Surprise your dad with these amazing Father’s Day BBQ Ideas! What better way to honor all fathers for all they do to keep their kids happy and protected than with a scrumptious BBQ night? An excellent opportunity to spend quality time with family and the man of the home, while still relaxing around a fire!
I love to organize this type of event as going out on any holiday can be extremely stressful, and my kids love eating in the backyard more than going to a fancy restaurant! Plus, you can add some spice to the night by planning some fun family activities, such as camping in the backyard or in a nearby park where you can host your BBQ. Set up a bonfire and gather around it with your family while listening to music, telling stories, and creating some long-lasting memories!
In today’s post, I have set up a full Father’s Day BBQ menu, comprising 15 tasty and healthy recipes, from salads to appetizers, dips, and desserts. Most of the recipes are vegan or vegetarian or can be “veganized” with a couple of easy swaps (click on the recipe to learn more about possible substitutions).
Father’s Day BBQ Ideas: 6 Healthy and Flavorful Salads!
Let’s start our Father’s Day BBQ Night with some healthy and flavorful salads. All ready in 30 minutes or less, kid-friendly, and made with nourishing ingredients. (Click on the recipes for plant-based alternatives).
1. Grilled Cajun Chicken or Tempeh Salad
What better way to start your Father’s Day BBQ night than with a tasty salad? This Grilled Cajun Chicken or Tempeh Salad is loaded with lots of nourishing ingredients, and perfectly suited for a vegan, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian diet. If you love to enjoy grilled chicken, then cook the Cajun-spiced chicken on your outdoor grill along with the corn husks, and then toss them and the grilled corn with the other fresh vegetables into this salad. Or you can replace chicken with tempeh slices and grill them until they are lightly charred. If you use tempeh, I suggest you soak the slices in some of the salad ingredients in the dressing first to retain some moisture.
2. Vegan Red Potato Broccoli Salad Recipe
Next on our Father’s Day BBQ Menu is a mouthwatering Vegan Red Potato Broccoli Salad. Add a flavorsome twist to the same old traditional potato salad by adding fresh broccoli chunks and sunflower seeds. You can make the dressing with vegan mayonnaise to keep it purely vegan. The vegan mayonnaise I usually use contains aquafaba, sunflower oil, salt, distilled vinegar, white pepper, organic kombu seaweed, and organic lemon juice. Trust me, it tastes fantastic and there are no additives!
3. Watermelon Berry Fruit Salad with a Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette
If you want to beat the heat of summer, then nothing seems more delightful than this watermelon berry fruit salad with feta, tossed in a flavorful lemon thyme vinaigrette. The perfect combination of sweet and salty ingredients for all the incredible fathers out there! For a plant-based version, try this incredible homemade vegan feta recipe.
4. “Healthfully Loaded” Mexican Street Corn Salad
Traditional Mexican Street Corn salad doesn’t have tomatoes and avocado, hence why I call this “healthfully loaded”. It is creamy, packed with fresh flavors, and so easy to make. And bonus – your kids will love it too! Kick your Mexican corn salad up a notch for your Father’s Day BBQ with the addition of these special ingredients!
5. Lighter Broccoli Salad
Sometimes a party salad doesn’t do it without all the fixings! Therefore, this broccoli salad with a light and creamy dressing still includes cheddar and bacon but is made lighter to stop any guilt. In this way, you will help your father stay nice and fit! And the best part is that he won’t even notice the difference!
6. Kale Apple Beet Coleslaw
Surprise your dad with this kale apple coleslaw, a creative twist on traditional coleslaw, with a sweet and tart flavor combination. Light, easy to make, and highly nutritious, one of the best Father’s Day BBQ ideas I have ever come up with!
Father’s Day BBQ Ideas: 3 Scrumptious Appetizers to Kick Off the Dinner with a Bang!
We are now ready to start our Father’s Day Dinner with some scrumptious appetizers. Of course, these would not be Caitlin-approved recipes if they were not balanced and full of all the micro and macronutrients our bodies need to feel full and satisfied!
