Date night dinner ideas: 30 ways to cook in or go out

• Budgetlow
• Best forpasta lovers, beginners
• Time20 minutes

A Roman classic with just pasta, Pecorino Romano, black pepper and starchy pasta water. Simple ingredients, but getting the sauce silky takes a little practice, which makes it a fun challenge for two. One person grates, the other stirs.

Tip: Toast the pepper in the dry pan first and let the pasta water cool for a moment before mixing it with the cheese, so it doesn't clump.

• Budgetlow to medium
• Best forromantic weeknights
• Time25 minutes

Shrimp cooked in butter, garlic, white wine and lemon, tossed with linguine and parsley. It tastes like a restaurant dish and takes less time than a delivery order. Pour the rest of the wine with dinner.

• Budgetlow
• Best forlate nights, empty fridges
• Time15 minutes

Spaghetti, olive oil, lots of garlic, chili flakes and parsley. It's the dish Italian cooks make when they come home late. Not the most romantic garlic level, but you'll both have eaten it, so it cancels out.

• Budgetlow
• Best forany couple, picky eaters
• Time30 minutes

Warm tortillas, one or two fillings (seasoned chicken, black beans, sautéed peppers), plus toppings: salsa, guacamole, pickled onions, cheese, lime. Everyone builds their own, so it works for different tastes. Make a quick margarita or a fresh lime soda to go with it.

• Budgetlow
• Best forhealthy eaters
• Time25 minutes

Chop vegetables together, then cook fast and hot with a protein of your choice and a sauce of soy sauce, garlic, ginger and a little honey. Serve over rice or noodles. Lots of chopping means lots of talking.

• Budgetlow
• Best forlazy evenings
• Time30 minutes

Sliced peppers, onions and chicken or tofu with a spice mix, all on one tray in a hot oven. Ten minutes of prep, one pan to wash and plenty of time to sit with a drink while it roasts.

• Budgetlow
• Best forpatient couples
• Time2 hours

Flour and eggs, kneaded by hand, rested, then rolled out with a pin or a pasta machine and cut into tagliatelle. It's messy, it's slow and the result tastes amazing with just butter and Parmesan. One rolls, one cuts.

Tip: Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes before rolling. Use that time to make a simple tomato sauce or open a bottle.

• Budgetlow
• Best forfoodies, playful couples
• Time1 to 2 hours

Buy ready-made wrappers, mix a filling (pork and cabbage, or mushrooms and tofu) and fold together. Your first ones will look funny, by number twenty you'll be pros. Pan-fry them potsticker style and dip in soy sauce with vinegar and chili oil.

• Budgetmedium
• Best foradventurous eaters
• Time1 to 2 hours

Season cooked sushi rice with rice vinegar, sugar and salt, then roll with nori and a bamboo mat. Cucumber, avocado, cooked shrimp or smoked salmon are easy fillings. Ugly rolls taste just as good.

Tip: If you want raw fish, buy it from a fishmonger you trust and tell them it's for sushi.

• Budgetlow
• Best forany couple
• Time1 to 2 hours

Make the dough in the afternoon or buy it fresh. Each person tops a pizza for the other with a secret combination. Crank the oven as hot as it goes. Score on taste and creativity.

• Budgetlow to medium
• Best forcozy evenings
• Time45 minutes

Arborio rice, warm stock added ladle by ladle and about 20 minutes of stirring. Risotto practically asks for a second person: one stirs, one keeps the glasses full. Finish with butter, Parmesan and mushrooms or lemon and peas.

• Budgetmedium
• Best forweekend projects
• Time1 to 2 hours

A wide pan, short-grain rice, saffron, stock and whatever you love: chicken, chorizo, seafood or vegetables. Don't stir at the end, so a crispy layer forms on the bottom (in Spain it's called socarrat, and it's the best part).

• Budgetmedium
• Best forwinter nights, social eaters
• Time2 hours

A simmering pot of broth on a tabletop burner, plates of thinly sliced meat, tofu, mushrooms and greens. Everyone cooks their own bites. It's slow, interactive and very cozy. A tabletop grill for Korean-style barbecue with lettuce wraps works the same way.

