33 Dinner Recipes That Are Perfect For Father’s Day

Is your dad a meat and veg dad, who would happily eat the same meal every day? Or is he one of those dads that will eat whatever you put in front of him?

Or maybe he sees himself as a bit of a foodie, and likes to try the wildest ingredients from around the world?

Whatever type your dad is, cooking for Father’s Day can be hard! You want a meal that will appeal to his unique tastes, but you might have a whole family to cook for. And you want it to taste special as well!

Don’t stress! You’re going to find the perfect recipe with this list of 33 incredible dinners for Father’s Day.

1. Classic Steak Diane Recipe

An obvious choice, maybe, but for a good reason. Steak is delicious, adaptable, and the perfect meal for a celebration.

Make sure to choose your dad’s favorite cut, and ask him just how he likes it cooked before you start.

Steak Diane pairs a perfectly cooked steak with a classic sauce consisting of all kinds of mouthwatering ingredients. Cream, cognac, Dijon mustard, and beef stock come together for an elegant topping.

2. Surf And Turf

Surf and turf brings together quality meats and delicious seafood, all cooked in the same pan so the flavors merge to create a delicious mixture. It tastes like luxury, but is surprisingly quick and easy to make.

Steak and shrimp are both foods that benefit from a quick cook, so you can have the whole meal ready in 15 minutes.

We love shrimp in surf and turf, but feel free to substitute your father’s favorite seafood. For something really special, use lobster tails.

3. Detroit Style Tomato Herb Pepperoni Pizza

Detroit-style pizza is rectangular pizza with a thicker crust and topping that goes all the way to the edge.

If your dad is a cheese fan, then he is going to absolutely love this pizza, with a crisp crust and a spicy scattering of pepperoncini and chili flakes.

This version isn’t exactly Detroit-style, but it’s still incredibly delicious. Make your own pizza dough, or use store bought, and experiment with toppings.

4. 1-Pot Red Lentil Chili

Hearty and flavorful, with a smoky finish from a spoonful of paprika, 1-pot red lentil chili is a warming choice for a Father’s Day celebration.

Serve with rice, nachos, a dollop of sour cream and guacamole, and a big sprinkle of grated cheese.

Chili is great for a celebration because it’s adaptable, and you can really mix and experiment with the sides. If your dad loves heat, give this recipe a go.

5. Best Shish Kabob

Beef shish kabobs are an excellent choice if the sun is shining and you plan on celebrating Father’s Day by breaking out the grill.

Chunks of beef are seasoned in an aromatic spice blend, and marinated in lemon, extra virgin olive oil, and red wine.

The beef turns incredibly tender in the marinade, and takes on a slight smokiness from the grill. Serve wrapped in flatbread and with a selection of mezze.

6. Butter Chicken

Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a comfort food with a bit of a twist. Grilled chicken is simmered in a sauce that’s rich with both butter and spicing, creating a lush dish with a touch of heat.

This isn’t a quick recipe, and because of the long marination, it needs to be prepared in advance. But the long process gives all those flavors time to develop.

7. Fake Shack Burger

No one but the people at Shake Shack can know exactly what goes into making a Shackburger, but this Fake Shack recipe is close enough, and just as delicious.

If your dad thinks there’s no greater culinary experience than sinking your teeth into a juicy burger, give homemade burgers a go. The “secret sauce” recipe is sure to become your new go-to burger topping.

Serve alongside homemade fries, and an ice-cold lemonade.

8. Easy Homemade Lasagna

Lasagna is one of those rare foods that might be good in a restaurant, but is nearly always better homemade.

Maybe it’s because the smell of lasagna cooking is one of the greatest things on earth? Whatever the reason, homemade lasagna is a delicious choice for a Father’s Day celebration.

Lasagna is a pretty adaptable dish as well! Switch beef for another ground meat, or a veggie substitute, if you’d prefer.

9. Instant Pot Pot Roast

An Instant Pot (or similar) makes cooking a pot roast a breeze. Simple and easy to use, you get a juicy and flavorful cut of meat every time.

A pot roast is an excellent choice if you’re planning a big family get together, and the Instant Pot ensures you don’t have to start cooking days in advance.

When everything is in the pot, you have at least an hour to spend with your family, before you need to finish the gravy.

10. Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers should be amazing. The subtle flavors of turkey are a perfect base for the flavorings and toppings that take a burger to the next level. Unfortunately, too many turkey burgers are dry and bland.

