15 Fancy Dinner Recipes for Restaurant-Quality Meals at Home
You don't have to go out for a special meal. Make these recipes and wow your guests.
You don't need a culinary degree to make fancy dinner recipes. Special ingredients make these restaurant-quality meals stand above the rest, whether it's an extra splash of cream, a homemade glaze, or a sprinkle of fresh herbs. Including lobster tails, steak, and salmon, these dishes are perfect options for any special occasion. We've included some sides and desserts to spark those dinner menu ideas.
Related: 19 Sunday Dinner Recipes to Start Your Week Off Right
Macaroni and Brie with Crab
Take your macaroni and cheese to the next level with succulent lump crabmeat and a pound of melty Brie. A golden bread crumb topping and a mini wedge of cheese finish this fancy dinner recipe.
Serve with: Herbed Garden Couscous and Sparkling Rosé Blueberry Floats
Related: South Indian-Style Macaroni and Cheese
Scandinavian Steak and Potatoes
Wonderful things happen when you combine tiny new potatoes and flat iron steak (a well-marbled, highly tender cut of meat) with rich Scandinavian spices. Give those lemon halves a quick char in your pan before squeezing over this fancy meat dish.
Serve with: Slow-Cooked Sourdough Peasant Bread and Pomegranate Pavlova with Pistachios and Honey
Seared Scallops and Baby Spinach with Spiced Pomegranate Glaze
Scallops are a classic fancy dinner recipe that makes any meal feel like a celebration. Those quick-cooking scallops are served over a bed of spinach with a homemade pomegranate glaze for a seafood dinner so good you'll want to lick the plate clean.
Serve with: Sweet Ricotta and Strawberry Parfaits
Double-Smoked Salmon with Horseradish Cream
This salmon's so nice because we smoked it twice. Not only did we stuff fresh fillets with packaged smoked salmon and horseradish cream, but we popped them on the grill with hickory wood chips for a second layer of smoky flavor in this fancy dinner recipe.
Serve with: Lentil Pilaf and Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
Related: Salmon Pot Pie
Lemony Mussels with Cherry Tomatoes and Potatoes
A citrus and white wine sauce braises the mussels in this savory seafood dinner. The best part about this fancy dinner recipe is that it comes together super fast in your Instant Pot. Serve with a chunk of crusty bread so no drop gets left behind.
Cauliflower Steaks with Hazelnuts & Browned Butter
For an easy, fancy dinner recipe (that just so happens to be vegetarian), give cauliflower steaks a try. Seasoned with salt and pepper, all it takes is a quick sear on a screaming-hot cast-iron skillet to bring out the flavor. The browned butter sauce, crunchy hazelnuts, and lemon zest provide a picture-perfect finish.
Serve with: Green Beans with Almonds and Chocolate Cannoli
Beef Steaks Wellington
There's a reason this classic English dish was named after a duke. It's fit for royalty. Topped with pate, wrapped in flaky pastry, and drizzled with a rich mushroom sauce, this beef Wellington recipe will transport you to a table at the fanciest restaurant in town.
Serve with: Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Custards
Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Roll-Ups
Chicken breasts don't have to be boring. Turn it into a fancy dinner recipe by rolling it with garlic-herb goat cheese, baby arugula, and roasted red peppers. Dried-tomato pesto gives the gourmet recipe an added layer of Mediterranean flavor.
Serve with: Acorn Squash and Beet Salad and Salted Caramel Pots de Creme
Baby Beet and Flank Steak Salad Dijon
Serve up juicy flank steak in a colorful new format by pairing it with sweet baby beets on toasty Parmesan-crusted French bread. A homemade honey-mustard vinaigrette really takes this fancy dinner recipe to the next level.
Serve with: Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Chicken with Marsala Risotto
Yes, you can make restaurant-quality risotto right in your own kitchen. This take on a classic Italian dish gets an earthy flavor from cremini mushrooms and richness from Marsala wine. Your entire family will rave over this gourmet dinner for days afterward.
Serve with: Garlic Roasted Asparagus and Almond-Tangerine Panna Cotta
Japanese Roast Chicken
Classic roast chicken gets some international flair thanks to a zesty Japanese seven-spice rub. Complete the show-stopping fancy dinner recipe with baby carrots and bok choy simmered in sesame oil.
Serve with: Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Make eggplant the feature of your fancy meal with this lightened-up Italian favorite. Whole wheat bread crumbs give the vegetable a crispy coating that pairs perfectly with your favorite wine.
Serve with: Classic Zabaglione
Pan-Seared Salmon with Tomato Pesto
Make your fancy dinner recipe feel more special by taking the time to prepare a homemade sauce, dressing, or glaze. The tomato pesto that flavors these fresh salmon fillets is made with both dried and fresh tomatoes, green olives, and fresh basil.
Serve with: Rustic Blood Orange Tart with Salted Pecan Crust
Roast Duck with Blackberry-Orange Sauce
Complement the rich flavor of roasted duck with a bright blackberry-citrus sauce. After roasting, use leftover duck fat to flavor your choice of roasted root vegetables for an elegant dinner.
Serve with: Roasted Root Vegetables
Portobello Pot Roast
Meaty mushrooms take the place of beef in this easy fancy dinner recipe. Perfect for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, grate some fresh horseradish on top to add a unique kick to your dish.
Serve with: Ginger-Pear Galette
Delicious Desserts for Special Meals
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