Looking for ways to spice up the perfect date night in? There are a ton of creative and simple ways to spend time at home with that special someone. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day or a big anniversary, it's always a great idea to honor that special day with delicious food. And who doesn't love pizza night? Forget calling up your local pizza joint because we have a menu for one of the best date night ideas. Roll up your sleeves, break out your rolling pin because you and your date are in for a fun, cheesy pizza date night.
Cocktails
Aperol Spritz
Feel like you're in Italy with this classic, refreshing drink. With only four ingredients, you can't beat the simplicity of this cocktail- or the beautiful color! Combine Prosecco, Aperol, club soda and orange slices in a glass and enjoy while preparing dinner. Aperol is an ingredient used in the cocktail and is easy to find at the liquor store. It's an Italian bitter and has a taste similar to orange peel.
Red Wine Spritzer
Red wine and Italian food is the perfect match. Another easy wine-based, bubbly cocktail perfect for pizza date night is this Red Wine Spritzer. Beautiful color, three ingredients, low in calories, it doesn't get any better than this.
Salad
Classic Caesar Salad
I love Caesar Salad with pizza. The creaminess from the dressing goes beautifully with the pizza. This simple recipe is sure to be the ultimate starter to a delicious meal. Get the recipe here.
House Salad
Sometimes I have a hard time deciding between Caesar Salad and House Salad when I'm ordering from my local pizzeria. Most of the time, I just end up ordering both!
The salad greens and assorted veggies get tossed in a creamy Italian dressing that's absolutely divine. Feel free to prep this salad ahead of time and dress right before serving. Get the recipe here.
Pizza
Homemade Margarita Pizza
I'm a sucker for really good Margarita Pizza. No need to give me any fancy pizza toppings, just good sauce and fresh mozzarella.
Take on the (very easy) challenge of making your own pizza dough for even tastier than a store-bought crust. If you're baking this in the oven, it's recommended to bake on a pizza stone for an extra crispy crust. Feel free to add any additional toppings you and your date like-red onion, black olives, artichoke hearts, etc.
Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza
No need to travel to the windy city because it's date night in and this recipe is nothing but simple. Deep dish pizza is a little different than traditional pizza. The pizza dough is pressed into a cast iron skillet, topped with a layer of mozzarella cheese, then finished off with fresh tomato sauce. Add any additional toppings like pepperoni or vegetables can be added as well.
Chicken Pesto Flatbreads
There's something about individual pizzas that is a lot of fun. Customize your pizza or flatbread to your liking and enjoy every last bite.
These Chicken Pesto Flatbreads will allow you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your date since the recipe uses store-bought flatbreads or pitas. Top with pesto, chicken, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, Parmesan, ricotta cheese and arugula or the pizza toppings of your choice.
Dessert
Skillet Brownie
Every fun date night has to have dessert. This decadent and chocolatey skillet brownie sundae, just enough for two, will satisfy your sweet tooth after a savory dinner.
Drizzle with hot fudge and top with vanilla ice cream for even more decadence. Get the recipe here.
Italian Affogato
Affogato is one of my favorite desserts to enjoy after a meal. With just two ingredients, you can whip up this dessert in no time. Scoop creamy ice cream into a glass and pour over hot espresso. You can also add in a splash of your favorite hazelnut liqueur.
The ice cream slowly melts from the heat and is simply amazing. Get the recipe here.
Berry Cheesecake Parfait
This dessert is nice if you would rather have a fruit-based dessert. In glasses, layer the cheesecake mixture, store-bought angel food cake or pound cake and fresh berries. So easy!
