50 Father’s Day Brunch Recipes to Serve Dad, from Drinks to Doughnuts
If you’re hosting Father’s Day brunch this year, eggs and toast just aren’t going to cut it. Now’s the time to pull out all the stops. After all, Dad will need to fuel up for pickleball (you know, if that’s his thing). Here are 50 festive recipes to celebrate—along with some Father’s Day activities, in case you need something fun to do after the big feast.
These Father’s Day brunch recipes include cocktails, like beer bloody Marys and a mimosa bar; mains, like eggs Benedict and cinnamon roll pancakes, and sweets (ahem, carrot cake doughnuts, anyone?). You'll love these recipes because they're impressive without being high-lift, and many of them are seasonal, fast and beginner-friendly.
What to Serve with These Father’s Day Brunch Recipes
Settling on an entrée can be simple, but choosing the accompanying sides can be overwhelming. Wondering what to pair with your brunch main? Here are a few ideas:
45 Brunch Recipes That Will Wow Your Guests
Drinks
1. Mimosa Bar for a Crowd
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Mimosas are a brunch given, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with OJ. Pick your poison from a selection of paloma, tropical fruit and strawberry-basil sippers. "As for serving, a one-to-one ratio of juice to bubbly is the typical recommendation…but few guests will complain about a heavy pour of the latter," reassures PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen.
2. Best Bloody Marys
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Bloody Marys are always better when you use high-quality tomato juice and season it well. So don’t be shy with the Tabasco sauce, spice-loving friends.
3. Frozen Aperol Spritz
Plated
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Aperol spritzes are ideal for brunch because they’re easy to prepare and not so boozy that you’ll lose your afternoon. Make them occasion-worthy by blitzing everything in a blender with lots of ice.
4. Bloody Mango Cocktail
Karen Wise/Tiki With a Twist
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Complete with tomato juice, mango nectar and a splash of hot sauce. This drink is like running into an old friend, but now Mary’s living her best life in paradise.
5. Raspberry-Lime Champagne Punch
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Bubbles are never a bad idea. With lime juice, raspberries and a touch of vodka, this punch is as refreshing and crowd-pleasing as it is potent. (You’ve been warned.)
6. Sangrita
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Margaritas are tart and universally loved. Sangria is easy to batch for a crowd. Combine them and you have Father's day brunch cocktail magic.
7. Beer Bloody Mary
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
It’s like a cross between a Michelada and a standard bloody Mary. The addition of a pale lager makes it ultra-quenching (and even more flavorful).
8. Watermelon Sweet Tea
John "Edge" Koladish/Ed Mitchell's Barbeque
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients, vegan
'Tis the season to serve this uber-refreshing sipper. Lime brings brightness to the watermelon's sweetness, while fresh mint leaves make for an herbaceous, photo-worthy finishing touch. (In case you need help cutting the melon, this is the easiest way to do it.)
Main Courses
9. Jalapeño Popper Omelet
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, gluten free, high protein
Finger food, meet breakfast. This omelet is stuffed with a cheesy, spicy blend of chiles, bacon, cheddar and cream cheese, so it basically tastes like your all-time favorite appetizer. "Make sure to preheat your pan, then start stirring the second the eggs go in," Gillen explains. "Once you have large curds, stop stirring so the bottom can set. To assemble like a pro, use your spatula to fold the omelet over the toppings as you’re sliding it onto a plate; this will give you a little leverage."
10. Slow Cooker Mediterranean Frittata
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
You still need to set the table, prepare cocktails and decorate the backyard—so let your Crockpot take care of breakfast. Feel free to add crumbled sausage, ground beef or bacon to the frittata for a meat lover's take on this Father's Day brunch recipe.
11. Leek, Kale and Goat Cheese Strata
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
“Strata” is just the fancy way of saying “breakfast bread casserole that you made ahead of time.” Just don’t tell Dad that and he’ll be *so* impressed.
12. Cherry Tomato Galette with Garlic and Herbs
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
Imagine pizza, but with an impossibly flaky crust and a filling that’s a thousand times better than any sauce. That’s this galette, and lucky for you, it’s surprisingly effortless to make. (Thank you, store-bought puff pastry.)
13. Croque Madame Dutch Baby
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy
A Dutch baby is like a custardy pancake that doesn’t require standing by the stove with a spatula. Nothing against maple syrup, but this one is filled with eggs, ham and cheese for a savory twist.
14. Chilaquiles with Poached Eggs and Spicy Honey
National Honey Board
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
If your dad is always torn between sweet and savory, this skillet Father's Day brunch recipe can treat him to both. The spicy, ancho chili honey infuses the dish with just enough heat to keep everyone on their toes.
