Father’s Day is an incredible day to show how much your father means to you.
So, my question is, do you already have a special token or gift in mind for your dad? If not, here’s an idea: why don’t you grill him up some out-of-the-box dishes?
Here are some interesting Father’s Day grilling recipes to brighten up your dad’s day.
1. Stuffed Bacon Cheddar Burgers
When you think of BBQ, what comes to mind? To me, it’s hamburgers.
Hamburgers are such an iconic dish that really sets the tone for any backyard barbecue party. But for this recipe, we’re not just making any regular burger.
We’re making stuffed bacon cheddar burgers.
So, if you’re ready, here’s what you need to do to make this irresistible entrée.
First things first, mix one and a half pounds of ground beef, a teaspoon of salt and pepper, half a teaspoon of garlic powder, and a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl.
When your mixture is well combined, divide it into four even portions (which should be around 6 oz. each). Then, round them until you have a small ball.
Next, you need to cut a cube of cheddar cheese and push it into the middle of each patty. Make sure to mold the meat around the cheese to properly seal the cheddar inside.
Now, you’re going to take two strips of bacon and wrap it around your cheddar-filled burger patty. If you need to secure the ends of the bacon, you can use a toothpick to keep them intact.
Once your patties are ready to cook, preheat your grill to 400°F and grill your stuffed burgers for 14 minutes (or seven minutes on each side).
When they’re finished cooking, it’s time to assemble your burger. You can go wham with the toppings, but since the meat is already the star of the show, I like to keep the condiments and relishes simple.
A little lettuce leaf, four slices of fresh tomatoes, and a spoonful of caramelized onions should be enough to complete this burger.
2. Whiskey-Glazed BBQ Ribs
If your dad is anything like mine, he would love these whiskey-glazed BBQ ribs. My dad is a big fan of whiskey, so if he can have it in food form, he’ll be over the moon with excitement.
To make this dish, start with two racks of pork ribs and remove the skin-like tissue from their backs.
Then, rub them with a mixture of a quarter cup of brown sugar, two tablespoons of smoked paprika, a tablespoon of garlic powder, a teaspoon of onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Next, wrap your seasoned ribs in foil and put them in the fridge for a minimum of two hours. For the best results, I like to leave mine overnight to really let the flavors marinate.
After a few hours, fire up your grill and place your foil-wrapped ribs on top.
Leave the meat on medium heat for around two hours. This should be enough time to make your ribs soft and tender.
As you wait for the two-hour time to go off, make your BBQ sauce on the side — this is where the whiskey comes into play.
To make the sauce, blend a quarter cup of whiskey (which you can probably find in your dad’s cupboard), two tablespoons of honey, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
Let the mixture simmer in the saucepan for 15 minutes before removing them from the heat.
Once your ribs are ready, take them out of the foil and brush them with your homemade whiskey glaze.
Cook the seasoned ribs for an additional 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, to let the sauce seep through.
At the end of this final countdown, you should have beautifully charred and caramelized pork BBQ ribs, ready for slicing.
3. Grilled Steak Fajitas
Have you ever heard the saying: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”? This saying couldn’t have been truer for dads.
While every dad has his own preference when it comes to food, one thing’s certain: every dad loves flavor, and flavor is certainly what he’ll get with these grilled steak fajitas.
To make this Mexican-inspired dish, start by working on your steak marinade, which is made up of a quarter cup of olive oil and lime juice, and four cloves of minced garlic.
To add flavor to this sauce, add two teaspoons of cumin, one teaspoon of chili powder, a teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper.
Mix them well and pour them into a resealable bag with two pounds of skirt steak (or flank steak, whichever you prefer) before refrigerating for two to eight hours.
In the meantime, slice two large bell peppers of any color, and a large onion into thin strips. Don’t forget to season your veggies by brushing them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Set your veggies aside as you grill your marinated steak for four to five minutes on each side.
After removing your steak from the grill, place your sliced veggies on the same grates and let them cook for about six minutes.
While your veggies are cooking and your meat is resting, warm up some flour tortillas.
Now that you’ve prepped all the components of your steak fajitas, it’s time to assemble.
Take your toasted tortillas, scoop in your grilled steak and veggies, and add your favorite toppings, like salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and shredded cheese.
Plate your dish and serve it to your dad with a can of cold beer, and I’m sure you’ll make his day one to remember.
4. Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken Skewers
In case you’re in the mood for a lighter and more refreshing recipe, this lemon-herb grilled chicken skewers might just be what you’re looking for.
