35 Delicious Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas
Moms definitely deserve to be spoiled more than one day but when the day all about them comes around we have to make it extra special. They spend so much time on us, and it’s time we spend quality time on them. Think about all the work your Mom does for you. Does she do all the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, organizing, planning, life-coaching? You know she is super mom!
Let Mom put her feet up on Mother’s day and cook her up a delicious meal that will impress her. For all the partners out there seeking ideas, we have you covered. You can gather up the kids and have them help you out too. Here are 35 delicious Mother’s day dinners you can prepare for her and make her feel like one of a kind.
1. Baked Salmon Candy Onions And Brown Sugar Mandarin Glaze
Why not bring five-star cooking into your kitchen. Your Mom will be amazed that you didn’t get this from a restaurant. To start you’ll want to get fresh salmon fillets. Fresh fish will help enhance the flavor of your dish but if all you have on hand is frozen that will work too.
The secret in this recipe is the sweet and savory glaze that is brushed on top of the salmon. It is made from brown sugar, mandarin orange juice, and parsley. The salmon steaks are then topped off with onion slices and mandarin oranges. Serve these steaks with Mom’s favorite side dishes for a complete meal.
https://www.awortheyread.com/baked-salmon-sweet-candy-onions/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: A WORTHY READ2. One Pan Spiralizer Shrimp Dinner
Here is another seafood inspired dish that you can surprise mom with. This effortless dinner is made on a sheet pan. This means you’ll have less mess to clean up after which in result means more quality time with Mom! This dinner takes on a healthy spin because the shrimp is served with spiralized vegetables instead of pasta.
Considering Mom’s put a lot of hard efforts to get us all to eat healthily we might as well impress her with this healthy dish! The spiralized noodles is a mixture of zucchini, carrot and sweet potatoes making sure this dish is full of nutrition. The best part besides its wonderful flavor may just be that it only takes 20 minutes to make from start to finish.
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/one-pan-spiralizer-shrimp-dinner/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY3. Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
A French classic like Cordon Bleu can be an exhausting delicious meal to make. This may just be why so many people choose to order this specialty at restaurants instead of making it at home. However, this recipe shows you how you can make it at home with simpler methods and fewer calories, Mom will love this!
These chicken cordon bleu’s are baked and come out of the oven golden brown with a crispy outer layer. Once you cut into it you’ll quickly see the gooey cheesy inside making this taste just like the real deal that is traditionally deep fried but this method is much easier and quicker to make. This recipe offers you many shortcuts making this an easy meal you can make with the family to serve to Mom.
https://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-cordon-bleu-easy-fancy/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: RECIPE TIN EATS4. Baked Caprese Chicken
Mother’s day is always when the seasons start to change, from winter to spring and it’s refreshing to transition our meals that way too, savory and hearty to light and summery. This baked Caprese chicken will do just that for you. The trick to this baked chicken is to marinade it in a balsamic vinegar with olive oil and salt and pepper. This simple marinade offers a lot of juicy flavor.
The baked chicken is then topped with slices of mozzarella and tomatoes and then garnished with fresh flavors of shredded basil. Bake Caprese chicken is very adaptable because you can serve it in many ways. If Mom loves pasta to serve it over a bed of pasta, the chicken has enough juices cooked within that you don’t even need anything else. If Mom loves wraps, slice up the baked chicken and serve it in a wrap, the options are endless!
https://www.yellowblissroad.com/baked-caprese-chicken/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: YELLOW BLISS ROAD5. Spinach Ricotta Pie
This may look a brunch dish but why not serve it for dinner too. Many brunch meal ideas can make an excellent light dinner choice and even serve as a side dish. This spinach ricotta pie is light, fluffy and full of flavor, Mom will enjoy this!
This recipe is made with five simple ingredients which makes it a quick and easy dinner to pull together. The steps to assembling this spinach ricotta pie are easy and simple so you can have the kids join in on the dinner making too. You could even serve this pie with baked chicken or one of Mom’s other favorite foods if you want to make an extravagant meal.
https://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/spinach-ricotta-pie PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: RACHAEL RAY6. Slow Cooker Chicken, Ham, And Leek Pie Filling
This recipe gives chicken pot pie a whole new makeover. You’ll get all the same flavors you love about chicken pot pie but with some extra delicious flavors too. You can make the pie filling in your slow cooker so that all the hard work is done while you’re away.
