Father's Day Meal Ideas

If Dad's Love Language Is Food, We've Got You Covered

 

Every dad is different, but most of them have one thing in common: they show love through food. Whether it's manning the grill, requesting the same comfort meal every birthday, or sneaking seconds when he thinks no one's looking, food is how a lot of dads say "I love you."

This Father's Day, we took three of our favorite pasta kits and leveled them up into full, real-deal dinners. Here's what we made.


Adult Hamburger Helper

Serves 4

The boxed mac dads grew up on, grown up itself.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag White Cheddar Meal Kit (pasta + cheese packet)
  • ½ lb ground beef
  • ½ small onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • Cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh chives or parsley, for topping

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic in a large skillet, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease and set the beef mixture aside.
  2. Boil the pasta in 4 quarts of water for 8–10 minutes, then strain.
  3. In the same pot, melt the butter and whisk in the milk, beef broth, and cheese packet over medium heat until it thickens into a sauce.
  4. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and smoked paprika.
  5. Add the pasta and beef mixture back in, tossing to coat. Finish with cracked pepper and fresh herbs.


Loaded Texas Taco Soup

Serves 4–6

Basically a build-your-own toppings bar in a bowl. 

Ingredients

  • 1 bag Texas Taco Soup mix (pasta + seasoning packet)
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, diced (optional)
  • 15 oz can corn, drained
  • 15 oz can black beans, drained
  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño in a large stockpot. Drain the juices once cooked.
  2. Add the water, beef broth, cumin, and chili powder, then whisk in the soup mix.
  3. Stir in the pasta, crushed tomatoes, corn, and black beans.
  4. Bring to a boil and cook 8–10 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  5. Ladle into bowls and load up with cheese, sour cream, avocado, crushed chips, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.


Tomato Basil Pasta with Sausage & Burrata

Serves 4

A 20-minute weeknight meal that eats like a restaurant dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag Tomato Basil pasta
  • ½ lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 Tbsp good extra virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan
  • 1 ball burrata (or fresh mozzarella)
  • Fresh basil, torn
  • Red pepper flakes, optional
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil the pasta 6–8 minutes until tender. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.
  2. In a large skillet, brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces.
  3. Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes, cooking until the tomatoes start to soften and burst, about 5 minutes.
  4. Add the olive oil and a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen everything into a light sauce.
  5. Toss in the cooked pasta and parmesan, stirring until coated.
  6. Plate it up, tear the burrata over the top so it spills into the warm pasta, and finish with fresh basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and red pepper flakes if Dad likes heat.

 

Whichever one you make, you're covered for Father's Day dinner. Grab the kits at Prairie Coast Mercantile, pick a recipe, and go make his day.