40 Father’s Day Lunch Ideas

The dumplings in this “panzanella” start crispy and chewy, but after a few minutes of swimming with soy- and chili-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers, they soak up extra flavor and add textural contrast to the dish. This is the perfect low-lift lunch for when you want to impress your dad without actually making a ton of effort.

Get the Pot Sticker Panzanella recipe.

Your dad may be the reigning grilled skewer champion, but you can dethrone him with these sticky soy steak skewers. We marinated pieces of sirloin steak in soy and chili-garlic sauce, skewered them alongside red onion, then grilled the skewers until medium-rare while brushing them with a sweet and savory honey-garlic glaze that’s guaranteed to wow.

Get the Sticky Soy Steak Skewers recipe.

This salad is simple, but still impressive, thanks to its star ingredient—ribeye steak. You’ll grill it (and red onions), then combine it with cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, basil, and a drizzle of tangy balsamic dressing, turning it into the kind of impressive-but-secretly-easy dish you’ll be making all the time.

Get the Grilled Steak Salad recipe.

Did someone say fried chicken AND Caesar in the same sentence? Yes—you heard correctly. We’ve decided to combine two much-loved recipes to make this lip-smackingly delicious burger. Biting through the buttery, sweet brioche to meet the salty Caesar dressing dripping over crispy chicken is nothing more than a masterpiece of a mouthful.

Get the Fried Chicken Caesar Sandwich recipe.

With sweet strawberries, herby chicken, tangy feta, and crunchy pecans, this summer salad will make even so-called spinach haters fall in love after just one bite. This light and fresh salad lets sweet flavors shine, but is complemented by the sharp textures and flavors of our other ingredients. Leave out the chicken for a summer side dish, or add it in for a hearty main!

Get the Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe.

If you love pizza crust, then this is the next-level rendition of that perfect crunch. Some recent TikTok scrolling led us to a gorgeous pizza sandwich stuffed with cheese and cured meat. With that as our inspiration, we created a super-crusty sandwich stuffed with creamy burrata, salty prosciutto, sweet fig jam, and peppery arugula.

Get the Burrata Pizza Sandwiches recipe.

Craving dumplings, but not the effort it takes to make them? Enter: these pork dumpling bowls. These deconstructed bowls deliver on the same salty-savory, soy sauce-soaked pork, shrimp, and cabbage filling, but combined with easy wheat noodles that mimic the same chewy flavor you love in a dumpling—no wrapping required.

Get the Pork Dumpling Bowls recipe.

Get out your chopsticks, it’s time for homemade sushi freshly made at your house. And no, it’s not that hard! Rainbow rolls include a lot of elements of traditional Japanese sushi—seasoned rice, raw fish, nori—but the composition is definitely Americanized.

Get the Rainbow Roll recipe.

This wrap is hearty enough to keep you full until dinner, but not so heavy you require a post-lunch nap. Filled with a zingy arugula-dill salad, sliced turkey, roasted red peppers, and crunchy cucumbers, and sealed with a creamy goat cheese spread, it’s exactly the kind of colorful lunch that’ll brighten up your Father’s Day.

Get the Turkey Lavash Wraps recipe.

Also known as Texas caviar, cowboy caviar combines fresh vegetables, beans, and corn to make a colorful meal that can be enjoyed with chips or as a standalone dish. But once you add some pearl couscous? It becomes the star of any picnic or potluck.

Get the Cowboy Caviar Couscous Salad recipe.

While this recipe focuses on the all-butter version that makes lobster the star of the show, mayo fans need not fear—we’ve included both options, so you can make your dad’s dream lobster roll, just how he likes it. Serve it with all your favorite summer sides to transport your family straight to the coast after just one bite.

Get the Lobster Rolls recipe.

When it comes to healthy salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying summer meal. We love this classic version, but if you want to get fancy, feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings.

Get the Taco Salad recipe.

Looking for a fun, easy twist on homemade pizza? Skip the dough and use frozen garlic bread instead. Taking advantage of a grocery store staple, this playful mash-up promises the saucy cheesy goodness of your favorite pizza, all atop a super-soft, garlic buttery base. Crusts will never be thrown out again.

Get the Garlic Bread Pizza recipe.

Craving fast food come lunch time, but trying to avoid the processed foods (and the lines!)? Make a Big Mac Crunchwrap at home instead. It’s everything you love about both fast food treats, all in one.

Get the Big Mac Crunchwraps recipe.

With BBQ chicken, corn, an easy slaw, rice, and pickles, these grain bowls are a protein-packed lunch that are the noon pick-me-up you need. Once you prep the rice ahead of time, these bowls will only take 15 minutes to cook and assemble (so you can spend more time with your dad this Father’s Day).

Get the BBQ Protein Bowls recipe.

While we love our egg salad variations, (lookin’ at you, Cobb egg salad), it’s always a good idea to have a tried-and-true recipe up your sleeve. Our standard centers around just 6 core ingredients; use it as a base for creative mix-ins and variations, or enjoy as is for a truly classic recipe.

Get the Egg Salad recipe.

Burritos will always be one of our favorite fast-casual meals. This time, we’re giving them a plant-based twist by making tofu the star of the show. I’ve packed these burritos full of smoky, saucy tofu crumbles, fluffy cilantro-lime rice, and flavorful pinto beans, along with some classic burrito accoutrements, but feel free to mix it up.

Get the Tofu Burritos recipe.