68 Father’s Day Dinner Ideas Your Dad Will Love

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, dairy free, gluten free

The cinnamon and spicy cayenne flavors in the jerk seasoning pair magically with juicy, zesty mango, and the whole thing is ready in about half an hour. If you’re looking for a Father’s Day dinner idea that’s sure to please, your search is over.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, dairy free

You’ll only spend about ten minutes standing by the grill, so just adopt my mindset and think of that marinating time as a built-in cocktail hour. (It is summer, after all.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian

It just so happens that my favorite carbs (bread and cheese) and the grill get along nicely. I like the sweetness that the balsamic strawberries add, but you could use tomatoes too.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, dairy free, beginner-friendly

A new twist on an old classic. Top them with some light and tangy coleslaw to seal the deal, then serve up this Father’s Day dinner idea with a side of grilled zucchini (see number 14 on this list).

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser

These grilled sticky honey-sriracha drumsticks will be a guaranteed hit among dads and non-dads alike. (This sauce also works with thighs and breasts, if you’re more of a fork-and-knife type of person. I won’t judge.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly

Once you put frizzled onions on a sandwich, you’ll never settle for plain old lettuce and tomato again. The creamy Greek yogurt dill sauce ties everything together in a way mayonnaise could never.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser

Combining Dad’s three favorite things in life: lobster, butter and fresh herbs. (It doesn’t hurt that they’re ready in 25 minutes.) What’s that? Your dad doesn’t care for lobster? Try shrimp rolls instead.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, beginner-friendly

You’ve never had chicken breasts so tender and juicy. Best of all, since everything cooks in foil packets, there are minimal dishes to clean up later.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser

Instead of the usual boiling and dousing with butter and salt, grill your corn and drizzle it with spicy aioli. Eat three…or four. You have my permission.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free

I’m always on the hunt for easy ways to cook a whole bird. Spatchcocking, aka removing the backbone, is just the ticket, since it shortens the cooking time and ensures even doneness.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, special occasion–worthy

Use store-bought flatbread for the crispiest thin-crust pizza you’ll ever taste—no kneading necessary. Your dad might scoff at grilled pizza at first, but just wait until he tastes it.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, special occasion–worthy

Although the recipe calls for just a few ingredients, you’ll kick the flavor up a notch by marinating the chicken in baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend. I like the one from Burlap & Barrel, but you can also make your own.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: low carb, gluten free, crowd-pleaser

In-season strawberries and fresh corn are hard to beat, so why not combine them into a hearty salad that Dad will actually enjoy? If you want to leave off the chicken and serve it as a side, that works too.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

They call it “summer squash” for a reason. Put it on the grill, stat. FYI, this recipe works with yellow zucchini, too.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, low sugar

How to make your chicken stand out from the crowd? Bring on the spices. Yellow curry paste will transform this dish from “fine” to “fantastic.”

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

As it turns out, asparagus is the perfect vehicle for salty cheese. Don’t believe me? Try it—I’m not even a big asparagus fan and I’ll happily gobble this up.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free

Truth be told, I think dinner’s always better on a stick. But if you’re convinced that kebabs are out of style, you should really try these. It’s the chimichurri that really seals the deal.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian

If there were a side-dish beauty pageant, this one would take the crown. The gremolata is a mix of brown sugar, cilantro, lemon and olive oil, and it’s kind of magical.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

Yep, pizza at a cookout, and with fruit, no less. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. (And once you have, mark my words: You’ll want to add all sorts of summer fruits to your pizzas.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, low carb

The contrast between cool lettuce and charred chicken makes it worth lighting up the grill. My advice: Use iceberg for the crispiest crunch (although any type of lettuce works).

