13+ Greatest Wholesome Father’s Day Recipes

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It’s almost Father’s Day – and if you want to show your dad how much he means to you, preparing a meal in his honor is definitely good. Whether you want to celebrate it with breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three, we have healthy Father’s Day recipes for you that Dad is sure to love.

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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Time to heat up the grill, because this is a very special steak dinner that your father won’t soon forget. The herb butter sauce really takes this steak to the next level and who doesn’t love the big side of crispy fries. This dish will amaze you.

Get our recipe for Classic Steak Fries.

Jalapeno cheeseburgerMitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

More of a burger type? Skip the fast food options and whip this recipe for dad instead. We’re not kidding when we say this restaurant-level jalapeño cheeseburger is good. It’s flavorful, juicy, and also incredibly lean thanks to a few healthy swaps.

Get our recipe for jalapeño cheeseburgers.

Pasta salad with butternut squashWaterbury Publications, Inc.

You can’t grill without a side dish – and this pasta salad should be your favorite. It can be done ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about putting it together while spending time with dad. It’s also full of fiber and protein – and tastes like summer in salad form. Impressing the family has never been easier.

Get our butternut squash noodle salad recipe.

Low calorie cheesesteak sandwichMitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

There’s just something about a big steak that reminds us of dad, and we don’t know many who wouldn’t love this cheesesteak sandwich recipe. The combination of steak with blue cheese, caramelized onions, tomatoes and rocket in sandwich form – dad will live for it.

Get our cheesesteak sandwich recipe.

Sunrise sandwichMitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

If your dad is more of a breakfast guy, we have the recipe for you. Skip the unhealthy, boring waffles or pancakes for this breakfast sandwich. It’s packed with tons of flavor – we’re talking about smoked turkey, pepper jack cheese, guacamole, and more. Not to mention it can be put together in under 15 minutes so you don’t have to wake up at dawn to make it for dad.

Get our recipe for a Sunrise Turkey, Cheddar, and Guacamole Sandwich.

ready-made chicken wings with blue cheese dip and celery on a plateKiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!

We have so many favorite chicken wing recipes that we couldn’t pick just one. Whether your dad likes buffalo wings, honey-garlic, sweet and hot, buffalo, the possibilities are endless. We have 15 recipes with chicken wings for you to choose from so you can choose the one your dad would love the most.

Get our recipes for chicken wings.

Healthy bigger better big Mac bigMitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Ready for a bigger, better, healthier version of a Big Mac? This copycat recipe will make your dad forget everything about McDonalds. It’s simple but tasty.

And if Papa isn’t a Big Mac fan, maybe try recreating another restaurant food to show him how much you care.

Get our recipe for a Copycat Big Mac.

fried pork chopsCourtesy Kristine Kidd

If you have a gluten-free dad, this would be our recipe for a Father’s Day dinner. Making pork chops may seem a daunting task, but this recipe makes it fully accessible. It all comes down to seasoning and cooking them – and we have some tips on how to make these pork chops the juiciest ever.

Get our recipe for Sauteed Pork Chops with Kale Salad.

Chicken parm casseroleGail Watson Photography

If you’re serving a crowd for Father’s Day, this rotisserie chicken parm casserole will put all other casseroles to shame. It’s incredibly filling, as it’s filled with whole wheat pasta and chicken – and it can be ready in under 30 minutes.

Get our recipe for Rotisserie Chicken Parm Casserole.

Low-calorie smokey ribs with peach BBQ sauceMitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

From the oven to the grill, these ribs, rubbed with spices, taste like they have been smoked for hours. And topped off with a peach BBQ sauce that even has bourbon added to it – these ribs will make your dad beg for the secret recipe.

Get our recipe for smoky ribs in a peach BBQ sauce.

potato saladShutterstock

As I said, the side dishes are an essential part of any grill. So if you want to skip the pasta salad or want a different option, this potato salad should be the way to go. Most potato salads aren’t healthy, but this one is low in calories and replaces the mayo with mustard and white wine vinegar, which gives this dish an even better taste.

Get our Potato Salad Recipe.

Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and chopped walnutsKiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!

We can’t celebrate Father’s Day without dessert, and these carrot cupcakes will soon become your dad’s new favorite treat. This recipe is lighter and healthier than most carrot cake desserts, but still tastes incredibly fluffy and sweet. There’s no question that dad loves to have one or five of these delicious cupcakes on his special day.

Get our carrot cupcake recipe.

Cinnamon-orange-lava cake on white plates with forks and coffee-cinnamon-pinch bowlWaterbury Publications, Inc.

If your dad is a chocolate alcoholic like us, make this cinnamon orange lava cake for him. Who doesn’t love lava cake? And these are not only very rich and chocolaty, but also sweet from the orange and have a hint of spice from the cinnamon. The flavor combination is a bit unexpected, but it absolutely works in this dessert.

Get our cinnamon orange lava cake recipe.

Low-calorie banana rum splitsMitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This dessert is like taking your average banana split and beating it up a notch. The fact that the banana is caramelized in a pan before being doused with vanilla ice cream and, of course, the rum sauce, makes this dish a real Father’s Day treat.

Get our recipe for warm banana split in rum sauce.