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Home / Recipes / 40+ Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas

40+ Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas

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Author:

Kimber Matherne

Updated:

May 5, 2024

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What better way to tell your mom you love her than by making her a home cooked meal on Mother’s Day? We’ve collected over 40 of the best Mother’s Day recipes that will definitely make your mom feel extra special! From simple chicken dishes, comforting pasta dishes and healthy salads, we have made sure these recipes are easy enough even for beginner cooks. These dishes are full of flavor and allow you to spend less time in the kitchen, and more time with your mom on Mother’s Day! We’ve even included a few special desserts you can add to your menu that everyone is sure to enjoy.

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Table of contents

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  • Best Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas
  • Quick and Easy Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas
  • Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas for Mother’s Day
  • One Pot Recipes for Mother’s Day Dinner
  • Hearty and Comforting Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas
  • Healthy Salads for Mother’s Day Dinner
  • Desserts to Serve for Mother’s Day Dinner
  • Mother’s Day Roast Chicken

Best Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas

When it comes to Mother’s Day, it’s the thought that counts. You can not go wrong with these fool-proof recipes because they really are the best!

Dutch oven chicken
French Onion Pot Roast in a white casserole dish
  • Dutch Oven Roast Chicken – I love serving these with Brown Butter Broccoli
  • Crockpot Steak Bites
  • Lemon Asparagus Chicken – The citrus flavor from the lemon makes this so fresh and it’s a great spring dish for Mother’s Day.
  • Braised Chicken Breast – Your mom will definitely be impressed with this!
  • Lemon Basil Chicken Pasta
  • French Onion Pot Roast – This is the best way to get the most tender and savory roast.
  • Meatball Pasta Bake – Cheesy Garlic Bread goes perfectly with this pasta dish.
  • Italian Sausage Tortellini
  • Fettuccini Alfredo

Quick and Easy Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas

These quick and easy dinner ideas are perfect to make for that special Mom of yours!

Lifting Cheesy meatballs parmesan out of the casserole dish.
pork tenderloin in a skillet being drizzled with gravy
  • Baked Rotisserie Chicken – serve with my glazed carrots for a well balanced dinner.
  • Million Dollar Chicken Bake – with a side of asparagus and you will get rave reviews!
  • BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza
  • Baked Meatballs Parmesan – serve with roasted vegetables.
  • Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Sauce
  • Million Dollar Spaghetti – layers of noodles, a hearty ground beef and tomato sauce, and creamy cheese all baked to perfection.

Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas for Mother’s Day

We love a simple recipe the requires minimal ingredients and effort because it means less time in the kitchen, but more time at the dinner table. These do not disappoint.

Sheet pan with baked Italian chicken topped with crispy panko, tomatoes, and basil
Pineapple sheet pan chicken with veggies
  • Caprese Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner – The chicken and the veggies are all cooked on the same pan making for super easy clean up.
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
  • Baked Italian Chicken
  • Baked Pineapple Chicken
  • Tuscan Pork Chops – This is technically not a pan because it’s a skillet but it’s just as quick and easy!
  • Sheet Pan Meatloaf – If your mom enjoys comfort food, this could be a winner. Serve with my favorite mashed potatoes.
  • Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies w Cajun Butter Sauce
  • Baked Chicken Cutlets with Veggies

One Pot Recipes for Mother’s Day Dinner

One-pot wonders are so convenient and to round out the meal all you need to do is add a simple side, maybe a glass of white wine and you’re done!

spinach and tomato tortellini in a skillet
Close up of Crustless Chicken Pot Pie with Breadcrumbs on top
  • One Pot Lasagna Soup
  • Easy Brown Butter Spinach and Tortellini – This is great if you need a vegetarian dish
  • Chicken Salsa Soup
  • Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice Skillet
  • Chicken Fritta with Garlic Cream Sauce
  • Garlic Steak Skillet
  • Marry Me Chicken and Tortellini – this is a great crowd pleaser!
  • Crustless Chicken Pot Pie

Hearty and Comforting Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas

If you’re looking for meals that are comforting and bring that “home” feeling to the dinner table, these are it!

chicken piccata with lemon and cappers in a skillet
Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Casserole with rice
  • Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken
  • Mother’s Day Pot Roast – If a beginner cook can make this!
  • Creamy Chicken Piccata
  • Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Chicken – the fresh herbs in this dish scream comfort.
  • Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • Cheddar Bay Chicken Pot Pie
  • Southern Pot Roast

Healthy Salads for Mother’s Day Dinner

Salads are great as a side, but can also be made as an entree! You can add a protein like chicken or shrimp to any of these or just keep the meal light and add a slice of crusty garlic bread.

above image of an assembled burrata caprese salad drizzled with balsamic glaze.
Diced Chicken Cobb Salad
  • Burrata Caprese Salad – This salad is beautiful and can be served as an appetizer as well.
  • Quinoa Salad with Veggies
  • Chicken Cobb Salad
  • Spring Chopped Salad – Add grilled salmon for extra protein
  • Green Salad – Mixed greens, your favorite toppings, and a dressing like healthy balsamic, red wine vinaigrette, or a tangy lemon vinaigrette would make a great, light side dish.
  • Kale and Apple Salad – Don’t forget you can add a protein to these salads to bulk them up.
  • Greek Salad – Create a Greek salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese, dressed in a light olive oil vinaigrette.
  • Mixed Green Salad – I like mixed greens with a little mozzarella, tomatoes, peppers and this mouthwatering homemade ranch dressing.
  • Quick Spinach Salad – Combine spinach, chopped red onions, tomato, cucumber, feta, toasted almonds and this red wine vinaigrette.
  • Million Dollar Chicken Salad
  • Italian Grinder Salad

Desserts to Serve for Mother’s Day Dinner

Special occasions deserve a dessert! These are all perfect at the end of a memorable Mother’s Day dinner. Enjoy!

lemon cookies on a drying rack
crockpot peach cobbler
  • Fudge Brownies – these are homemade brownies, but almost easier than a box mix and so much better!
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars – If I had a vote in what I’d want for dessert, this would be my pick *hint hint*.
  • The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies – a classic treat for that classic mom of yours.
  • Lemon Meltaway Cookies – The perfect Spring treat!
  • Peach Cobbler – If you want a dessert that *appears* to be a lot of effort, but secretly it’s very simple, try this.

