30 Valentine's Day Dinner Recipes for Kids (2024)

Valentine's Day with kids can be a little tricky when you want to enjoy a romantic dinner for two but are stuck without a babysitter or just want to avoid the holiday rush at your favorite local restaurant.

The good news is, you can plan an amazing and EASY Valentine dinner for your family with easy recipes that taste just as good (if not better!) than your favorite restaurant dishes.

Pick one of these delicious Valentine dinners and plan a simple menu with make-ahead dishes you can prep ahead.

Or make it a fun family theme night and pick one of these family-friendly movies set in Paris and plan a French themed meal to go with the movie. I included some of my easy favorites in the movie list for you!

Easy Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas for Families

Take just a minute to set the family dinner table with these easy touches to make your Valentine's Day meal together a little more special:

1. Set the Table:

Bring out the good stuff and set the table with your best dishes. Got that wedding china hiding in a cabinet? Now's a great time to use it!

2. Light the Candles:

It doesn't matter if you're eating frozen pizza, eating by candlelight is a lovely experience to share with the kids!

3. Turn on the Music:

Play the same kind of dinner music you'd hear at your favorite restaurant while you eat. Italian favorites? Quiet jazz? Stream it from a speaker near your dining table.

4. Plan Something Sweet:

Once you've got your menu set, don't forget your Valentine's dessert! You could plan a simple cookie decorating party to keep the kids busy while you enjoy some quiet time with your partner, too.

Valentine's Day Dinner Recipes

These easy Valentine's recipes and menu suggestions are perfect for adults who want a special meal while they're home for the holiday with their kids.

Family-friendly recipes that feel a little more grown-up and special for the holiday but are sure to be yummy for the kids, too!

Steak & "Tubes"

Our family's go-to Valentine's Day dinner for many years was this fantastic steak marinade. It's often a birthday dinner choice, too.

Saute the marinated beef chunks in a skillet and serve it with simple buttered noodles and glazed baby carrots for a budget-friendly way to serve beef for a Valentine's Day family dinner!

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

These teeny weeny chicken parm sliders would make such a fun finger food for a family Valentine's day dinner.

The best news is that you can start with a bag of frozen chicken tenders.

Got more time on your hands? My crispy baked chicken parmesan with whole chicken breasts is always a hit, too.

Heart-Shaped Pizza Buns

Form these homemade pizza buns as directed but then tuck one edge in on the top to form the heart just before you bake them!

Instant Pot Ground Turkey Soup

Want a heart-healthy dinner for your loved ones?

This lighted up ground turkey soup has a bright red tomato based broth and plenty of tender veggies.

Pair it with a slice of Italian bread cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter.

Baked Cheese Tortellini Skillet

The savory red tomato sauce in this baked cheese tortellini skillet recipe is just perfect for Valentine's Day.

The creamy tortellini and crispy breadcrumb topping make it extra tasty for kids. Serve with a wedge of homemade garlic bread and a simple garden salad.

Chicken Nuggets with "Pink Dip"

My copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce has a slightly pink hue.

Bake a pan of your favorite chicken nuggets and serve them on a large heart-shaped platter with a cup of the pink dipping sauce in the center.

Macadamia Crusted Halibut

If you're really craving a fine dining experience but need to be home with the kids, this macadamia crusted halibut is one of the most popular recipes on my site for good reason!

Prep it ahead early if you want and just use my special trick for baking it so that it is nice and crispy.

Serve with lemon butter sauce and roasted asparagus for an elegant meal the kids will love.

Best Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

These tender beef meatballs simmered in red tomato sauce would be fun to eat with party skewers or over a bowl of spaghetti like the famous scene from Lady & The Tramp!

Serve with myeasy homemade garlic breadfor dunking.

Classic Cheese Pizza

If your kids only every want a classic cheese pizza, why not give them their hearts' content with this delicious homemade upgrade?

Use my super-easybread maker pizza dough recipeor even a store bought pizza crust or naan bread to make homemade cheese pizzas together.

You could easily turn this into a heart-shaped pizza if you bake it yourself OR add a handful of pepperoni in a heart pattern on top.

Pasta Rosa with Sausage

This delicious pasta rosa (a.k.a. "pink pasta") recipe is so easy that my kids make it for us on our anniversary!

