25 Festive and Fun Valentine Dinner Ideas for Kids

This heart-shaped pizza is a festive twist on pizza night. It starts with dough shaped into a heart, then gets a quick par-bake so the crust stays crisp. After that, it’s topped with sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and cute pepperoni hearts, then baked until bubbly and golden. It’s fast, customizable, and fun enough that little helpers can “decorate” it.

These potatoes are cut into little hearts with a cookie cutter. The recipe uses a smart par-cook method (quick simmer first) so they roast up faster and get extra crispy on the outside. They’re tossed in a simple marinade of olive oil, salt, pepper, and seasonings, then roasted until golden and fork-tender. They make a festive and fun side dish for your main entree!

These soft homemade rolls get a Valentine's Day makeover by shaping each piece of dough into a heart (it’s easier than it looks!). The dough is a simple yeast roll base (hot water, yeast, sugar, oil, salt, flour), then it rises until puffy and ready to shape. Each heart is made by rolling dough into a short rope, slicing to form a “V,” and folding the ends inward. Bake until golden, then brush with butter.

This classic-style Valentine board mixes savory and sweet, starting with cheeses like garlic-and-herb Boursin, cranberry Wensleydale, cheddar, and goat cheese tinted pink for a festive touch. It keeps the meat simple with Italian dry salami (including a cute “salami flower” idea) and adds a spread of grape jelly for pairing. Then it goes big on red-and-pink produce—cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and more—before filling gaps with Valentine candy like Lindor truffles and conversation hearts. It’s especially great for a kid-friendly party (or Galentine’s) because everyone can grab what they love and help build the board.

This pink pasta requires no food coloring (thanks to cooked beets). The creamy base comes from blended soaked cashews, garlic, salt, beet, and water, so it’s dairy-light but still super smooth and cozy. You just blend the sauce, toss it with al dente pasta, and finish with parmesan for a healthy, kid-friendly meal. It’s a great choice because it’s fast, pretty, and sneaks in veggies.

These adorable breadsticks start with thawed Rhodes dinner rolls, then get rolled in garlicky, Parmesan goodness before being pinched into heart shapes. After a quick rise, they’re brushed with egg wash, baked until golden, and finished with a buttery swipe while warm. They’re soft, savory, and super kid-friendly. Perfect for pairing with pasta, soup, or any Valentine's Day main dish that needs a cute side.

For this recipe, dumplings are cut into hearts using wonton wrappers and a cookie cutter. The filling is a classic savory mix (ground pork or chicken with cabbage, green onions, soy sauce, and seasonings). It tastes like a real takeout favorite with a festive flair. A quick dipping sauce (rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil/seeds, ginger, and red pepper flakes) makes them extra flavorful. They’re a fun, hands-on dinner idea for kids.

These pizza roses are made by layering marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni slices onto strips of canned pizza dough, then rolling them into roses. They bake in a muffin tin, so they come out perfectly portioned with melty cheese and those pepperoni “petals” peeking out. Serve them warm with a salad for a Valentine's meal that feels special without being too complicated.

This one’s a no-fuss, family-style dinner: brown ground beef with diced onion, then season it up with taco seasoning. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut flour tortillas into hearts, then stuff them with the beef mixture and plenty of shredded cheddar. Pan-cook until the tortillas are lightly browned and the cheese is melty, then let everyone go wild with salsa, sour cream, and/or guac. It’s simple, festive, and perfect for picky eaters who love tacos.

For this recipe, homemade pasta dough gets rolled thin, cut into hearts, and filled with a ricotta-and-spinach mixture (brightened with lemon and pepper). The sauce is a roasted blend of tomatoes, red pepper, and garlic that’s blended smooth and simmered with butter for richness. It’s the kind of Valentine's Day dinner that feels extra special.

This is less “one recipe” and more a full-on Valentine's Day dinner experience: warm, melty cheese fondue with a large tray of dippers so kids can build their own bites. The cheese fondue uses cooking wine (or chicken broth) plus shredded cheddar and gouda, thickened with a little flour and finished with salt and nutmeg. What makes it extra fun is the variety—lots of veggie options (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, peppers, etc.), plus breads/pretzels (even tortellini or tortilla chips) for maximum dipping potential. And then it goes for the grand finale with chocolate fondue and fruit/dessert dippers.

