If you’re looking to bring a touch of elegance to your dinner table, this collection of 35 Fancy Dinner Recipes is the perfect guide.
Whether you’re hosting a special gathering or simply treating yourself to a refined meal at home, these recipes will help you create restaurant-quality dishes with ease.
From rich, flavorful appetizers to perfectly crafted main courses, you’ll discover a range of meals designed to impress.
Our selection includes a variety of cuisines and ingredients to suit any taste.
These recipes focus on not just taste but also presentation, making your meal feel as special as it tastes. Simple plating techniques can transform your dinner into a visual feast, adding that “wow” factor to any dish. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or someone just starting to explore finer cooking, these recipes are easy to follow and offer clear steps to help you master the art of fancy dinner at home. So, gather your ingredients, set the table, and prepare to wow yourself and your guests with dishes that look and taste like they came from a five-star restaurant!
Why You will Love Fancy Dinner Recipes:
You’ll love fancy dinner recipes because they allow you to transform any meal into an extraordinary experience. Whether it’s for a special occasion or just because you want to elevate a regular evening, these recipes give you the chance to explore new flavors, ingredients, and techniques that bring a sense of luxury to your fancy dinner table. Fancy dinner recipes also offer a creative outlet, letting you experiment with presentation and plating. Additionally, these fancy dinner recipes provide an opportunity to impress your family or guests. Imagine the joy of serving a meal that not only tastes exquisite but also looks like it was made by a professional chef.
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1. Filet with Red Wine Reduction
Source: dinnerthendessert
Filet Mignon with Red Wine Reduction is a tender, mouthwatering recipe that’s cooked in the oven in under 10 minutes and perfect for any special fancy dinner.
2. Lobster Thermidor Recipe
Source: beyondthebayoublog
Lobster Thermidor is the kind of recipe that feels like an indulgent treat, but with a little patience and the right approach, it’s absolutely doable at home.
3. Coq au Vin
Source: oliviascuisine
Coq au Vin is a traditional French stew where chicken is slowly braised in red wine and garnished with mushrooms and pearl onions. Nourishing and comforting, it is easy enough to serve to your family on a cold night, but also so rich and decadent that it will definitely impress friends at a fancy dinner party.
4. Beef Wellington Recipe
Source: houseofnasheats
Whether it’s a special anniversary meal or you are just serving Sunday dinner to you family or guests, Beef Wellington is always the much-anticipated star of the table!
5. Garlic Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb
Source: platingsandpairings
This Rack of Lamb with Herb Crust recipe is juicy, tender and delicious. Cooked in the oven to a perfect medium-rare and encrusted with parmesan cheese & fresh herbs.
6. Lemon Butter Scallops Recipe
Source: foxandbriar
You will never believe how easy and fast it is to make Pan Seared Scallops with a Lemon Butter Sauce. Sweet, buttery and delicate Sea Scallops are quickly seared in a hot pan, then a simple lemon, butter and garlic sauce is made in the same pan.
7. Easy Chicken Marsala
Source: saltandlavender
This chicken marsala recipe is an Italian-American classic! It has juicy pan-fried chicken smothered in a creamy wine and mushroom sauce. It’s a 30-minute dish that’s simple to master in your own kitchen.
8. Osso Buco – Classic Milan, Italy (Milanese) Cuisine
Source: italianbellavita
One of the most infamous and delicious recipes from Milan is Osso Buco.
9. Duck Breast a L’Orange with Oven Roasted Potatoes
Source: wednesdaynightcafe
Duck a L’Orange or canard a l’orange is a classic French dish of roast duck served with an orange sauce. This variation, using a pan-seared Moulard duck breast, takes less than an hour to cook.
10. Orzo Risotto
Source: insanelygoodrecipes
My niece and I experimented with making orzo risotto last night. And honestly, it was pretty incredible – even better than I expected.
11. Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
Source: cafedelites
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi is so quick and easy! A garlic buttery scampi sauce with a hint of white wine & lemon in less than 10 minutes!
12. Bouillabaisse Recipe
Source: diethood
Authentic French Bouillabaisse is easy to make at home! Made with fennel, saffron, white wine, garlic, and plenty of seafood, this fragrant fish stew is a tried-and-true classic.
13. Truffle Mushroom Risotto
Source: somuchfoodblog
Truffle mushroom risotto is my go-to perfect date night meal. It always looks incredibly impressive, but it’s actually a simple dish to throw fancy dinner together!
14. Red Wine Braised Short Ribs in Dutch Oven
Source: veronikaskitchen
Red Wine Braised Short Ribs is the best recipe for tender fall apart bone-in beef short ribs slow cooked with gravy in a Dutch Oven. This is a perfect comfort meal you can make at home for fancy dinner.
15. Salmon Wellington
Source: myforkinglife
This salmon wellington recipe (salmon en croute) is simple enough for a family meal, but fancy dinner enough to impress company! Easy to prep, this impressive main course is wonderfully fresh and delicious.
16. Giada Veal Saltimbocca Milanese-style
Source: giadarecipes
This delicious Giada Veal Saltimbocca Milanese-Style is prepared using veal rib chop, fontina cheese, fresh sage leaves, prosciutto di San Daniele, and panko bread crumbs.
17. Linguine with Clams
Linguine with Clams is easy to make with canned clams and has the most flavorful white wine reduction sauce with garlic, butter, simple seasonings, and a gourmet flair!
