A Valentine's dinner at home costs less than a restaurant, avoids the crowded-restaurant-on-Valentine's-Day experience, and lets you control everything from the menu to the timing. Safeway has the ingredients for date night dinners, plus ready-made options if you don't want to cook.

Date Night Dinner Ideas

Steak Dinner

The classic romantic meal. Two good steaks, a simple side, and a bottle of wine. Total time: about 30 minutes.

What to buy:

• Two ribeye or filet mignon steaks from the meat counter

• Potatoes (baking potatoes, baby potatoes, or fingerlings)

• Salad kit or greens for a simple side

• Butter, salt, pepper

• A bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot)

Basic method: Take steaks out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan over high heat until very hot. Add a tablespoon of oil. Sear steaks 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare, longer for more done. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

For something more interesting, try Safeway's Garlic-Dijon Ribeye recipe which pairs the steak with a warm zucchini, tomato, mint, and feta salad.

Shrimp Scampi

Impressive-looking but genuinely easy. Ready in about 20 minutes.

What to buy:

• 1 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined saves time)

• Linguine or angel hair pasta

• Butter and olive oil

• Garlic (fresh or pre-minced)

• White wine (you'll use a splash, drink the rest)

• Lemon

• Fresh parsley if you want it to look nice

• Crusty bread for soaking up the sauce

Basic method: Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta cooks, melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves minced garlic, cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp, cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink. Add a splash of white wine and juice of half a lemon. Toss with drained pasta. Top with parsley.

Safeway also has a Creamy Garlic Shrimp Scampi recipe that takes about 20 minutes.

Shortcut option: McCormick Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi seasoning packets are in the spice aisle. Add shrimp and butter, and dinner's ready in 15 minutes.

Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

Healthy, colorful, and easier than it looks.

What to buy:

• Two salmon fillets from the seafood counter

• Asparagus, broccoli, or green beans

• Cherry tomatoes

• Lemon

• Olive oil, salt, pepper

• Rice or crusty bread

Basic method: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place salmon fillets on a sheet pan. Arrange vegetables around them. Drizzle everything with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Squeeze lemon over the salmon. Roast 12-15 minutes until salmon flakes easily.

Pasta with Meat Sauce

Comfort food that's better than any restaurant version because you made it.

What to buy:

• Ground beef or Italian sausage (or both)

• Jar of marinara sauce (or canned crushed tomatoes if you want to make your own)

• Spaghetti or rigatoni

• Parmesan cheese

• Garlic bread from the bakery

• Salad kit

Basic method: Brown meat in a large pan, drain excess fat. Add marinara sauce, simmer 15-20 minutes while pasta cooks. Serve over pasta with grated parmesan. Garlic bread on the side.

Heart-Shaped Pizza

Fun for families or couples who don't take Valentine's Day too seriously.

What to buy:

• Refrigerated pizza dough or premade crust

• Pizza sauce

• Shredded mozzarella

• Your preferred toppings

Method: Roll dough into an oval, then shape into a heart (pinch the bottom to a point, indent the top center). Add sauce, cheese, and toppings. Bake according to dough package directions.

Shortcut: Buy a take-and-bake pizza and use a knife to cut it into a heart shape before baking.

Easy Desserts

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries (Homemade)

Making them yourself costs less than buying them from the bakery and takes about 20 minutes.

What to buy:

• 1 lb fresh strawberries

• 1 bag chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)

• Optional: white chocolate chips for drizzle

Method: Wash strawberries and dry them completely (wet strawberries won't hold chocolate). Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Dip each strawberry, twirl to remove excess, place on parchment-lined baking sheet. For drizzle, melt white chocolate and use a fork to create lines across the set chocolate. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

Tips:

• Dry the strawberries thoroughly or the chocolate won't stick

• Don't overheat the chocolate or it will seize up

• Room temperature strawberries taste better than cold ones, so pull from the fridge 10-15 minutes before serving

Brownie Sundaes

Buy the brownies, assemble the sundae.

What to buy:

• Bakery brownies or brownie mix

• Vanilla ice cream

• Chocolate sauce

• Whipped cream

• Maraschino cherries if you want the classic look

Method: Warm brownie slightly in microwave (10-15 seconds). Top with ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cherry.

No-Bake Cheesecake Cups

Minimal effort, impressive presentation.

What to buy:

• Cream cheese (softened)

• Powdered sugar

• Vanilla extract

• Graham cracker crumbs

• Fresh berries for topping

Method: Mix 8 oz softened cream cheese with ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla until smooth. Spoon graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of small glasses or jars. Add cheesecake mixture. Top with fresh berries. Chill at least 30 minutes.

Chocolate Fondue

Interactive and fun. Good for both date nights and Galentine's gatherings.

What to buy:

• Chocolate chips or a chocolate fondue kit

• Dippables: strawberries, banana slices, marshmallows, pound cake cubes, pretzels, cookies

Method: Melt chocolate with a splash of heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Keep warm in a fondue pot, small slow cooker, or just a bowl you reheat as needed. Dip things in it.

Wine Pairing Guidelines

You don't need to be an expert. These pairings work:

Steak: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec. The tannins in red wine complement the richness of beef.

Shrimp or seafood: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay. Light whites don't overwhelm delicate flavors.

Pasta with red sauce: Chianti, Sangiovese, or Zinfandel. Italian wines with Italian food.

Pasta with cream sauce: Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Creamy wines with creamy food.

Chicken: Almost anything works. Chardonnay for white, Pinot Noir for red.

Chocolate desserts: Port, late-harvest wines, or just skip the pairing and enjoy them separately.

When in doubt: Sparkling wine works with nearly everything. Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava all feel celebratory and pair well with most foods.

Ask Safeway staff for recommendations. Tell them what you're making and they can point you to options at different price points.

