these lamb chops will make you want to make at-home date night a regular occurrence.
10. White Truffle Vanilla Vegan Mac and Cheese
When your days are filled with far more Kraft Mac and Cheese than you ever thought possible, it’s only right that you treat yourself to a gourmet bowl every now and then. We love that this mac and cheese recipe is vegan (and delicious)!
11. Easy Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
This pork tenderloin recipe looks simply too good to be true—but we’re here to tell you, you can make this in your own kitchen! But be warned, you may be dubbed head chef in your household for the rest of time after perfecting this dish.
12. Maple Bourbon Glazed Salmon
A classic combination of sweet and savory never disappoints, but this glazed salmon takes it up a notch. The bourbon and maple make for the perfect mix of flavors in this recipe.
13. Pan-Fried Garlic Butter Steak with Crispy Potatoes and Asparagus
Who said the perfect steak dinner can’t be achieved at home? We’re here to challenge that notion with this pan-fried steak recipe. Once you’ve perfected steak at home, it will be tough to go back to a restaurant and spend the extra money again!
14. Tomato Goat Cheese Gnocchi
There’s nothing quite like a creamy plate of gnocchi—it’s the ultimate lavish comfort food. This recipe adds a unique spin to a classic dish by incorporating the buttery creaminess of goat cheese to the sauce.
15. Surf and Turf (Oscar-Style Steak)
You don’t need to head to the beach in order to get a gourmet surf and turf meal. Make it in the comfort of your home with this five-star-level recipe.
16. Walnut-Crusted Salmon
A true delicacy, the many unique flavors in this recipe mesh together in perfect harmony. We’re talking zesty, sweet, tangy, and more—aka, everything you could ever want in a dish.
Desserts
17. Classic Italian Tiramisu
And because you wouldn’t truly be treating yourself without selecting something off the dessert menu, you’re going to have to plan a sweet way to end your meal. This classic Italian tiramisu is just what you need to top off an enchanting date night meal at home.
18. No-Bake Chocolate Tart
The reasons to love this dessert are pretty much endless. Not only is it packed with delicious chocolatey goodness, but the fact that it’s a no-bake recipe means you’ll spend less time cooking and more time indulging.
19. Lemon Blueberry Trifle
When you’re not in the mood for chocolate and could go for something with a twist, consider this trifle recipe. Filled with lemon and blueberries, tartness and sweetness meet in perfect union every time with this delicious dish.
20. Eclair Cake
This may sound like the fanciest inclusion on our list of at-home restaurant recipes, but rest assured: it doesn’t come with tons of work. Take 3o minutes in the morning to put together this decadent eclair style cake before letting it cool in the refrigerator until dinner time.
