A Day's Worth of Menu Ideas for Mother's Day

By Carl Hanson
March 13, 2020
Credit: waimea16

Mom makes so many yummy meals for you. Now return the favor! We'll make it easy on you, with recipes that are delicious and impressive but also simple to make. And since Mom's big day is all day long, we're offering more than the obligatory Mother's Day brunch ideas. We've gathered loads of top-rated recipes for your Mother's Day menu, featuring brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert recipes, too. Here's what to make for Mother's Day. 

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Breakfast: Classic Waffles

Credit: PARKER71
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Let's start with a simple breakfast classic. "These waffles are super easy and delicious," says Janet. "My 12 year-old daughter makes them all the time." Enjoy with warm maple syrup and sliced fruit.

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Breakfast: Chef John's Baked Eggs

Credit: Jennifer Baker
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Truth be told, this recipe would be delicious for any Mother's Day meal -- breakfast, lunch, even dinner. "If you enjoy huevos rancheros, you will love this," says Chef John. "The way the spicy sauce mingles with just barely set eggs is very similar, and when you start scooping this up with toasted chunks of bread, it gets borderline magical."

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Breakfast: Vanilla Berry Parfaits

Credit: OkinawanPrincess
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Here's a treat that works for brunch or for a light dessert, too. "Delicious and easy, this is a fabulous mix of berries and yogurt," raves Rebecca. "If you like, you can make a thin layer of graham crackers or granola in each vanilla/berry layer. That gives it a little more crunch."

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Lunch: Crispy Grilled Pizza Margherita

Credit: Baking Nana
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This simple recipe is even easier if you start with a prepared pizza crust. "Pizza on an outdoor grill is a great alternative to oven-cooked pizza," says OXSALIDA. "If you love crispy crust, this is for you. Note: cook time is relatively short, so alternative toppings like uncooked sausage or other meats may not cook fully."

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Lunch: Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta

Credit: chibi chef
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"This is a lighter version of pasta carbonara," says DEBNJAMES. "For people who want the flavor but not the bacon, smoked salmon is the perfect substitute!"

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Lunch: Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Credit: pomplemousse
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Dessert or salad? Trick question: it's both. A terrific sweet something for lunch or dinner. It's also great with raspberries. "This was a great success," says Tricia Simone. "It was easy, and comes out delicious. Just leave yourself enough time to let the top layer set."

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Dinner: Chef John's Salt Roasted Chicken

Credit: BIG BOY
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A roast chicken is just about as simple as it gets. With this recipe, a whole chicken roasts till it's crisp and brown with nothing more than a generous sprinkling of salt. "You're going to be so shocked at how flavorful, juicy, and amazing this roast chicken comes out," says Chef John.

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Dinner: Baked Shrimp Scampi

Credit: naples34102
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Impress mom with a simple and quick shrimp scampi with butter, white wine, and garlic plus bread crumbs and a dash of cayenne. "I thought this was the best shrimp scampi I have ever tasted!" raves Melanie. "It was so easy to make and worth every bite."

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Dinner: Couscous Primavera

Credit: Allrecipes Magazine
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Complete your Mother's Day menu with fresh asparagus, peas, and couscous. "I'm borrowing the name from Pasta Primavera which, like this recipe, takes advantage of fresh, seasonal, green produce," says Chef John. "This is a healthy, delicious, and easy side dish that takes about 10 minutes to make."

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Dessert: Buttermilk Strawberry Shortcake

Credit: sweetserenade
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Delicious fresh strawberries top a light biscuit. Crown it with whipped cream, and you've just made Mom's day. "Great simple, easy, and delicious recipe," says Shearone. "I sliced some of the strawberries ahead of time in order for the juice to form."

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Dessert: Sweet and Simple Lemon Tart

Credit: lutzflcat
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Combine simple ingredients (butter, eggs, flour, sugar, and fresh lemon) to create this lovely tart with a fresh, light flavor. "Excellent!" raves mengtx. "I've made a lot of tarts and this was a great easy recipe and the results looked very pro, tasted fantastic! This was such an outstanding success."

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Dessert: Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Credit: waimea16
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These Mother's Day cakes are upside down and individually portioned. "I love to make these little guys for family gatherings or just as treats for home," says Bri. "Easy recipe to make. Adaptations can be made to make this completely from scratch. This is just a yummy simplified version!"

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