• Budgetmedium to splurge
• Best foranniversaries
• Time45 minutes

Sear two steaks in a very hot cast iron pan, let them rest, then make a quick sauce in the same pan with shallots, a splash of wine or stock and a knob of butter. Serve with roasted potatoes or fries and a green salad. Bistro night at home.

• Budgetmedium
• Best forseafood lovers
• Time30 minutes

Mussels steamed with garlic, shallots, white wine and parsley until they open, which only takes a few minutes. Serve from the pot with crusty bread for the broth. Throw away any that stay closed.

• Budgetmedium
• Best forlighter dinners
• Time30 minutes

A salmon fillet, lemon slices, herbs and a few vegetables wrapped in parchment paper and baked. Each person gets a little package to open at the table. Elegant, healthy and almost no cleanup.

• Budgetmedium
• Best forno-cook nights
• Time30 minutes

Cheese, cured meats, bread, olives, fruit, nuts and a little honey or jam. No cooking, just arranging, which you can do together. Perfect with wine and a long talk.

• Budgetmedium
• Best forplanners
• Time2 to 3 hours

Pick a country or a city: Paris bistro (onion soup, steak, chocolate mousse), Italian trattoria (bruschetta, pasta, tiramisu) or a Mexican cantina. Write the menu on a card, play matching music and dress the part.

• Budgetlow
• Best forchocolate lovers
• Time30 minutes

Small chocolate cakes baked in ramekins until the outside is set and the middle is still gooey. You can prepare the batter ahead and bake while you clear the table.

• Budgetlow
• Best forromantic nights
• Time20 minutes

Melt chocolate, dip strawberries, let them set in the fridge. Simple, classic and great to make together before dinner.

• Budgetlow
• Best forcoffee lovers
• Time5 minutes

A scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of hot espresso poured over it. Italian, elegant and takes no effort at all.

• Budgetlow
• Best forplayful couples
• Time20 minutes

Chocolate on the bottom of a small pan, marshmallows on top, baked until golden. Dip graham crackers straight into it. Campfire vibes without the campfire.

• Budgetmedium to splurge
• Best forfoodies
• Time2 hours

Many restaurants have a counter where you can watch the kitchen. You sit side by side, see every dish being made and often get a tip or two from the cooks. It feels more alive than a table in the corner.

• Budgetmedium
• Best forcity couples
• Time3 hours

Starter at one place, main at another, dessert at a third. Choose three spots within walking distance. The walks in between keep the evening moving and you get three atmospheres in one night.

• Budgetlow to medium
• Best foradventurous eaters
• Time2 hours

Georgian, Ethiopian, Peruvian, Sri Lankan: pick something completely new to both of you and ask the staff to recommend their favorites. You'll be beginners together. Can't decide? Let a wheel spin for you.

• Budgetsplurge
• Best foranniversaries, birthdays
• Time3 hours

Many small courses, a slow pace and lots to talk about. Save it for a special night and tell the restaurant about allergies when you book.

• Budgetlow to medium
• Best forwine lovers, budget dates
• Time2 hours

Some small restaurants let you bring your own bottle, sometimes for a corkage fee. Pick a special bottle together beforehand. Check the restaurant's policy before you go.

• Budgetmedium to splurge
• Best forromantic nights
• Time2 hours

A rooftop, a waterfront terrace or a restaurant on a hill. Book an early table to watch the sun go down while you eat.

• Budgetmedium
• Best fornight owls
• Time3 to 4 hours

An early dinner near a theater, comedy club or jazz bar, then the show. Or flip it: show first, late-night diner or dumpling spot after.

• Budgetmedium to splurge
• Best forcouples who want to learn
• Time2 to 3 hours

Someone else buys the ingredients and does the dishes, you just cook and eat. Pasta, sushi and Thai curry classes are common. You'll go home with a recipe for your next night in.