Not so with this Jalapeño pepper jack turkey burger! It’s a riot of flavors with a hit of spice that you can turn up and down, depending on your preference.

11. Chicken (Country) Fried Steak

Chicken fried steak can be a little confusing for those not from Texas or Oklahoma. There’s no chicken involved. Instead, the name is thought to reference the style of cooking, which resembles fried chicken.

So, chicken fried steak is steak fried like a chicken, and topped with gravy. The name might be confusing, but the taste definitely isn’t: delicious.

12. Wine Braised Short Ribs

If you want to deliver a restaurant quality meal for your Father’s Day celebration, then wine braised short ribs are a fantastic choice.

The ribs turn out tantalizingly tender, with an aromatic wine gravy that perfectly compliments the meat.

Wine braised short ribs use classic flavors to create an elegant dish. Serve with polenta if you have it, or mashed potatoes if you don’t.

13. Sheet Pan Greek Garlic Butter Chicken And Potatoes

Whoever came up with the sheet pan dinner was a genius. A sheet pan dinner allows you to bring flavors together easily, with minimal effort, and even less clean up.

Roasted lemon slices and garlic provide the bulk of flavor for this dish, with salty feta and olives adding to the Mediterranean theme. Make sure to drizzle the juices from the pan over your plate, and serve with flatbread.

14. Lentil Sloppy Joes

Add some veggies to a casual Father’s Day celebration with a lentil sloppy joe recipe. The zesty sloppy joe sauce packs all the flavor you need into lentils, which are used in place of traditional ground beef.

If you want to make them vegetarian friendly, make sure to sub Worcestershire sauce for vegetarian Worcestershire sauce! Serve in a toasted brioche bun, with lots of napkins!

15. Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Looking for a new way to serve pork chops? You need just 4 ingredients to make this honey garlic pork sauce, and it’s so good you’ll want to eat it straight from the pan.

A mixture of garlic, honey, and vinegar is sautéed in butter until reduced, with a splash of water for a sauce consistency.

Cooked pork chops are then basted and fried in the sauce, for deliciously crisp edges that will have everyone drooling. Serve with your favorite vegetables, or rice.

16. Easy Broccoli And Beef

Broccoli and beef is a classic takeaway choice, but this year, skip the containers and try making your own at home.

There are two things that make broccoli and beef delicious: the beef, and that sweet-garlic-soy sauce (sorry, broccoli).

For Asian cuisine lovers, you probably already have the sauce ingredients in your cupboard/refrigerator. Choose a good cut of flank steak, and cook the broccoli until just tender.

17. Jamaican Chicken Curry

Jamaican curry has a creamy and aromatic sauce that’s laced through with hits of heat. Fantastic for any dads who believe the best curries are those which are almost too hot to eat.

This curry recipe uses chicken, but the flavors are adaptable to all kinds of meat. Try switching to lamb or beef, or subbing in chickpeas and enjoy a veggie curry.

With chunks of potato absorbing the sauce, you can serve as is, or with a bowl of rice.

18. Beef Enchiladas

Enchiladas is a dish that’s almost guaranteed to please a crowd, and sometimes that’s just what you need for a Father’s Day celebration.

Packed with your favorite red sauce and smothered in plenty of gooey cheese, these beef enchiladas are going to be a hit.

Beef enchiladas are also easy to prep ahead of time, and just need to be warmed through when you’re ready to eat.

19. Kofta Kebab

Wrapping a spiced and seasoned meat blend around a skewer, kofta kebabs are an excellent choice for a sunny Father’s Day.

Using a combination of beef and lamb, you can stick these kebabs on the grill and enjoy them with pitas, salads, and more to create your own Mediterranean feast!

Kofta kebabs are best eaten with your hands, so serve these at a laid-back Father’s Day celebration.

20. Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

The slow cooker is a total game changer when it comes to celebration food! Instead of spending all day in the kitchen working hard to achieve a delicious dish, you can stick everything in the slow cooker, and enjoy a day with your dad.

To make these barbecue ribs extra yummy, at the end of the slow cook, give them a quick broil. They’ll take on a fantastic crispy char.

21. Miso Garlic Chicken Wings

Shake up your chicken wings with this miso and garlic recipe, which adds an earthy umami depth to everyone’s favorite match day food.

The Asian-inspired marinade is prepared with a mixture of miso paste, garlic, and soy sauce, and despite the limited ingredient list, it’s absolutely packed with flavor.

