Why should moms get all the glory? Dads deserve a fun day, too! So for Father’s Day, give Dad something he really wants: unfussy man-food that fills him up and tastes amazing. Whether you’re planning a big Father’s Day brunch, looking for Father’s Day dinner ideas, want to bake a cake or a host a casual cookout, we’ve got 25 recipes that’ll show your appreciation—and win Dad’s approval.
While he’s feasting like a king, you can fill him in on how recent Father’s Day is as a national holiday: While the first one was created in 1910 in Spokane, Washington by a mom, it wasn’t a national holiday until 1972. With more than 70 million fathers (a conservative estimate), it’s little wonder that it brings in roughly $13 billion in sales of ties, cufflinks, alcohol, cigars, golf club, grilling gadgets and more.
So instead of buying him something, why not whip up one or several of these Father’s Day ideas? He’ll always remember your delicious meal as a true demonstration of your love and thanks.
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RecipeSpicy Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spicy-Sweet Butter and Pickles
If Dad is a fan of certain fast-food chicken joints, this one will hit the spot. Between their deeply flavored dark meat and all those nooks and crannies for holding the batter, thighs are simply the best part of the bird for the frying pan. And they cook quickly, too. Then there’s the butter that goes on top: It take seconds to whip up, but it packs a lot of wow. -
RecipeSweet Chili and Root Beer Baby Back Ribs
A sticky, sweet, and spicy root beer glaze makes these grilled baby backs finger-licking-good. They're perfect for your Father's Day cookout. -
RecipeDoughnut Muffins
Make these ultimate breakfast treats and Dad can skip his usual weekend trip to the doughnut shop. -
RecipeSpicy Beer-Can Chicken
Put a spin on Dad's usual beer-can chicken recipe by adding a sweet-spicy sauce to the beer. -
RecipeNew York Strip Steaks with Blue Cheese Butter
Got a steak-and-potatoes kind of dad? Grill him a steak that rivals the one he usually orders at the steakhouse. -
RecipeGrilled Southwestern Potato Salad
This potato salad is filled with Dad's favorite Southwestern flavors: smokey corn, chiles, red onions, peppers, and some crisp bacon. -
RecipeUltimate Hamburgers
These burgers include both ground chuck and ground sirloin, making them double meaty and double delicious. -
RecipeSmoked Paprika Potato Chips
These chips may ruin bagged chips for Dad forever. Their deep potato flavor is a revelation and the smoked paprika gives them a depth of flavor that elevates them to another level. -
RecipeRich, Fudgy Brownies
Dad loves your classic brownies, so mix up a batch for the cookout. But don’t forget to save the corner pieces for him; the corners are Dad’s favorite. -
RecipeThe Michelada
Don't just grab him a cold one, mix Dad a beer cocktail that'll make him forget all about his can in a cozy. -
RecipeHomemade Oreos
He's a big kid at heart, so surprise Dad with a homemade version of one of his favorite supermarket cookies. -
RecipeCornmeal Flapjacks with Bourbon-Bacon Maple Syrup
Dads should get breakfast in bed, too. These pancakes get their heartiness from cornmeal and wheat germ, and feature a syrup loaded with dad-favorites: bourbon, bacon, and maple. -
RecipeSpicy Red-Eye Baked Beans
Your dad is too special for beans from a can. These spicy baked beans are deeply flavored by the addition of a cup of brewed coffee. -
RecipeGrilled Corn & Tomato Salsa
Start your Father's Day cookout with Dad's favorite game-day snack: homemade chips and an easy grilled salsa. -
RecipeThe Old Fashioned
Not that we'd ever suggest Dad isold, he's just..a classic. So make him a classic bourbon cocktail he can savor. -
RecipeBroccoli Slaw
Balance out all those rich dishes on the Father's Day menu (and show Dad you're keeping an eye on his health) with this crowd-pleasing broccoli slaw. -
RecipeSweet & Spicy Fried Peach Pies
If Dad looks forward to your famous pies, surprise him with a cinnamon-sugar coated hand pie that packs a spicy punch. -
RecipeClassic Eggs Benedict
The key to this brunch classic is delicious simplicity: poached fresh eggs, Canadian bacon, toasted English muffins, and an authentic hollandaise sauce. -
RecipeSmoked Chicken with Lemon-Ginger BBQ Sauce
This chicken gets its rich complexity from wood smoke and layers of flavors: a spice rub, a mustardy mop sauce, and a zesty-sweet barbecue sauce that’s seared onto the meat for a gorgeous lacquered finish. -
RecipeSirloin Tacos
Serve these with roasted tomato salsa, as well as chopped lettuce, cilantro sprigs, sour cream, and your other favorite taco condiments. -
RecipeBlue Smoke Martini
The “rinse” of Scotch lends this martini a smoky flavor, while the blue cheese-stuffed olives add a pleasing tang. You can purchase the olives, or you can stuff them at home: pipe softened blue cheese, preferably Maytag Blue, into pitted Spanish Queen olives, as they do at NYC's Blue Smoke restaurant. -
RecipeChunky Guacamole
很少有菜一样简单容易变化s guacamole. This version lets the flavor and texture of the avocado shine through, amply reinforced with cilantro, red onion, and a splash of lime juice. It can be set out as a dip, used as a garnish for tacos or chili, or spread on sandwiches and burgers. -
RecipeBanana Pudding with Moonshine Whipped Cream
Dad may have fond memories of banana pudding from childhood, but the moonshine whipped cream plants it firmly in adult territory. -
RecipeChicken Chili Nachos
These are made with ground chicken, but you can also use shredded cooked chicken (from a rotisserie chicken, for instance). If doing the latter, add 2 cups shredded chicken to the skillet after the onions and spices and toss to combine. -
RecipeGrilled Corn, Shrimp & Chorizo Salad
This one-dish meal marries the best flavors from summer shore dinners—seafood and corn— with the smokiness of Spanish paprika and chorizo. -
RecipeGrilled BBQ Pork Pizza
This pizza combines the tangy vinegar sauce of Carolina pulled pork and the tomato-based flavor of Memphis BBQ. Try this pizza with leftover pulled pork, or shake up your next backyard BBQ and serve pulled pork pizza instead of the traditional sandwich. -
RecipeTomato Salsa
Zingy, refreshing salsas are easy to improvise—simply balance the proportions of ingredients according to taste. Top burritos, tacos, enchiladas, nachos, chili, or bean soups; add to omelets and scrambled eggs; use in place of ketchup on hamburgers and sandwiches; spoon onto grilled pork, beef, poultry, and fish; dip chips; dollop onto fritters and savory pancakes. -
RecipeFried Apple Pies
In this recipe, excerpted from the cookbook DamGoodSweet , David Guas adapts his Great-Aunt Patty’s amazing apple pie, while also giving props to his favorite childhood brown bag treat, Hubig’s fried pies. The result is these cute, mini fried apple pies that can be eaten out of hand, like empanadas. -
RecipeDill Pancakes with Smoked Salmon and Everything Bagel Spice
If Dad liked lazy Sunday mornings with a trip to the bagel shop, rekindle those memories with this savory brunch favorite. -
RecipeBarbecued Buttermilk-Marinated Chicken
Maybe Dad is an expert at barbecuing chicken. Maybe he sends it up in flames every time. Either way, this recipe will prove to him that you've really mastered your stuff when it comes to the grill.
