Dinner ideas

42 dinner date ideas to impress

Dishes that are easy to cook, packed full of flavour and suitable for sharing amongst two people.
Dinner date recipes

Date night in, coming up? There’s no better way to impress than with a home-cooked meal and with rising cost of living a night in to Netflix and chill after a good meal is ideal.

We’ve pulled together a selection of our favourite savoury recipes which are easy to cook, packed full of flavour and suitable for sharing between two people. From our favourite meat dishes such as a juicy steak served with crispy roasted potatoes and a fresh salsa verde, to lighter pasta dishes with an authentic Italian-style tomato sauce. And to finish off? Our flourless cakes of course. Just add whipped cream!

Roast Chicken for Two

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Roast chicken for two

Roast chicken for two

There’s no need to wait for a family gathering or until you get a group of friends together before you can enjoy a roast meal. Sit down together to our roast chicken for two and enjoy!

sticky chicken with noodles

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Sticky chicken with noodles

Sticky chicken with noodles

schnitzel recipes

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Za’atar chicken schnitzel and salad

Za’atar chicken schnitzel and salad

Spice up dinner with this deliciously succulent za’atar chicken schnitzel and salad recipe – quick and easy and oh-so-tatsy!

Lamb mini roast

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Lamb mini roast

Lamb mini roast

spanish pork cutlets

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Spanish pork cutlets

Spanish pork cutlets

This delicious Spanish inspired dish combines tender grilled pork cutlets and slow-roasted vegetables to create a delicious meal the whole family will love.

Kaffir lime and red curry fish parcels

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Kaffir lime and red curry fish parcels

Kaffir lime and red curry fish parcels

These delicious kaffir lime and curry fish parcels are a light and healthy meal, perfect for the warmer weather. And they are suitable for diabetics.

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Greek pork skewers with crushed white beans

Greek pork skewers with crushed white beans

Cook up a storm in the kitchen tonight with these glorious Greek pork skewers with crushed white beans! Loaded with bags of flavour and texture – these are sure to be a hit!

Jerk salmon with yoghurt potatoes

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Jerk salmon with yoghurt potatoes

Jerk salmon with yoghurt potatoes

This tender, flaky jerk salmon with zingy flavoursome yoghurt potatoes really hits the spot! The perfect dish for dinner tonight – quick, easy, and so delicious!

prawns with risoni and peas

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Prawns with risoni and peas

Prawns with risoni and peas

Serve our quick garlic prawns with mushy peas and risoni for a light meal that’s perfect for summer. Find more recipes like this in The Australian Women’s Weekly’s ‘Fast Favourite Dinners’ cookbook.

Easy chicken parmigiana

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Super-simple chicken parmigiana

Super-simple chicken parmigiana

Classic pub grub in the comfort of your home.

beef rib eye for two

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Beef rib eye for two

Beef rib eye for two

This romantic steak dinner is absolutely delicious topped with pats of melting anchovy butter, sautéed mushrooms and steamed green beans.

Baked chicken with maple parsnips

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Baked chicken with maple parsnips

Baked chicken with maple parsnips

Pan baked chicken with sweet caramelised​ onion and golden maple parsnips – simple, delicious and ready in under an hour. And suitable for diabetics too!

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Pork and fennel ragu with kumara and goat’s cheese gnocchi

Warm, hearty and utterly delicious, this flavour packed pork and fennel ragu is cooked to tender perfection and served atop homemade kumara and goat’s cheese gnocchi. It makes the ultimate Winter dinner dish.

Gruyere Souffle

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Gruyere souffle

Golden, fluffy and infused with the glorious flavour of creamy gruyere cheese, this divine French savoury souffle is beautiful served on it’s own with a simple side salad, or accompanied by fresh slices of smoked salmon to create a beautiful gourmet dinner spread.

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Red wine duck with Jerusalem artichoke puree

Rich duck cooked in wine and tomatoes makes for a perfect winter dish.

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Feta and sage stuffed chicken breast with tomato chilli jam

Feta and sage stuffed chicken breast with tomato chilli jam

The thoughtfully prepared sides make this simple chicken dish extra special.

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Artichoke tarte tatin with red onion and hazelnut dressing

My artichoke tart packs a flavourful punch that the whole family will love.