18. Spinach and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Source: foolproofliving
Spinach and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast is a classic weeknight dinner for goat cheese lovers everywhere. Juicy, tender chicken filled with creamy, seasoned goat cheese and topped with a creamy butter sauce will have you saying goodbye to dry, bland chicken forever.
19. 25-Minute Pan-Seared Swordfish with Lemon Caper Sauce
Source: wellseasonedstudio
Pan-Seared Swordfish, a rich and meaty fish, is an easy, flavorful entrée perfect alongside most vegetables and grains. It’s made more delicious by the addition of a citrusy Lemon Caper Sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes start-to-finish, this is both impressive and delicious! Gluten-free.
20. Best Prime Rib (Garlic Herb Crust)
Are you ready for the BEST Prime Rib recipe? This is a no-fail, meltingly tender and juicy, garlic-crusted prime rib that will have all your guests swooning. This standing beef rib roast is perfect for Christmas and the holidays, or any special occasion worthy of a little splurge.
21. Wild Mushroom Risotto
Source: themodernproper
Our easy-peasy, creamy wild mushroom risotto recipe is such a richly flavorful, meatless main fancy dinner dish you’ll hunt for any excuse to make it again.
22. Easy Homemade Crispy Duck with Spicy Plum Sauce
Source: kitchensanctuary
This is my easy method for oven roasted Peking duck with crispy skin and juicy, fall-apart meat. Served up with a spicy plum sauce. There won’t be a shred left!
23. Shrimp Alfredo
Source: willcookforsmiles
This classic, easy Shrimp Alfredo recipe is made with homemade Alfredo sauce, fettuccine and juicy Parmesan coated shrimp! This is such a comforting family fancy dinner that’s ready in only 30 minutes.
24. The Best Stuffed Lobster Tails (+Video)
Source: ronalyntalston
These stuffed lobster tails will have anyone you serve them to stalking you and asking you to cook more, whether for a special occasion or date night! These baked stuffed lobster tails are ever! I mean, seriously, they are just that delicious.
25. Oven Braised Short Rib Ragu Pappardelle
Source: wellnessbykay
Short Rib Ragu Pappardelle is a hearty, bold, and incredibly delicious pasta dish! Made with bone-in beef short ribs, thick cut pappardelle pasta, red wine, Soffritto vegetables, and aromatic fresh herbs … this slow oven braised meat sauce will have your kitchen smelling delectable for hours.
26. Baked Brie with Balsamic Roasted Cranberries and Smoked Almonds
Source: letsdishrecipes
BAKED BRIE WITH BALSAMIC ROASTED CRANBERRIES AND SMOKED ALMONDS — This beautiful cranberry and brie cheese appetizer is ready to serve in less than 20 minutes.
27. Greek Lamb Shanks
Source: sweetcaramelsunday
Greek Lamb Shanks are tender, juicy and succulent. These fall off the bone shanks are marinated then oven baked and grilled to perfection! This Greek lamb shanks recipe will deliver taste, texture and a bright zesty freshness.
28. Soy Ginger Salmon
Source: wellplated
I have a habit of falling into long, energetic discussions about cooking (surprised?). One topic that especially gets me gabbing is go-to ideas. Fast and easy baked salmon recipes like this Soy Ginger Salmon are at the top of my list!
29. Truffle Macaroni and Cheese – The AI Gourmet
Source: theaigourmet
A decadent macaroni and cheese dish featuring black truffle and a blend of gourmet cheeses.
30. Best Cornish Game Hen Recipe
Source: sweetcsdesigns
One of the easiest, most affordable, and most impressive holiday dinners I love to make is a classic roasted Cornish Game Hen for each guest. Cornish game hens have a rich roast chicken flavor, are incredibly tender and hard to dry out, and are simple to serve – they look so lovely on each guest’s plate as an individual entree!
31. Crispy Halibut
If you’re looking for a dreamy seafood dish, this Crispy Halibut with classic beurre blanc is it. I don’t know if my parents have ever loved a dinner I’ve cooked for them more than this – and it only takes a few minutes to make!
32. Creamy Porcini Mushroom Pasta Recipe
Source: cucinamercato
Indulge your taste buds in the rich and earthy flavors of Italy with a delightful recipe featuring the exquisite Crema di Funghi Porcini – Porcini Mushroom Cream Oliveri. This velvety mushroom cream sauce is a true culinary masterpiece, beautifully crafted to showcase the distinct essence of porcini mushrooms.
33. Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu
Source: carlsbadcravings
This crunchy, flavorful Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe is flavor, texture fireworks (perfect for Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, etc.) but is secretly easy to prepare! Succulent, golden, crispy, Parmesan panko crusted chicken breasts are stuffed with savory Black Forest ham and tangy Gruyere Swiss cheese, rolled and baked to melty perfection, then finished with the dreamiest Dijon cream sauce.
34. Blackened Salmon
Source: simplejoy
Blackened Salmon is an easy dinner that is ready in less than 25 minutes. The flavors of our Cajun seasoning put this recipe over the top!
35. Brown Butter Sage Gnocchi
Source: lenaskitchenblog
This simple Brown Butter Sage Gnocchi takes 15 minutes yet tastes unbelievably gourmet! Browned butter and crispy sage leaves pair perfectly with soft potato dumplings and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
