Dad-Approved Foods

By Southern Living

Serve up any of these "man-food" recipes for Father's Day and Dad will be asking for seconds.

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Pimiento Cheese-Bacon Burgers

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pimiento Cheese-Bacon Burgers

Dress up this burger with fresh herbs and a hearty scoop of pimiento cheese and bacon.

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Grilled Molasses Flank Steak

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Molasses Flank Steak

Smoky, sweet molasses flank steak pairs perfectly with the fresh Watermelon Salsa.

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Fried Chicken Wings

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fried Chicken Wings

Soak chicken twice in the egg-milk mixture and double-dredge in the highly seasoned flour for a superior crust. When serving, brighten up fried wings with lemon slices and parsley leaves. Voilá! 

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Grilled Chicken Tequila Burgers

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tequila Burgers

A juicy chicken burger is nestled under tender bell peppers and onions and dressed with cool Cilantro-Lime Mayonnaise—this one can't be missed.

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Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries

Offer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and, to save time, you can simply top with a mix of your favorite fresh summer fruit.

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Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken

Start with a whole chicken, cut up, and simmer in a homemade barbecue sauce of ketchup, cola, cider vinegar, and a splash of bourbon for a Southern barbecue flavor. Enjoy this slow-cooked chicken by itself or as a sandwich piled with Pickled Peppers & Onions atop Sweet Potato Cornbread.

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Blue Cheese "Hot Wing" Dip

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Blue Cheese "Hot Wing" Dip

Serve this blue cheese dip with chicken tenders, celery sticks, and hot wing sauce for an appetizer everyone is sure to love. We also like it on burgers or tomatoes.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

You can also serve the delicious Slow-Cooker Beef in slider buns with crowd-favorite sandwich toppings for a heartier meal.

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Bacon-Wrapped Barbecue Burgers

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Barbecue Burgers

A sautéed mushroom-and-onion mixture offers the "wow" factor for these bacon-wrapped burgers. Part of the savory mixture is pressed into the center of each burger before grilling, and the remainder is mixed with barbecue sauce and used for the topping. The result is over-the-top good.

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Classic Lasagna

Recipe: Classic Lasagna

Made with all the traditional ingredients and a homemade sauce, our Classic Lasagna with layers of cheesy goodness will become a family favorite. The sauce is well worth the effort.

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Chicken-Fried Steak

Recipe: Chicken-Fried Steak

Not only is this a favorite among dads, it's also a true Southern classic. Serve with creamy gravy and a side of mashed potatoes.

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Beer-Cheese Spread

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Beer-Cheese Spread

Try this cheesy spread over French fries, hot dogs, or chili for a Father's Day cookout.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Chipotle Chicken Wings

Photo: Van Chaplin and Charles Walton IV

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Chipotle Chicken Wings

Serve up some sweet-and-spicy wings for Father's Day. Cool it off with a side of ranch and an ice-cold beer.

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Stuffed Banana Peppers

Recipe: Stuffed Banana Peppers

Filled with cheese and wrapped in crispy bacon, these stuffed peppers are the perfect appetizer for entertaining guests at your next cookout or neighborhood gathering.

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Beer-Batter Fried Pickles

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Beer-Batter Fried Pickles

Crunchy, tart pickles get a crispy, deep-fried coating in beer. Serve with Spicy Ranch Dipping Sauce.

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Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

Recipe: Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

Treat your dad to some barbecue this Father's Day. Serve with a tasty barbecue sauce and a side of Baked Beans or Beer-Batter Fried Pickles.

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Peppered Beef Soup

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peppered Beef Soup

Peppered Beef Soup served in Toasted Bread Bowls is reminiscent of a pot roast with all the fixings. Freeze leftovers in an airtight container up to three months. Add a bit of canned broth when reheating to reach desired consistency.

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Bacon-Infused Bourbon

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Bacon-Infused Bourbon

Just add grease. That's right. As the recipe says, we added smoky flavor to bourbon using what often gets tossed.

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Pork Chops with Pepper Jelly Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pork Chops with Pepper Jelly Sauce

Minced jalapeño pepper adds a subtle kick to these juicy skillet-cooked pork chops.

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Cowboy Nachos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cowboy Nachos

Load up nachos with a juicy beef brisket, beans, cheese, hot sauce, and Dad's favorite toppings for a filling snack.

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Buttermilk-Brined Grilled Chicken

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Buttermilk-Brined Grilled Chicken

Buttermilk-Brined Grilled Chicken is soaked in a mixture of buttermilk, brown sugar, and hot sauce to ensure flavor and juiciness.

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Crispy Fried Sweet Onion Rings

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Crispy Fried Sweet Onion Rings

Store any leftover dredging mixture in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Make sure your oil is hot enough, and that it comes back up to temp, before adding the second batch of onions.

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Easy Brunswick Stew

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Easy Brunswick Stew

Cooking on low heat for a long time makes the meat extremely tender, so it shreds easily; high heat yields a less tender product.

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Mom's Signature Roast Beef

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mom's Signature Roast Beef

Go ahead and call it Dad's Signature Roast Beef for Father's Day. This meat-and-potatoes meal is perfect for Dad. To make a Cola Pot Roast, substitute 1 (12-oz.) can cola soft drink for beer.

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Chunky Beef Chili

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Chunky Beef Chili

This hearty beef chili is packed with Southwestern flavor and chunks of tender beef. Serve with Skillet Cornbread to sop up every bit.

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Grilled Flank Steak With Guacamole Sauce

Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak With Guacamole Sauce

This flavor-packed steak takes on a Southwest flair with dried chipotle powder and a zesty avocado sauce.

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Braised Short Ribs

Recipe: Braised Short Ribs

These braised beef short ribs get their incredible flavor from a flavorful, spiced wine marinade.The marinade reduces to a savory sauce that's perfect drizzled over a side of roasted potatoes.

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Smoked Brisket

Recipe: Smoked Brisket

Any slab of meat would please Dad, but this Smoked Brisket is to die for. He'll love the smoky flavor and the fact that you made just for him.

To ensure brisket perfection, read How to Smoke a Barbecue Brisket.

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Baked Beans

Recipe: Baked Beans

Thick and rich with a hint of sweetness, these baked beans are the perfect side dish for whatever you cook up this Father's Day.

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