Father’s Day is This Sunday. Here’s What to Make.
Everything from the grill to the dessert table.
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Friends, I have a theory that the best Father’s Day is one where the dad in question gets to eat exactly what he wants and nobody makes a reservation. A really good piece of meat, something off the grill, maybe a salad that holds its own next to a steak. Maybe even a piece of something sweet for after.
I cook for the people I love, and this is the list I’d pull from to do it well. There’s something here for every kind of dad: the one who wants to fire up the grill himself, the one who wants a sit-down dinner inside with a glass of red wine, and the one who just wants the best chocolate chip cookie he’s ever had and to be left alone on the couch afterward. I get it—who doesn’t want that?!
I organized it by category to make it easy to plan — grill recipes, dinner table mains, sides, and dessert. Mix and match, make one thing or make five, but save this one before Sunday.
A good sharp knife and a cutting board. You’re working with big cuts of meat across multiple recipes here. Give yourself the surface and the blade to do it properly.
A good grill. If you’re in the market, I cannot recommend the Weber Searwood XL enough—it’s powerful, consistent, and gives you that wood-fired flavor. For a more affordable option, any compact Weber gas grill will get the job done just fine!
A smart meat thermometer. Non-negotiable for the tenderloin and the carne asada especially. It takes all the guesswork out and connects to your phone so you never have to hover.
Metal or reusable barbecue skewers. They flip easily, hold up well, and you’re not soaking wooden ones in water every time.
A grill brush. The bristle-free stainless steel kind. It really does make a huge difference!
A Dutch oven. Essential for the short ribs. A heavy, oven-safe pot with a lid is what gives you that deeply rich braised result.
A large cast iron skillet. For searing the carne asada and getting that proper crust on anything you’re finishing inside.
A large sheet pan for the strawberry shortcake!
You can shop all of my kitchen favorites over on my Amazon Storefront — I keep it updated with exactly what I’m actually using.
And if you're still scrambling for a gift idea for Dad, I've got a last-minute gift guide that I think will be super helpful! If you have Prime, most of these can still get to you before Sunday!
If you’ve ever wondered how to make carne asada from scratch, then say “hello” to the Perfect Skillet Carne Asada. Tender flank steak is marinated in a blend of juices, jalapeños, and spices, for a tender meat that practically melts in your mouth with every bite. No more tough and rubbery steak; this recipe comes together in just ten minutes and is perfect for adding to your favorite tacos and salads, or just enjoying on its own!
Have a pickle lover? Make sure to make him my Dill Pickle Chicken Skewers. These tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken skewers are marinated in pickle juice and skewered with fresh pickle slices for that salty, tangy, dill pickle flavor that you know and love. Plus, they can be prepared two different ways — either on the grill or in the air fryer — making it the perfect, versatile recipe to add to your summer menu!
Craving something bold, juicy, and a little spicy? These Honey Harissa Chicken Thighs are calling your name. It’s everything you want with minimal effort and maximum flavor. The chicken thighs get marinated in a smoky-sweet blend of harissa, lemon, and garlic, then grilled (or baked!) until they’re caramelized and tender. And the best part? A silky harissa sauce that gets drizzled over the top and served on the side. It’s rich, tangy, and just the right amount of heat. Serve it with fresh parsley and pickled onions, and you’ve got the perfect dish.
If you’ve got 10 minutes and a chuck roast, you can definitely make magic this Sunday. This Easy Barbecue Chuck Roast is the cozy, low-effort dinner that truly keeps on giving. Grab your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce, a little Dijon, a few pantry staples, and let your oven handle the rest. This roast is bold, flavorful, super simple, and you’re gonna love it.
Say goodbye to the days of tough and overcooked beef – forever. This is The Ultimate Easy Beef Tenderloin, and it comes together in just a matter of minutes with a few simple and easy ingredients. This delicious cut of meat is small, lean, and bursting with flavor.
These Fall Off the Bone Braised Red Wine Short Ribs are my all-time favorite cozy meal. They take about 20 minutes of hands-on prep, and after that the oven does all the heavy lifting. The result is rich, deeply flavorful short ribs that are so tender they fall off the bone before you even try to serve them. This is the kind of recipe that feels restaurant-level but is completely approachable at home. Serve them over mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, roasted vegetables, or cauliflower mash if you want something lighter.
This Ultimate Steak Chimichurri Salad is a salad that is hearty enough to actually be a meal. Juicy, seared ribeye is tossed with crisp Persian cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, garbanzo beans, red onion, and shaved parmesan, then coated in a bold, herby chimichurri that doubles as the dressing.
This is my favorite salad recipe in the entire world – period. This is my copycat version of the Hillstone Macho Salad, and when I tell you that this salad will literally change your life, I mean it. I’ll admit, I might have even cried when I nailed this recipe, because it truly is one that I love so much. And I know that you are going to love it too! This salad is naturally gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and is too good to pass it up!
If you’re looking for a salad that is equal parts refreshing, bright, and packed with flavor, this Miso Lime Cucumber Salad is it. Crisp Persian cucumbers and shallots are tossed with fresh cilantro, crunchy salted peanuts, and a creamy miso-lime dressing that is tangy, a little sweet, and completely addictive.
If you’re looking for your new favorite salad recipe that will be on repeat all summer long, then look no further than my easy Watermelon Strawberry Cucumber & Feta Salad. This bright and refreshing summer salad comes together with chunks of fresh cut watermelon, sliced strawberries, and cool cucumbers that are tossed with feta cheese and fresh mint, then topped off with a delightful honey vinaigrette.
Light and tender broccolini is the perfect side dish for your favorite protein, and this may just be my favorite way to prepare broccolini yet. My Crunchy Garlic Lemon Broccolini comes together with just 5 easy ingredients, for a simple and delicious side dish that comes together in minutes!
If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy all the flavors of a classic Italian grinder sandwich in a lighter, meal-prep friendly way, then I think you’ll love my Favorite Grinder Pasta Salad. Think crisp lettuce, tangy pepperoncini, salty meats, creamy mozzarella, and a tangy vinaigrette, all tossed with pasta for the ultimate hearty, high-protein salad. When made with protein pasta, it packs around 35g of protein per serving, making it as filling as it is delicious.
If the warmer weather has you craving a light, fluffy, and creamy strawberry short cake, then it’s time to run to your kitchen and grab your sheet pan, because this is The Best Healthy Sheet Pan Strawberry Shortcake. It’s made from a light and airy gluten-free cake that is then topped with your favorite whipped topping and delicious, sugar-coated strawberries. This cake yields 12 slices, making it perfect for serving on Father’s Day!
Welcome to the only cookie you need in your life, my Life Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies, a recipe with “Life Changing” in its title for very good reason. They are paleo-friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, and they can be made vegan and nut-free too, which means that people with various food aversions, allergies, and what not, will likely have their lives changed too. And that texture? They are lightly crispy on the outside, perfectly soft and chewy on the inside, and they melt in your mouth.
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