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser

This grilled pineapple sundae is not only decadent but also downright gorgeous. If you need to shortcut something, you can use store-bought cherry sauce.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser

It’s OK to start with a store-bought angel food cake (really). The hot grill will caramelize the sugars and make everything taste fancy.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours, 55 minutes (includes marinating)
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, paleo, ketogenic

This spicy roast chicken gets crisp in the oven, but you could try grilling it too. If you can’t find piri piri chiles, swap them for another type of pepper with heat, like Anaheim.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy

These tacos taste like the ones from Dad’s favorite restaurant (but they’re shockingly simple to make at home). Make sure you flip the fish halfway through baking so both sides get crisp.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser

The sweet honey butter offsets the spicy, charred barbecue rub. Use any type of mild white fish, like trout, catfish or branzino.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, low carb

Impress your pops with your fish-frying skills. He doesn’t need to know it was easier than it appears. You even have some options for the coating: Self-rising flour with a little salt and pepper and a pinch of cayenne is classic, or try cornmeal.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, low carb, low sugar

These refreshing wraps would also work with ground pork or even tofu, if your dad is vegetarian. (It’s all about that spicy-sweet glaze.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

It’s the crowd-pleasing combo of jalapeño peppers and honey for me. Don’t tell your dad you used store-bought pizza dough and he’ll never know. (At least that’s my experience.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

What better side to serve with all that grilled meat than a summery mélange of corn, tomatoes and lime juice? I’ve also used this dish as a salsa-adjacent topping for tacos, FYI.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: ketogenic, special occasion–worthy, low sugar

The cacao rub gives it that je ne sais quoi factor. (Psst: It’s also keto-friendly.) My top tip for cooking any type of steak or chop is to let it rest for at least five minutes before slicing—that will ensure the meat stays juicy.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients

Swordfish is mild (and kind of tastes like chicken), so this will please even the pickiest fish-eaters at the table (and of course your dad, too).

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

Fast, easy, minimal cleanup—that’s my dinner trifecta. I’m also a sucker for a honey mustard sauce and tender Brussels sprouts, but that’s beside the point.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

Toss these cuties on the grill as the steak is finishing up; they’ll be ready in no time. Father’s Day dinner has never been more effortless.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

It’s not a party without a few appetizers, and these are sure to please. They’re spicy, tropical and—shhh—made with store-bought puff pastry. (That’s a secret between you and me.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy

If you’re not one for grilling, you can still make a juicy, impressive steak. Time to break out the cast iron. Just open a window before you start cooking. In my experience, it can get pretty smoky.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, gluten free

In my opinion, scallops are the ultimate show-stopping dinner. They look and taste totally fancy, but take less than ten minutes total to cook.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, dairy free

If burgers and hot dogs don’t feel special enough, I know something that does. (Hint: It’s this recipe.) Massaging the collards seems “extra,” but it helps break down the fibers so they’ll be tender and easier to enjoy raw.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours, 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, crowd-pleaser

Let the slow cooker do all the hard work while you hang out on the porch with Dad. Gochujang adds extra oomph to the ribs and bright and briny dill pickle spears balance everything out.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients

The smoked paprika topping, plus the coals from the grill, ensure these cobs have the *most* flavor. A generous sprinkling of Parmesan is just the cherry on top.

• Time Commitment: 22 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients

Do I need to explain this one? Just get the tortilla chips ready. (Yes, I suggest adding bacon to your guac. Got a problem with it?)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead

This side dish combines all the crunchy, savory, creamy ingredients of the classic sandwich—minus the bread. This version uses a type of noodle called reginetti, but I’ve made it with other short pastas and it tastes just as good.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein

Sure, it’s fried and not grilled. But do you really think anyone is going to mind? (And yeah, if you don’t want to deep fry, you can throw the chicken on the coals instead.)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, gluten free

Well, look who’s fancy! (That’s what your dad will say when you serve him this dish. Don’t tell him it’s all a ruse and you spent a whopping eight minutes at the grill.)