When you’re ready to assemble the pie you’ll pour the filling a pie dish and then top it off with a flaky puff pastry. Each bite is full of a creamy sauce with bite-sized chunks of ham and chicken. Your Mom will love this old classic dinner.
https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/chicken_and_leek_pie_27675 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: BBC7. Mediterranean Style Baked Tilapia
Spoil Mom with this delicious baked tilapia dish. It’s a great way to keep a meal healthy without having to sacrifice any flavor. When looking for healthy protein choices tilapia is a great choice because it is a lean, low-fat fish. It has significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B12, and B6, potassium and so much more.
To make the fish extra special it is baked with garlicky grape tomatoes and olives and then sprinkled with feta cheese on top. Your Mom will definitely appreciate all your efforts in making her a healthy and savory meal. If there are any leftovers after, we’re not banking on it, but if there are this meal will taste wonderful reheated and even served over rice the next day.
https://diethood.com/mediterranean-style-baked-tilapia/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DIET HOOD8. Honey Dijon Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Some may save the fancy dinners for big occasions like Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, Easter dinner but Mother’s day should be treated just the same. Afterall she is the one who usually puts all those extravagant dinners together you know! Let her sit back and relax while you put on this elegant dinner just for her.
This honey dijon pork tenderloin only requires 5 ingredients and only 5 minutes to prepare. The rest of the time will be cooking time which you can let the oven do its work and spend some more time with the lovely mother of your home. This special meal is super easy and Mom may just beg you for the recipe to make this a weeknight staple. Serve this tender pork with her favorite sides for a full meal.
https://www.theseasonedmom.com/roasted-pork-tenderloin/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE SEASONED MOM9. Easy Deep Dish Mini Pizzas
If mom is a true pizza lover then you’ll want to make her these adorable mini pizzas for mothers day! Some Mom’s don’t want to have fancy dinners but instead want indulge in a guilty pleasure like pizza, and that is okay too. She’ll love these deep dish pizzas that come in single serving sizes.
They’re made in a muffin tin which makes this recipe really easy and fun for everyone around the dinner table. Considering it’s an easy recipe you can have the kiddos join in on the pizza making that will make Mom appreciate it all the more. There isn’t any complicated dough making here because it’s made with store-bought crescent roll dough. Simple ingredients, simple methods but a whole lot of ooey-gooey cheesy flavor that Mom will love!
http://onelittleproject.com/deep-dish-mini-pizzas/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: ONE LITTLE PROJECT10. Crock Pot Honey And Garlic Chicken
Crockpot meals are a great way to let one tool do all the work without supervision so you can spend more time with your loved ones. These chicken thighs take up to five hours to cook so you could even go out and plan activities with the Momma in your house and when you arrive home, you’ll have a savory dinner awaiting you.
These chicken thighs will be filling the house with a sweet and garlicky aroma that will get everyone excited for dinner. Considering this meal is made with thighs it makes it an inexpensive choice. Serve these chicken thighs with your fave veggie sides that Mom will enjoy.
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/crock-pot-honey-garlic-chicken/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY11. Bacon-Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin
This bacon-brown sugar pork tenderloin has a few extra steps but it is definitely worth the added efforts. If your Mom loves bacon, she’ll love this. This pork tenderloin is booming with flavors from sweet brown sugar, salty bacon, and savory dijon mustard. Every bite is full of wonderful flavor.
This tenderloin is wrapped in strips of savory bacon that you will secure with toothpicks. The trick to this recipe is to first sear the tenderloin in a skillet. Once it’s caramelized in a dark brown color then it will be ready to transfer to the oven and finish cooking there. Mom will definitely feel like the restaurant came to her own kitchen with this meal.
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-baconbrown-sugar-pork-tenderloin-recipes-from-the-kitchn-215660 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE KITCHN12. Creamy Bacon Mac And Cheese
This recipe takes on a simple staple that the kids love into a delicious meal that Mom will love too. Mac and cheese is a well-known kids-favorite but there is no wonder why it’s an adults-favorite too. It’s full of cheesy flavors and creamy texture, what is not to like?
