In this roundup, you’ll find everything from the best grill recipes and dinner ideas to sweet treats to celebrate with Dad this Father’s Day! Yes, we even included the famous Franklin BBQ baby back ribs and restaurant-quality ramen recipes for you to choose from.

Looking ahead to Father’s Day, we know that the dads in our lives deserve our equal appreciation. The occasion presents us with the perfect opportunity to show him our love and to tell him how much we care.

To help you find the best ways to celebrate, we’ve put together our best Father’s Day recipes that will make his day. On the menu: fall-apart smoked ribs, savory wings, better-than-restaurant ramen, potato salad, and easy fruit cake to choose from. Whatever you decide to make, we promise he’ll be impressed!


Appetizers

Chicken Karaage

Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) on a Japanese plate, served with Japanese mayo.

These bite-size fried chicken are exceptionally flavorful, juicy, and ultra-crispy, making them a winning recipe for a special occasion like this.

Fresh Spring Rolls with Yakiniku

Fresh spring rolls with yakiniku dipped in the bbq sauce.

For lighter fare, make these fresh spring rolls filled with juicy Japanese BBQ meat and crunchy vegetables. They are incredibly refreshing and packed with flavors, and Dad will love them!

Spicy Edamame with Garlicky Miso Sauce

A white ceramic plate containing spicy edamame.

If your dad is big on snacks and loves spicy food, you can never go wrong with this fiery edamame sautéed with chili paste, garlic, and miso. They are so good with beer—perfect for your BBQ party!

Agedashi Tofu

A ceramic bowl containing Agedashi Tofu (Agedashi Dofu) topped with grated daikon, chopped scallions, and grated ginger.

Kick off the Father’s Day festivities with crispy, deep-fried tofu served in a flavorful umami sauce. Deep-frying is required, but the process is easier than you think.

Sake Steamed Clams

A ceramic bowl containing Japanese Sake-Steamed Clams.

Japanese sake-steamed clams made in 10 minutes with just 5 ingredients! A favorite of izakaya, this seafood fare exudes a fun casual vibe when enjoyed with chilled beer. Expect minimal fuss and maximum flavors!


Salads

Japanese Potato Salad

A ceramic bowl containing Japanese potato salad and cherry tomatoes.

Got a dad who loves his potatoes? This Japanese potato salad will be his ultimate comfort food.

Salad with Japanese Sesame Dressing

A wooden bowl containing green salad with Japanese sesame dressing.

Make a big bowl of simple salad and pair it with this creamy, nutty, and versatile Japanese Sesame Dressing. Any leftovers can be used as a dipping sauce for your grilled vegetables!

A Million-Dollar Japanese Onion Dressing

A white and blue plate containing frisee and radicchio lettuce, thinly sliced watermelon radish, and heirloom tomatoes, drizzled with Japanese onion dressing.

Savory, sweet, zingy, and packed with amazing flavors, this onion dressing will get the non-salad-eater dads to change their minds. Use the dressing on a simple salad, and make more for your grilled meat dishes or seafood!


Mains

Traeger Baby Back Ribs Inspired by Franklin BBQ

Smoked baby back ribs with bbq sauce.

Inspired by the famous Franklin BBQ joint in Austin, Texas, these smoked baby back ribs are rubbed with a simple dry mix, smoked until fall-apart tender, then basted with a sensational BBQ sauce. Once your dad tries it, he would probably request it for every Father’s Day.

Teba Shio (Salted Chicken Wings)

Japanese Salted Chicken Wings (Teba Shio) on the Japanese plate.

With only three ingredients, these Japanese salted chicken wings (teba shio) are oven-broiled until juicy and crisp golden perfection. They are so good and unbelievably easy to make.

Yakitori (Japanese Grilled Chicken and Scallion Skewers)

Oval rustic plates containing yakitori, Japanese grilled chicken and scallion skewers, coated with savory yakitori sauce and served with shichimi togarashi on the side.

These bite-sized chicken and scallion skewers are hard to resist! It’s great for grilling outdoors or under the broiler. Serve them with a spread of finger foods like pickled cucumbers, grilled shishito peppers, edamame, or temaki hand-roll sushi. Of course, cold beer like Sapporo or sake would make the celebration even more memorable.