These flaky puff pastry hearts are a super cute option for lunch or dinner that kids will love. Each heart gets a thin swipe of Dijon mustard, then a simple filling of chopped ham and grated cheddar before being sealed and baked until golden. The recipe emphasizes keeping puff pastry cold so the layers bake up crisp and puffy instead of droopy. They’re perfect for a kids’ Valentine dinner spread because they’re handheld, warm, cheesy, and ideal for dunking in soup or marinara.

This heart-shaped meatloaf is described as super moist and light in texture, but still packed with big, classic meatloaf flavor. As it bakes, it’s basted with a savory, tangy glaze that keeps it tender and creates a slightly sweet crust on the outside. Vbasting while it cooks is the key to retaining moisture and locking in flavor. If you want a lighter version for kids, you can substitute ground turkey.

This cozy combo is all about tomato soup + grilled cheese, but with a Valentine twist that kids instantly get: the sandwiches are cut into hearts with a cookie cutter. It’s a great pick because it’s comforting and budget-friendly, and the heart-shaped grilled cheese makes the whole meal feel festive with minimal extra effort.

These mini heart-shaped pizzas start with small naan pitas cut into hearts, then topped with pizza sauce, provolone cheese hearts, and pepperoni hearts for an extra-fun Valentine twist. The ingredient list is short, making this ideal for a last-minute, cute Valentine's snack.

These heart-shaped caprese cups are a no-cook Valentine bite that looks fancy but takes basically no effort. You fill store-bought phyllo cups with cherry tomatoes tossed in olive oil and balsamic, then top each one with a tiny mozzarella heart and a sprinkle of basil. The sweet-tangy tomato + creamy mozzarella combo tastes like classic caprese in the cutest little package.

This is pizza night disguised as a cheesy pasta bake, and it’s made with just four main ingredients: pasta, marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni. You mix everything up, air-fry until the cheese melts, then add more pepperoni on top so it gets hot and bubbly (you can even cut the pepperoni into mini hearts for Valentine flair). It's festive, delicious, and super weeknight-friendly.

These enchiladas are layered into a heart shape using tortilla hearts, refried beans, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, and two kinds of cheese. They bake up melty and saucy in a small heart-shaped springform pan, then you can drizzle extra enchilada sauce on top for a “restaurant-style” finish. The recipe uses shortcuts like rotisserie chicken and store-bought sauce, so it’s great for busy nights or a last-minute dinner idea.

This easy Chicken Parmesan is a family-favorite dinner that gets a Valentine upgrade with one simple trick: cut the mozzarella slices into adorable hearts before topping the chicken. The chicken is dipped in Italian dressing, coated in a parmesan-breadcrumb mixture, and lightly browned in a buttery olive oil skillet for extra flavor before baking. It finishes in a baking dish over spaghetti sauce, then adds heart-shaped mozzarella slices and a final sprinkle of parmesan until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve it over spaghetti or angel hair for a cozy, kid-friendly dinner.

These adorable “savory hand pies” are made by sandwiching mozzarella hearts between two heart-shaped pieces of pie crust, then sealing the edges with a fork. They’re brushed with egg white, optionally sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked until golden—crispy outside, melty inside. The fun bonus is the roasted red pepper pesto for dipping, made with jarred roasted peppers, roasted garlic, almonds, Parmesan, lemon juice, and olive oil. You can either serve them as a dinner appetizer or pair them with spaghetti for a main entree.

These tea sandwiches are sweet, pretty, and perfect for dinner parties at home, especially if you’re leaning into finger foods. The filling is a creamy cherry-almond spread made with cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, almond extract, chopped cherries, and sliced almonds. You cut soft bread into heart shapes, spread the mixture on them, and stack them into bite-sized sandwiches. They’re easy to make with kids and are great if you want something a little different from the usual savory Valentine meals.