18 Fancy Dinner Ideas (Easy Fancy Meals that You Can Make at Home)
on Sep 12, 2021, Updated Nov 19, 2023
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Whether you’re surprising someone with a romantic dinner or celebrating an anniversary, you can create restaurant-quality recipes at home for less than half the cost. We’ve collected 18 easy but Fancy Dinner Ideas that you can make at home.
What Should I Serve for a Fancy Dinner?
When it comes to fancy dinner ideas, you’ve got lots to choose from. Steak, pasta, and seafood are popular choices for special occasions. A nice bottle of wine and some fancy desserts are always a good idea with a fancy dinner.
Romantic Fancy Dinner Meals for Two
Sous Vide Lobster Tails with Lemon Butter
It doesn’t get much fancier than this! These sous vide lobster tails are unbelievably tender and smothered in a flavorful lemon butter sauce.
Perfect Pan-Seared Filet Mignon
Tender, juicy pan-seared filet mignon is the quintessential meal for special occasions and date night. Serve with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables
Marry Me Chicken
Don’t be surprised if you get a proposal after serving juicy pieces of chicken in a creamy parmesan sauce. Best of all, it’s ready in under 30 minutes!
Date Night Sirloin Steak for Two
Make it a romantic evening at home with this succulent pan-seared sirloin steak. It’s cheaper than filet mignon with no compromise on flavor.
Easy Gourmet Dinner Ideas
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Tender chicken breast filets are rubbed with brown sugar and herbs, wrapped in bacon and baked to perfection. Serve with roasted potatoes for a restaurant-quality date night meal.
Boneless Prime Rib Roast
Slow-roasted beef is a mouthwatering option for your next at-home celebration. Perfect for family gatherings and dinner parties!
Best Tomahawk Steak Recipe
A tomahawk steak is a classic ribeye steak with an extra-long bone for an impressive, Instagram-worthy entree. Grill or bake and serve with diced potatoes and garlic butter broccolini.
Air Fryer BBQ Ribs
These sticky-sweet BBQ ribs are sinfully good! Skip the rib house and use your air fryer to make delicious baby back ribs at home.
Penne Pasta with Vodka Sauce
Penne alla vodka is a classic dish that you’ll find on most Italian-American menus. Enjoy this creamy, comforting pasta dish as a special weekend treat.
Seafood Gumbo
Lovers of Cajun cuisine are in for a treat with this thick and satisfying seafood gumbo. It’s the next best thing to visiting NOLA.
Best Seafood Boil
This seafood boil is garlicky and buttery with just the right amount of spice. You won’t be able to resist these succulent pieces of shrimp, crab and crayfish.
Creamy Chicken Piccata
Tender pieces of pan-seared chicken breast are simmered in a rich, creamy lemon butter sauce. Chicken piccata is the Italian meal you’ve been craving!
Elegant Fancy Dinner Ideas for Parties
Little Neck Clams with White Wine and Garlic
Little neck clams are gently steamed and simmered in a white wine sauce for a deceptively easy seafood dinner.
Perfect Sous Vide Porterhouse Steak
Sous vide steak comes out perfectly every single time! The Porterhouse is one of the most desirable cuts of meat, making it perfect for a special occasion at home.
Easy Smothered Pork Chops
Succulent pork chops are smothered in a creamy onion sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes and broccoli for a dinner the whole family will love.
Party Lasagna
Upside down lasagna is meaty, cheesy and perfect for feeding a group. With this unique cooking method, it’s quick and easy to make this hearty meal from scratch.
Sous Vide Scallops with Lemon Butter
Scallops are prized for their incredibly tender texture and slightly-sweet taste. Toss them in a classic lemon butter sauce for a simple, yet impressive entree.
The Best Crawfish Pie
Delicious bits of crawfish and mixed veggies make a flavorful filling for this seafood pot pie. With its flaky, buttery crust, it’s the ultimate Cajun comfort food.
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Fancy Dinner Ideas: Bacon Wrapped Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 12 strips bacon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix brown sugar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium mixing bowl.
- Lay the chicken breasts on a work surface, and rub about 2 tablespoons of brown sugar onto each.
- Wrap each chicken breast with about bacon strips with slight overlap, starting and finishing on the bottom of the breast to secure if possible.
- Place the wrapped chicken into a baking pan and sprinkle any remaining brown sugar mixture on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, brushing with the juices every 10 minutes and rotating the pan for even browning. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