Instant Pot Sticky Asian Ribs

Sticky Asian Ribs on a white platter, topped with sprinkle of green onion.

Do you prefer something fuss-free that can be prepped ahead? You will have to make these Instant Pot Sticky Asian Ribs. Slathered with caramelized glaze, they’d be fall-off-the-bone deliciousness in less than 90 minutes! Once you get the ribs inside the cooker, it’s pretty hands-free, so you can focus on having a good conversation or just lounging with Dad.

Bulgogi (Korean Grilled Beef)

A blue and white Japanese plate containing Bulgogi (Korean grilled beef).

This classic dish is easily every dad’s favorite! You can make it on a BBQ grill or stovetop griddle. Serve the caramelized meat alongside steamed rice and kimchi, and you’ll have the best meal together!

Japanese Hamburger Steak

A white plate containing Japanese Hamburger Steak (Hambagu), sautéed carrot, broccoli, and baked potato wedges.

Served with a red wine reduction sauce, this Japanese Hamburger Steak (Hambagu) is big on flavors. The meat is juicy and melts in your mouth. It‘s perfect to make in a hot frying pan either in the kitchen or on the grill!

Grilled Kurobuta Pork Chops with Miso Sauce

A white plate containing the kurobuta pork chop with yuzu kosho flavored miso sauce, along with rice, green bean gomaae, and tomatoes..

Juicy, moist, and perfectly grilled, these Kurobuta pork chops with miso sauce are out of this world. The miso sauce is lightly infused with a secret ingredient for a spicy, citrusy kick. When served with steamed rice, you’d get the most flavorful pork chops for Father’s Day dinner.

Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki at home.

If you don’t have outdoor grills, take it inside and throw a Teppanyaki (鉄板焼き) party for Dad. This method works with thinly sliced meat, seafood, and plenty of fresh vegetables. It’s a fun and enjoyable way to bring the family together on this occasion.

Instant Pot Honey Spare Ribs

Instant pot honey spare ribs served with rice and steamed bok choy in a grey ceramic bowl.

If homey food is what your dad prefers, then I’d recommend these honey spare ribs. The ribs are literally fall-off-the-bone tender and so easy to make with your pressure cooker. 

Better-than-Restaurants Authentic Ramen

Miso ramen with homemade chashu and ramen egg garnished with nori.

You’ll earn Dad’s biggest approval by making him a hot bowl of ramen from scratch! From miso ramen to tantanmen to shoyu ramen, there are plenty of recipes to choose from.

Temaki (Hand Roll Sushi)

A temaki hand roll sushi spread on the dining table, consisting of plates and bowls containing sushi rice, sashimi, vegetable fillings, and nori seaweed.

Prefer not to spend too much on the grill or stove? Then have a Temaki Sushi party! The only thing you need to cook is the sushi rice; the rest of the ingredients involve cutting and can be done in advance. Everyone in the family will have fun rolling the nori sheets around sushi rice and their favorite fillings!


Desserts

Basque Burnt Cheesecake

A slice of Basque Burnt Cheesecake on parchment paper.

Creamy on the inside and caramelized on the outside, this Basque Burnt Cheesecake is easier than it looks to make at home. Baked at a high temperature, the cheesecake’s iconic rich dark top is a showstopper!

Matcha Ice Cream

A Japanese kutaniware bowl containing matcha green tea ice cream served with wooden spoon.

Earthy, sweet Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream is the perfect treat on a hot day, and all you need are 4 simple ingredients! This homemade recipe will bring the authentic flavors of Japan right to the celebration.

Easy Fruit Cake

A whole plum cake on the glass cake stand.

Need a dessert that is fast to make and requires only simple pantry ingredients? Then this fruit cake will do the job. You can use plums, peaches, apricots, figs, and berries to enjoy this cake all-year round.

Coffee Jelly

Glass bowls containing Coffee Jelly, drizzled with cream and topped with fresh whipped cream.

This chilled jelly has just 4 ingredients. Top it with fresh whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk for a touch of silky richness.


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