Father’s Day dinner is often the antithesis of Mother’s Day brunch—more laid back, less ceremonious, and, frankly, lower expectations all around. Often, all it takes to help the man of the hour feel celebrated is to have everyone gathered around for a meal.
While we can’t get everyone in the same place in time for dinner, we can get dinner itself covered. Below are 11 recipes perfect for making this Father’s Day, with options to take advantage of grilling season or tackle dinner over the stove. Plus, a few options for dessert—just because.
Grilling Recipes
If the father figure in your life has been finding excuse after excuse for al fresco cooking since Memorial Day, give him one (or four) more reasons to break out his trusty outdoor cooking supplies. Below are four recipes that are designed to be grilled or griddled, perfect for making with (or for) Dad.
Grilled Pizza with Mushrooms and Pepperoni
A homemade pizza night is an activity the whole family can enjoy together—plus, you can skip the price tag of ordering in. This version comes together on the grill using our Carbon Steel Pizza Steel, meaning there’s no need for a pizza oven or even a pizza peel. This recipe calls for pepperoni and mushroom, but you can customize to your heart’s content.
Spanish-Style Grilled Shrimp with Garlic Butter
Inspired by two classic tapas dishes—Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) and Gambas a la Plancha (Grilled Shrimp), both of which are served in bars all over Spain—this dish practically begs to be cooked on a Griddle over open flame. The shrimp come out perfectly charred, without running the risk of becoming dry. In fact, we recommend serving with some crispy baguettes to soak up any leftover juice. Serve with grilled vegetables or a side salad for a perfectly celebratory summertime meal.
Steak and Potato Salad
Whether grilling a ribeye or New York Strip (like from our friends at Porter Road), you can never go wrong with steak for a celebratory meal. This pairing from Mike and Mark Black of Austin’s famous Black’s BBQ pairs everyone's favorite protein with a baked potato-style potato salad, perfect for a laid-back Father’s Day dinner that tastes anything but.
Wagyu Burger with Balsamic Onions and Pecorino
Chef Tom Colicchio’s upscale take on a cookout classic includes Pecorino cheese, Wagyu beef, and homemade pickles and balsamic onions. While it may require a bit more planning than your everyday burger, we can promise the payoff is well worth the effort.
That said, if you're looking for something a bit more straightforward, try our back-to-basics (but just as delicious) Smash Burger.
Stovetop Recipes
If outdoor cooking isn’t his jam—or if it’s just too hot out to think about grilling—there are plenty of meals that can be cooked with the AC blasting. The following four are some of our favorites.
Brisket Mac and Cheese
A barbecue favorite, this dish elevates everyone’s favorite side to a full-fledged entrée with the addition of brisket—or any other leftover protein lurking in your fridge. This recipe from pitmaster Evan Leroy of Austin’s LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue utilizes four different types of cheese and a roux-based béchamel sauce, so plan a post-meal nap accordingly.
Lamb with Mint and Pistachio Salsa Verde
Something about lamb always feels a bit celebratory, perfect for cheers-ing to the father figure in your life. This recipe from the Made In Kitchen is topped with a punchy, acidic salsa verde that perfectly tempers lamb’s grassy, pastoral notes. Pair with a side salad or starch like potatoes, and you’ve got a special occasion meal ready to go.
Pork Chops with Apples
What’s better than pork and apples? Pork with double the infusion of apples—both fresh and a hard cider marinade (we’re fond of local brand Austin Eastciders). This recipe from Chef Chelsea Fadda, previously of Dai Due Butcher Shop and Le Politique, comes together in less than 20 minutes once the hour-long marinade has been taken care of, so dinner can be taken care of without any fuss (or much muss).
Shrimp Pad Thai
Another incentive to skip the takeout this Father’s Day, this show-stopping recipe from Thai Fresh’s Chef Jam Sanitchat shows why it’s a best-seller at her restaurant day after day. A trip to H Mart or a well-stocked grocery store will set you up ingredient-wise, and you can alter the protein to chicken, beef, or fully vegetarian.
Dessert Recipes
After all, it's not really dinner without dessert. Below are three dessert options of varying sweetness levels to match Dad’s sweet tooth—or lack thereof. Each of these recipes make use of in-season summer fruits, so you can revel in the bounty of early summer with every bite as the cherry on top of a perfect Father’s Day.
Blueberry Pound Cake with Lime Glaze
Equal parts breakfast and dessert, this blueberry-studded pound cake from Sarah Seghi, pastry chef at Austin restaurant Eberly, makes excellent use of crème fraîche to produce a moisture-packed cake that’s far better than anything you can get at the grocery store. Topped with a lime glaze and plated with fresh blueberry compote, the only thing better than how it smells is how delicious it is.
Olive Oil Cake with Brûléed Stone Fruit and Chantilly
If Dad leans more toward savory, then this olive oil cake from Lutie’s Chef Susana Querejazu may become his new go-to. Utilizing Texas olive oil is a must for added tenderness, body, and moistness, but the stone fruit you top it with is completely up to you. Peaches, plums, or whatever else you have locally available makes for a perfectly seasonal topping to this rich dessert.
Peach Cobbler
Perhaps the most quintessential of all summertime desserts, peach cobbler is the perfect vehicle to allow local fruit to shine. This recipe from Chef Chris Shepherd calls for fresh peaches, but you can substitute in fresh apricots, nectarines, or even mangoes. Serve warm with Dad’s topping of choice for the perfect end to Father’s Day.
Ready to Cook?
Whether Father’s Day is a big deal or something your dad begrudgingly accepts, you might as well enjoy a delicious dinner together. With the above recipes, you’re bound to find something he’ll love. All that’s left is finding the right gift—check out a few of our favorites in our Father’s Day Collection.