You can also enjoy this marinade on tofu! Make up a larger batch of the sauce, and serve both chicken and a vegan option.

22. Sheet Pan Szechuan Chicken And Brussels Sprouts

Szechuan peppercorns have an unusual floral undertone, alongside a big burst of heat. They’re something of an acquired taste, but in an Asian marinade, they add an incredible complexity.

If you can’t get your hands on Szechuan peppercorns – or you don’t like the taste – you can substitute them for black peppercorns! There will still be a lot to love in this easy to prepare dish.

23. Easy Pepper Steak

Steak can be a bit of an intimidating dish to make. Too long, or not long enough, in the pan, and you can end up ruining an expensive cut of meat. If you aren’t too confident in the kitchen, try this easy pepper steak recipe instead.

The sliced steak needs to cook for just a few minutes in the pan, preventing it from getting chewy. Marinated in a simple Asian sauce, it’s meaty and flavorful, without any hard work.

24. Penne Alla Vodka Pasta

Yes, you can put vodka in pasta! Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like a Bloody Mary. Instead, the addition of vodka heightens the taste of the tomatoes, creating an impactful sauce.

And because all the alcohol cooks off, you can serve this recipe to the whole family!

25. Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry

Shrimp is always a winner, particularly when it’s served in a creamy coconut curry sauce.

For beginner cooks, this recipe is incredibly easy to make, and tastes so much better than curry sauce from a jar.

The key is to get your hands on high quality garam masala, or to make your own. It’s an aromatic spice blend that does a lot of the work in this dish.

26. Stovetop Mac And Cheese

Celebrating Father’s Day with the whole family? Few meals are quite as good for a crowd as mac and cheese. Grown-ups love it, kids adore it, and the chef can enjoy how easy it is to make!

Mac and cheese should be gooey and rich, but not so cheesy you all need a lie down afterwards! This recipe gets that balance just perfect, with sharp cheddar cheese.

27. Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos

Slow cooker to the rescue! Shredded beef tacos are rich with Mexican flavorings, and oh-so tender thanks to the long cook in the slow cooker.

For a busy Father’s Day filled with celebration, make the shredded beef filling in advance, and keep it in the fridge. It can then be reheated while you prepare the rest of your taco fillings.

28. Healthier Chicken Marsala

Chicken Marsala is a recipe that sounds (and tastes) fancy, but isn’t that difficult to make.

Chicken Marsala is lightly fried chicken cooked in a mushroom and Marsala wine sauce. Typically made with plenty of cream, this lighter version is excellent for Father’s Day, which tends to be warm!

A few spoonfuls of heavy cream adds decadence to the dish, without the weight.

29. Shrimp With Black Bean Sauce

You’ll need to get your hands on fermented black beans to make this amazing shrimp recipe, but if you have access to a good Asian grocery store, that shouldn’t be too hard. If not, try ordering it online!

Shrimp with black bean sauce is a Chinese twist on surf and turf, combining ground pork with shrimp.

30. “The Man” Steak Salad

Sometimes it can be hard to convince dads to eat a salad! But not with this recipe. It’s basically steak and fries, served with a big plate of leafy greens and a classic dressing.

Even dads who are convinced they don’t like salad will enjoy this meal. Grilled fennel adds a sweet touch to the entire dish, which is delicious with the tang of the dressing.

31. Roasted Garlic, Chicken, And Spinach White Pizza

Garlic and cheese lovers, you have to give this recipe a try! White pizza removes the traditional red sauce, and replaces it with extra cheese.

It might look a little uninspiring, but white pizza is incredible.

This recipe uses roasted garlic. Roasting garlic turns it creamy and adds a touch of sweetness, and whisked into ricotta cheese, it ensures every bite of this pizza has a deep flavor.

32. Vegan “Pulled Pork” Sandwich

A vegan take on pulled pork might never completely pass for the real thing, but the combination of carrots and lentils makes for a hearty and satisfying meal.

It’s also loaded with protein and veggies, for a healthy take on a barbecue classic.

33. Beer Can Chicken

Beer can chicken is almost exactly what it sounds like. Instead of stuffing your chicken with, well, stuffing, you use a half full can of beer. As the chicken bakes, the beer infuses the meat, and you’re left with an incredibly moist bird.

Roast chicken is a definite crowd pleaser, and this beer can recipe is a fun take on a classic.

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