To make this zesty dish, start by cutting two pounds of boneless chicken breasts into tiny cubes.
Then, in a large bowl, combine half a cup of olive oil, a quarter cup of lemon juice, two tablespoons of minced garlic, and two tablespoons of freshly chopped herbs.
To this mixture, add a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste.
Toss your chicken cubes into the bowl and coat every piece with your marinade. Cover the bowl and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes to two hours.
While your chicken is marinating, preheat your grill to 375°F.
When your grill is hot enough, thread your chicken cubes into damp wooden skewers and grill for six minutes per side. You should end up with a beautiful golden-brown color.
At this point, the chicken skewers are ready to eat, but I usually garnish mine with an extra squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of rosemary, parsley, and thyme.
5. Spicy Italian Sausage and Pepper Hoagies
Is your dad a sausage lover? Perhaps this spicy Italian sausage and pepper hoagies recipe is exactly what you have to make to impress your old man.
To begin, preheat your oven to 350°F while you work on your relish.
To make your sausage relish, toss two sliced bell peppers (one red, one green) and one sliced white onion with two tablespoons of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Then, set your veggies to the side.
Now, place four Italian sausage links on the grill and cook for about 15 minutes. Be sure to turn them every few minutes to avoid any burning incident.
During the last five minutes, add your seasoned veggies on the grill to char.
As your veggies are cooking, toast your hot dog buns until they are crisp and golden brown.
Remove your buns from the grill, and assemble your hoagie by putting your Italian sausage inside and topping it off with grilled veggies.
If you ask me, this recipe is pretty simple to make. So, if you have limited experience when it comes to cooking or grilling, making spicy Italian sausage and pepper hoagies is a good start.
6. Grilled Peaches With Cinnamon Honey Mascarpone
Moving on to a more adventurous dish, let’s dive into this grilled peaches with cinnamon-honey mascarpone recipe.
After all the savory dishes I mentioned above, you’d probably want to give your dad some dessert to close off his meal. And this recipe will do just the trick.
Let’s start by cutting four ripe peaches in half, removing the pits, and brushing both sides of the peaches with two tablespoons of melted unsalted butter.
Then, place your peach halves (flat side down) on the grill for four minutes. You’ll know they’re done when you can see grill marks start to form.
When that happens, take them off the heat and let them cool off to the side.
While waiting, let’s work on our cinnamon honey mascarpone.
So, grab a bowl and mix a cup of mascarpone cheese, a quarter cup of heavy cream, three tablespoons of honey, and half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Now, bring your grilled peaches back and put a dollop of your creamy mascarpone on top before serving.
We can stop here, but we can also take it up a notch and add some pizzazz by drizzling extra honey and sprinkling some cinnamon as garnish.
Taking this extra step will really tie everything together and make your dish look professional.
7. Grilled Pineapple With Coconut Rum Caramel Sauce
For this final dish, I want to end with a bang. And there’s nothing quite like this grilled pineapple with coconut rum caramel sauce recipe to close off our list.
So, grab one ripe pineapple and cut it into thick rings. You can use a small cookie cutter to remove the hard core at the center.
In a separate bowl, whisk together three tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, two tablespoons of brown sugar, and a quarter teaspoon of ground cumin.
Brush this mixture onto both sides of your pineapple rings before placing the fruits on the grill.
Let the pineapple cook for around six minutes (or three minutes per side) before removing it from the heat.
To make the coconut rum caramel sauce, you need to combine a cup of granulated sugar and a quarter cup of water in a saucepan.
Heat the mixture for five minutes until all the sugar dissolves and your syrup turns into a deep amber color.
Then, whisk in half a cup of thick coconut cream, a quarter cup of dark rum, and a pinch of salt in the same saucepan.
During this process, you have to be careful because the mixture will start to steam and bubble quite intensely.
Once everything is well combined, remove your sauce from the stove and let it rest.
When your sauce is cool enough, arrange your grilled pineapple rings and drizzle them with your homemade coconut rum caramel sauce.
Top it off with a scoop of vanilla or coconut ice cream, and you’ve got a tropical dessert that I’m sure your dad will enjoy!
Are You Ready To Wow Your Dad This Father’s Day?
Showing your dad some love and appreciation doesn’t have to be grand or expensive. In fact, something as simple as grilling them their favorite dish (or an upgraded version of it) is enough to really wow your pops.
So, give these recipes a try, and create unforgettable memories with your father (and other father figures in your life) this coming holiday!
