These Mother's Day recipes have you covered for creating the perfect brunch, lunch or dinner for Mom—complete with dessert! Even the kids can help make some of these easy Mother's Day ideas.

54 Mother’s Day Recipes She’ll Love

Belgian Waffle
Some may call the waffle maker a one-trick pony or a kitchen unitasker, but I think it’s completely worth the kitchen space—especially when it delivers on the promise of crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside Belgian waffles. You can serve these waffles any way Mom likes, so put out a spread and let her load up a plate with her favorite waffle toppings.
Eggs Benedict
Looking to whip up an impressive Mother’s Day breakfast? This eggs Benedict recipe is the ticket. Poaching eggs and making a hollandaise sauce take a little technique, but they’re well worth the effort. This dish is a great way to spoil your mom on her special day!
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Cheese in pancake batter? You bet! Ricotta cheese makes the fluffiest, most tender pancakes. For a twist on this brunch favorite, try using lime or orange juice and zest.
Easy Banana Muffins
Some banana bread recipes call for a lot of bananas, but our easy banana muffins require only three. Let them ripen all week, then bake the muffins on Saturday so they’re ready to serve for Sunday brunch.
French Toast Casserole
Here’s an easy Mother’s Day brunch idea that actually has to be made the night before, so you won’t wake everyone up with loud clanking and hurried whisking. Serve this French toast casserole with good maple syrup (no fake maple syrup!) and a plate of bacon or sausage—whatever Mom prefers.
Chicken Salad with Grapes
You can use any cooked chicken for this recipe, but I like to use rotisserie chicken. It makes this sweet-and-crunchy chicken salad recipe even easier to prepare for Mother’s Day lunch.
Dutch Oven Whole Chicken
When I’m looking to impress anyone, especially my mom, you better believe I’m roasting a whole chicken. In this recipe, the chicken cooks over a bed of potatoes, infusing them with all that succulent flavor.
Pan-Seared Salmon
Pan-seared salmon is your ticket to a fast, easy dinner that still feels incredibly sophisticated. Topping the fish with a dill and cucumber yogurt sauce is the perfect way to cut through the salmon’s richness.
Shrimp Alfredo
Couldn’t get a dinner reservation? Make this restaurant staple right at home! Keep the jarred Alfredo sauce on the shelf, though, because we’re going the homemade route. Only the best for Mom!
Lemon Snowflakes
Make these confectioners’ sugar-sprinkled cookies by hacking a boxed lemon cake mix. Mixed with whipped topping and an egg, the boxed mix becomes a sticky batter for fluffy, lemony cookies.
Fudgy Brownie Recipe
If your mom is like mine, she almost certainly prefers fudgy brownies over cakey ones. These brownies are a fuss-free chocolate dessert that can be made by anyone, so don’t worry if you’re not much of a baker.
Lemon Tart
I love that this gorgeous lemon tart is just as welcome at Mother’s Day brunch as it is at dinner. If your mom’s favorite desserts are lemon-flavored anything, she’ll appreciate a glass of limoncello spritzer alongside her slice.
Parmesan Risotto
I love standing over a pot of risotto, slowly adding hot stock little by little, watching it absorb into the arborio rice. It’s so relaxing! This Parmesan risotto can be served as a dinner side with basically any main dish or as a vegetarian main. Save any leftovers for tomorrow’s arancini fried rice balls.
Strata
The beauty of this make-ahead strata is that all there is to do on Mother’s Day morning is pop this guy in the oven. That means more time spent with Mom or pouring over her special breakfast.
Strawberry Trifle
We love an easy strawberry trifle recipe that comes together in less than 10 minutes. This one feeds a crowd and can accommodate a Mother’s Day gathering with the extended family.
Arugula & Mushroom Breakfast Pizza
Pizza … for breakfast? Yup! There are so many vegetables and so much protein packed onto this pizza, even Mom wouldn’t deny that it’s a great way to kick off the day.
Asparagus with Fresh Basil Sauce
It takes literal ly seconds to whip up the fresh basil sauce for this easy Mother’s Day side dish, thanks to the addition of store-bought pesto. Don’t forget to remove the woody asparagus ends so no one is gnawing on them.
Strawberry Riesling Wine Spritzer
A simple strawberry syrup infused with tarragon and black pepper can turn a crisp glass of wine into a beverage that screams springtime. It’s a fun change of pace from the typical brunch mimosas.