This recipe gets a simple makeover making it a gourmet mac and cheese that mom will appreciate for Mother’s day. The secret in this recipe is to combine cream of bacon soup with milk and cheese to give it the cheesy flavor we are familiar with but adding salty bacon bits to the mix. Top this mac and cheese off with some crispy bread crumbs and then the whole family can dig into this pot of deliciousness.
https://www.cookwithcampbells.ca/recipe/creamy-bacon-mac-cheese/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: COOK WITH CAMPBELLS13. Roasted Chickpea Gyros
For any vegetarian Mommas out there, you’ll want to make her this recipe! These roasted chickpea gyros are full of flavor, creamy sauce, and fresh veggies. Even if your Mom doesn’t follow a vegetarian diet these chickpeas are full of flavor, hearty texture that won’t make you or her miss meat at all. Afterall, chickpeas are loaded with protein too, there is no lacking nutrition here.
If you are feeling adventurous there is even a recipe to make this zingy tzatziki sauce with the option to make it dairy-free if you want to keep this meal vegan. If you’re pinched for time you could consider buying store-bought tzatziki instead. These wraps not only look aesthetically pleasing but they’ll taste delicious too.
https://www.liveeatlearn.com/roasted-chickpea-gyros/#_a5y_p=4738862 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: LIVE EAT LEARN14. Cashew Chicken Quinoa Bake
This cashew chicken and quinoa bake make another great one-pot meal that you can make for mother’s day. Being able to serve Mom a delicious meal that she’ll love without taking away quality time spent with her is a double-score!
This recipe lets you bring Asian cuisine home with you but with a healthier twist. Most Asian restaurants will serve cashew chicken with rice and is often filled with fewer veggies. So to make things healthier while still maintaining flavor this dish is served with a protein-filled food like quinoa and is loaded with veggies and a savory sauce. This meal is so easy you get to throw all the raw ingredients together in a casserole dish and let the oven do its magic.
https://fitfoodiefinds.com/cashew-chicken-quinoa-bake//#_a5y_p=4232068 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FIT FOODIE FINDS15. Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
A childhood classic like tuna noodle casserole will be a crowd pleaser, best yet, Mom will love it too. It’s super easy to make and doesn’t strain a budget what so ever. If you don’t want to cut into any time spent with your Mom then make this the day before and let it rest in the fridge until you’re ready to pop it in the oven.
This tuna casserole is creamy and cheesy, filled with chopped veggies and topped off with a crispy top layer. Considering this is a pasta dish, that makes it a comforting meal Mom will love. The tuna will add extra flavor to your dish while providing you with a good dose of protein.
https://www.kyleecooks.com/weeknight-classic-tuna-noodle-casserole/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: KYLEE COOKS16. Cream Of Mushroom Chicken
Following the creamy dinners trend, why not make Mom cream of mushroom chicken for mothers day? You could serve it on a bed of rice but pasta might make this a more comforting meal that Mom can indulge in.
This recipe can be whipped up in 10 minutes and then the rest is cooking time. This recipe is effortless and requires a small handful of simple ingredients you most likely have in your pantry already. It is creamy, savory and delicious both Mom and the kids will be tempted to lick the plates clean.
https://www.gogogogourmet.com/sherry-mushroom-chicken/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: GO GO GO GOURMET17. Creamy Garlic Parmesan Mushroom Chicken And Bacon
If you loved that cream of mushroom chicken recipe you’ll love this too. It is very similar but with a few different flavors and extra delicious ingredients. This dish is filled with juicy and tender chicken thighs, crispy salty bacon and drowned in a creamy melt-in-your-mouth sauce.
The garlic parmesan sauce is very customizable. If you’re trying to watch your waistline you can substitute heavy cream for milk and if Momma is following the low-carb Keto diet go ahead use the full-fat cream as it’ll accommodate her diet! You can keep this dish healthy and serve it with steamed vegetables, Momma will be impressed with your efforts!
