Name: 80+ Father's Day Dinner Ideas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 280 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup packed brown sugar; 1½ tablespoons paprika; 1½ tablespoons black pepper; 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 pounds pork baby back ribs; 1 (18-ounce) bottle barbecue sauce, (divided)

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Why not spoil the men in our lives that we love with an amazing meal?! These Father’s Day dinner ideas will help you do just that.

More Collections: Crockpot Dinner Ideas, Easy Dinner Ideas, Summer Dinner Ideas

Celebrate Dad with a Meal!

I love celebrating Father’s Day and ensuring my dad and husband are recognized and appreciated for all they do and for being the best fathers around.

One of the ways we celebrate is with a delicious homemade dinner on this special occasion!

Why we love it:

Savory to sweet. There’s a mix of classic and unique main dishes, side dishes, and desserts for every skill level and taste preference!
Gift ideas. Besides delicious recipes, we’ve included creative non-food ideas for celebrating Father’s Day, adding an extra special touch to the occasion.
For every dad. Whether your dad is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, or loves a loaded salad, or a Pepperoni Pizza, there are plenty of yummy ideas to add to your Father’s Day menu.

A ranch burger on a plate with strawberries and grapes.

Making Father’s Day Fun

Aside from spoiling them with a few gifts, like these 100+ Father’s Day Gift Ideas or 100+ Father’s Day gifts from Amazon, making dinner for DAD is at the top of my celebration list. Here are some other fun ways to make the day special.

To go all out, use your dad’s favorite hobby as a theme for the meal.
Crown him “King for the Day” and turn his seat at the table into a throne.
Have kids help cook dinner. Younger kids can help wash produce, pour, and stir. Older kids can help peel and cut produce. They can measure and follow simple recipes. Teens 12+ should be able to cook on the stove and in the oven.
Have the kids fill out a “How well do you know dad” questionnaire. The winner gets a special treat.
Share your favorite memories of Dad.
Plan to do dad’s favorite activity- go fishing, have a video game competition, go to a car show, go bird watching, play his favorite board game.
Serve him breakfast in bed.
Begin a memory book. Ask questions about his childhood and record the answers. Continue to ask new questions each week and present him with a completed book the next year.

Snicker's Brownies on a plate served as a Father's Day dessert.

Plan the Menu

Whether you’re planning a small dinner for Dad or hosting a large gathering, planning your Father’s Day meal menu a couple of weeks ahead of time helps:

Watch for sales.
Make any new recipes ahead of time to work out any kinks.
Allow friends and family to bring a dish.
Include dishes that can be made ahead of time.
Make sure you have enough time and space to cook everything. Using a crock pot helps free up the oven and stovetop space.

Grilling bacon wrapped asparagus skewers on an outdoor grill.

Grilling Tips

A backyard barbecue is a common way we celebrate Father’s Day. Some dads love to grill but others may appreciate a break from the duty.

Here are a few tips to help you step in:

Take the meat out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before grilling.
Create a chart that lays out what item will be grilled in what section, as well as how long each piece of meat will need to cook. Do not overlap the different types of food before or during grilling.
Use a meat thermometer to test the doneness of each type of meat. (Be sure to clean it off with soapy water between uses.)
It can be tempting to poke, prod, and flip the meat, but don’t. It would help if you only flipped it once. By doing so you allow each side to heat up enough to start forming a nice caramelized crust.
Grilling vegetables takes a fraction of the time as the meat. Since meat needs to rest once it is done cooking, this is a perfect time to reduce the heat and grill up your veggies.
If you add BBQ Sauce or other flavorful sauces too early, it just tends to char. Allow your meat to cook almost completely before coating it with the sauce.
Allow meat to rest for a few minutes before cutting.

BEST FATHER’S DAY DINNER Ideas

Street Tacos are always a hit with the guys. Pile them high with a spritz of lime and fresh chopped cilantro with a side of Tortilla Chips and Homemade Salsa and you’re good to go!

Or check out this extensive list of hubby-approved favorites that any guy is sure to love – like our tender baby back ribs!

5 from 20 votes

How to Make Baby Back Ribs

Learn how to cook baby back ribs! Slathered in both a dry rub and sauce for a flavor explosion, they are tender and utterly delicious.

Father’s Day Dinner Ideas

Celebrate Dad with a Meal!

Making Father’s Day Fun

Plan the Menu

Grilling Tips

BEST FATHER’S DAY DINNER Ideas

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