ATK Kids

Recipes Kids Can Make for Father’s Day

We rounded up the ultimate lineup of kid-tested recipes young chefs can make for the dads and father figures in their lives—from breakfast feasts to dad-worthy desserts.
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Published June 16, 2021.

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to cook for—or with!—dads, grandfathers, or any other father figures. Check out these foolproof recipes from America’s Test Kitchen Kids that young chefs can prepare (and grown-ups will love), and make every food-filled Father’s Day celebration a hole in one.

Kick Off the Day with a Big Breakfast

  • Palace Diner Lemon-Buttermilk FlapjacksThese fluffy, lemony pancakes are inspired by the flapjacks on the menu at the Palace Diner—a dining car–style diner in Biddeford, Maine. Kids can ask dad whether he wants medium- or large-size flapjacks, and then top his stack with butter and maple syrup.
  • Cheese OmeletKids can act as short-order cooks as they make an easy, customizable omelet. Have dad choose his favorite fillings (cheese, veggies, and/or meat) before kids start cooking.
From left: Palace Diner Lemon-Buttermilk Flapjacks, Cheese Omelet

Wow Dad with a Slam-Dunk Dinner

  • Rice Noodle Bowls with Pork and ScallionsThese noodle bowls are the ideal summer dinner—the light rice vermicelli noodles get coated in a simple soy-based sauce, and each bowl is topped with refreshingly crisp quick-pickled cucumbers, cilantro leaves, and scallion-studded ground pork.
  • Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken + Smashed PotatoesAmbitious young chefs can make a full chicken-and-potato dinner with little adult help. The chicken comes out juicy and tender every time thanks to a buttermilk brine, and dads will love our chunky, tangy spin on mashed potatoes.
  • Barbecue Sauce + Grill with Dad: Does anything scream Father’s Day like barbecue sauce–slathered grilled meats? Kids can whip up this better-than-the-bottle sauce, douse their choice of meat with it (Ribs? Chicken? Pork chops?), and then act as sous chef as dad grills it up.
From left: Rice Noodle Bowls with Pork and Scallions, Oven-Fried Chicken

Sprinkle in Some Snacks

  • NachosThese vegetarian nachos are perfect for company both big and small—make them as is, or double the recipe and make them in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Kids could use their own homemade Quick Tomato Salsa, or up the spice factor with pickled jalapeños.
  • Hummus + Pita ChipsThis easy hummus is made with canned chickpeas and is lightly spiced with garlic and cumin. Kids can serve it with crudités and/or our pita chips—just scroll to the bottom of the recipe page for plain (and chili-spiced!) variations.
From left: Nachos, Hummus

Top It All Off with Dessert

  • Blueberry CobblerThis summery cobbler makes a fabulous grand finale to Father’s Day celebrations. The stir-together biscuit batter keeps this simple (no mixer required). Young chefs can serve their cobbler as is, or top it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
  • BlondiesEven the youngest of chefs—ages 5 to 8—can make these blondies, which come together in a bowl. They’re sweet, a little bit salty, and packed with crunchy pecans and gooey chocolate chips!
From left: Blueberry Cobbler, Blondies

My First Cookbook

From simple after-school snacks such as Yogurt and Berry Swirl and English Muffin Pizzas to family meals like Cheese Pupusas and Sheet Pan Barbecue Chicken and Broccoli, these beginner recipes will inspire young chefs ages 5 to 8 to enter the kitchen and engage their creativity.  
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