Get ready to spoil your Valentine this year with a restaurant worthy meal made right at home. Cheesy Lobster Orzo is one part risotto, one part mac and cheese, and equal parts delicious.

We typically don’t go out on Valentine’s Day for dinner. The restaurants are always too crowded and the prix fix menus are too pricey. Instead, we pick a recipe, like this cheesy lobster orzo, that feels like a restaurant meal but is easy to make at home.

This dish was inspired by a visit to a restaurant in Philadelphia a few years ago. We were at a party and they were passing around little spoons of orzo macaroni and cheese. I fell in love instantly and knew I needed to make it at home.

This version has large chunks of lobster added in. You can easily substitute crab, shrimp, or leave out the protein all together. Either way, this dish will be delicious.

The best combination for a cheesy orzo recipe, in my opinion, is a mix of white cheddar, Parmesan, and shredded Gruyere. I’ve also made this with Jarlsberg in place of the cheddar and it was equally yummy.

If you like this cheesy lobster orzo recipe, you should also check out these other great date night recipes:

• Braised Short Ribs
• Roasted Beet and Blue Cheese Tart
• Walnut Crusted Pork Tenderloin
• Braised Balsamic Beef
• Maryland Crab Cakes

Of course, no Valentine’s dinner or date night meal is complete without some delicious desserts to end the meal. Be sure to check out some of these super yummy options:

• Raspberry Lava Cake
• Red Velvet Truffle Oreo Hearts
• Chocolate Strawberry Hearts
• Strawberry Prosecco Cupcakes
• No Bake Turtle Cheesecake

If you make this cheesy orzo mac and cheese or any other recipe from the blog, I’d love to hear about your experience. Let me know in the comments or snap a photo and tag it #MySuburbanKitchen on Instagram or Twitter.