Buttermilk Pancakes and BBQ Chicken: Great Recipes for Father's Day

Father's Day is a great time to cook a special meal for Dad. Food writer Melissa Clark has some tasty ideas to make the day memorable. From fluffy buttermilk pancakes at brunch to smoky BBQ chicken at dinner, there is something for every family to enjoy. Even a batch of rich Nutella brownies is on the list for those with a sweet tooth.

Clark starts her Father's Day with a big brunch at home. She makes her favorite buttermilk pancakes and tops them with fresh strawberries. On the side, she cooks extra-crispy bacon in the oven. Even though her teenager is away at a summer program, she says that is no reason to skip a fun celebration.

Clark spent a lot of time perfecting her buttermilk pancake recipe. She looked closely at common mistakes people make when cooking pancakes. She even made a video explaining the science behind what makes pancakes rise and get fluffy. She compares the reaction of the leavening ingredients to the baking soda volcanoes you might have made in science class.

For dinner, Clark suggests trying Sam Sifton's classic BBQ chicken on the grill. The key trick is to thin the barbecue sauce with a little water before brushing it onto the chicken. This keeps the chicken from burning and helps the flavor soak all the way through the meat. It is a simple step that makes a big difference.

If Dad prefers seafood, Ali Slagle's grilled salmon is another great option. Her recipe is easy and the results are delicious. Her top tip is to skip flipping the fish over while it cooks. This simple move helps the salmon cook perfectly without falling apart on the grill.

A fresh zucchini salad with basil, mint, and feta cheese from chef David Tanis pairs well with either the chicken or the salmon. It is a light and summery side dish that works with almost anything you cook. You can make it on the grill, in the oven, or on the stove. It is a flexible recipe that fits any Father's Day menu.

No Father's Day meal is complete without dessert. Clark recommends Jessie Sheehan's Nutella brownies, which have a fudgy, almost pudding-like texture. Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread that also happens to go great on pancakes. An article about a big debate in France over chocolate hazelnut spread recently won a major food writing award called the James Beard Award, showing just how seriously some people take their Nutella.