15. Waffle Breakfast Sandwich with Chorizo
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
One bite of this sammie, which features savory cheese waffles, and you might never go back to bacon and eggs. Our recipe developer calls for chorizo, but you could swap in breakfast sausage for a touch of sweetness.
16. Eggs Benedict with Easy Hollandaise Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, low sugar, high protein
Easy hollandaise sauce? Yep, it’s a thing. The trick to sparing yourself an arm workout is as easy as breaking out your trusty blender.
17. Roasted Potato Galette with Crème Fraîche and Smoked Salmon
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
If you’re like, isn’t a galette a pie?, you’re right. And this one is basically a potato pie topped with ribbons of smoked salmon and all the briny fixings. Even better, each layer of spuds is hiding plenty of Parmesan cheese.
18. Sheet-Pan Pancakes with Chocolate Chips
Photo: Tyler Mauk/Styling: Anne Mauk
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Like I said before, no one wants to spend Father’s Day brunch by the stove churning out short stacks. Instead, make one giant pancake in a baking sheet and watch the crowd go wild. Feel free to swap out the chocolate chips for whatever Dad’s into (blueberries, bananas—you name it).
19. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly, vegetarian
It’s Dad’s special day, so don’t make him choose between two breakfast treats—make both in one go. The accompanying icing is essential for the full effect, but no one would complain about a side of syrup either.
20. French Toast Sticks
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
This Father's Day brunch recipe is slightly more sophisticated than the frozen, boxed variety (think a rich egg custard for cooking and a honey-vanilla syrup for serving), but no less nostalgic.
21. Green Shakshuka
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, low carb
Scrambled eggs aren’t exactly holiday-ready, but this spicy skillet is. The O.G. version is made with tomato sauce, but you'll love using spinach and jalapeño to shake things up.
22. Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal
Kristin Teig/Mostly Veggies
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan
Straddling the line between nutritious and indulgent is this one-bowl breakfast, which tastes like a cinnamon roll but requires no kneading, shaping or rising time. Win, win, win.
23. White Shakshuka with Roasted Crispy Eggplant
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Unlike the tomato- or herb-based shakshuka you’ve had before, this version stars dairy. "The yogurt base, seasoned with lemon and herbs, turns almost ricotta-like," explains recipe developer Adeena Sussman. "I layered tomatoes and onions underneath, and while the shakshuka is cooking, [the] eggplant crisps up in the oven to create the tastiest little veggie croutons you’ve ever had."
24. Leftover Pasta Frittata
Andrew Bui/Let's Eat
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
Last night's noodles have a second chance at dinner with this eggy main. Use any leftover long pasta, like spaghetti, fettucine or bucatini, or elbow macaroni in a pinch. (It's a kid-friendly choice, after all.)
25. Potato and Spring Pea Frittata
Cara Mangini/The Vegetable Eater
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
The frittata can be paired with just about anything, plus it can be served warm, room temp or cold. Just don't substitute frozen peas—they'll add too much water to the mix. Buying the fresh peas already shelled will save you prep time to boot.
Side Dishes
26. Bitter Greens Salad with Herby Ranch Dressing
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
"I love a classic Caesar, but when a salad needs to have enough pizzazz to cut through a rich meal—say, a roast chicken—I reach for a recipe that’s more complex," explains Gillen. With biting radicchio and frisée (plus tart apples, pistachios and a creamy dressing), this side is just the thing to cut through the richness of a Father's Day brunch recipe, like eggs Benedict or quiche.
27. Strawberry, Basil and Arugula Salad with Lots of Black Pepper
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, no cook, vegetarian
"The dressing isn't really a dressing in the traditional sense, since you don't need a whisk or a blender to make it," Gillen says. "Instead, the strawberries are marinated with rice vinegar and honey, releasing their juices to coat the greens." In other words, it practically prepares itself.
28. Maple Candied Bacon
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
If you’re the type of person who dips their bacon into maple syrup, this is your ideal side dish. It’s way easier to make than you might think, especially if you know how to cook bacon in the oven.
29. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Store-bought puff pastry does it again, this time as an upscale version of Hawaiian pizza. You can serve these as an entrée alongside a salad or as an appetizer to the main event.
30. The Best Potatoes au Gratin
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegetarian
Carby, creamy and cheesy, it’s all I could dream of in a single casserole. For ultimate ease, assemble the bake ahead of time and chill it in your refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it.
31. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian
Instead of dumping a box of mixed greens into a bowl and calling it a day, put in a little more effort for Dad. He might not know what halloumi is (yet), but he’ll be hooked at first bite.
32. Crispy and Spicy Harissa Potatoes with Yogurt
Ty Mecham/Delicious Gatherings
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, gluten free
Potato sides are a dime a dozen, but not all of them feature buttery-soft spuds coated in a sweet-and-savory crust with a creamy yogurt sauce for dipping. Just saying.