You can use either spicy or sweet sausage for the dish and make it all your own.

Baked Mac and Cheese

If you've got your eye on a recipe you just know your kids won't like, make it for you and your partner anyway as part of a date night dinner at home.

Just be sure to plan a big pan of this easy 15-minute baked mac and cheese for your kids.

BONUS: Serve the kids their dinner first and enjoy a quiet dinner for two when they're done!

Homemade Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese

My daughter's all-time favorite restaurant dish is creamy fettuccine alfredo. Make this lighter version with cream cheese right at home!

Use heart-shaped pasta or add a batch of my roasted tomatoes for a pop of Valentine color.

Chicken Pasta Salad with Grapes

This light and refreshing pasta salad would make an excellent Valentine's dinner because of theredgrapes and artichokehearts!

But honestly, the best part is that it tastes even better the next day so you could prep it ahead and chill it in the fridge for a super simple dinner.

Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet

My kids think that shrimp is a fancy restaurant dinner for sure. Treat the whole family to this utterly delicious garlic butter shrimp skillet with large chunks of toasted bread for dunking.

Want a lower mess meal? Prep it with peeled shrimp instead of the shrimp with shells and serve it over heart-shaped pasta.

Tuscan Chicken Pasta

The sundried tomatoes in the rich and creamy sauce of this easy Tuscan chicken recipe make it perfectly festive.

This comfort food classic is an easy way to enjoy an Italian meal for Valentine's day.

French Onion Soup

Whether you serve this easy French onion soup as the main course or as part of a larger French Bistro inspired menu, your family will have fun dreaming of Paris over dinner.

Be sure to play some French love songs while you eat and then watch one of these family-friendly movies set in Paris after dinner.

Baked Meatball Subs

You can use frozen meatballs from the grocery to make these totally delicious baked meatballs subs with melted cheese for the family.

Classic Beef Bolognese Sauce

This classic Italian bolognese sauce does take a bit more time to prepare than a faster pasta sauce but you could do all the work on a lazy Sunday afternoon and freeze it.

It makes a hearty portion, save some for an Italian Valentine's Day dinner with pasta or gnocchi.

Italian Wedding Soup

My whole family loves this easy Italian wedding soup recipe. I usually make it in the Instant Pot but included stovetop instructions, too.

The name says it all: ItalianWeddingsoup is the perfect Valentine's Day soup!

Bourbon Chicken

This savory bourbon chicken tastes even better than the kind your kids might have taste-tested at the mall food court.

The sticky sauce pairs great with a simple herb butter rice side dish for a fun dinner.

Boiled Shrimp

This fancy boiled shrimp appetizer takes justTHREE MINUTESto make, do you believe it??

Serve them with my favoriteshrimp dipping saucesfor a nibbly night or over a bowl of creamy lemon garlic pasta for an easy entree.

Sausage Lasagna

Sausage lasagna is always a festive pick, especially since it tastes even better the next day!

Prep it ahead and serve with Texas Toast or garlic bread for a heart warming meal.

Heart-Shaped Tater Tot Hotdish

You could arrange the tater tots on top of this family-favorite casserole in a heart-shaped pattern or use one of those adorable heart-shaped baking dishes to bake it.

Oven Baked Salmon

The light pink color of our favorite oven baked salmon is a delicate dinner for Valentine's Day.

Serve it with roasted vegetables and my favoriteherb butter rice.

Red Chicken Chili (with NO Beans)

Tell your kids this red chicken chili is "salsa soup" and pile up the tortilla chips and shredded cheese for the table!

The bright red color and light and healthy meal is perfect for the whole family.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Hand your kids some frilly party picks and let them nibble on these sweet and sour meatballs for a snacky dinner.

You could also serve them over pasta or rice for a full entree.

Baked Chicken Tacos

Valentine's Day is all about spoiling the ones you love. If you're kids' love language is Mexican food, bake up a batch of baked chicken tacos.

You could arrange them in a heart shape on a platter and serve with a bowl of bright red homemade salsa for color.

Roast Beef Crostini

Want to feel like you're at a fancy restaurant with waiters passing canapes?

Make these super easy roast beef crostini with horseradish sauce and fresh tomatoes in just minutes. Kids can assemble them on their own with just the toppings they love most.