37 Classic Father's Day Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy (2024)

30 Father's Day Desserts He'll Love

Grilled Balsamic Flank Steak With Peppers and Onions

Dad may love going to the steakhouse, but he also loves not having to leave his house. Flank steak and peppers get a deep, savory balsamic marinade before going on the grill.

Popcorn Shrimp

Start the Father's Day feast with these crunchy morsels of shrimp served with spicy co*cktail sauce and tartar sauce for dipping.

Easy Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork

Here's a recipe you can put together quickly in the morning and leave to cook while you're enjoying time with Dad.

Silver-Tequila Martini

If dad's a co*cktail guy, of course you'll make him his favorite mixed drink. If you'd like to make him something different, try this tequila-based martini that turns to grapefruit for tartness. Use high-quality tequila such as Patron Silver for the first-class man in your life.

Grilled Chicken Thighs With Charred Corn and Summer Squash

Dad will love that you made dinner on the grill, and everyone will love this hearty, healthy combo of flame-kissed boneless chicken thighs with fresh corn and zucchini. All get tossed with a minty lemon dressing once they come off the grill.

Labneh Dip With Caramelized Onions and Fennel

Dad is sure to love the creamy texture and tang of labneh and the sweet caramelized onions on top.

Sausage-Cheddar Balls

This reinterpretation of classic meatballs combines sausage, cheddar cheese, and onion for a flavor-packed appetizer that's pretty impossible to resist.

Orange-Wheat Shandy

If dad's a beer guy, make him a beer co*cktail like this orange-wheat shandy, a traditional wheat beer that bursts with citrus flavor thanks to the addition of freshly-squeezed orange juice.

Grilled Ribs

A slow roast in the oven makes these ribs tender, succulent, and delicious. Glaze them with tangy homemade barbecue sauce before finishing them on the grill.

Blistered Shish*to-Peppers Salad With Chive Vinaigrette

Any health-conscious father will adore this refreshing, slightly spicy salad. While cooking the peppers in a cast iron skillet is less time consuming than firing up the grill, a little extra flame and charcoal flavor will take this salad to the next level.

Salsa Fresca

Serve this fresh salsa with homemade tortilla chips for an easy appetizer on Father's Day.

Salted Fried Chicken

Thick buttermilk batter creates an extra-crisp coating on this brined fried chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with sea salt and drizzle it with honey just before serving for an exhilarating contrast in flavors.

Lobster Rolls

Dress sweet, tender chunks of lobster meat with mayonnaise, lemon juice, and a sprinkling of herbs to make the irresistible filling for New England classic. Toast the buns in a buttered skillet just before filling them.

Classic Burger-Joint Cheeseburger

A perfectly-seared, juicy burger on the grill gets toppings fit for a king (maybe a king in jeans). It wouldn't be a burger-joint classic without seeded potato buns, crisp tomatoes, simple American cheese, pickles, lettuce, and ketchup.

Beer-Battered Fish

Served with a cold beer of Dad's choice and crisp fries, this beer-battered fish makes for a casual and satisfying Father's Day dinner.

Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad

Whole-grain mustard, sliced cornichons, chopped celery, and scallions give this light-on-mayo potato salad crunch and acidity. Make it a day in advance so that you can spend extra time with Dad on his day.

Smoked Pork Shoulder

Slow-roasting pork shoulder before you smoke it is a great shortcut. You'll save time and still get all the great smoky flavor.

Grilled Porterhouse With Brown Butter and Horseradish

If you're going all out and grilling a steak for dad this Father's Day, there's nothing better than a Porterhouse.

Tomatoes Stuffed With Grilled Corn Salad

Hollow out large beefsteak tomatoes and stuff them with a mixture of grilled corn, scallions, goat cheese, and crumbled bacon. Serve these beautiful, self-contained salads with grilled steaks or chicken.

Salt-and-Pepper Oven Fries

Dad will be reaching for seconds when you serve him these salt-and-pepper fries, which are healthier—and tastier—than the fried equivalent.

Classic Boston Baked Beans

Another make-ahead, hands-off dish for the win! Soaking the beans overnight, then cooking them low and slow with sweet and spicy aromatics, hits a home run.

Cheddar-Jalapeño Cornbread

This cornbread strikes the right balance between tender and crumbly. Jazz up the batter with pickled jalapeños, sharp cheddar, and fresh corn kernels.

Creamy Stone-Ground Grits

Grits are one of the ultimate comfort foods, especially when mixed with grated cheddar cheese and plenty of butter.

Grilled Corn With Chile-Lime Salt

Lime juice, chipotle-chile powder, and diced jalapeños give a spicy kick to this Mexican street food-inspired corn.

Turkey-Meatloaf Burgers

These dark-meat patties include red-pepper relish, onion and garlic, as well as soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce (you can even make your own), and mustard. In other words, they're big—really big—on flavor.

Prime Rib Roast

This flavorful and juicy prime rib roast is simple and perfect. Plus, you're likely to have leftovers, which are great on sandwiches—perhaps with some sautéed onions or horseradish sauce.

Poblano Chiles Stuffed With Corn and Monterey Jack Cheese

General rule of thumb: You can stuff anything into a poblano chile and fry it, and it will taste good. This terrific vegetarian consists of sautéed onion, garlic, and corn. Serve with sour cream and hot sauce.

Baked Ziti With Sausage and Bechamel

Here's a comforting, filling, and all-round delicious baked pasta meal that stars two standout sauces: a sausage-studded tomato and a nutmeg-scented béchamel.

Classic North Carolina Pulled Pork

Smoky, sweet, tangy, and tender: North Carolina-style pulled pork is a meaty favorite. The deep flavor comes from rubbing the meat with sugar and spices and then low, slow cooking.

Grilled Chicken With Lemon and Oregano

This grilled chicken is juicy and delicious and the skin is nice and crispy, too. While the cooked chicken rests, you grill lemon halves, which make for a great garnish that's tart with a smoky edge.

Aged-Cheddar-and-Swiss Cheeseburgers

If Dad's of the "more is more" school of thought when it comes to burgers, he'll love these patties, which are topped with a combination of two cheeses (aged cheddar and Swiss) as well as kicky horseradish. A mayo-ketchup mixture and tomato, bacon, lettuce, and pickles take it beyond.

Spiced Steak Kebabs

Cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper bring a subtle spice to these sirloin steak kebabs. And while the recipe calls for red bell pepper, red onion, and button mushrooms, you could also swap in zucchini, yellow squash, shallots, or cherry tomatoes.

Peppercorn-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Here's an elegant option that feeds a crowd (or a smaller group with some lovely leftovers). For sides, almost anything goes, from roasted sweet potatoes to green bean casserole.

Shrimp and Cod Burgers

Sweet shrimp and fish ground together in a food processor form a rich, juicy burger. Add scallion, parsley, and lemon juice for bright, fresh flavor. And definitely don't forget the homemade potato chips!

Chili-Rubbed Skirt Steak Tacos

These tacos are a breeze to make, and quite forgiving, too—just remember that the steak will continue to cook for a few minutes after you take it off the pan. The charred meat goes wonderfully with cool and creamy guacamole.

Easiest Spaghetti and Meatballs

This version of the iconic dish is a snap to make, since you simmer the meatballs right in the sauce. You can use the extra time you save to make a quick batch of garlic bread to enjoy alongside the meal.

Bacon-Cheeseburger Meatloaf

It's hard to argue with bacon-wrapped meatloaf—and even harder to argue with a beefy meatloaf that's amped up with cheddar cheese. Serve it sliced, on buns, with crunchy iceberg lettuce and rich Russian dressing.