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Almond cheesecake with twilight syrup

Almond cheesecake with twilight syrup

A crisp base and sweet citrus syrup make this almond cheesecake a divine dessert for all.

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Mezze platter with salmon gravlax

Mezze platter with salmon gravlax

Rich, opulent European dishes put an international spin on any occasion. This platter works as an entree, paired with hearty breads.

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Lamb racks and pancetta with baked kumara orzo

Lamb racks and pancetta with baked kumara orzo

A great meal to make when entertaining, this is all cooked in the oven, leaving you more time to mingle.

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Coq au vin with parsnip mash

Coq au vin with parsnip mash

These seasonal favourites are perfect for cosy autumnal evenings. As the recipes cook, your home will be filled with beautiful aromas that the whole family will thank you for.

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Lemon ricotta cannoli

Lemon ricotta cannoli

Slow-cooked lamb shank pie

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Slow-cooked lamb shank pie

Slow-cooked lamb shank pie

Make the tender lamb filling a day early for an easier cook. The combination of juicy lamb and a buttery pastry makes for a meal so memorable, it’ll be worth all the effort you put in.

potato gnocchi with mushrooms & THYME

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Potato gnocchi with mushrooms & thyme

Potato gnocchi with mushrooms & thyme

Dinner date recipes

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Seafood paella

It doesn’t get much more romantic than this homemade seafood Spanish paella recipe.

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Barbecued squid and cracked wheat risotto

This barbecued squid and cracked wheat risotto recipe is the perfect dish to make for your lover.

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How to make crème brûlée

Translated literally, “crème brûlée]” simply means “burned cream”. And while that might be technically what’s happening, we can’t help but think this humble dessert benefited greatly from having a name with a little French flair.

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Baked pasta with ham, blue cheese and fennel

This [baked pasta recipe with ham, blue cheese and fennel] is the ultimate comfort food for cool, winter evenings in.

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Spinach and broccolini pasta with rocket and walnut pesto

Spinach and broccolini pasta with homemade rocket and walnut pesto… say no more.

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Oysters with chilli and ginger dressing

Buy some fresh oysters, and serve with this homemade chilli and ginger dressing.

Vegetarian pumpkin recipes

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Pumpkin and goat’s cheese lasagne with rocket and pepitas

Appeal to vegetarian tastebuds with this hearty pumpkin and goat’s cheese lasagne with rocket and pepitas.

grilled steak dinner recipes

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Steak and spuds with salsa verde

Put simply, this steak and spuds recipe with homemade salsa verde makes a brilliant dish for hungry hubbies.

Pasta puttanesca

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Pasta puttanesca

You can’t beat this simple combination of tomatoes, anchovies and capers in this pasta puttanesca sauce recipe.

chicken, pork and veal terrine

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Chicken, pork and veal terrine

It doesn’t get much more fancy than this rustic French-style chicken, pork and veal terrine.

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Baked salmon fillets with tahini sauce and tabbouleh

Jazz up your seafood meal with this baked sumac salmon recipe, paired with a creamy tahini sauce and homemade tabbouleh.

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Potato and pumpkin gnocchi with rocket pesto

Impress your dinner date with this homemade potato and pumpkin gnocchi with rocket pesto.

Kumara, prosciutto and smoked mozzarella flatbreads

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Kumara, prosciutto and smoked mozzarella flatbreads

Embrace finger food with these kumara, prosciutto and smoked mozzarella flatbreads.

beef stew and casserole recipes

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Slow-cooker beef, mushroom and red wine stew 5 Rate this recipe

You can’t really go wrong with this hearty slow-cooker beef, mushroom and red wine stew – simply pop all the ingredients in the slow-cooker, sit back, and let the magic happen.

mussels recipe

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Bacon, cider and fennel mussels

Serve up a pot of pure comfort food with these bacon, cider and fennel mussels

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Roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts

This tasty roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts recipe makes a brilliant side dish, or add some rice or meat as a filling main.

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Lamb, kumara and almond curry

This hearty lamb, kumara and almond curry can be made in your slow-cooker for ultimate flavour and tender meat.

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Asparagus and goat’s cheese tart

This savoury asparagus and goat’s cheese tart makes a tasty starter or light meal.

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