Galentine's Day (February 13th)

Galentine's Day is about celebrating friendships with food, drinks, and conversation. Focus on shareable items that don't require host to be stuck in the kitchen.

Charcuterie Board

The MVP of low-effort entertaining. Everything comes from the deli and cheese section, pre-made.

What to buy:

• 2-3 cheeses: one soft (brie, camembert), one firm (cheddar, gouda), one interesting (blue, goat)

• Cured meats: salami, prosciutto, or sopressata

• Crackers and/or sliced baguette

• Accompaniments: olives, nuts, dried apricots, grapes, fig jam, honey

Assembly: Place cheeses on a large board or platter, spaced apart. Fold or roll meats and arrange between cheeses. Fill gaps with crackers, fruit, nuts, and small bowls of olives or jam.

There's no wrong way to do this. If it looks abundant, you did it right.

Easy Appetizers

Spinach artichoke dip: Buy it premade from the deli, heat according to package, serve with bread or crackers.

Bruschetta: Buy a baguette, slice, toast, top with premade bruschetta topping from a jar or the deli.

Caprese skewers: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves on toothpicks. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Frozen appetizers that work: Stuffed mushrooms, spanakopita, mini quiches, pigs in blankets. Heat according to package.

Drinks

Wine flight: Buy three bottles in different styles. Pour small tastes of each so guests can try all three.

Sparkling wine: Feels festive. Prosecco is affordable; Champagne is fancy.

Mocktail option: Sparkling water with fruit, fancy lemonades, or make a simple punch with fruit juice and ginger ale.

Dessert

Cupcakes: Everyone grabs their own. No slicing, no serving dishes.

Chocolate fondue: Interactive and fun for groups.

Cookie platter: Buy from the bakery or bake break-and-bake cookies from the refrigerator case.

Valentine's Day for Kids

Classroom Valentines

Pre-made valentine card packs are in the seasonal aisle starting in January. Most include 20-30 cards. Many come with attached candy, stickers, or small tattoos.

Buy early. By February 12th, the good ones (characters kids actually like) are picked over.

Valentine's Breakfast

Start the day festive without much effort:

• Heart-shaped pancakes (pour batter freehand or use a cookie cutter on cooked pancakes)

• Pink milk (one drop of red food coloring)

• Strawberries or raspberries

• Heart-shaped toast (use a cookie cutter)

Family Dinner Ideas

Heart-shaped pizza: See recipe above. Kids can help add toppings.

Pink pasta: Blend roasted red peppers into alfredo sauce for pink color without weird flavor. Or use beet pasta if your store carries it.

Fondue night: Cheese fondue for dinner (bread, vegetables, apple slices for dipping), chocolate fondue for dessert. Kids love dipping things.

Build-your-own tacos: Not Valentine's-themed, but kids love it and it's easy.

Valentine's Treats

• Heart-shaped cookies from the bakery

• Cupcakes with pink/red frosting

• Conversation hearts

• Chocolate hearts

• Strawberries with whipped cream

Breakfast in Bed

Low-Effort Version

• Croissants from the bakery (warm them briefly in the oven)

• Fresh berries

• Orange juice

• Coffee

• A single rose in a small vase

More Effort Version

• Scrambled eggs or an omelet

• Bacon or sausage

• Toast with butter and jam

• Fresh-squeezed orange juice (buy oranges and squeeze them)

• Coffee

• Flowers on the tray

The key to breakfast in bed: have everything ready before you wake them up. Prep the tray, cook the food, then make the delivery.

Setting the Mood

Candles

Tea lights and pillar candles create ambiance. Use unscented candles during dinner so they don't compete with food aromas. Safeway carries basic candles in the home section.

Flowers

A small arrangement on the table adds color without blocking eye contact across the table. Or scatter rose petals if you want drama (pick them up before bed or they'll stain).

Music

Background music at low volume. Spotify and Apple Music have Valentine's playlists ready to go. Keep it quiet enough for conversation.

The Table

Use your better plates if you have them. Cloth napkins instead of paper. Dim the overhead lights if possible. Small touches signal "this is special" even if the food is simple.

Common Questions

What's the easiest Valentine's dinner to make?

Steak. Season with salt and pepper, sear in a hot pan 3-4 minutes per side, rest 5 minutes. Pair with a bagged salad and bakery bread. Total active time: 15 minutes.

What if I can't cook?

Safeway's prepared foods section has rotisserie chicken, pre-made sides, and heat-and-eat meals. Buy a rotisserie chicken, a nice salad, bakery bread, and a bottle of wine. Plate it nicely. Nobody needs to know you didn't cook.

What wine should I buy?

Tell the Safeway staff what you're eating and ask for a recommendation. Or: Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, Sauvignon Blanc with seafood, Prosecco if you want something bubbly.

Does Safeway have chocolate-covered strawberries?

Yes, in the bakery section. They sell out, so buy early or order online. Or make your own (see recipe above).

What's Galentine's Day?

February 13th. A day to celebrate female friendships, typically with brunch, dinner, or drinks. The term comes from the TV show Parks and Recreation.

Can I order a custom cake?

Yes, but give the bakery 24-48 hours notice minimum. Longer for elaborate designs.

What can I make that looks impressive but is actually easy?

Shrimp scampi. It looks restaurant-quality but takes 20 minutes. Chocolate-dipped strawberries also look impressive and take minimal skill.

What's a good vegetarian option?

Mushroom risotto, eggplant parmesan, pasta primavera, or a nice cheese-heavy pasta like cacio e pepe. Safeway's prepared foods section often has vegetarian options.

Where can I find more recipes?

Safeway has a full recipe section at safeway.com/recipes with shoppable ingredient lists. You can add all the ingredients for a recipe directly to your cart.