Valentine’s Day Dinner: A Budget Friendly Three Course Meal (Plus Bonus Blog Hop!)

Valentine’s Day is in two weeks! If you’re planning on cooking a special meal at home to celebrate, going to make a memorable Galentine’s Day dinner, or do a fun brunch with friends, then now is the time to begin preparing. Look no further for meal inspiration: I have a special budget friendly three course Valentine’s Day Dinner for you!

This post is also extra special because it’s a collaboration with some of my favorite bloggers! These wonderful ladies all have great informative blogs, and they are sharing their Valentine’s Day tips, treats, and crafts with you. Scroll to the bottom of the post to find the complete list.

Why stay in and cook dinner at home on Valentine’s Day? Well, here’s some background information on me: I spent ten years working in the restaurant industry. I have the inside scoop. Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year for many restaurants (aside from Mother’s Day). I worked many a 16 hour day on the infamous V-Day, and witnessed many couples having to wait for quite a long time for a table to become available. Don’t spend your Valentine’s Day waiting in line!

Do yourself a favor, and save your money and precious time and cook at home on a special holiday. (Save going out to eat until the week after, when things have calmed down.) I’ve become a major proponent of celebrating at home. A holiday such as Valentine’s Day gives me the opportunity to create a special meal for my family, which I love to do.

This year for Valentine’s Day I’ve created a special three course meal for you. Each course is easy to make, with ingredients you may already have on hand, and each is budget friendly.

If serving all three courses for dinner on Valentine’s Day, I would suggest making the dessert in advance. You can also prep all your vegetables (except perhaps the potatoes) and set them aside until it’s time to cook. Prepare the main dish first, and once it’s in the oven begin making your soup. They should be finished at nearly the same time.

Note: this entire meal serves four, so enjoy it as a couple and have leftovers the next day, feed your whole family, or invite some friends to join you!

Scroll to the end to get the printable recipes and also to see the full list of bloggers who are also writing about Valentine’s Day meals, treats, and crafts! Also, check back tomorrow for a second group of bloggers and their goodies!

First Course: Creamy Asparagus and Leek Soup

This is a delicious, creamy, and easy to make soup that’s a wonderful way to start your Valentine’s dinner. It also makes a delicious lunch with a crusty slice of buttered bread on the side!

You will need:

• 2-3 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into half moons
• 1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed and cut into inch long pieces
• 2 tbsp butter, divided
• 1 tbsp flour
• 3 cups chicken stock (I use my homemade chicken stock)
• 1 cup heavy cream, warmed
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt*
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 tsp tarragon (optional)

*If you are substituting table salt for kosher salt, decrease amount of salt by 1/4 tsp.

Directions:

In a large dutch oven melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add the sliced leeks and cook for 4 minutes. Add the asparagus pieces, stir to combine, and season with 1/2 tsp kosher salt. Cook for another 4 minutes.

Add the flour and stir to coat. Cook for two more minutes.

Add the chicken stock. Bring the soup to just barely a boil. Simmer 5-10 minutes until the asparagus is done to your liking. (You can test by pulling out a piece and sticking a fork in it.)

Add warmed cream (warming it first prevents it from curdling), and stir to combine. Turn off heat and season with 1/4 tsp white pepper and 1 tsp kosher salt.

Melt in 1 tbsp butter and add Parmesan. Add in 1/4 tsp tarragon. (The tarragon is optional. It adds a nice flavor to the soup, but if you don’t like tarragon or don’t usually stock it in your spice cabinet, it’s not necessary. The soup will still be delicious without it.)

For a lighter version of this soup, substitute half and half for the heavy cream and reduce butter by 1 tbsp.

Serve alone or with a slice of warm crusty buttered bread. I like to top mine with grated Parmesan cheese!

Second Course: Roasted Chicken Thighs and Vegetables with Butter and Herbs

This is a very easy straightforward meal you can make with ingredients you may already have on hand. It’s a delicious dinner that can be enjoyed any time of year.

Roasting the vegetables in the pan with the chicken gives them a wonderful flavor and texture.

You will need:

• 3-4 gold potatoes (depending on their size), diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 package boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• kosher salt
• black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°. Place potatoes and carrots in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Top with chicken thighs. Season chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in a bowl. Add Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Mix well. Drizzle over chicken and vegetables.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°.

Serve and enjoy!

Third Course: Cream Cheese Brownies

Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a chocolate-y dessert, so I have a recipe for some delicious cream cheese brownies. Enjoy them as they are or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:

• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg

Brownie Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 5 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease bottom of 9×13 inch pan with shortening.

Beat all cream cheese filling ingredients in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Set aside.

Melt butter and chocolate in a sauce pan over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.

Beat chocolate mixture, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a large bowl on medium speed for 1 minute. Beat in flour and salt on low speed for 30 seconds until just mixed in. Beat on medium speed for 1 more minute.

Spread 1 3/4 cups of the batter in the pan.

Spread cream cheese filling over the batter.

Drop remaining brownie batter in mounds randomly over the filling. Carefully spread to cover the cream cheese layer.

(If you’re like me, you won’t be able to spread it evenly over the cream cheese layer because the batter is so thick. Instead, I spread it as best I can then take a butter knife through the top two layers in a loose zig zag to create a marbling effect.)

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about two hours.

Cut your brownies and enjoy!

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Check out these other amazing bloggers and what they’re doing for Valentine’s Day!

Brianne’s Zero Waste gift idea: reusable/heatable/chillable neck/back wrap at Homemade on our Homestead

Jennifer’s take on Romance vs. Love as well as a Blood Orange Tart at Yellow Rose Jenny

Misty’s devotional “Blueprint for Marriage” at Our Grace Filled Journey

Amy’s Valentine’s Day post at Essentially Handmade

Lyndsy’s Salted Cashew Clusters at Treasured Oak Springs

Rachael’s tips for having a wonderful Valentine’s Day on a budget at Australian Working Mama

Kelly’s Valentine’s Day family tradition and recipe for Cream Cheese Pie with chocolate covered strawberries at The Willow Mama

Check back tomorrow for another group of wonderful bloggers!

Dana’s all about Valentine’s Day at home – after this kids go to bed! – at St. Martha’s Lens

Anja’s tutorial for a sweet pressed flower card (appropriate for children as well!) at Our Gabled Home

Callie’s Valentine’s Day decor and free prints at This Corbett Life

Jersey’s tutorial for a keepsake ornament at Farmhouse Basic Collection

Julie’s Romantic Stay-In Dinner Date at This Beautiful Farmlife

Wendy’s Heart-Shaped Organic Dog Treats for our furry family members (and a free gift tag) at Little House Simple Living

Gabrielle’s Food, Crafts, and Fun with toddlers at Life with the Correas