20 Recipes for a Special Mother's Day Dinner
From appetizers to desserts, everything you need for a special dinner for mom is right here.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Mother's Day is a special chance to celebrate mom and give gratitude for all she's done. And while you can spend some quality time together as a family, where you're shopping, watching movies, or just sitting around a picnic table- you can also honor mom by preparing a delicious Mother's Day dinner for her. To help you get started on your preparation, we pulled together more than a dozen menu ideas for your Mother's Day dinner. From appetizers to desserts, everything you need for a special dinner for mom is right here.
Tomato Bruschetta
A wonderful appetizer, these bruschetta are easy to make, nibble, and share with guests while you finish setting the table. Dice fresh heirloom tomatoes, drizzle some olive oil and balsamic, and choose a special cheese, like ricotta, burrata, mozzarella, or goat cheese.
Date Goat Cheese Basil Bites
These date-and-goat-cheese bites are perfect mouthwatering apps to get you started before dinner. The basil adds an herbal note to complement the tangy, grassy cheese and the sweetness of the dried dates. Prosciutto acts as a wrap to hold ingredients in and a salty contrast to the tangy-sweet filling. We dare you to eat just one.
Pomegranate Spinach Salad
This sweet spinach salad features pomegranate seeds for a sweet-tart mix of flavor and slivered almonds for nuttiness and crunch. It can be a great appetizer or a side salad for your Mother's Day dinner. Add cheese if desired, like crumbled feta or goat cheese.
Salmon with Lemon and Dill
This lovely piece of salmon with fresh lemon and dill is refreshing, light, and healthy, and it'll put a smile on mom's face. Plus, you can feel great eating it, as fish is good for you, and that means you can splurge a bit more on apps and dessert!
Quick Yeast Rolls
No Mother's Day dinner is complete without a bread roll (or two or three!) to enjoy with your salad greens and main course. Plus, these are fluffy, and you can lather with butter on top to make them nice and salty.
Creamy Potato Leek Soup II
This simple and satisfying soup may require just a few ingredients, but they are ingredients that pack a punch. Leeks have a mild, onion-like taste that pair perfectly with salty bacon. The neutrality of potato is an ideal backdrop for all of these flavors to shine.
Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
Pasta cooks well in big batches, if you're serving a crowd, and this shrimp scampi is full of fresh seafood flavor and fresh herbs. It is ready in 40 minutes, and you can choose any pasta you want. Angel hair will be thinner and more traditional, but go for thicker if it's a main dish.
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe
A classic pasta, you can use it as a side or you can toss in some protein, like fish, chicken, or steak, to bulk it up for a main dish. This is light and savory, thanks to the oil, Pecorino cheese, and pepper. Plus it goes nicely with a glass of wine.
Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts
Amanda
Not only are these tender chicken breasts chargrilled to perfection but it takes 35 minutes to make them! Pair these juicy chicken breasts with a salad and mashed potatoes to turn it into a wholesome Mother's Day dinner.
Chicken with Lemon-Caper Sauce
Light, lemony, and slightly creamy, this chicken recipe is super enjoyable and packed with flavor. You can eat it plain with some veggies, or you can serve it atop some of the pasta, too, like the cacio e pepe.
Marinated Flank Steak
Flank steak is one of the most lean cuts of red meat, but it also takes well to rubs and marinades. This one is flavored with strong flavors of soy sauce, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and more. It'll stand out on its own, or you can pair it with all of mom's favorite side dishes.
Pork Carnitas
This pork recipe is a fairly hands-off creation, making it ideal for cooking while you're prepping other sides or shaking up cocktails while guests arrive. While the pork shoulder simmers for a few hours, you can prepare toppings like salsa and wedges of lime to squeeze over the carnitas on warm tortillas.
Scalloped Potatoes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
If you're hoping to prepare a more creamy, comforting recipe for mom, then these Scalloped Potatoes will definitely do the trick. But, be careful, because this dish is so flavorful that she'll request that you make it again and again.
Gruyere Potato Gratin
Decadent and rich, this creamy, potato dish is filled with lots of gooey cheese and flavor. You can pair this Mother's Day dinner side dish with any protein and veggies, and you can keep leftovers for the rest of the week, too.
Farro with Wild Mushrooms
A vegetarian side to pair with a grilled protein or other main dish, this farro features brown and porcini mushrooms, but you could easily add cremini or portobello mushrooms, depending on your preferences and what you're able to find at the grocery store.
Easy Asparagus
In season for this spring holiday, asparagus is a versatile and tasty side. And this one has some sprinkled Parmesan cheese to make it more savory and bold in flavor. Add in lemon zest for some citrus and acidity, as well as some pepper and salt.
Lemon-Glazed Carrots
With some natural sweetness, these carrots are a healthy side that goes well with fish or other protein source. Add in brown sugar to make them more indulgent. They're done in 20 minutes, too!
Sweet and Simple Lemon Tart
A lemon tart is citrusy and refreshing, and it is a great springtime dessert to have at a Mother's Day dinner. Dust powdered sugar on top, and add some berries, too, which will greatly enhance the presentation and the flavor.
Strawberry Shortcake
The time is always right for strawberry shortcake. And what mom does not love a light, fruity strawberry shortcake for dessert, right? This one is sweet and beautiful, and you can top with fresh whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
No time to bake a cake? Make chocolate-covered strawberries. Not only will they settle a sweet craving for mom after the Mother's Day dinner is complete, but they also pair nicely with some after-dinner wine or champagne, too!
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