The 3 Recipes That Could Bring On A Proposal

These dreamy dishes are so good they should come with a warning: potential long-term commitment ahead.

By
Published November 21, 2025
Photographs and Prop Styling by Caitlin Bensel (Food Stylist: M. McLean)

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and the same applies to women. I LOVE being spoiled with a good meal cooked by someone else. It certainly makes my heart sing when I take that first, intoxicating bite into deliciousness.

The best meals start with fresh ingredients in dishes that mirror comfort food — appealing to the eyes and the stomach. While it's always a safe bet to rely on a standard romantic dinner of grilled lobster tails, oysters or filet mignon, why not jazz things up a bit with romantic foods that show off your culinary skills?

These three recipes are perfect for impressing someone special in your life, and don't be surprised if they bring on a marriage proposal!

Marry Me Shrimp

If you've heard of Marry Me Chicken, try this new twist on the recipe: fresh shrimp in a decadent tomato cream sauce, served over pasta. It's comfort food at its best! To complete the meal, serve a crusty bread on the side along with a crisp green salad.

Serves 4

1 (8-ounce) box of penne or rigatoni pasta

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 tablespoon flour

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed

Salt and pepper to taste

1 pound uncooked shrimp (thawed, peeled and tails removed)

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

5 ounces baby spinach

Optional topping: fresh chopped basil

Make pasta according to package directions. While it's cooking, add butter to a large skillet and cook over medium heat until it melts. Whisk in the flour and stir for 1 minute. Add garlic, tomato paste, and wine. Stir for one minute or until it starts to bubble. Whisk in the cream, then add the sun-dried tomatoes, seasonings, and shrimp. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the shrimp is no longer opaque and the sauce has thickened slightly. Stir in the parmesan cheese and spinach. While it cooks, drain the cooked pasta. Once the spinach has wilted, pour the pasta into the skillet and stir until well combined. Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil over each plate.

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Glazed Ribs

Who doesn't love ribs? This recipe calls for many ingredients, but it is so simple to put together. The best part is that it cooks itself for hours in a slow cooker, freeing you up to prepare any side dishes you prefer to serve alongside the ribs. I like to pair the meat with creamy garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. If you're in a time crunch, you can skip the homemade BBQ sauce and use store-bought honey BBQ and add a few ounces of bourbon to it.

Serves 4

2 racks pork baby back ribs (about 3-4 pounds)

For the dry rub:

1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon dry mustard

Pinch of cayenne powder

Salt and pepper to taste

For the BBQ sauce:

4 ounces of honey

4 ounces of bourbon

3 tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/4 cup ketchup

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

4 teaspoons soy sauce

3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons sriracha

1 tablespoon molasses

Remove the membrane from the ribs (if the butcher hasn't already). Pat dry, then slice them in half. Set aside. Mix all the dry rub ingredients in a bowl. Season the ribs on all sides with the dry rub. In a separate bowl, mix all the ingredients for the sauce together until thoroughly combined. Place half the rack of ribs in the bottom of a greased 6-7 quart slow cooker. Spread about half of the BBQ sauce over the ribs. Repeat the process with the remaining rack of ribs and most of the sauce, but reserve a little sauce on the side. Cook ribs on low for 6-7 hours (for fall-off-the-bone meat) or high for 3 1/2 hours (for slightly chewier ribs). Remove the racks from the slow cooker, glaze with the remaining BBQ sauce, and slice.

Caprese Chicken

This easy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken dish comes from Delish and is sure to win your partner's heart. I serve it with Parmesan risotto on the side and roasted vegetables.

4 servings

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 cups baby spinach

1 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (reserve the oil)

4 slices fresh mozzarella

1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Cut a pocket into the thickest side of each chicken breast, being sure not to cut all the way through. Stuff each with spinach, tomatoes, and mozzarella. Season chicken all over with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Secure with toothpicks. In a large heatproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat the reserved tomato oil. Sear the chicken until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until no longer pink, about 15 minutes (insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the meat; the temp should be 165). Remove toothpicks. Arrange the chicken on a platter and pour the pan juices over it.

Marcia Kester Doyle is a Yahoo Life Columnist and the author of Who Stole My Spandex? Life In The Hot Flash Lane. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Independent, Stylist, U.S.A. Today/Reviewed, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, AARP, Woman's Day, Country Living, House Beautiful, and many others. You can find her at marciakesterdoyle.com.