20 Father's Day Lunch Ideas The Whole Family Will Love
Give dad the gift of not having to wait in that looooong lunch line this year.
Come Father's Day, we all know what dad really wants (and it's not #1 Dad coffee mug). While we love to spoil our moms with brunch, we like to gift our dad the ultimate lunch time feast to keep him feeling special all day. And sure, he probably wouldn't mind getting his own personal pizza oven (same here, TBH), and saving him from waiting in all those long Father's Day lunch lines will surely be a treat all its own. These 20 easy lunch recipes feature all of dad's favorites too, like tacos, burgers, even some copycat recipes from his favorite restaurants. Let's just say these are lunch ideas that the whole family will be more than happy to make for good ol' dad (and enjoy on his behalf!)
We really love our dads and, just like us, our dads love to eat. If that sounds like yours, making dad his favorite lunch is the quickest way to show him all the love. Whether you want to get fueled up for a day at the links or simply give dad the day off from grill duty, we've got a recipe for every kind of dad. For the dad on the go, our extra-crispy Buffalo chicken nugget burrito is great to prep for that big camping trip. Got an adventurous eater? Our rainbow rolls are not only delicious, but they're a great hands-on family project to boot. At the end of the day, we always feel the love when we're enjoying our favorite comfort foods. Spoil dad rotten with some comforting classics, like crispy fried chicken, garlic bread pizza, or homemade chicken empanadas.
For more ideas, check out these Father's Day desserts and Father's Day brunch ideas next for good eats all day long.
Extra-Crispy Buffalo Chicken Nugget Burrito
With chicken nuggets and a crispy shell, this burrito gives Buffalo chicken wraps a run for their money. If you love Buffalo chicken but need an easy chicken dinner or packable lunch fast, using chicken nuggets speeds up the process, soaking up all of the delicious sauce in every bite.
Cowboy Pasta Salad
Think of this as a better taco salad (because pasta!), that's perfect for potlucks and BBQS. Trust us, once you add ground beef to pasta salad, you won't be able to stop—it's that good.
Get the Cowboy Pasta Salad recipe.
Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza
Whether you'd rather skip going out or don't live close to the famous pizza spot, recreate the well-loved pie with this copycat recipe for California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ chicken pizza. If you can't get enough of the flavor combo of saucy BBQ, tender chicken and creamy ranch, then you'll go crazy for this homemade version.
Get the Copycat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza recipe.
Rainbow Roll
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.
Big Mac Crunchwrap
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 Crunchwrap recipe.
Fish Taco Bowls
When you’re craving the flavors and textures of a fish taco, but need some vegetables in your life, this salad is perfect for you. Crispy fish and a creamy, spicy slaw are the base of these veggie-packed takes on everyone’s favorite taco. There sweetness from the diced mango and creaminess from cool avocado blends perfectly with the drizzle of a spicy crema, making this summer salad an instant staple.
Get the Fish Taco Bowls recipe.
Chicken Empanadas
Empanadas come in many different forms with many different fillings. This version is a flavor bomb, with tender chicken thighs, peppers, and olives, bolstered by tomato paste and paprika. Yum!
Get the Chicken Empanadas recipe.
Garlic Bread Pizza
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.
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
While we’re all about switching things up, when we want a tried-and-true perfect meal, we always go back to the chicken burrito bowl at Chipotle. It’s classic, reliable, and, best of all, completely customizable depending on our mood. We’ve included copycat recipes here for all our favorite burrito bowl toppings, but feel free to swap them in and out for yours!
Get the Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe.
Vegetarian Italian Sub
The king of sandwiches is the Italian Hero. The meats are a huge part of the draw, but so are the veggies: the olives, peppers, ice cold shredded lettuce, and paper thin onions are what really have us craving the sandwich over and over again. With this in mind, we sub the meat for planks of zucchini and eggplant that are just as satisfying.
Get the Vegetarian Italian Sub recipe.
Crispy Fried Chicken
Fried chicken truly is an anytime food. Sure, you can make it for dinner, but please don't stop there. Fry a batch for a spring picnic, a 4th of July BBQ, or to serve alongside cornbread waffles at brunch or Father's Day lunch. Whatever you do, don't forget to save a leg to eat cold while standing in front of the open refrigerator.
Get the Crispy Fried Chicken recipe.
Carne Asada Torta
A torta is a type of traditional Mexican sandwich with a signature chewy, baguette-like roll. The flavors here are bold, with quick pickled onions, avocado-radish salsa, grilled carne asada, and a layer of refried beans.
Get the Carne Asada Torta recipe.
Caribbean Cobb Salad
A bit brighter than the traditional Cobb salad, this version combines fresh mango, creamy coconut dressing, and spiced salmon to create a punchy, spicy, filling meal. Crushed plantain chips and sweet bell pepper add a satisfying crunch. Feel free to swap out chicken, shrimp, or whatever protein dad's in the mood for come lunchtime.
Get the Caribbean Cobb Salad recipe.
Chicken Caesar Wraps
Ask a random Delish employee what they’re going to order for lunch from a deli, and at least half of them will respond with a chicken Caesar wrap. And there’s very little question as to why! It’s one of the all-time best salads, tossed into a wrap, ready for a Father's Day picnic. It’s simple yet timeless, like many of our favorite recipes are.
Get the Chicken Caesar Wraps recipe.
Hot Honey Chicken Bowls
The chicken here gets tossed in a hot honey you make yourself, while quick pickled cucumbers add a much needed crunch to the bowl. Drizzle any extra honey from the pan over the bowls for an extra kick. or add in some pickled jalapeños if your dad is a true spice lover.
Get the Hot Honey Chicken Bowls recipe.
Egg Salad
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.
Best-Ever Cuban Sandwich
You know it's going to be a good sandwich when it requires a whopping 5 hours of tender, loving care. Our Cuban sandwich, also known as the Cubano, is of the South Floridian variety, without salami. But we don't need it in this case: along with layers of ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard, there's also the super-juicy slow-roasted pork loin that we marinate for 2 hours in a citrus blend (similar to the one we used in this mojo shrimp!).
Get the Cuban Sandwich recipe.
Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas
Craving homemade enchiladas and being in a hurry aren't really compatible since the classic Mexican dish requires many steps and a fair amount of time. Enter: this skillet recipe, a quick take on the dish that comes together quickly and is perfect for an activity-packed Father's Day.
Steak Grain Bowl
A double-purpose chimichurri acts as a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for these bowls; the not-too-spicy jalapeño sauce provides a tangy, creamy counterpoint—plus, its versatility means it can go on anything and everything (read: make extra, and put it on everything).
Get the Steak Grain Bowl recipe.
Vegan Chipotle Lentil Tacos
These vegan tacos are loaded with bright flavors and a variety of textures—just like any good taco should be! Pack them up with a watermelon agua fresca and homemade guacamole for the full workday Taco Tuesday experience.
Get the Vegan Chipotle Lentil Tacos recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.