Baked Blueberry Pancake
Sheet-pan pancakes are a great way to satisfy the pancake craving without standing over a pan and cooking and flipping individual pancakes. Best of all, the pancakes are served all at once!
Overnight Asparagus and Egg Bake
This biscuit-mix breakfast casserole with asparagus, bacon, mushrooms and cheese needs to be refrigerated overnight before baking, so prep it on Saturday for Mother’s Day breakfast.
Old-Fashioned Lemonade
Our old-fashioned lemonade recipe is fantastic on its own, but for a little something different this Mother’s Day, try one of the suggested twists to make ginger-mint lemonade, lavender lemonade or fresh-squeezed limeade.
Rhubarb Crumble Ice Cream
Fresh rhubarb crumble is good; fresh rhubarb crumble topped with vanilla ice cream is even better! Why not combine the two into a homemade ice cream that would be perfect after Mother’s Day dinner?
Lemon Tiramisu
This no-bake dessert is easy enough for kids to help make too. But if only adults are enjoying this dessert, might I suggest dipping the ladyfingers in limoncello instead?
Antipasto Skewers
Young children can help put sliced meats onto skewers (with adult supervision, of course!), making this a great Mother’s Day recipe for kids who want to help in the kitchen.
Cranberry Mimosa
This simple Mother’s Day brunch mimosa recipe has a tart twist: cranberries. I love that the additional juice creates a pink sunset color.
Easy Almond Joy Chia Pudding
There is no cooking or baking required to make this luscious candy bar-inspired pudding. You can make it in a large bowl, but for a cute presentation, divide it between individual glass jars decorated for Mother’s Day.
Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry
There are only four ingredients in this recipe for hot, flaky ham and cheese pastries, and they can be baked and frozen well in advance of Mother’s Day.
Strawberry Panzanella Salad
A multi-course Mother’s Day meal should definitely start out with this strawberry panzanella salad. I mean, who can turn down a salad that’s just bread, yogurt and strawberries? Certainly not Mom!
Shrimp Puff Pastry Triangles
Foodie moms will love these shrimp puff pastry triangles enhanced with garlic, parsley, tarragon and nutmeg. But don’t write them off as too finicky just yet: Store-bought puff pastry makes them a breeze.
Mixed Berry Pie
The tart and sweet flavors of raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries come together in this summery pie, the fruit encased between two buttery pie crusts. Serve Mom a warm slice with a vanilla bean-flecked scoop of ice cream.
Earl Grey Panna Cotta
This Earl Grey panna cotta looks fancy because it is fancy. It’s also so easy to make that even a person who has never made a dessert before can do it.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This pretzel dessert is a potluck staple across the Midwest, but it’s also a perfect Mother’s Day recipe, wherever Mom may be.
Mushroom & Leek Strudel
Frozen phyllo dough makes this fancy restaurant-caliber dish something that can be made easily in your own kitchen for an at-home Mother’s Day soiree.
Lime-Honey Fruit Salad
Seasonal fruit salad becomes a little more special with the addition of a simple honey-lime dressing. Feel free to replace any of the fruits with Mom’s favorites!
Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes
If Mom’s favorite color is pink, she’ll adore these strawberry cheesecake pancakes. The baby pink cream cheese mixture looks gorgeous next to the hot pink strawberry sauce.
Cheese Danishes
If you’ve ever wanted to try making danish dough from scratch, Mother’s Day is a great reason to get baking! No mixer? No problem—this recipe can be made in any kitchen bowl.
Creamy Baked Eggs
These creamy, cheesy baked eggs are made in the oven, meaning they’re less likely to accidentally overcook than eggs made on the stovetop. They’re great served with toast.
Bananas Foster French Toast
Challah French toast gets a gorgeous upgrade with a baked-right-in bananas Foster topping. Check out our tips for baking this is in the slow cooker if you prefer!
Pancake Casserole
Spicy breakfast sausage meets sweet apples and maple syrup in this easy biscuit casserole that can be made on Mother’s Day morning, or prep and assemble it the night before.
Chocolate Delight
Thanks to chocolate pudding mix and whipped topping, this recipe is perfect for beginner bakers looking to make something spectacular for Mother’s Day. People will rave over the tender homemade crust.
