12 Birthday Dinner Ideas: Tested & Approved Recipes

Birthday dinner ideas to celebrate the right way. From seafood to pasta, find impressive recipes & easy crowd-pleasers for this special occasion.

A plate of homemade pasta as a birthday dinner to try.

If you’re looking for the perfect birthday dinner ideas, then I’ve got you covered.

Over the last year, I’ve experimented with making new recipes that would hit every single time.

And I can say with confidence that if you make one of these incredible dinners for someone’s birthday, they will thank you after just one bite.

They’re a great way to make your husband, a friend, or a family member feel extra special and thought of on their special day.

So give one of these recipes a try and thank me later. 👌

1. Carmelized Onion Pasta

The birthday dinner idea, Carmelized Onion Pasta.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

I cannot tell you HOW good this is!

Legit my top favorite pasta recipe that’s restaurant-quality and great for someone’s birthday dinner.

There were a couple of things I did change in this birthday recipe though:

  1. I added a lot more parmigiano reggiano than the sprinkling he adds on at the end. I’d say do it to taste, but definitely don’t skimp!
  2. I only had regular olive oil, not chili infused olive oil, and no Momofuku Chili Crunch. But it still turned out great!
GET RECIPE HERE

2. Oysters Rockefeller

The birthday dinner recipe, Oysters Rockefeller.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

I know this dinner recipe sounds intimidating, but I promise you it’s not!

It’s one of those dishes where it looks super fancy, but it’s actually pretty easy, and the results are incredibly good!

This garlicky savory recipe really is worth making along side a pasta (like the one above?) for a birthday celebration.

Some things I changed with this recipe:

  1. I didn’t add spinach.
  2. Instead of making my own bread crumbs, I just used panko break crumbs. Easy and turned out great. 👍
  3. With a special dish like this, it might also a be a great time to give them their birthday present and card right after dinner. So read over some special birthday wishes for your card to make the moment extra meaningful and thoughtful!
GET RECIPE HERE

3. Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes

The birthday dinner meal, Creamy Pesto Chicken.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

Legit one of my favorite recipes and a must if you wanna serve a ridiculously tasty birthday dinner entree.

The roasted tomatoes work so well with the garlicky, cheesy, savory flavors of the pasta and chicken. It’s honestly a great restaurant-quality dish and a wonderful way to celebrate.

GET RECIPE HERE

4. Marry Me Chicken

The birthday dinner, Marry Me Chicken.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

Whether it’s for your boyfriend or husband, I don’t think it’ll matter. I mean, if it’s your husband and he tries this dish and loves it, he might just ask you to marry him again. 🤷‍♀️

It’s a classic creamy garlicky sun dried tomato dish that’s not hard to pull together on their special day.

GET RECIPE HERE

5. Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs

The birthday dinner recipe, Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

So I did chicken thighs since it was a little less work, but if you’re curious about the chicken meatballs, then I’d say go for it! I’ve tried a different recipe with basically the same ingredients and they are super juicy and delicious!

But if you’re a bit lazy like me, then chicken thighs will work just as well for this tangy savory dish.

And if you wanna celebrate the birthday of a friend, significant other, or a family member, this one is a keeper.

GET RECIPE HERE

6. Homemade Pasta (With Carbonara Sauce)

The birthday dinner meal, Homemade Pasta.

While this is a bit more work than just getting some store bought pasta, I feel like nothing says “special birthday meal” more than homemade pasta.

There’s something that feels so romantic about making it yourself, and then quickly whipping together a simple carbonara sauce and topping it with some slightly crispy bacon.

GET RECIPE HERE

7. Gyoza

The birthday dinner, Gyoza.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

Ok, while this is a bit more work than other dishes, I highly recommend it!

Just like with the homemade pasta above, when you try a recipe that’s more of a process, it can feel so much more thoughtful for your special guest. And if you’re in a relationship, it can be a lot more romantic and sweet.

Things I Did Differently Than the Original Recipe:

  • I did my own gyoza filling of cut up small pieces of chicken and cabbage that was cooked in soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. Very tasty and no measurements. I’d say season to taste and cut up as much cabbage and chicken as you want, or just go with the gyoza recipe filling that’s listed.
GET RECIPE HERE

8. Bacon, Potato, & Carmelized Onion Pierogi

The birthday dinner dish, Bacon, Potato, & Carmelized Onion Pierogi.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

More homemade recipes that are REALLY good, and this one is perfect for so many special occasions.

I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with caramelized onions, mashed potatoes, and bacon.

It’s so hearty, flavorful, and the smells that come out of the kitchen are incredible!

Definitely a birthday worthy dinner.

GET RECIPE HERE

9. Pork Tonkatsu With Parmesan Polenta

The birthday dinner recipe, Pork Tonkatsu With Parmesan Polenta.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

This was an amazing idea my husband had.

He looked at me one night and said, “What if we had tonkatsu with parmesan polenta?”

Then I responded with something like, “That sounds amazing.”

And thus this special-occasion dinner was created and it was really good. And if you wanna surprise someone with a really good foodie experience for their birthday, then I’d say this is the birthday dinner idea to make.

TONKATSU RECIPE

POLENTA RECIPE

10. Authentic Mexican Tostadas

The birthday dinner recipe, Authentic Mexican Tostadas.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

This was a specific recipe I had tried in Mexico and replicated at home while living there.

It’s super easy and super flavorful, and if you have someone who loves seafood and Mexican food, then definitely give this dish a try!

GET RECIPE HERE

11. Shēng jiān bāo

The birthday dinner, Shēng jiān bāo.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

These pan-fried buns are some of the tastiest dinner creations I’ve ever made, and kind of the perfect definition of a special-occasion main dish.

They’re soft yet nice and crispy, and the filling is piping hot and savory.

And if the person you’re making a birthday meal for loves Asian food, then this is the one to try.

Also, you’ll kind of feel like you’re a bit of a cooking pro when making this recipe.

GET RECIPE HERE

12. Rösti

The birthday dinner dish, Rösti.
PHOTO: CHASING FOXES

Swiss röstis are really underrated.

They’re these big buttery savory potato pancakes with a wonderful crunch.

I’d say pair it with a really good steak and enjoy an incredible dinner together! It’s not very healthy, but who’s going for healthy on a birthday?

GET RECIPE HERE
 

Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.

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