Sometimes preparing a home-cooked meal can be way better than venturing out to a restaurant. With this list of 30 fancy dinner ideas, you can turn a dinner party or anniversary dinner into something memorable!
Even if you want to celebrate that you made it through the week, you can prepare a delicious dinner at home, fitting for the occasion!
Many of these recipes are perfect for beginners so novices and professionals alike can prepare a special dinner.
Compare these to what you would get at a five-star restaurant.
Making it yourself makes it so much more special!
There are appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and even desserts listed here that can turn any dinner into an occasion worth remembering.
Baked Escargot, Truffle Risotto, and Ahi Tuna Steaks are some of the great foods you can prepare for a special dinner.
End your night with some Chocolate Truffles or Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee to satisfy your sweet tooth after a delicious meal.
Whatever the occasion may be, there is no going wrong with following a few of these recipes for an amazing dinner that will feel like a five-star experience, all in the comfort of your own home!
When it comes to fancy foods, caviar may be one of the first things we think of.
There is very little that needs to be done to get the salmon eggs ready to enjoy and a grand total of only three basic ingredients in addition to your caviar.
This is a great way to add a bit of luxury to your dinner in a very simple way.
These Garlic Butter Lamb Chops are incredibly juicy and flavorful making them a shoo-in for your upcoming fancy dinner.
The garlic butter sauce used with these lamb chops is very easy to prepare but will completely elevate the food to the next level!
This entire dish can be prepared in about 20 minutes so rest assured you can spend more of your night enjoying your food rather than cooking it all!
This is a classic way to start off a special dinner but it is timeless and has withstood the test of time!
The cocktail sauce for this shrimp is very easy to prepare with no complicated ingredients.
Cooking the shrimp to the right plump texture is also very easy and takes no time at all!
Buying scallops for dinner can add up in cost so when the special occasion calls for it, it is important to have a foolproof plan to ensure they turn out perfectly!
With the right tips and tricks up your sleeve, preparing scallops can be a lot easier than you may believe!
The lemon butter sauce is also incredible when paired with the seafood dish.
For your fancy dinner, this is a great side dish, but it tastes so good you will want to have it as your entire meal!
To make your dinner a little easier, you can prep this up until baking and when it is almost time for dinner, pop it in the oven.
Even if you serve this for a crowd, you will struggle to find someone who doesn’t fall in love with this!
This may be something you have tried at a luxury restaurant and would have thought that it was out of your skillset to prepare, but that is incorrect!
This is an easier version compared to the traditional method that will impress everyone!
Preparing steak for dinner is always a great idea to celebrate a special occasion or to make your dinner a little bit fancier.
Those who are new to grilling steaks will feel relieved to know that cooking your sirloin to perfection is all about putting care into the preparation.
With the right cut and rub for your steak, it will go from just another steak to something you will be known for!
Risotto may be a comforting dish but that does not mean it can’t also be fancy!
With some truffle oil added in, you will get depth to the flavors present in the dish with added earthiness and richness.
A little bit of truffle oil goes a long way so be thoughtful about how much you add in since you could always add a little bit more after giving it a taste.
If you want to stay away from meat being the main dish for dinner, this Stuffed Eggplant recipe will give you a taste of a filling and lavish meal.
Since there are different flavors and textures with this dish, it will be a good idea to pair it with something simple or light like rice.
Everything comes together so well in this quick recipe!
While this looks like an extravagant and complex dessert, it is actually very easy to prepare at home.
If you know that the night of your dinner you will be busy, you can prepare this ahead of time and save the torching (the fun part) for right before serving.
Even without a torch, you can broil your dessert, just be sure to keep an eye on it so the sugar stays a golden color.
11. Duck Confit
Elegant dinners don’t necessarily have to be complicated.
This Duck Confit recipe shows you a way to enjoy a crispy yet juicy dish in an incredibly easy way.
When it comes to sides to serve with duck confit, the options are endless since it tastes great with nearly everything!
12. Gnocchi
Despite how easy it is to prepare, homemade potato gnocchi can add so much to your meal!
There are a few different ways to serve gnocchi so whatever you decide is best for your dinner will work great with this pasta!
You can even make a large batch and freeze it for another time if you know there is another special event coming up soon.
13. Lemon Sorbet
A refreshing and luxurious dessert without dairy is entirely possible!
This sorbet will feel like you are eating some lemon-flavored snow!
You will want to plan ahead of time to prepare this due to needing to let it freeze but aside from that, it is super easy with only four ingredients.
When people find out that this chicken dish is baked rather than fried, they will be in disbelief!
It has a crispy texture with melted cheese and warm ham inside the juicy piece of chicken.
Dijon cream sauce makes this already delicious dish so much better, so try to include that when you prepare this!
There is a lot of freedom in choosing what to put into your sushi but the two things you absolutely need are high-quality sushi fish as well as great rice!
Aside from that, you can decide whether to prepare maki (sushi roll) or nigiri (fish on rice), what to include inside, and how you want to serve it.
Even if it takes a few tries to make your sushi look nice, it will taste amazing, regardless, and gives you more reason to keep practicing by making sushi for dinner!
Wagyu is premium, top-tier beef so when you prepare it as a steak for dinner, you want to ensure you have a good process as to not waste the quality meat.
