The best 20 Romantic French recipes to cook with the one you love. These recipes are perfect for Valentines day or any date night where you want the feel of a cozy French bistro in your own home.
Le Chef's and my love story was featured on The TODAY Show. You can find the full live cooking segment below. If you would like to learn more about how an exchange student fell in love with a French Chef in Nice (18 years ago now!) you can read "How we met-Notre rencontre" here.
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I have also collaborated with my blogger besties (Britney from Britney Breaks Bread), Cheryl Bakes by Brown Sugar), and Shani Begin with Butter) to offer a roundup of 42 Must-make ideas for Valentine's Day. Check out this post for an abundance of incredible recipes for a romantic date night at home.
So, let's put on some romantic French music, open a bottle of wine, and get cooking in the kitchen.
Date night at home
There is something charming about cooking together at home. We plan ahead for a restaurant-worthy meal that will feel special. Yes, we cook in our kitchen every day but yet dressing up, setting out special ingredients for a delicious menu, opening a bottle of wine and taking the time to cook together truly feels like a date - even if there are small children underfoot!
Here is a selection of (over!) 20 Romantic French Recipes to get you started:
L'Apéro:
Set out a little Cutting board on the kitchen counter with nibbles. Some olives, a few slices of cheese, a little olive tapenade and perhaps some saucisson. For Charcuterie lovers, I recommend reading How to make a French Charcuterie Board for the full experience.
Simply the act of laying out the Apéro board elevates the experience and opens the appetite. For more on the French art of the Apéro you can read the blog post I wrote on the subject here.
I suggest starting with a Kir Royal cocktail. Made of Crème de Cassis and Champagne, the Kir Royal is very romantic.
French Appetizers
Pan Seared Diver Scallops and Leeks in White Wine make for a delicious and elegant French-inspired appetizer. The sweet, buttery taste of the scallops pairs beautifully with the slight tang of leeks. This dish is super simple to make and yet is impressive to serve. Le Chef had this dish on his menu in the South of France years ago and I was so happy to learn to make it with him at home.
For a luxurious date night, is there anything better than caviar? I think not. Here is how to serve caviar so that you make the most out of serving the delicacy at home.
Bayaldi de Légumes is a great vegetarian appetizer to start - it is slow roasted in the oven and can cook while you are completing the rest of the meal.
You likely already have Champagne open so you might as well make this amazing Asparagus with a Citrus Champagne Vinaigrette
French Onion Soup Gratinée is one of my personal favorite dishes and this recipe is truly something special. Light and fragrant broth with 3 types of onions, a dash of whiskey a generous helping of cheese makes it a French Onion that rivals those in fancy French restaurants. You, and your loved one, won't be disappointed.
French Main Course
Surf 'n' Turf, or Steak & Lobster dinner, is a romantic dish to serve to your loved one. An American steak house classic, but this recipe has a French twist with a decadent Champagne, shallot and herb butter that you will want to pour over everything! Not to mention a generous serving of perfectly sautéed haricots verts.
Coq au Vin, a French bistro classic is wonderful for date night. It stews for hours and comes out tender and decadent. A delicious recipe.
Coq au Vin Blanc, made with white wine instead of red wine, is my new favorite. The sauce is lighter than with coq au vin and you taste the flavors of the vegetables and chicken more, in my opinion.
I encourage you to try making La Daube Provençale. It is similar to the classic Boeuf Bourguignon, however the addition of little olives and orange zest make for a bright dish with a rich, winey sauce and tender chunks of braised beef that you will want to twirl your pasta in forever. Very romantic.
A good French Roast Chicken is absolutely irresistible. This Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken recipe will have you counting down the minutes to dinner.
It is hard to go wrong with a Filet Mignon Steak. One of the most tender cuts of steak and when cooked properly at home feels very luxurious.
The full recipe with Le Chef's tips for cooking a Filet Mignon are found here: How to cook Filet Mignon like a Chef.
Mashed Potatoes are the perfect side to the Filet: the full recipe is found here: Le Chef's Mashed Potatoes
Steak lovers will also go wild for this Bone-in Ribeye Steak Recipe. I walk you through, step-by-step, how to make a restaurant quality ribeye at home. Shhh...the secret is butter!
Duck Magret de Canard is a delectable dish that not enough people dare to cook at home. With this simple recipe we walk you through each step to create a restaurant worthy dish.
Branzino with Sauce Vierge is one of the easiest dishes you could ever make and yet is so surprisingly delicious. The "Sauce Vierge" made with tomatoes, olives, basil, chives, shallots and pine nuts brings the French Riviera sunshine wherever you live.
Lobster Mac n Cheese is an elevated take on an American classic that will have you reaching for more. Just wait until you try this mornay sauce! So yummy.
French Cheese Course
This article shows you how to build a French Cheese Board. 3 well chosen cheeses, a few slices of apple and some dried fruits, a little bowl of honey and perhaps some fig jam et voilà! It can be that simple. No need to fill the entire board full of intricately displayed items either, a French cheese board lets the cheese be the star of the show - it needs space to breathe.
Romantic Desserts
There is nothing better than a decadent dessert to finish a Romantic French Dinner.
Here are some of my favorites:
Mousse au Chocolat : Great for date night because it can be made in advance and doesn't require any additional cooking before serving.
This Crème Brulée recipe is extraordinary. Better than in the restaurants!
A chocolate Soufflé is not that hard to make, when you are told the proper technique. This recipe breaks it down simply for you.
Last, and certainly not least, I know you will fall in love with Le Chef's Moelleux au Chocolat Recipe.
Moelleux au chocolat (translation: soft chocolate) is also known as a chocolate lava cake or as a mi-cuit au chocolat. This recipe makes for a cake that is rich on the outside and decadently gooey on the inside - positively oozing with dark chocolate.
Le Chef served this exact recipe for Moelleux au Chocolat on one of our first dates over 15 years ago and well, the rest is history!
FAQS
Romance is in the details. A candlelit table, a glass of something sparkling, and food that feels indulgent without being complicated. Recipes like Coq au Vin or a rich Chocolate Mousse invite you to slow down and savor the moment together. It's not just dinner-it's a celebration at home.
Not at all. These recipes are written for the everyday cook. They bring French flavors into your kitchen in a way that feels approachable and joyful. You don't need fancy equipment or professional skills-just a little time and the desire to create something special.
I love to start with something simple and elegant, like a small cheese and charcuterie plate or a sparkling cocktail. A Kir Royal, for example, instantly feels festive and sets the tone for the evening before moving on to the main course.
Yes. Romance doesn't require a restaurant reservation. Even with little ones underfoot, you can create a beautiful moment at the table-set out a few flowers, light a candle, and share a dish you've prepared with love. It becomes less about perfection and more about connection
The beauty of these recipes is that they use simple, fresh ingredients you can find in most grocery stores. A good piece of chicken, fresh herbs, or quality chocolate goes a long way. It's the way you prepare and present them that transforms the meal into something memorable.
Le Chef's Wife's Tips:
When preparing a menu like this one - a key to success is planning in which order you will cook what item. Always read all of your recipes fully before beginning. For example: the Moelleux au Chocolat batter requires an hour of chill time. Better to start with that than discover it at the end of your meal!
I hope this menu inspires you to have delicious date night at home - any time of the year! Comment below and let me know what you are cooking.
About Le Chef's Wife
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (6 and 3) and I have a full time job in hospitality in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
I share our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you!
Au plaisir,
Le Chef's Wife
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