18. Chicken Spinach Lasagna
Lasagna always makes me think about family meals and quality time spent together. Hence why this chicken spinach lasagna would be an excellent choice to serve Mom on her special day! Traditional lasagna is made with ground beef or pork and a red tomato sauce. This chicken and spinach lasagna offer the same comforting flavor but with a healthier twist.
The layers of pasta, cheese, meat, and sauce just might make lasagna the ultimate comfort food. This recipe is made with the same lasagna noodles we love but instead of tomato sauce is made with a white creamy sauce, ground chicken and lot’s of vegetables to make it a little bit more healthy. Surprise Mom on mother’s day with this unique version of lasagna, she’ll be shocked.
19. 30-Minute Cheesy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo
If 30 minutes didn’t capture your attention then I’m sure this cheesy shrimp dish will. These crispy shrimps are served with a homemade alfredo sauce. You can whisk and heat the sauce by hand or you can let your blender do all the dirty work for you!
The shrimps are sauteed in savory garlic and butter and then set aside while you make the creamy sauce. When the sauce is complete you can add the shrimp back in and serve over Mom’s favorite pasta! Then you can garnish this plate with dried parsley for some extra flavor. Mom will most likely request you make this for her again and again.
https://www.eazypeazymealz.com/30-minute-cheesy-garlic-shrimp-alfredo/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: EAZY PEAZY MEALZ20. Crockpot Honey BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Do you have backyard celebratory plans for Mother’s day this year? Then you’ll want to whip up these honey bbq pulled pork sandwiches. The best part is your slow cooker does all the hard work for you. The sauce is made from sweet flavors of honey bbq and a dose of pizazz from chipotle. You can alter the sauce recipe to suit your desired heat level.
If you make the sauce the same time when you place the pork in the slow cooker when it comes to dinner time there will be no preparation required. Mom and the whole family can simply assemble and eat! Serve these tasty pulled pork sandwiches with a dollop of coleslaw on top for an extra crunchy texture.
https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/crockpot-sweet-pulled-pork-sandwiches/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: CHELSEAS MESSY APRON21. Instant Pot Whole (Faux) Rotisserie Chicken
You could pick up a precooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store but Mom will appreciate this a lot more if you make it yourself. Luckily we created a recipe using the Instant Pot that is insanely easy.
The Instant Pot cooked the chicken perfectly and made the meat wonderfully tender yet moist. We seasoned our chicken with lemon pepper seasonings, however, you can use whatever seasonings Mom likes best!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/instant-pot-whole-faux-rotisserie-chicken/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY22. Creamy Cheddar and Dill Macaroni Salad
Show Mom a true feast by creating delicious sides like this creamy cheddar and dill macaroni salad. This delicious salad is loaded with vibrant flavors such as fresh dill and is irresistibly creamy.
Simply cook macaroni pasta on the stove top and them mix the ingredients together. This recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to spoil the special lady!
https://lifemadesimplebakes.com/2015/06/creamy-cheddar-and-dill-macaroni-salad/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: LIFE MADE SIMPLE23. Gnocchi and Veggies One Pan Dinner
Who doesn’t love pillowy bites of pasta? Mom will surely love this delicious gnocchi and veggies dinner if you serve it to her on Mother’s Day!
This is a sheet pan recipe which means you get to cook all the ingredients together. This means easy prep and an even easier cleanup – PHEW!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/gnocchi-and-veggies-one-pan-dinner/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY24. Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Does Momma enjoy spice in her life? Serve her this delicious cajun shrimp pasta dish and blow her away in the flavor department!
These tender shrimps are drenched in a dreamy cream sauce and served over a bed of pasta. Best yet, this meal comes together in just 15 minutes!
https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/cajun-shrimp-pasta/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: SELF PROCLAIMED FOODIE25. Instant Pot Roast Beef Dinner
Impress Mom with this delicious roast beef dinner! She’ll be blown away that you pulled this off and that you didn’t break your back making it too.
The Instant Pot transforms a traditionally long and laborious recipe into one that is quick and easy! The best part is you’ll be cooking the meat and the veggies all in one pot.
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/instant-pot-roast-beef-dinner/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY26. Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Salad
Bruschetta always makes me think of spring and summer. Instead of serving Mom bruschetta topping on bread consider making her this delicious bruschetta chicken pasta salad.