33. Rainbow Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Heath Goldman
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Quick, easy, elegant and on the table in 15 minutes flat. What else could you ask for? The rainbow effect is optional but encouraged, if you can find some gorgeous heirloom tomatoes.
34. Honeydew, Feta, Jalapeño and Lime Salad
Linda Pugliese/Salad Freak
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, <30 minutes
While I'm not above a standard bowl of mixed fruit, this salad feels a touch more special for the occasion. Plus, I think honeydew is terminally underrated.
35. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Sarah Copeland
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian, make ahead
With all the carbs, eggs and maple syrup, no one will complain about a fresh element on the table. Bonus, this one is pretty enough to double as a centerpiece.
36. Chili Crisp Burrata Salad with Arugula, Apple and Walnuts
Heami Lee/Chili Crisp
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Not only is the spicy, umami-laced chili crisp used as a topping for creamy, dreamy burrata, but it's also a key component in the greens' dressing, along with tangy balsamic vinegar. Grate the Parm with a microplane to up the elegance factor.
37. Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Zhoug and Zesty Yogurt
Alanna Hale/Joyfull
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
“I’ve never met a buttery, crispy potato that I didn’t devour with pleasure,” explains recipe developer Radhi Devlukia-Shetty. (Editor’s note: Same.) “I’ve paired the potatoes with zhoug, a Yemeni hot sauce that packs serious but fresh green heat from jalapeño. Then, a drizzle of lemony yogurt cools it all down.”
38. Arugula Salad with Whole-Lemon Vinaigrette
Kristin Teig Salad Seasons/Vegetable Forward Dishes All Year
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
This pair-it-with-anything salad only requires seven ingredients (and that's including pantry staples like salt, pepper and olive oil). Top the salad with tangy feta, crispy prosciutto, summer berries or stone fruit, or swap maple syrup or agave in for honey to make it vegan.
Breads and Sweets
39. Classic Banana Bread
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
If your dad loves to buy a bunch of bananas and let them sit on the counter until they rot, turn his trash into treasure with this impossibly moist quick bread. "A stand mixer will make this recipe come together fastest, but you can also use a hand mixer," suggests Gillen. "And if you don’t have sour cream, it can be swapped in equal amounts for plain yogurt, mascarpone cheese or even buttermilk."
40. Meyer Lemon Loaf Cake
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Meyer lemons are in season in the winter, so swap them for regular lemons this Father’s Day. The loaf will be slightly tarter, but in the best way possible.
41. Skillet Blueberry Cornbread
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
It’s like a combination of a blueberry muffin, coffee cake and cornbread—and it’s delicious with a cup of coffee or a cocktail. Or better yet, both.
42. Mini Citrus Monkey Bread
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Sticky-sweet and studded with fresh citrus zest, these bites are impossible to resist pulling into. Store-bought pizza dough makes the process of baking this Father's Day brunch recipe a breeze.
43. Giant Cinnamon Roll
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
I’d like to title this masterpiece, “When More Is More.” (Shhh, no one needs to know it starts with a few tubes of refrigerated crescent roll dough.)
44. Carrot Cake Doughnuts with Cream Cheese Glaze
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
There’s something about Dads and carrot cake—they just love it. Baking doughnuts is, in our opinion, way easier than deep-frying or icing a cake, so this Father's Day brunch recipe is beginner-friendly.
45. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly
Moist banana bread meets chocolaty babka in the ultimate breakfast bread mashup. If you have any leftovers, which is unlikely, they make for a mean French toast. (Go ahead and make a second loaf.)
46. Doughnut Muffins
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Sure, Pops would be pleased with a dozen store-bought doughnut holes, but you can do better. These doughnut-like muffins are dusted in confectioners’ sugar and cinnamon and taste even better than the real thing.
47. Babka-ish Monkey Bread
Alana Kysar/Dinner Party Project
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Thanks to store-bought biscuit dough, this dessert-like bread is all about assembly. Set out plenty of napkins and let your guests go to town.
48. Fig and Caramelized Onion Soda Bread
Aran Goyoaga/Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Think of this bread like a giant, savory scone. It’s leavened with baking soda, so there’s no dealing with yeast (or waiting for the dough to rise), and it just so happens to be gluten free.
49. Plum Clafoutis
Susan Spungen/Veg Forward
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
The traditional fruit for clafoutis is cherries, but summer plums are a stellar substitute. They'll bake to a vibrant pink-purple and offer sweet-and-sour flavor to every bite.
50. Coffee-Glazed Molasses Bars
Yossy Arefi/Snacking Bakes
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Hot take: Cookie bars are cookies. Whether or not you agree, you’ll be eager to sink your teeth into these treats, inspired by Dad's daily cup of joe. Make double of the four-ingredient espresso glaze to drizzle on everything from banana bread to vanilla ice cream.
