41 Father’s Day Breakfasts to Say, “Thanks, Dad”
We don’t talk enough about Father’s Day breakfast. You’ll find loads of Mother’s Day breakfast ideas and brunch recipes online, but Father’s Day? Good luck. There are cocktail roundups, sure. Dinner ideas for dad? Plenty. But the patriarch of your household is equally deserving of something beyond the usual oatmeal or toast to kick off his special day, no?
So make this their best Father’s Day from the very start: Let ’em sleep in and then prepare a warm meal, whether it’s something savory—breakfast sausage and fried eggs, perhaps?—or sweet, carb-lover’s treats such as French toast drenched in maple syrup.
Here are our best Father’s Day brunch, breakfast, or even breakfast-for-dinner recipes that are sure to make your dad feel celebrated.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh1/41Huevos Rancheros
This version of the Mexican classic is not only worthy of Father’s Day breakfast, but it also comes with some shortcuts: Transform canned black beans into creamy refried beans with the help of butter and garlic.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad3/41Crème Brûlée French Toast Casserole
This is not the kind of French toast you can make on a whim, as it requires at least an eight-hour soak in the fridge. We said at least; it can handle being prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Do that, and simply slide into the oven when Dad wakes up.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson4/41Classic Eggs Benedict With Blender Hollandaise
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens5/41Big-Batch Pancake and Waffle Mix
This pancake and waffle mix can be made up to a month ahead and stored in the fridge—and it works for more than just breakfast.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Micah Marie Morton7/41Easy Coffee Cake
This plush coffee cake is made with melted, in lieu of softened, butter, so there’s no need for an electric mixer. This both saves you time and ensures that you won’t over-mix the batter.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews9/41Spicy Egg Sandwich With Sausage and Pickled Peppers
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart12/41Chilaquiles Rojos
It’s worth making your own salsa roja for this Mexican favorite, since it’s the foundation of the dish. While you’re at it, make a double batch so Dad has something to dunk tortilla chips into later.
Photo by Chris Terry15/41Breakfast Trifle
This morning trifle has as many layers—and is as pleasing to the eye—as a traditional dessert trifle. It’s made with yogurt, chia seeds, frozen berries, brioche, and granola.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht17/41Chocolate Chip Scones
Requiring just six ingredients, this simple scone dough studded with chocolate chips takes about five minutes to pull together—but the bakery-worthy results are bound to impress Dad.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson18/41Bacon and Egg Casserole
Combine bacon, soft-boiled eggs, potatoes, and Gruyère cheese in one dish for this delicious casserole. Important: You do not have to make the dough; this Father’s Day recipe calls for store-bought frozen puff pastry.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle19/41Pesto Pasta Frittata
This recipe assumes you have fresh or leftover plain pasta, but if you just happen to magically have leftover pesto pasta in the fridge, throw that in there. In fact, almost any sauced pasta (just nothing cream-based) will work here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova20/41Glazed Cinnamon-Cardamom Buns
Check out our step-by-step guide to making and shaping these brioche-like, cardamom-scented rolls streaked with a buttery cinnamon and brown sugar filling. They’ll keep for two days—but we all know they’ll be eaten in one.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert21/41Breakfast Burritos With Bacon, Egg, and Cheese
Photo by Jim Henkens24/41Broiled Eggs
Consider this recipe an easier take on poached eggs that’s better suited for a crowd: All of the eggs cook and finish at the same time.
Photo and Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova25/41Sourdough Crepes
These tender, tangy crepes are a great canvas for both sweet and savory toppings. Think jam, peanut butter, crème fraîche, demerara sugar, or lox.
Photo by Aubrie Pick27/41Bagels With Japanese-ish Fixings
In this spin on lox and bagels, the cream cheese is flavored with seaweed and you cure the salmon yourself. Want to go way over the top? Start practicing your homemade bagels now.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova30/41Cowboy Breakfast Casserole With Sausage and Spinach
Assemble this easy sausage, egg, and cheese strata the night before you plan to bake it. Then toss it straight from the fridge into the oven—no need to preheat!—while you make coffee and slice some fruit to serve alongside for a casual, comfortable breakfast.
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Photo by Laura Edwards31/41Savory Gruyère Bread With Ham
The ham-and-cheese-filled loaf is the savory quick bread you didn't know you needed next to your eggs at the breakfast table. Gruyère ensures it’s full of salty, nutty flavor, but sharp cheddar cheese works well too.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell32/41Sheet-Pan Potato Hash With Fixins
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca34/41Crunchwrap for a Crowd
Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme needs no introduction. This breakfast crunchwrap recipe is inspired by the fast food chain’s own riff on the original and it delivers the same promise of crispy, melty, cheesiness.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua35/41Extra-Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting
Photo by Alex Lau36/41Fried Egg Tacos With Chile Jam
A simple mix of hot chili paste, rice vinegar, and honey delivers sweet heat to these understated breakfast tacos. If you can’t find labneh (Lebanese strained yogurt), reach for plain Greek yogurt.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich38/41Sesame Chocolate Rye Breakfast Cookies
Dad deserves cookies for breakfast. These are made with oats and whole-wheat flour in addition to rye flour. And, of course, plenty of bittersweet chocolate.