If you’re looking for Mother’s Day Dinner recipes, this list will be a keeper. If you need more dinner ideas check out this list of holiday ham dinner ideas or easy Spring recipe ideas.

If you have a tried and true recipe for a Mother’s Day dinner, make sure and let me know in the comments!

What to have for dinner on Mother’s Day?

Depending on your mother’s taste, you can make anything from comforting chicken pot pie to a lighter cobb salad. This list is full of easy recipes that anyone can make!

What can I do to make Mother’s Day extra special?

Making her dinner and cleaning up the kitchen is a great way to make your mom feel special on Mother’s Day!

What dessert should I make for Mother’s Day?

I have some tried and true favorites in my Mother’s Day list! Lemon meltaway cookies are always a huge hit, but you can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie.

Whole Dutch oven roast chicken on platter with lettuce and onions

Mother’s Day Roast Chicken

By: Kimber Matherne
No ratings yet
Easy enough for a weeknight dinner, fancy enough to serve on Mother's Day. This Dutch oven whole roasted chicken is going to be a favorite and you family will be very impressed!
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Resting Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Total Time: 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
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Ingredients 

For the chicken

  • 4 onions, ends removed, then quartered
  • 1 whole chicken, 4-5 pound
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 sprigs rosemary

For the Garlic Herb Butter

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 425˚F.
  • To prepare the garlic butter, combine the softened butter with the parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside.
  • Place the onion quarters in the bottom of the dutch oven. Save the end pieces to stuff the cavity.
  • Prepare the chicken by removing anything from the cavity, including neck, and/or giblets.
    Then use paper towels to pat the chicken dry.
  • Fill the cavity with the ends from the onion, 3 garlic cloves, and rosemary sprigs.
    Then use your hands to rub the garlic herb butter all over the outer skink of the chicken, front, back and sides. Gently lift the skin from the chicken breast and rub the garlic butter between the skin and the breast. Be careful not to tear the skin.
    Tie the chicken with baker's twine (truss the chicken) so that the wings are tucked in and the legs are held tight. This is optional but does help the bird to stay compact so that it cooks more evenly.
  • Place the chicken breast side up into the dutch oven and set it on top of the onions.
  • Put the dutch oven into the oven, uncovered, and immediately reduce the heat to 350˚F. Bake for 20 minutes per pound, plus 15 minutes. (So for a 4 pound bird this is 1 hour and 35 minutes. For a 5 pound bird this is 1 hour 55 minutes).
    Once the time is up, check the temperature of the chicken by inserting a thermometer into the thigh close to the bone. The chicken should read at least 165˚F. If it is not done, return the chicken to the oven and continue to cook in 5 minute increments until the chicken reaches 165˚F internal temp.
    You do not need to cover the chicken while baking. This will allow the skin of the chicken to get crispy and flavorful. If you find that the top of the chicken starts to brown more than you want, you can place the lid of the dutch oven on at that point, or loosely tent foil over the top of the dutch oven.
  • Once done, allow the chicken to rest for 15-20 minutes. Then carve and serve warm. Drippings can be spooned over the meat, or strained and used to make gravy.
Last step!Share a picture on Instagram and tag me at @easyfamilyrecipes!

Recipe Notes

  • Basting: It is not necessary to baste the chicken for a super tender juicy roast chicken. If you want to baste, you can do so half way through cooking.
  • Stuff the Cavity: You will not eat the fillings used to stuff the cavity of the chicken. This is why we can use the ends of the onion. They help add flavor to the chicken and then are discarded after cooking. You can add other seasonings or vegetables to the cavity if you prefer.
  • If chicken is getting too brown: The chicken will cook uncovered to get that coveted delicious crispy skin. If you find that the skin is getting more done than you prefer, you can either place the lid on the dutch oven, or loosely tent aluminum foil over the dutch oven for the remainder of the cooking time.
  • Potatoes, carrots, or other vegetables: You can add potatoes, carrots or other root veggies, that take a long time to cook, in the bottom of the pan in addition to the onions. 
Substitutions: You can use thyme or sage instead of or in addition to the rosemary. For a shortcut, use store-bought garlic butter instead of making your own.
How to Store: To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
How to Freeze: Freeze leftover roasted chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to one month.
How to Reheat: Reheat the chicken in the microwave or in a 325ºF oven covered in a roasting pan with a splash of broth or water.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25chicken, Calories: 563kcal (28%), Carbohydrates: 12g (4%), Protein: 37g (74%), Fat: 40g (62%), Saturated Fat: 16g (100%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 173mg (58%), Sodium: 522mg (23%), Potassium: 560mg (16%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 817IU (16%), Vitamin C: 15mg (18%), Calcium: 69mg (7%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

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I’m Kimber. Mom of 3 and home cook.

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