Outdoor Entertaining Ideas for Father’s Day & Beyond: Grill Recipes, Pergola Tips & More

For many, Father’s Day is synonymous with family time, firing up the grill, and feasting on dad’s favorite foods. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the father figures in your life or simply want more reasons to get outside and cook, we have ideas (and recipes!) that’ll make your outdoor space a grillmaster’s paradise.

How to Celebrate Father’s Day Outdoors

Because it falls at the beginning of summer, Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to kick up the fun level in your backyard. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add Some Shade: Create a comfortable space to get together while providing a bit of sun protection by adding a pergola to your outdoors.

Need some pro tips? Here are our top pergola ideas for shade and style: Whether you prefer classic wood or modern steel, pergolas offer partial shade and structure. Drapes, foliage, and hanging plants can add privacy. Consider adding built-in lighting, fans or drapes to bump up the ambiance for a hangout spot dad can enjoy year-round.

• Light Up The Night: From fire pits to landscape lighting, nothing encourages people to stay outside after sunset than lights that beckon.

• Keep It Easy: Turn up the fun and down the stress by choosing simple, crowd-pleasing recipes and letting your top grillmaster handle the cooking. If you're in the market for a premium grill or outdoor cooking accessories, check out our System Pavers Outdoor Store. We've handpicked the very best for you.

3 Fun Grill Recipes to Elevate Father’s Day

To give you a few tasty ideas on how to celebrate Father’s Day outdoors, we asked our outdoor living experts for their best grill recipes. Peek at these creative dishes for inspiration on how to kick off your summer outdoor entertaining in style.

Grilled Pork Kebabs with Zesty Peanut Sauce

• Why it rocks

  A nod to Southeast Asian flavors with a smoky twist. Sweet, spicy, and unexpected.

• Pro tips: Marinate lean pork and juicy veggies, skewer them, grill until charred, and serve with a cooling peanut sauce. Save time by buying the peanut sauce pre-made.

Spatchcock Whole Chicken with Herb Rub

• Why it rocks

  Flattening the chicken ensures quicker, more even grilling and a crispy skin that wows. This meal proves simple can be insanely satisfying.

• Pro tips: Use a rub of your favorite herbs and garlic to flavor the entire chicken. Grill breast‑side down first, then flip for golden finish.

Grilled Zucchini Skewers with Ricotta & Toasted Walnuts

• Why it rocks

  A veggie side that steals the spotlight—elegant, fresh, and satisfying.

• Pro tips: Slice zucchini thin, brush on olive oil, skewer, and grill. Top with whipped ricotta, walnuts, and a sprinkle of herbs.

These dishes cover meat and veggie lovers, so everyone leaves full and happy (especially Dad).

We also suggest having a few easy pre-made sides out to keep your crew entertained. Chips and salsa, nuts, pita and hummus, potato salad, and of course, plenty of desserts give everyone plenty of options for snacking while chatting with the chef.

The key to a successful Father’s Day celebration outdoors is simply to relax and have fun. Chores like yard work or the weekly worries should be the last thing on dad’s mind. By creating an outdoor space where it’s easy for everyone to hand out without a lot of effort or hassle, you’ll have the backdrop to your very best times together, right outside your door.

If you’d like help turning your backyard into a place dad will proudly share, book a free design consultation with your local outdoor remodeling pros at System Pavers to get started. We’ll walk through all your options, show you material choices, and discover how we can bring your vision to life.