Table of Contents
Unless you’re a teenager, it’s essential to have an arsenal of tasty meals you can cook for a date or guests.
Cooking for someone is an intimate gesture, and if you’re going to do it you want to do it right. I promise, if you nail a well-cooked meal for a date, it will pay huge dividends.
It signals that you’re not a complete buffoon. Cooking showcases intelligence, artistry, and the ability to stay cool under pressure. Under the right circumstances, it can also be a great experience for the person cooking.
Any decent man needs a variety of go-to meals. Nobody wants to eat the same thing on repeat.
All the meals here are simple and require minimal cleanup. That’s how I like it, and I venture to believe that most men don’t want to deal with complicated meals and 30 minutes of dishes afterward.
If your kitchen still looks like you just moved out of a college dorm, check out my list of Kitchen Essentials Every Man Should Have.
Spaghetti with Red Meat Sauce
This is an all-time classic and a renowned people-pleaser.
We’re cooking a simple pasta with some added vegetables for a major boost in flavor.
If you or your guests don’t care for spicy food, you can opt for the mild Italian sausage.
Most guys don’t realize what a difference some sauteed vegetables make in your red sauce. It’s quick and easy, and you’ll only need two pans.
Ingredients
1lb Spicy Italian Sausage
1 Pack Spaghetti Pasta
1 Sweet Onion
1 Green Bell Pepper
1 Ripe Vine Tomato
.25 Cup Diced Garlic
Fresh Basil
1 Pack of White Mushrooms
French Bread
.25 Cup Cabernet
Salt & Pepper
.25 Cup Water
1 Jar Classico Spicy Red Pepper Pasta Sauce
Basil
Olive Oil
Instructions
*If you can cook the sauce in advance, it makes it way better. I recommend giving it at least 3 hours to simmer while covered*
Step 1)
Start by bringing a non-stick pan to med-high heat. Throw in the Italian sausage and break it up into small pieces. Let the meat sit on one side for a minute or two until it browns, then flip it over and brown the other side.
While the meat is cooking, chop up half of the onion and half the bell pepper. Also, chop the tomato and thinly slice the basil.
Step 2)
Once the meat is cooked through, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan. Then dump out the fat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil.
Add the onion, peppers, and mushrooms to the pan and sauté for about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic. Cook another 2 mins. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 3)
Now add the red sauce, the wine, and the meat back into the pan. Stir everything up and let it simmer for 2-4 hours.
About 30 mins before eating, add the chopped tomato. The tomato adds a wonderful fresh flavor to the sauce.
Step 4)
Next, throw your French bread in the oven and follow the cooking instruction on the package. Once the bread is in the oven, bring a large pot of water to boil, add a pinch of salt, and then cook the noodles. Follow the instructions on the package.
Step 5)
After the noodles are cooked, take ¼ cup of the pasta water and add it to the sauce. Then, strain the noodles, and you’re ready to serve. Top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
Serve with Red Wine!!
Read: Top 10 Essential Tools for Your Modern Home Bar (and how to use them)
Steak, Loaded Baked Potato, Asparagus
Is a man even a man if he can’t cook a proper steak?
Toxic masculinity aside, this is a must-have in every man’s arsenal. It’s important to note that this recipe calls for a ribeye cut of steak, but you can choose whichever cut you’d like. Ribeyes tend to be fattier and therefore much more flavorful, but not everyone gets down with the fat.
Filets are great to eat, but a little tougher to get a proper sear, so if this is your first go, I’d go for a New York Strip, Ribeye, or T-Bone. Sirloins aren’t bad, but they lack flavor, so I wouldn’t choose that for a guest.
Ingredients
2 Ribeye Steaks (8-12oz)
2 Russet Potatoes
1 Pack of Baby Bella Mushrooms
1 bundle Asparagus
Shredded Parmesan
1 Stick Salted Butter
Sour Cream
Bacon Bits
Green Onion
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
Soy Sauce
Instructions
Step 1)
Take the steaks out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature. About 30-45 mins. This is incredibly important for a nice even cook.
Potatoes take the longest to cook, so always get those done first. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
Take your two potatoes and give them a rinse in the sink. Dry them with a paper towel. Rub them down with olive oil and season the skin heavily with salt and pepper. Pop them in the oven for 45 mins.
Step 2)
Next, chop up your green onion and cut the stalks off the asparagus. If you don’t know how much to cut off the asparagus, usually 1/2in-1in.
Put the asparagus in a large bowl and toss in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place the asparagus in an oven pan with foil and then sprinkle on parmesan cheese. Put the asparagus in the oven with the potatoes at 20 mins left.
Step 3)
Now take a pan up to medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the mushrooms, and ¼ cup of soy sauce. Cook the mushrooms through and then bring them off the heat.
Step 4)
For the steak, you’ll need either a grill or a cast iron skillet. I prefer the grill, but the cast iron gives a fantastic sear and crust, and I used the skillet for years before I had a proper grill.
Put the steak on foil or parchment paper and pat it dry with a paper towel. This is critical for a nice even crust. Then season all sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Step 5)
The most important things here are the crust and the internal temperature.
