15 Father’s Day Breakfast Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

Father’s Day can feel like a hard one to get right. Do you plan a full schedule of activities? Do you let dad relax? Do you take him out for dinner? Or do you cook him a nice meal? And what about a gift? Does he really need another grilling set? How about a salami bouquet? The options are at once completely overwhelming and totally limiting. Lucky for you, we've got some good news. As it turns out, all dad really wants is a great breakfast. 

Here are 15 never-fail morning meals to whip up for dad this Father's Day—from apple and pork sausage (with a side of eggs, of course) to the perfect waffles and pancakes. Serving a homemade card alongside never hurts, either. 

1. Cinnamon Rolls

Dads with a sweet tooth will absolutely love these ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls slathered in frosting, especially with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee on the side.  

2. Waffles

These waffles—with a moist, tender inside and golden-crisp exterior—are the kind you (and your dad) dream about, and they're an excellent alternative to the overnight yeasted kind (meaning you can make 'em morning-of).  

3. Pancakes

If your dad's more of a pancake person, make him a super-fluffy stack with this whole-wheat recipe (and don't forget to warm up the maple syrup). 

4. Breakfast Tacos

It's hard to go wrong with these riff-able breakfast tacos—they call for just a few ingredients, but you can add as many toppings as you like. Or better yet, set out a lineup of all sorts of extras and let your dad mix and match. 

5. Breakfast Fried Rice

This contest-winning breakfast fried rice couldn't be simpler to make, but there is one suggestion we'll make: double up the bacon (you can't go wrong). 

6.  Speculoos Breakfast Cake

For more of a dessert-for-breakfast vibe, bake this easy speculoos cake (if you've ever tasted Trader Joe's Cookie Butter, that's the flavor of speculoos cookies). This moist sheet cake, which tastes like rich, warm spices, thanks to the Cookie Butter in the batter, pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or an ice cold brew. 

7. Apple & Pork Breakfast Sausage

Your dad will be oh-so-impressed that you made this sweet-yet-savory sausage all by yourself (you know, instead of just picking up a package from the store). Made with tart apples, plenty of herbs, Dijon mustard, and ground pork, this sausage can be made days ahead of the holiday and heated up the morning of. Our favorite way to serve it: alongside creamy scrambled eggs—with a bit of ketchup or hot sauce.

8. Shakshuka with Grains & Feta

This spicy, hearty shakshuka is the best way to kick off any Father's Day festivities. As a bonus, it's extra easy to make. The grains, tomato-y stew, and perfectly poached eggs all come together in one skillet, which means you'll spend less time doing the dishes and more time hanging out with dad.

9. Sharp Cheddar & Mustardy Greens Breakfast Sandwich

This isn't your average breakfast sandwich of dry scrambled eggs and floppy bread. This flavor-packed number gets its star power from Swiss chard—cooked until soft and tangy in mustard and heavy cream—along with sharp cheddar, perfect fried eggs, and fluffy biscuits.

10. Tofu Breakfast Scramble

This tasty tofu breakfast scramble is for all of you out there with vegan dads. It's packed with flavor thanks to garlic, nutritional yeast, and lots of spices, and still maintains that egg-y texture using a combination of extra-firm tofu and chopped vegetables. If you're feeling really ambitious, turn it into a breakfast burrito with tempeh bacon and fresh avocado.

11. Carla Hall's Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

These are fluffy, flaky biscuits anyone (even first-timers!) can pull off, thanks to endlessly helpful tricks and tips from chef, and cookbook author, Carla Hall. 

12. Spinach Quiche

This spinach quiche is definitely a project—everything is carefully made from scratch, including the crust—but we can't think of a better (edible) gift to wake up to on Father's Day. 

13. Egg Sandwich With Mayo & Chile Paste

This five-ingredient egg sandwich might seem simple, but it's packed with flavor, thanks to a Calabrian chile-infused mayo, toasty bread, and runny fried eggs. We pretty much guarantee you'll be asked to serve up seconds. 

14. Spaghetti Carbonara Frittata

Pasta for breakfast? We can't think of anything better. "Have it hot, warm, at room temperature, or straight from the fridge the next day," says Big Little Recipes columnist Emma Laperruque, "(if a leftover pasta frittata sandwich with chile mayo is wrong, I don’t want to be right)."

15. Banana Bread Scones From Samantha Seneviratne

This Genius recipe from cookbook author and food stylist Samantha Seneviratne is the best of both worlds. "Think: all the comforts of banana bread, with more crunchy-sweet edges and fluffy, chocolate-spiked middles—and ready in, oh, about half the time."

What are you making your dad for breakfast this Father's Day? Tell us in the comments below!