Waking up to a lovey-dovey Valentine's Day breakfast is sweet and we know you're already thinking about that romantic dinner for two, but what's the best way to celebrate February 14 as a holiday of love when you're at work or your kids are at school? The answer, of course, is to pack a Valentine's Day lunch. After all, there's nothing that will put a smile on your loved one's face faster than a steak sandwich and a heart-shaped cookie. Just don't forget to leave a sweet Valentine's Day message in the lunchbox!
Whether you're looking for cute Valentine's Day lunch ideas for kids or cozy winter recipes to share with your sweetheart, the list ahead has tons of ways to make an afternoon meal feel special. You can choose from mini calzones that are great for grabbing on the go or opt for a hearty soup recipe like chicken tortellini or turkey chili. If a heart-shaped food is what you're after, try making our homemade cheese pizza in the shape of a heart! Or grab your Valentine's Day cookie cutters to cut out heart-shaped pieces of bread, then use it for making Ree Drummond's chicken salad sandwiches. We've even included a few Valentine's Day treats—because this holiday wouldn't be complete without chocolate-covered strawberries!
1
Mini Calzones
These meat-filled pizza pockets are great for grabbing on the go, so you can spend more time doing all those cute Valentine's Day activities! Just don't forget to marinara sauce for dipping.
Get the Mini Calzones recipe.
2
Lobster Bisque
Make lunchtime feel special and elegant by whipping up this lobster bisque. The creamy soup made with Creole seasoning and warm garlic butter lobster tails is the ideal pairing for a grilled cheese sandwich.
Get the Lobster Bisque recipe.
3
Meatball Sub
This is one sandwich that's sure to wow your loved one! The saucy, meaty, over-the-top subs are loaded with homemade meatballs and melty cheese. Be sure to hollow out some of the center of the bread to create a nice little place for the meatballs to sit.
Get the Meatball Sub recipe.
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4
Shrimp and Grits
If you thought your sweetheart made you weak in the knees, just wait until you try this shrimp and grits! It's a comforting Southern classic with just the right amount of spice thanks to Cajun seasoning and jalapeño pepper.
Get Ree's Shrimp and Grits recipe.
5
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
A big batch of chili is the perfect lunch for enjoying with family or a group of friends for your Galentine's Day party. Put out small bowls of toppings, like diced avocado, shredded cheese, and corn chips, and let your guests build their own chili bowls.
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
6
Heart Cookies
Looking for a treat that doubles as a homemade food gift? Try baking a batch of heart-shaped sugar cookies topped with pink frosting and cute sprinkles. It's just about the sweetest way to celebrate February 14.
Get the Heart Cookies recipe.
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7
Pesto Caprese Panini
Anything made with pesto is the key to Ree's heart! Use the herby spread with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and roasted red peppers on this grilled panini sandwich.
Get Ree's Pesto Caprese Panini recipe.
8
French Onion Soup
You don't need a trip to Paris to get a taste of this classic French soup. The cheesy, savory dish is everything you want in a Valentine's Day lunch served right at home.
Get Ree's French Onion Soup recipe.
9
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Add a few of these flaky bites to your lunchbox alongside a thermos or container of soup. They're swirled with salty ham, melty cheese, and some ranch-flavored cream cheese for good measure.
Get the Ham and Cheese Pinwheels recipe.
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10
Fruit Salad with Grapefruit-Vanilla Syrup
If you're looking to add something pink to your lunchbox, try a fruit salad made with grapefruit, strawberries, raspberries, and red grapes. It's a sweet way to say, "I love you!"
Get Ree's Fruit Salad with Grapefruit-Vanilla Syrup recipe.
11
Steak Sandwiches with Wasabi Cream Sauce
Ree knows that the way to her hubby's heart is with a good steak recipe. And serving it up on a sandwich with melty Swiss cheese and a spicy sauce is a surefire way to make his heart sing at lunchtime.
Get Ree's Steak Sandwiches with Wasabi Cream Sauce recipe.
12
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Skip the fancy store-bought chocolates and make your own chocolate-covered strawberries instead! It's a fun activity that even your kids can help to do. Have them sprinkle on a variety of fun toppings like nonpareils, chopped pistachios, toasted coconut, and even freeze-dried strawberries.
Get the Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe.
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13
Italian Meatball Soup
This tomato-based soup is hearty and filling thanks to mini meatballs, potatoes, veggies, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. It's delicious on its own, but would also be great with a piece of garlic bread for dunking.
Get Ree's Italian Meatball Soup recipe.
14
Taco Salad
Even a hungry cowboy will love this fresh salad bowl. That's because it's topped with plenty of ground beef, shredded cheese, jalapeño slices, or any of your favorite taco toppings. Oh, and plenty of tortilla chips on top!
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
15
Classic Cheese Pizza
The perks of making pizza from scratch means that you can shape the dough any way you like—and on Valentine's Day, a heart-shaped pizza is the way to go! Our tips and tricks make it easy for you to feel like a pro.
Get the Classic Cheese Pizza recipe.
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16
Red Velvet Brownies
These decadent treats combine three desserts in one: red velvet cake, brownies, and cheesecake! It's a holiday mash-up that's sure to impress a date.
Get the Red Velvet Brownies recipe.