I learned to cook steak without a thermometer, but why make your life more difficult? Go get a digital thermometer from the grocery store for $20.
For a pan: Bring the skillet to really high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter. Put the steak in and cook one side for 4-5 minutes or until you have a nice hard sear on that side. Flip the steak and then throw in the thermometer. Steak is best at medium rare, so pull it off the heat at 135 degrees.
Grill: Take some vegetable oil and oil up the grate before cooking. Bring the grill to as high heat as possible. Cook one side for 4-6 mins or until it has a nice even crust. Then flip and throw in the thermometer. Cook until 135 degrees.
Step 6)
Once the steaks are done, they need to rest for about 4-5 minutes. This allows them to finish cooking.
While the steaks rest, plate your potatoes with green onions, bacon bits, and sour cream. Plate the mushrooms and asparagus, and once the steak is finished resting, you’re ready to eat!
Serve with Red Wine!!
Read: 1,200 Calorie Meal Plan (track your macros and get shredded)
Street Style Pork Tacos w/ Rice and Beans
I like this dish a lot for a new date! It’s fun, easy, and goes great with margaritas.
You can substitute pork with chicken, shrimp, or even steak, but in my experience, pork works best with this recipe.
These tacos are going to be street style, so if you want a taco bell hard-shell taco, this isn’t the recipe for you.
Ingredients
4 Pork Loins
2 Packs of Taco Seasoning
Corn Tortillas
Jalapeno
Cilantro
Avocado
White Onion
Roma Tomato
Lemon
Butter
Get Rice, Beans, Chips, and Salsa from a local Mexican restaurant. (This saves a lot of time)
Instructions
Bring the pork out of the fridge and to room temperature. (About 20 mins).
Step 1)
Chop the jalapenos, onions, cilantro, and tomato. Cut the avocado into slices and cut the lemon into quarters.
Pro Tip – For beautiful avocado slices, check out this video.
Step 2)
Bring a pan to high heat with a tablespoon of butter. Add a tortilla and lightly brown each side. (30 seconds – 1 minute per side). Remove the tortilla and put it on a plate with a paper towel to soak up the excess butter. Repeat for the desired number of tacos.
Step 3)
Grab the taco seasoning and liberally rub down the pork until it’s heavily coated in the seasoning.
Heat up a cast iron skillet to high heat and sear each side for a nice crust. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Use a digital thermometer for best results. You can find them for about $20 at the grocery store.
Once the pork is cooked, let it rest for 4-5 minutes. Then on a cutting board, dice the pork into small pieces. Now you’re ready to eat!
Step 4)
Plate the cooked tortillas with the chopped pork and desired toppings!
Serve with Margaritas.
Chicken and Shrimp Stir Fry
This dish is healthy and delicious. Who doesn’t like a good stir fry?
The best part is you can get the whole thing knocked with nothing more than a rice steamer and a large pan/wok.
Ingredients
1 Chicken Breast
1lb Peeled Shrimp
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Cup Snow Peas
1 Cup Cauliflower
Green Onion
Sesame Oil
1 Cup White Rice
Sesame Seeds
Stir Fry Sauce
Instructions
Step 1)
Get the rice cooking first because it takes the longest. I recommend using a rice cooker which can be found at Target for $20. Follow the instructions on the back of the rice packaging if you’re cooking in a pot.
Step 2)
Next, chop the red pepper. Some people prefer large pieces of bell pepper, but I like small pieces. Then cut the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. Cut the tails off the shrimp. Season both with salt and pepper.
Step 3)
Heat your wok to medium heat. Add two tablespoons of sesame oil and cook the chicken until browned on all sides and cook through. Remove the chicken and place it in a separate dish.
Step 4)
Next, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and cook the bell pepper, snow peas, and cauliflower.
Step 5)
Once the vegetables are cooked, add the shrimp, and cook another 4 minutes. Then, add back in the chicken and rice. Add stir-fry sauce to taste and mix until everything is lightly coated.
Plate and top with green onion and sesame seeds.
Serve with Cold Premium Sake!
Garlic Parmesan Salmon
I don’t know if this would be my go-to for guests, but it’s a fast and delicious meal that’s also healthy.
In theory, you could substitute the Salmon for a different fish of lower fat, but I haven’t personally tried it. Either way, this is a guilt-free meal that always leaves me feeling satisfied.
Ingredients
1lb Salmon
Diced Garlic
Lemon
Shredded Parmesan
Broccoli
Sweet Potatoes
Butter
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Instructions:
Step 1)
Start with the sweet potatoes since they take the longest.
Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Rinse the potatoes in the sink and dry them with a paper towel. Coat with olive oil and season heavily with salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes.
Step 2)
Next, prep the broccoli. Cut the stalks of the broccol and toss the florets in a bowl with olive oil to get a nice even coat. Season with salt and pepper and put in an oven tray with foil. Set to the side.
Step 3)
Now the salmon. Lightly coat the salmon with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and light Italian seasoning. Then cover it with 2 tablespoons of garlic and ½ cup of parmesan cheese.
Put the salmon and the broccoli in the oven for about 20 minutes at 425 degrees.
Serve with Sauvignon Blanc!
2 Responses