Valentine’s Day is one of those divisive holidays, isn’t it? Some people love it. Others not so much. What are your thoughts on the holiday? Writing this had me thinking back on my own history of Valentine’s Day.

When I was a kid it meant my brother and I would come down in the morning and possibly be surprised with boxes of conversation hearts and heart shaped pancakes. In high school it was hoping my boyfriend would show up to school with a giant stuffed animal and a balloon so the whole school could see how much he adored me (lol). Beyond that, I stopped caring much about it. Some years we’ve done date nights and others we haven’t. Some years I’ve made cute little gift baskets for the kids and others I haven’t. Whatever your feelings on the day, I think it can always be counted on as a little reminder to send a little recognition to those we love. It can be romantic love for sure, but also friends (hello Galentine’s day!), pets, or family.

I feel like the marketing for Valentine’s has changed over the decades to go beyond couples and lovers into using the day to celebrate in the way that most suits your current phase of life, and for me, it’s all about my family. In that light, today I’m sharing a round-up of family Valentine’s dinner ideas to celebrate the occasion and make it feel special with your family. It does fall on a Friday this year, so maybe there will be a little more time than usual to jazz things up!

Family Valentine’s Dinner Ideas

Heart Shaped Pizzas

Make your own dough (we use my foolproof bread machine pizza dough recipe) or grab some from your local grocery (many sell dough balls in the bakery section) and enjoy this combo of fun activity and family-favorite meal. Little kids can simply have dough to play with a bigger kids and adults can practice rolling out the dough, topping it with their favorites, and watching the cheese get melty and bubbly as it bakes to perfection.

We do pizza night weekly, so I have a couple suggestions for this one:

• Crank your oven up really high about at hour before you plan to bake the pizzas. We do 450 degrees and use a pizza stone to get maximum crispiness.
• Place rolled out dough on parchment paper to ensure easier transfer in and out of the oven. We like to bake the dough for a few minutes to firm it up, then pull it out, dress it up, and return it to the oven to finish baking.
• Shred your own cheese using this viral counter top grater. There’s a reason it’s so popular right now: it allows you to easily shred your own cheese, is safe for kids (no cuts), washes easily by hand or the dishwasher, and ensures you have fresh cheese without the caking agents they use to coat pre-shredded.
• If you’re really going for some extra delight, use these sturdy mini vegetable cutters to make toppings in heart shapes!
• If you want your crust to be shiny, consider using an egg wash. Just scramble a raw egg in a bowl and use a brush to paint it along the crust before baking. Sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese to really level up your pizza game.

Fondue

Whether cheese fondue for a tasty appetizer or getting the full fondu set to cook your own meats and veggies tableside, fondue is such a great interactive experience and a fun family dinner. Whether you’re doing chocolate, cheese, broth, or oil, this fondue set is an affordable all around option.

Homemade Sushi (or sushi bowls)

Sushi for a family at a restaurant adds up quickly, but it can be made at home for a fraction of the price! Whether you use a sushi making kit or go the route of making sushi bowls, everyone can customize their roll or bowl to their own liking, ensuring accolades all around.

Steak and Baked Potatoes with Green Beans

You can’t go wrong with a classic. Transform your kitchen into a steakhouse vibe by lighting candles, pouring grape juice in fancy glasses, and serving a classic of steak (we love it cast iron style), baked potatoes, and green beans. May I recommend these easy green beans that are the most simple thing ever, yet my family’s absolute favorite?

Spaghetti

Do you want something with no fuss that you know everyone will like? Spaghetti! My mom’s sauce is my favorite, but you can also stick some frozen meatballs in the slow cooker with sauce. (If you need more crockpot options, check out these easy family favorite crockpot recipes).

Grilled Octopus

Well, that’s random, right? Yup. And that’s the beauty of it! Some of our favorite family memories have been when we picked up something completely random to try together. We’ve done grilled octopus, mussels, artichokes, etc. It’s fun to try something new and laugh through the experience.

Calzone Hearts

These first made an appearance on my blog 11 years ago when I was regularly doing morning TV show appearances to share healthy eating ideas for kids. That feels like a lifetime ago and I probably need to update this How to Make Calzone Hearts post with new pictures, but until then, please enjoy a picture of my pregnant belly while I was hanging out with Uncle Joey- lol!

The short of this is easy- use pizza dough to create a hand-sized heart cut outs. Top with sauce and cheese. Top with another heart cut out and use a fork to press and seal the edges together. Bake, and enjoy!

Pink and Red Food

This one isn’t as much up my ally, but if you love a good color theme, then Valentine’s Day is an easy one to lean into. Beet hummus, salmon, strawberry ice cream, red marinara, salami, salsa, watermelon, a pink alfredo, bruschetta – there are some fun options that could lend themselves to a memorable family experience!

Your Family’s Favorite

Don’t go crazy on a new Valentine’s dinner if what your family will enjoy and appreciate most isa classic family favorite. Need some ideas? My family’s favorite dinners can be found here. Make a comforting favorite and sprinkle heart confetti around the table, and play some family conversation games. No need for anything fancy; just the time together is what matters most.

How To Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Family

*If you have time- Make it a Multi-Course Meal

This does not need to be fancy food at all, but doing a bread basket to start and then a simple caprese salad (cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, basil, balsamic), then the main event will feel like such a fun switch up to business as usual. Really want to shake things up? Make it a progressive dinner! Perhaps it starts with appetizers on the porch, followed by the entree in the dining area, and dessert in the living room. Little deviations from the norm make a big impact.

*If you have time- Decorate

The biggest bang for your buck is always going to be a themed tablecloth, streamers, and my kids’ favorite- the doorway curtain.

*Whether you have extra time or not- Use Fancy Glassware!

My kids love a fancy glass and drinking from one kicks any occasion up a notch. Use the wine glasses or water glasses you already have in your cabinets, or check out this super cute and unbreakable option.

*Choose Some Entertainment.

Whether it’s playing Italian music while making pizzas, taking on each other in Catan, or cozying up for a movie (Beauty & The Beast, The Parent Trap, Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, and The Princess Bride are some fun options), pick something to do during or after dinner to extend the good vibes.

*Celebrate What You Love About Each Other.

Cut out paper hearts and have each person write one thing they love about each family member on it and have the hearts waiting at that person’s dinner seat. Or, while enjoying dinner, go around the table and have everyone share one thing they love about each person. This can be silly and fun, and yet it will still have the desired effect of warmth and love we each feel when we hear good things about us being said aloud.

From this list, pick which dinner ideas and entertainment work best for your family Valentine during this stage of life. The day will certainly look different for everyone, but a small effort to do something a bit different can make a last impression! <3