10 of the Best Grill Recipes in Honor of Father’s Day

The best way to celebrate Father’s Day is not with the gift of yet another tie; it’s with a family cookout in the backyard with someone other than dad manning the grill. (We presume that’s why Father’s Day is in June and not, say, February.)

To help you plan the most special meal for the most special man, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite recipes for the grill.

1. Black Truffle Burgers with Air-Fried French Fries

Sure, we have a really good cheeseburger recipe, but this is FATHER’S DAY. Which means it’s time to break out the Black Truffle Burger Seasoning. This recipe (photo above) includes directions for fries made in an air fryer, however, any sort of grilled veggie would be a great side dish. We’re especially partial to this grilled asparagus.

2. Grilled Steak with Charmoula

The idea of men loving steak is a cliche for a reason: It’s a pretty safe bet for meat-eating dads. This recipe calls for you to do absolutely nothing to the steak—aside from grilling it. The real magic comes in the form of the sauce, made with flavorful herbs and spices (think: cilantro, parsley, paprika, turmeric, and more). Your dad is going to want the recipe for the sauce. Give it to him and tell him to also use it on roasted potatoes and omelettes, or as a dip for warm pita bread.

3. Grilled Chicken with Quick Barbecue Sauce

Believe it or not, a lot of barbecue sauces contain gluten. Our recipe, however, does not. Make a big batch ahead of time and then slather chicken pieces as they cook away on the grill. Use leftover sauce for extra dipping at the table or even on pork chops or ribs another night.

4. Mustard Dill Turkey Burgers with Mustard-Dill Slaw

For the healthy set among, these turkey burgers won’t leave you missing the beef. You can use gluten-free ingredients or conventional ones, but you simply can’t skip the mustard-dill sauce or the crunchy slaw mix.

5. Grilled Salmon with Spicy Melon Salsa

Another incredibly healthy option, this salmon is super light and the salsa is flavorful and refreshing. Feel free to get creative with the salsa—you can swap in mango or pineapple, for example.

6. Grilled Eggplant Stuffed with Bulgur, Feta and Pine Nuts

The key to this vegetarian dish is finding baby eggplant that’s only six to eight inches. (Your local farmers’ market is your best bet). Once that’s done, it’s as simple as prepping and assembling your ingredients. Tip: Serve this dish warm or at room temperature with some warm flatbread and marinated olives.

7. Grilled Pizza with Cherry Tomatoes and Gorgonzola

Tomatoes are probably just starting to peak in your area, which means they’re practically begging for you to make this grilled pizza. You’ll need nine ounces of ripe cherry tomatoes and they’ll take on a sweet, slightly smokey flavor that’s better than anything your oven can do. We’ve got directions for how to make your own dough from scratch, but if you’re not feeling that ambitious, you can also buy the stuff from your favorite local pizza place.

8. Grilled Shrimp & Green Onions with Romesco

Looking for something to serve as an appetizer or snack while you wait for the rest of your family? You can make a big batch of this romesco sauce ahead of time and add shrimp, green onions, and lemons to the grill as needed. This way, you guys will have something (delicious) to snack on until your brother shows up.

9. Brined Pork Chops with Grilled Stone Fruit

Because pork chops are so lean, they can come off the grill on the too-dry side. Brining them overnight not only adds flavor, it ensures that the meat comes out moist and tender. Note: Grilled peaches on their own—or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream—make for an excellent summertime dessert.

10. Grilled S’mores Doughnuts

Speaking of dessert! We took the classic s’more recipe (which usually gets passed on from generation to generation during a backyard camping “trip”) and gave it a grown-up twist. Instead of graham crackers, use glazed doughnuts that get warm and slightly caramelized after a stint on the grill. Gooey marshmallow spread goes between the doughnut slices and each bite gets dipped in melty chocolate. Trust us, your dad will approve 100 percent.