Medium-rare is the best way to prepare this cut of meat since the fat will be just melted throughout the steak.
Butter, olive oil, and steak seasoning are all you need for your steak but if you prefer, you can also add in fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary or even some garlic.
If you are in the mood for some surf n turf for dinner, you need some good lobster to pair with your steak!
You will need to butterfly your lobster tail but this is a lot easier than it sounds.
By doing so, it will be much easier to brush your butter mixture throughout your lobster meat.
This is such a simple dessert but adds so much elegance and refinement to your meal.
High-quality chocolate is really all it takes to make this fancy dessert.
Melt your chocolate, dip your strawberries, and let it chill!
That’s all it takes!
Another simple yet amazing tasting side dish is these marinated tomatoes.
With the perfect mix of spices and a bit of red wine vinegar, this will be more than just a side of tomatoes!
There is a lot you can do with these tomatoes but enjoying them after they have chilled in the fridge is always a great option!
This delicious salmon recipe tastes great with the creamy coconut sauce that it is cooked with.
You can prepare this in a multitude of different ways, so you can take your pick on your favorite method to prepare salmon.
Chopped cilantro and lime wedges are simple garnishes but add a bit of elegance to the presentation and taste of your dinner!
21. Baked Escargot
The thought of having snails with your dinner may be a turnoff but after one taste, you will see why this is such a classic French dish.
Altogether, this only takes about half an hour to make so this is a great appetizer to start your dinner off with that will impress everyone!
A baguette with your escargot will be a great way to enjoy this special appetizer.
While a rack of lambs is already probably the best part of lamb you can get, the Mediterranean marinade will make it completely unforgettable.
No more going to a fancy steakhouse for special dinners once you learn that you can prepare your rack of lambs following a very simple method, all at home!
This fresh salad will be a great side dish or first course for many of your fancy dinners!
Broccolini is roasted to give it a crisp and slightly charred taste.
Crispy white beans are included for a little bit of earthiness and a crunchy texture added in.
The yogurt tahini dressing is the perfect way to top off this refreshing salad!
24. Steak Tartare
Since steak tartare features raw meat, it is important to follow the steps carefully and not take any shortcuts!
With that being said, it is still something you can enjoy after preparing for yourself, at home.
This is a great addition to your dinner that will make you feel very high class!
There are a few ingredients and steps that go into this delectable dessert.
It is super easy to make and will taste amazing and impress everyone!
If you run into any problems with your truffles, there are a few troubleshooting steps listed to help alleviate anything you may run into.
These pork chops are great for not only a quick weeknight dinner but also for making guests feel like they are getting the star treatment.
The maple balsamic vinegar sauce adds sweet, savory, and tangy all to your pork chops!
If you get the choice, try to opt for bone-in pork since it has a lot more flavor than boneless.
This is a fancy appetizer but it is actually so easy to prepare!
The puff pastry can be baked frozen and you can use either shrimp with or without tails on it.
If you prefer something milder, you can leave the spice out by not adding red pepper flakes.
28. Eton Mess
When you pull this out for dessert, everyone will assume you spent all day in the kitchen, but they won’t have to know it takes less than half an hour and four ingredients to make this magnificent treat.
There is no baking involved and if you decide to use pre-made meringue cookies, it becomes even easier!
If you are hosting a large dinner party, you can lay out all of the ingredients on a table in a buffet style and let everyone serve up their own!
This is a restaurant-quality dish with very little prep.
What else could you want to include in your fancy dinner?!
Aside from the oysters, you will probably have a lot of the ingredients ready in your pantry so this will be a great choice for impressing everyone joining your dinner party!
30. Ahi Tuna Steak
If it comes to dinner time and you forgot to prep something to eat, this recipe will save the day!
Marinating the tuna is optional so it can all come together in about six minutes!
There is tons of umami flavor from the soy sauce and toasted sesame honey marinade bringing tons to your palate making you so glad for your choice of dinner items!
The bottom line
Making a home-cooked dinner to celebrate a special occasion or to show someone you care, can be a lot easier than you may think.
These fancy dinner ideas prove you can treat yourself at home, rather than heading out to a five-star restaurant!
Top 30 BEST Fancy Dinner Mains 🌹
These 30 easy, fancy dinner ideas prove you can treat yourself at home, rather than heading out to a five-star restaurant!
Ingredients
- Salmon Caviar
- Garlic Butter Lamb Chops
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Lemon Butter Scallops
- Crab Macaroni & Cheese
- Beef Wellington
- Sirloin Steak
- Truffle Risotto
- Stuffed Eggplant With Black Bean Sauce
- Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
- Duck Confit
- Gnocchi
- Lemon Sorbet
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Maki & Nigiri Sushi
- Wagyu Ribeye Steak
- Broiled Lobster Tail
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Marinated Tomatoes
- Creamy Coconut Lime Salmon
- Baked Escargot
- Roast Rack Of Lambs
- Roasted Broccolini Salad
- Steak Tartare
- Chocolate Truffles
- Maple Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops
- Spicy Shrimp Cream Cheese Tartlets
- Eton Mess
- Oysters Rockefeller
- Ahi Tuna Steak
Instructions
- Choose your favorite recipe from our list of Ahi Tuna Steak!
- Wave your magic wand to make it your own special recipe!
- Leave a comment on our Facebook page and share your new dish.