All the familiar flavors she loves about bruschetta are now combined into one filling pasta dish. While the pasta cooks, you’ll sear the chicken on the stove top, however, all in all, this meal still comes together quite quickly!
https://cafedelites.com/bruschetta-chicken-pasta-salad/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: CAFE DELITES27. Simple Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
This one-pan dinner screams spring! Consider making Mom a delicious salmon sheet pan dinner cooked quickly in the oven with the sides and all!
Our recipe uses a whole salmon fillet that is smothered in a delicious dijon mustard marinade. This dinner only requires 20 minutes to cook in the oven and in no time will be ready to enjoy!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/simple-salmon-sheet-pan-dinner/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY28. Caprese Pasta Salad
Why not add pasta to a Caprese salad? This comforting dish will blow Mom away and as a bonus, it’s so easy to make! You can serve it as a side or add grilled chicken to make it meal.
The base of the salad is made from 4 simple ingredients. These include rotini pasta, tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella. Then you’ll make a delicious homemade dressing that pairs perfectly with the salad.
https://www.knowyourproduce.com/caprese-pasta-salad/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: KNOW YOUR PRODUCE29. Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken Breast
Spinach and artichoke dip is a crowd pleaser and it may be Mom’s favorite appetizer. So why not transfer those delicious flavors and ingredients and turn it into a meal!
These spinach and artichoke stuffed chicken breasts are seriously drool-worthy. It’s also a great low-carb option especially if Mom is following the keto diet.
https://cafedelites.com/spinach-artichoke-stuffed-chicken/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: CAFE DELITES30. Quick & Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Mom will have one bite of this salad and will be dreaming of the Mediterranean sea! This light and bright quinoa salad is easy to make and certainly healthy!
She’ll appreciate all the flavors of this salad and will be requesting it again and again. Some of the lovely flavors she’ll experience are red wine and balsamic vinegar, basil, garlic, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and so much more!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/quick-easy-mediterranean-quinoa-salad/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY31. Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
Serve Mom a fiesta for dinner this Mother’s Day! This tater tot casserole may be the definition of comfort food. It’s easy to make and oh so delicious!
This casserole is made with ground beef, black beans, corn, and several delicious Mexican seasonings! It’s then topped with tater tots and shredded cheese and baked in the oven until the tots are golden brown.
https://dearcrissy.com/mexican-tater-tot-casserole-recipe/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DEAR CRISSY32. Crescent Roll Pizza Appetizer
This untraditional pizza will surely catch Mom’s attention! This easy to make appetizer begins with a store-bought crust made from crescent rolls!
Once the crust is cooked, top with delicious cream cheese and fresh veggies. Every single bite is fresh, flavorful and exciting.
https://foodfolksandfun.net/simple-crescent-roll-pizza-appetizer/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FOOD FOLKS AND FUN33. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Beef stew is one of those delicious family recipes that is passed down to the next generation. While Mom may be able to make it best you can surely surprise her by making this savory stew yourself!
The stew is effortlessly made in the slow cooker which means most of the time is spent hands off. So set your slow cooker and enjoy a fun day of quality time with the special lady in your house and then enjoy a lovely meal together later.
https://www.lovefromtheoven.com/beef-stew-crockpot/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: LOVE FROM THE OVEN34. Instant Pot Chicken Fettucini Alfredo
Fettucini alfredo may be one of my most favorite pasta dishes. It’s creamy, comforting, and addictive! Add chicken to it and you have yourself a filling meal.
Our chicken fettucini alfredo recipe is effortlessly prepared in the Instant Pot. In addition, you’ll be preparing a homemade alfredo sauce but don’t worry that is easy too!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/instant-pot-chicken-fettuccini-alfredo/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY35. Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Why not spend quality time outdoors and barbecue delicious grilled chicken kabobs. You could even assemble the kabobs together as a family!
This recipe also comes with a sweet and savory honey garlic marinade that really transforms the flavor of these kabobs into something insanely good. To complete the meal consider serving the kabobs with a bed of rice.
https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/grilled-chicken-kabobs/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DINNER AT THE ZOO