Nutella-Stuffed Strawberries
This recipe involves chocolate, strawberries and Nutella. As if that elusive trio wasn’t enough, chopped hazelnuts are affixed on the outside.
Orange Dream Mimosas
Mimosas meet Creamsicles in this chilly champagne cocktail. Blend and freeze the “ice cream” the night before Mother’s Day, then scoop it into glasses, pour on the champagne and toast to Mom!
Strawberry Buttermilk Skillet Shortcake
This cast-iron skillet recipe is essentially a big buttermilk biscuit baked with fresh strawberries and cinnamon streusel. Mom will love the strawberry hearts on top.
Berries in Champagne Jelly
Serve this jiggly champagne jelly topped with fresh spring berries in your fanciest wine glasses for the most simple elegant dessert you’ve ever made.
Spring Onion Pimiento Cheese Grits
This easy recipe for Mother’s Day dinner is a great way to take advantage of the all-too-short spring onion season.
Slow-Cooker Monkey Bread
It takes up to three hours in a slow cooker to turn refrigerated buttermilk biscuits into something ooey, gooey and utterly irresistible. Not an early bird? Here are our favorite slow-cooker Mother’s day brunch recipes.
Mushroom & Smoked Salmon Tarts
This recipe makes two tarts, so you can eat one on Mother’s Day, then freeze the second to enjoy another day. Or, if you’re celebrating with a mom and a mom-in-law, you can bring one tart to each gathering!
Almond-Vanilla Yogurt Parfaits
Yogurt parfaits are a perfect addition to any breakfast-in-bed experience, especially when there’s a secret ingredient that makes them taste like dessert. (OK, we’ll tell you: It’s pudding.)
Air-Fryer Lime Macaroons
If you’ve never tried making cookies in your air fryer before, these gin-spiked coconut lime macaroons are a great place to start. Still haven’t hopped on the air-fryer trend? These are our Test Kitchen’s top-ranked air-fryer models.
Rosemary Strawberry Daiquiri
Frozen strawberries make this frozen cocktail recipe a cinch to make; an easy, herby simple syrup adds a kick of freshness.
Roasted Grape and Sweet Cheese Phyllo Galette
This stunner of a tart is perfect for Mother’s Day brunch. Finish it with a drizzle of exquisite honey and a sprinkle of coarse sugar.
Leek Quiche
Leeks always scream “spring” to me, which make this quiche feel so chic and in season for Mother’s Day brunch or lunch. Serve it cold, warm or at room temperature with a vibrant and zippy spring salad.
Biscotti Recipe
Crunchy homemade biscotti alongside a mug of coffee, all enjoyed white sitting on a comfy couch, may be the perfect way to wake up on Mother’s Day.
Raspberry Peach Puff Pancake
It takes less than five minutes to prep this stunner of a Mother’s Day breakfast, and only about 20 minutes in the oven.
Mother’s Day Recipes FAQ
What is a good Mother’s Day meal?
A good Mother’s Day meal is often a made-from-scratch meal of your mom’s favorites. Decide first if you’re serving her brunch, lunch or dinner, then think about what your mom likes to eat. Does she prefer a sweet or savory breakfast? Would she normally eat a light or heavy dinner? What’s her all-time favorite dessert? Once you have an answer, seek out the recipes and start building your Mother’s Day meal.
What should I make for Mother’s Day dinner?
The best recipes to make for a Mother’s Day dinner are your mom’s favorites! If she has more than one, you can’t go wrong with an impressive dinner, like roast chicken, braised short ribs, mushroom and leek strudel, a bowl of homemade ravioli or steamed mussels in a garlicky white wine broth with a crusty slice of bread. Don’t forget the dinner sides, her favorite bottle of wine (even cheap champagne feels celebratory!) and, of course, a dessert to round out the evening.
What should I make for a Mother’s Day dessert?
The best Mother’s Day dessert to make for your mom is her favorite type of dessert. Some moms are chocolate fiends, lemon lovers or ice cream aficionados. Other moms are Francophiles (hi, macarons or eclairs!), partial to breakfast pastries or not-too-sweet dessert gals (in which case, I would suggest custard or lemon bars). It all depends on what your mom likes the most. If you’re a novice baker, though, stick with something easy, like chocolate chip cookies or brownies. I can hardly see any mom turning those down!