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <15 minutes

Since they take just 15 minutes to whip up, you can serve them as the prelude to a bigger main course. (Thank you, rotisserie chicken.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Ring in the beginning of corn season in style—that is, with a heaping plate of pasta. A touch of heavy cream isn’t traditional for carbonara, but it will ensure your sauce doesn’t split.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Pop everything onto a hot grill, lay some newspaper down on the picnic table and enjoy. Your dad will get the biggest kick out of this Father’s Day dinner idea.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Since the grates are already hot, go ahead and make dessert right next to your dinner. (Yep, the biscuit dough is from the refrigerator section. I love a shortcut.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, one pan

This is a scaled down version of the classic Spanish dish—reducing the amount of seafood makes it manageable for any skill level without losing flavor—and it’s good.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes

The sweet mango salsa is the perfect pairing for these fiery shrimp. Is it the next best thing to a tropical vacation? I’ll let you (and your dad) be the judge.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

Is it just me, or are most turkey burgers like pucks of sawdust on a plate? These patties are anything but dry, thanks to the additions of breadcrumbs and a drool-worthy tzatziki sauce.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, gluten free, dairy free, kid-friendly

What dishes can be made in a pressure cooker? The limit does not exist. Here, the ribs become tender in practically no time before being roasted to sticky perfection.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly

You could just make flank steak…but no one has ever complained about a steak taco. The cool, crisp salsa is the ultimate foil to all that meat.

• Time Commitment: 12 hours, 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, make ahead, gluten free

Lemon zest, rosemary and oregano give this steak delicious Italian vibes. Take it over the top with a sprinkling of smoked sea salt to finish.

• Time Commitment: 16 hours, 25 minutes (includes marinating)
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, make ahead

If the glaze is too spicy for everyone but Dad, use fewer peppers and make sure to remove the seeds. (That’s where most of the heat is found.)

• Time Commitment: 13 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <15 minutes

And here I thought I didn’t like green beans. It turns out I was just cooking them all wrong. Tossing them in a grill basket ensures they retain some bite instead of turning into mush.

• Time Commitment: 13 hours (includes soaking)
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, make ahead

I can’t think of a better way to say “I love you, Dad” than with beer. Oh wait, yes I can: It’s with these extremely flavored and easy beer-marinated brats.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly

Alternatively, say it with a burger stuffed with cheese. American is classic, but cheddar, mozzarella or even Brie would be delish.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

While pairing berries with meat might *sound* outlandish, the sweet/savory pairing actually works beautifully. (Even better, this one comes together in a single skillet.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

This steak is all about the marinade. It’s slightly sweet and deeply flavorful, with a “why’s this so tasty?” secret ingredient to thank. (It’s fish sauce.)

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly

On the off chance that Dad’s not a grill guy, serve him these skillet smashburgers alongside roasted potatoes, crispy oven fries or frozen tater tots (depending on how he’s feeling). 

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy

Pork tenderloin is synonymous with dry, boring dinners, but I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be. The grapes become soft and juicy in the oven, melding with the onions and creating a sauce.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, low carb

Dad called, and he thinks you’ve really outdone yourself this time. Must be the combination of a honey-sweetened dressing, charred skirt steak and all those summer veggies.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free, <30 minutes

The chops are seasoned with vinegar and garnished with a creamy, nutty sauce, which tastes way fancier than you’d think for a 30-minute main.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian

Hot tip: If you don’t own a pizza stone, you can invert a baking sheet and use the bottom as your cooking surface. Instead of a pizza peel, you can use a large sheet of parchment paper. (And I can think of the *perfect* gift for your dad.)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly

Wavy ribbons of mafaldine or the curly nooks and crannies of trumpet-shaped campanelle allow the shrimp to nestle into every bite, but you can use any pasta shape you prefer—yep, even angel hair.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

Dad’s a vegetarian? Perfect, this seafood-free paella is just the Father’s Day dinner idea for him. Dad’s not a vegetarian? I think he’ll still enjoy the saffron-infused rice and seasonal produce.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

If you’re like me, you’d rather not scrape bits of fish skin off the grill while everyone else enjoys their dinner. This recipe is made on a sheet pan, so the mess is minimal—and yeah, you can put the whole thing on your grill.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients

In my book, Father’s Day is just a little early for peak corn on the cob, but if it’s slathered in spicy-sweet gochujang butter, it’s OK if it’s not at its seasonal best yet. If you don’t want to make this side dish on the grill, you could also a cast iron skillet.