Ree Drummond's Top 10 Favorite Father's Day Recipes
Ladd's dream menu includes steak, potatoes, and chocolate dessert.
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Long before Ree Drummond ever started sharing recipes here on The Pioneer Woman, her husband, Ladd, (known around these parts as Marlboro Man) was her ultimate taste-tester—especially on an occasion like Father's Day. "He honestly would rather have a plate of delicious food than any material possession in the world," she says. "It makes it kinda easy!"
This list of Father's Day recipes include all of Ladd's favorite meals. For one? A ranch-style steak dinner is always a go-to for the Drummonds. Ladd mans the grill and his grilled tenderloin is "magic, legendary, ridiculously delicious!" Inside, Ree prepares a meat-and-potatoes menu of his favorite comfort foods like sandwiches smothered in gravy, burgers piled with toppings, or something as decadent as chicken fried steak. "I've never met a dad that didn't love this," Ree says. "Perfect Father's Day lunch or dinner!"
And it wouldn't be a Ladd-approved list without his two favorite chocolate desserts—both in pie and sheet cake form. The first is served plain and simple: no whipped cream, no sauce, no nuts, no nothing. Just a good old-fashioned slice of pie. The second is a family recipe originally passed down from Ladd's mother, Nan, and the result of a happy accident courtesy of Ree.
If the Dad in your life is a man of simple pleasures, check out these PW-reader favorites. Share in the comments which one is his favorite!
Cowboy Quiche
Early mornings on the ranch call for a hearty breakfast—and this quiche delivers! "Real cowboys eat quiche," as Ree says. It's baked to a glorious golden brown with caramelized onions, bacon, and cheese.
Get Ree's Cowboy Quiche recipe.
Grilled Tenderloin
Ladd's grilled tenderloin is the stuff of family legend. He douses the cut of beef with butter, and sprinkles with lemon and pepper seasoning and Lawry's seasoned salt, before throwing it on the grill.
Get Ladd's Grilled Tenderloin recipe.
Crash Hot Potatoes
You can't have steak without potatoes. These are boiled, then smashed and baked until they're "golden and crispy and sizzling." Serve 'em drizzled with homemade ranch dressing alongside an iceberg wedge and you've got one of Ladd's favorite meals.
Get Ree's Crash Hot Potatoes recipe.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Speaking of ranch, it's the Drummond family's favorite condiment. (Ladd himself would keep it on hand to dip wings, fries, chips—everything if he could!) Ree shared this basic recipe over 10 years ago and it's "still so delicious."
Get Ree's Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe.
Dr Pepper Floats
Ladd's favorite drink of all time is Dr Pepper and the only thing that takes it to the next level? A few scoops of vanilla ice cream. "Here's a homemade ice cream version—or just use store-bought!" as Ree suggests.
Get Ree's Dr Pepper Floats recipe.
Marlboro Man Sandwich
Ladd's namesake sandwich is a "rib-stickin', man-pleasin', not non-fat sandwich" of steak, onions, and gravy, as Ree describes it. Her tip: Spoon a little sauce from the bottom of the pan over the meat, which makes it extra yummy and moist.
Get Ree's Marlboro Man Sandwich recipe.
Spicy Queso Burgers
Ladd isn't big on burgers as much as steak, but he can't resist a spoonful of this homemade queso. "Ree's queso is the best burger topping," says the Marlboro Man himself.
Get Ree's Spicy Queso Burgers recipe.
Chicken Fried Steak
It's not an everyday thing, but this is what Ree calls "a glorious thing." Eat it like Ladd, who enjoys it paired with a pile of mashed potatoes and creamy gravy poured over the plate. "Follow each step and you'll have the best plate of comfort food that you've ever had," she promises.
Get Ree's Chicken Fried Steak recipe.
Chocolate Pie
"This is the kind Ladd always chooses! It's his favorite one in the world and so easy," Ree says. You can use a graham cracker crust, a pre-baked regular pie crust, or you can forgo the crust and serve the filling in cute little pudding bowls for a crowd on Father's Day.
Get Ree's Chocolate Pie recipe.
The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever
Whether you call it Texas sheet cake, chocolate sheet cake, or something else entirely, this is a Dad-approved dessert. "I misread my mother-in-law Nan's recipe card she gave me almost thirty years ago," Ree admits, "and the result is a cake with too much butter and chocolate... which, we have discovered, is the perfect amount."
Ree's Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe.
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