17
Chicken Salad
Here's a fun Valentine's Day idea: use heart-shaped cookie cutters to punch out shapes in your favorite sandwich bread. Then, use it to make little heart-shaped sandwiches for Ree's all-time favorite chicken salad.
Get Ree's Chicken Salad recipe.
18
Shrimp Scampi
Keep your lunch quick and easy (yet still elegant) with this shrimp scampi that's ready in just 15 minutes! You can serve it with garlic bread or over angel hair pasta depending on your sweetie's preferences.
Get Ree's Shrimp Scampi recipe.
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19
Chicken Tortellini Soup
Nothing will make you feel warm and cozy quite like a bowl of chicken soup! Instead of noodles, this recipe uses cheese-filled tortellini for even more comforting flavor.
Get the Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe.
20
Pan-Fried Ribeye
Steak for lunch? Hey, it is Valentine's Day, after all! You can serve this perfectly seared ribeye over a big leafy green salad or even layer the slices onto a steak sandwich if you're on-the-go. Either way, it's so worth it!
Get Ree's Pan-Fried Ribeye recipe.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or opinions, but I can provide you with information related to the concepts used in this article. Here's a breakdown of the concepts mentioned:
Valentine's Day Lunch Ideas:
Valentine's Day lunch can be a special way to celebrate the holiday of love, whether you're at work or your kids are at school. It's a chance to pack a lunch that will put a smile on your loved one's face. The article suggests various lunch ideas to make the meal feel special and romantic.
Mini Calzones:
Mini calzones are meat-filled pizza pockets that are easy to grab and enjoy on the go. They can be a fun and tasty option for a Valentine's Day lunch.
Lobster Bisque:
Lobster bisque is a creamy soup made with Creole seasoning and warm garlic butter lobster tails. It can be an elegant and indulgent choice for a Valentine's Day lunch, especially when paired with a grilled cheese sandwich.
Meatball Sub:
A meatball sub is a sandwich loaded with homemade meatballs and melty cheese. It's a saucy and flavorful option that can impress your loved one.
Shrimp and Grits:
Shrimp and grits is a comforting Southern classic dish. It typically consists of shrimp cooked with Cajun seasoning and jalapeño pepper, served over creamy grits. It can be a delicious and slightly spicy choice for a Valentine's Day lunch.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili:
Turkey chili is a hearty and flavorful option for a Valentine's Day lunch. Making a big batch of chili in a slow cooker allows you to enjoy it with family or friends. You can provide various toppings like diced avocado, shredded cheese, and corn chips for your guests to customize their bowls.
Heart Cookies:
Heart-shaped sugar cookies topped with pink frosting and cute sprinkles can be a sweet treat and a homemade food gift for Valentine's Day.
Pesto Caprese Panini:
A panini made with pesto, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and roasted red peppers can be a delicious and flavorful option for a Valentine's Day lunch.
French Onion Soup:
French onion soup is a classic French dish known for its cheesy and savory flavors. It can be a comforting choice for a Valentine's Day lunch.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels:
Ham and cheese pinwheels are flaky bites swirled with salty ham, melty cheese, and ranch-flavored cream cheese. They can be a tasty addition to your lunchbox.
Fruit Salad with Grapefruit-Vanilla Syrup:
A fruit salad made with grapefruit, strawberries, raspberries, and red grapes can add a touch of pink to your lunchbox. It's a sweet and refreshing way to say "I love you."
Steak Sandwiches with Wasabi Cream Sauce:
A steak sandwich with melty Swiss cheese and a spicy wasabi cream sauce can be a satisfying and flavorful option for a Valentine's Day lunch.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
Making your own chocolate-covered strawberries can be a fun activity for Valentine's Day. You can sprinkle them with various toppings like nonpareils, chopped pistachios, toasted coconut, or freeze-dried strawberries.
Italian Meatball Soup:
Italian meatball soup is a tomato-based soup filled with mini meatballs, potatoes, veggies, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. It's a hearty and delicious option for a Valentine's Day lunch.
Taco Salad:
A taco salad topped with ground beef, shredded cheese, jalapeño slices, and tortilla chips can be a flavorful and satisfying lunch option.
Classic Cheese Pizza:
Making pizza from scratch allows you to shape the dough into a heart shape for Valentine's Day. It can be a fun and delicious option for lunch.
Red Velvet Brownies:
Red velvet brownies combine the flavors of red velvet cake, brownies, and cheesecake. They can be a decadent and impressive treat for Valentine's Day.
Chicken Salad:
Using heart-shaped cookie cutters to make little heart-shaped sandwiches with chicken salad can be a fun Valentine's Day idea.
Shrimp Scampi:
Shrimp scampi is a quick and easy dish that can be served with garlic bread or over angel hair pasta. It's a simple yet elegant option for a Valentine's Day lunch.
Chicken Tortellini Soup:
Chicken tortellini soup is a warm and comforting choice for a Valentine's Day lunch. The soup is made with cheese-filled tortellini for added flavor.
Pan-Fried Ribeye:
Pan-fried ribeye steak can be a delicious and indulgent option for a Valentine's Day lunch. It can be served over a big leafy green salad or used to make a steak sandwich.
These are just some of the ideas and recipes mentioned in the article for a Valentine's Day lunch. The specific recipes and instructions can be found in the original article.
