You don't have to be a MasterChef to whip up an amazing meal for your loved one this Valentines – we've got simple and budget Valentine's recipes for you to make it a memorable occasion!
Cooking isn’t everyone’s forte, but it’s a great way to show love and appreciation for the special people in your life. It’s also a great way to save on going out for a romantic dinner or if you guys are just homebodies. Having a home-cooked meal doesn’t mean you have to turn down the romance though, we’ve got some budget and simple Valentine’s recipes that still pack a whole lot of love!
Budget and simple recipes for Valentine’s Day
Appetisers/Snacks
1. DIY charcuterie board
This one doesn’t even take any cooking, just assembly! Traditional charcuterie boards include deli meats, cheese, fruits, nuts, and biscuits but there’s a lot you can do to make it look pretty. Also, there have been many ideas circulating social media of charcuterie boards that have a mix of chips and crackers – you could even make a fast food charcuterie board! All it comes down to is having a platter of your favourite foods presented neatly on a board so don’t be afraid to make it your own!
Recipe: Lots of ideas on TikTok!
2. Honey Brûlée Brie
Cheesy, melty goodness – this definitely whets the appetite! And it’s super simple too. Grab a wheel of brie and cut the rind off the top and spread a layer of honey on top. To make it extra sweet for your honey and give it the crackly brûlée top, add an even layer of sugar and bake it. Voilà, you’re done. Grab some crackers or bread and dig into the centre full of sweet and savoury goodness.
Recipe: Spoon Fork Bacon
3. Roasted brussels sprouts with sriracha aioli
For something on the healthier side, try these baked Brussels sprouts and impress your Valentine with a homemade aioli dip to go with it! The Brussels sprouts are easy, just season them with salt and pepper and drizzle with a mix of olive oil and chilli sauce before baking. Mix mayonnaise, chilli sauce, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for the aioli and serve once the Brussels sprouts are done. Enjoy your healthy snack with your Valentine!
Recipe: Taste of Home
Main course
4. Poached chicken with sauce and carrot puree
Chicken breasts are usually tough and not considered a very “bougie” meal, but here’s a way to elevate it! This poached chicken breast is stuffed with blanched spinach and served with a simple sauce and carrot puree. Poaching the chicken can seem intimidating but it really is just giving it a warm bath for 18 minutes– you’ll be good as long as you stick to the timing! The sauce has just four simple ingredients: shallots, beef broth, butter, and a dash of cream. Pureeing the carrots is as easy as tossing it into the food processor until its a paste. And just like that, you’ve got a fancy chicken meal with just a few ingredients.
Recipe: Saucceats via TikTok
5. Garlic Butter Noodles
Having something garlicky on date night might sound like a bad idea, but if you guys are both garlic lovers this one’s for you! These buttery garlic noodles are not only simple and cheap to make – they’re also highly customisable. Pick your protein and noodles and go ham (you could literally add ham). Plus, you can whip these up in 30 minutes or less it and only takes 10 ingredients. Add this to your repertoire of Valentine’s recipes!
Recipe: Cooking Therapy
6. Seafood Risotto
Don’t be afraid, this one’s a lot simpler than it seems. Scallops aren’t the easiest to make (if you’ve watched Hell’s Kitchen you’ll understand) so this recipe is made easier and more affordable with king oyster mushrooms as ‘scallops’! To give it that seafood flavour, simmer the king oyster mushroom stems in seafood stock before searing them on a pan – you can score them if you want to be extra fancy. You should also use imitation crab meat for that extra texture and seafood umami. It sounds really low-cost but looks like something you’d order at a restaurant!
Recipe: saucceats via TikTok
Dessert
7. Chocolate Heart Cups
These chocolate heart cups are filled with more than just love – they’ve got a tangy raspberry filling! You’ll be making the chocolate from scratch but fret not, the process is pretty simple. Once you’ve made it, pour them into cute heart-shaped moulds but not fully! While you’re waiting for them to set in the freezer, prepare the raspberry filling and add a dollop to the half-filled cups after they’ve set. Then simply fill the rest with chocolate and after they’ve frozen, pop them out and enjoy.
Recipe: Food to Live
8. White chocolate fondue
Ahh, the classic chocolate-dipped strawberries – all you need is 15 minutes to make it at home. Melt white chocolate chips, cream, corn syrup, butter, and salt together in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently, until smooth and glossy, about five to 10 minutes. White chocolate is optional though, you can always switch it up to milk or dark if its more your fancy. Or make all three!
Recipe: All Recipes
9. Raspberry Cheesecake in a jar
Cheesecake? In a jar? Yep, you heard it right – this one’s a no-bake cheesecake that’s so simple you can make it with the kids! If the little ones are enthusiastic to help out, they can help create the biscuit layer at the bottom by crushing some Oreos in a ziplock bag. The raspberry sauce you’ll probably have to handle this one on your own – simmer some frozen raspberries, sugar, and water until the raspberries have broken down and strain the mixture to get out any seeds. Then, reduce it until it becomes a thick syrup. All that’s left is to assemble it in a jar with your cream cheese filling and make it look pretty. A great way to wrap up a homemade Valentine’s meal!
Recipe: Simply Recipes
10. Chocolate-covered ice cream hearts
Another one both the kiddos and your partner will be jumping for joy for! Grab the family favourite pint of ice cream and cut it into discs, containers and all. Peel off the container and use heart-shaped cookie cutters to make your ice cream hearts. Melt some chopped up chocolate with some coconut oil in the microwave and coat the ice cream hearts. Freeze till the chocolate sets and dig in!
Recipe: Food Network
