If your budget is tight this year think about dining in this Valentine’s Day. It might be a little more work, but the savings will be tremendous. You won’t spend money on gas, food, tip, or a sitter. Creating a meal at home can be rewarding and perhaps you could work a sweet deal with your Valentine. You do cook and he does the dishes.
Super Cheap Valentine’s Dinners under $5
Spaghetti and Meatballs
- 1/2 box of noodles
- 1 jar of sauce
- Meatballs
- French Bread
- Salad
Check out Lady and the Tramp from the library, light a few candles, and enjoy.
If you want something a little different check out my baked ziti recipe. It is also inexpensive and there will be plenty of leftovers for the kids.
Loaded Baked Potatoes
- 2 Baked Potatoes
- Sour Cream
- Sliced Green Onions
- Butter
- Bacon pieces
- Cheddar Cheese
- Chili
Bake potatoes until cooked then top with your favorite toppings.
Moderately Price Valentine’s Dinner under $10
Chicken Tetrazinni
- 1 box noodles
- 2 cups chopped turkey
- ½ cup shredded zucchini
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk or heavy cream
- ½ cup parm cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
While the noodles are boiling, melt butter on a low heat in a frying pan. Add garlic, onion, zucchini and carrots. Saute for about 3 minutes. Add soup, sour cream, milk, cheese and turkey. Stir over low heat, until noodles are done boiling. Drain noodles and add to the mixture. Toss well and serve immediately. I like to pair this with a large salad and fresh baked bread.
Salmon Turnovers paired with steamed broccoli and chocolate cake.
Expensive Dinners under $20
Grilled Steaks, serve with loaded baked potato, tossed salad, and green beans
Blackened scallops with asiago cream sauce served over linguine, serve with Caesar salad and French bread.
Recreate your favorite restaurant meal.
To give your meal that restaurant taste try a copycat recipe of your favorite dish.
T.G.I. Friday’s Spicy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Olive Garden’s Chicken Castellina
Ruth’s Chris Crescent City creamed spinach
To search for your favorite restaurant recipe visit Top Secret Recipes and cdKitchen.
Angel says
Ever since we met 11 years ago my husband has either been in the military or worked offshore so this will be our 3rd or maybe 4th V-Day together. Even if we are together we eat at home b/c we feel that dinner ouot is waaayyy overpriced. We may go out on a different night if possible but this year mt mom offered to keep the kids (they go out a different night too) & I got a free movie coupon for dish network, & I’ll get a couple steaks (a treat) and baked potatoes and get him some dark choc. that he likes and stay in. Since he’s not comming home till the night of the 12th he will write me a love letter instead of buying a card. Also no roses. Way overpriced. He’ll wait & for my b-day in april he’ll get me a rose bush for the yard. Makes more sense. Thats how we do V-Day.
Jolene says
Yum! That picture of that pasta is making me drool! LOL. I wanted to share an awesome breakfast recipe I found on another blog! Here it is:
http://scrumdillydo.blogspot.com/2008/11/sandwich-bread-to-rescue.html
Theese look yummy and something the kids can help with!
amy@flexibledreams says
I completely forgot about Chicken Tetrazinni as a meal option. Thanks for the recipe!
Christi says
Thanks for all the great ideas! We usually eat at home simply for the fact that it’s soooo crowded to go out on Valentine’s Day. I imagine that will be even truer this year, as it falls on Saturday.
We normally have Fettuccine Alfredo and something; this year I think I’ll try the blackened scallops.
Super Healthy Kids says
Those noodles look divine! My husband will NOT go out to eat on Valentines day, mostly because he hates crowds. And for valentines to be on a Saturday this year, it will certainly be met with waiting outside a restaraunt in the cold, hoping for a table. No way. We eat out for our anniversary and birthdays and that is about it.
Stacy says
Wow! I love seeing lots of recipes! Thanks!
MNKristy says
I refuse to cook on Valentine’s day, our anniversary or my birthday. Those are always eat out days in our family! But I like your tetrazzini recipe…I’ll have to try that another day.
Dreamer says
MMMM, those all look so tastey. Now the hard part is deciding which one to make.
NancyP says
We are eating dinner at the home of some friends for VDay. Couples only. It will be wonderful – and much cheaper than going out.
Lindy says
Thanks for the links for copycat recipes! So much cheaper than going out! I hate the crowds at restaurants on holidays.
Kristen says
I love the Lady & The Tramp idea – that is perfect!
Mary @Raising 4 Godly Men says
Those ALL sounds so GOOD. I am going to have to try the Chicken Tetrazinni or Blackened scallops with asiago cream sauce served over linguine some time. My tummy is grumbling even though it is only 7:52 in the morning. lol
Thanks for the great dinner tips. These are a GREAT date tip too for any time of the year. [0=
Blessings and ((HUGS))
In Him <
-Mary
Meredith says
Cute Lady & the Tramp idea! My kids would love that, if we didn’t already have spaghetti every week : )
Last year I made a shrimp etouffe that was truly restaurant quality. This year I am taking it easy and purchasing something ready-to-cook at Fresh Market.
Not as much cleanup as true DIY, but much cheaper than a restaurant.
Simply Sara says
Thanks for the great ideas and links. I’m so going to have to try that pasta dish, and the copycat recipes 🙂
When I wrote my menu plan this week I didn’t realize V-day was on Saturday- how lame am I?? I may have to kick up what I’m planning a notch or two!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Emily says
Every time I see “tetrazinni” it just doesn’t look right, so I finally looked it up, and it’s spelled “tetrazzini.”