7. Jackfruit Korean BBQ Tacos
Surprise your dad with these incredible Jackfruit Korean BBQ Tacos! A great vegan alternative to traditional Korean Beef Tacos, lower in fats but certainly not in taste! If your father is somewhat more traditional and doesn’t want to adventure too much into new foods, you can easily swap the jackfruit with some pulled chicken or pork.
8. Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower
Among my favorite Father’s Day BBQ Ideas are these Air-Fried Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. The best part is that the recipe is equally delicious as it is healthy! Plus, these spicy cauliflower florets are both kid and budget-friendly. If you are not 100% plant-based vegan, blue cheese would be excellent to serve these with. Roll up any leftovers into a delicious buffalo cauliflower wrap the next day!
9. Healthiest Mac and Cheese
Searching for a lighter, healthy mac and cheese? Look no further! This mac and cheese rivals its traditional counterpart AND -wait for the best part- it’s highly nutritious! Your dad will certainly ask for a second dish!
Father’s Day BBQ Ideas: 3 Incredibly Versatile Dips!
I don’t know you, but for me, a BBQ Dinner is not complete without some good dips! Here are three of my favorite ones, great paired with veggies, chips, or some pita bread, but incredibly tasteful also when eaten on their own!
10. Rick’s Black Bean Dip
This black bean dip is quick and cheap to make. You probably have the ingredients in your fridge already. Perfect for your next party, potluck, or as a side on Taco Tuesday. Share it with your friends. Share it with your mom. Don’t share it, I understand. This dip is great tasting and good for you too.
Can you tell Rick wrote that description too!? ⬆️
11. Heavenly Oil-Free Hummus
This perfect hummus doesn’t need added oils to be smooth and tasty! The secret is in the ratio of the ingredients and the process (learn more about it by clicking on the recipe). I love to pair it with pita chips, cucumbers, celery, red peppers, and/or carrots for some extra nourishment! And the best part is that my kids love it too!
12. Tasty Guacamole
This fresh and savory guacamole is one of my favorite ways to enjoy an extremely nourishing fruit, avocado. It can be spread on toast and sandwiches, or dipped in chips. It is a simple plant-based vegan-friendly recipe, easy to make without any fillers, additives, or processed ingredients. The perfect recipe for all the health-lover dads out there!
Father’s Day BBQ Ideas: 3 Desserts to End the Dinner on a Sweet Note!
Finally, my favorite part of the night: dessert time! Here are three of my favorite no-bake sweet treats: who says that a decadent dessert cannot also be extremely nourishing for your body?
13. Lemon Raspberry Bars
One of my favorite Summer treats, plant-based, gluten-free, and made with just whole, natural ingredients! I love to serve them after a hefty dinner like a BBQ night, as they can help you satisfy any sweet cravings in a healthy and nourishing way!
14. Almond Joy Nicecream
This Nicecream (a.k.a “banana ice cream”) has been a true revelation for me! Not only is it vegan, paleo, and high in protein, but it is also the creamiest homemade ice cream I have ever tried! The secret is in the liquor…I guess that your dad won’t be too mad about it!
15. Homemade Electrolyte Popsicles with Tropical Fruits
Lastly, a light and refreshing recipe that will remind your day of this childhood: fruit popsicles! Mine contain tropical fruits such as kiwi, pineapple, and mango, but you can replicate the recipe with your favorite ingredients (or those you already have at hand). Plus, the coconut water can be swapped with some sugar-free syrup or fresh juice for a lighter alternative!
On a last note, hope that you and your families enjoy these tasty Father’s Day BBQ ideas! For more recipes, check out also these Cold Summer Salads for BBQ Picnics! I appreciate any feedback in the comments. 😄. And don’t forget to tag my socials if you try any of them. All the links are down below!
This is a great post! Lots of comfort foods with refreshing summer touches. It could be more approachable to have shorter bullet point descriptions, including flavor descriptors and main ingredients with the link taking the reader to the full recipe? Basically as a reader I see the title of the food and want quick info about it’s flavor, how long it takes to cook, and what kind of ingredients go into it without digging through a paragraph. I hope this doesn’t come off harsh, you’re work is excellent, I just wanted to give feedback in case it’s worth anything!
Thank you Emily for the feedback! I will take this into consideration when I make my next roundup post! I really appreciate it. 🙂