Because homemade is always more special than eating out.
Moms are simply the best, so what better way to say "I love you, mom" (or "Mom, I need you to jump my car again") than with an impressive, delicious homemade
Mother's Day dinner? After all, she's taken you to all your violin (and dance, and maybe even tuba) lessons, she's checked your homework, driven you to the mall, and likely made you all your favorite meals (from chicken soup when you were sick to cake on your birthday). In celebration of her and everything she's done for you, we gathered our 30 best Mother's Day dinners that'll make her feel ultra special.
Homemade just is always more special than eating out, especially when it means you get to dodge all those crowded restaurants. Whether mom loves a cozy baked pasta or a creamy chicken dinner, or something a bit more on the fancy side like a lobster risotto or our steak au poivre soup, we've got plenty of recipe ideas sure to bring a happy tear to her eye. Looking for more of a casual Mother's Day meal that the whole family can enjoy? Try our boursin-baked ziti, our goddess bowls, or our chicken fajita marinade. They're classic, but with little twists that make them extra special. Worried you're too much of a beginner in the kitchen? Don't stress—we've got tons of straight-forward, fool-proof recipes here, like our falafel stuffed peppers and our Mediterranean chicken. Don't forget—it's the thought that counts (and doing the dishes after dinner too).
Want even more Mother's Day fun? We all know that the way to anyone's heart is through their stomach, so why stop at dinner? Start her day off right with a Mother's Day brunch (complete with mimosas!) and don't forget about dessert after too.
1
Spinach-Artichoke Flatbread
This recipe turns our favorite into an easy yet elegant dinner in the form of a flatbread pizza that’s just a little bit extra special, perfect for a casual Mother's Day dinner.
Get the Spinach-Artichoke Flatbread recipe.
2
Mahi Mahi Tacos
Being a meaty, tender fish, mahi mahi stands up well to the grill and is even better when marinated. Throw the fish on tortillas with some spicy pineapple-jalapeño salsa, and serve these tacos alongside some margaritas for the perfect Mother's Day meal.
Get the Mahi Mahi Tacos recipe.
3
Creamy Balsamic Chicken
If you’re familiar with our chicken piccata, our , or our creamy Tuscan chicken, you know that for some chicken dishes, it’s ALL about the sauce. This one—with balsamic vinegar, heavy cream, and chicken broth—is a touch sweet, a little tangy, and super-delicious as a full-flavored creamy sauce. It’s so good, we can’t believe we didn’t think of it sooner!
Get the Creamy Balsamic Chicken recipe.
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4
Everything Bagel Crusted Salmon
It’s time to bring the brunch vibes to dinnertime with everything bagel seasoning-crusted salmon and a refreshing salad that’s reminiscent of the toppings on your mom's favorite loaded . If you’ve never turned cream cheese into a salad dressing, you and your mom are in for a treat.
Get the Everything Bagel Crusted Salmon recipe.
5
Goddess Bowls
An easy, springy chicken dinner, these bowls combine nutritious powerhouses—brown rice, avocado, roasted asparagus, and sweet cherry tomatoes—with a creamy, herby goddess dressing (trust us, this stuff beats out the pre-packaged stuff any day).
Get the Goddess Bowls recipe.
6
Boursin Baked Ziti
Creamy, crumbly, herby Boursin cheese is the star of this easy riff on baked ziti. Many white baked ziti recipes call for swapping out the marinara for béchamel sauce, but a mixture of Boursin, ricotta, and heavy cream is much simpler—and super delicious.
Get the Boursin Baked Ziti recipe.
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7
Tuscan Butter Gnocchi
Tuscan Butter is perfect on everything, and gnocchi is no different! This compound butter made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil and Parmesan is bound to become your new favorite topping for shrimp, salmon, chicken, everything.
Get the Tuscan Butter Gnocchi recipe.
8
Steak Au Poivre Soup
Steak au poivre is a French classic (not to be confused with steak Diane), typically made with filet mignon or sirloin steak covered in a creamy, peppery sauce. The sauce is downright drinkable and was made to be eaten with a spoon, so we thought—let’s soup-ify it!
Get the Steak Au Poivre Soup recipe.
9
Mediterranean Chicken
This one-pot recipe is the perfect way to spruce up chicken breasts with bright Mediterranean flavors without dirtying all the pots and pans in your kitchen. Serve it over some couscous for a bright (and cozy!) spring meal your mom will love.
Get the Mediterranean Chicken recipe.
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10
Lobster Risotto
A simple combination of fresh aromatics, white wine, and seafood stock transforms humble Italian rice grains into the dreamy, cheesy, luscious rice porridge that we’ve all come to love. And adding fresh, faintly sweet lobster meat is all that’s needed to take your risotto over the top.
Get the Lobster Risotto recipe.
11
Grilled Steak Salad
This salad is simple enough for a weeknight but worthy of serving for a special occasion, thanks to its star ingredient—ribeye steak. You’ll grill it (and red onions), then combine it with cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, basil, and a drizzle of tangy balsamic dressing, turning it into the kind of impressive-but-secretly-easy dish you’ll be making all the time.
Get the Grilled Steak Salad recipe.
12
Sheet-Pan Garlic Butter Salmon & Asparagus
Garlic butter is here to save your last-minute Mother's Day meal with this one-pan salmon & asparagus meal that's ready in as little as 30 minutes! Change up your veggies, and you can make this over and over again this summer too.
Get the .
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13
Strawberry Jalapeño Chicken
Seasoned chicken breast gets pan-seared until golden brown, smothered in a strawberry chipotle sauce, and topped with fresh strawberry-jalapeño salsa to create this playful, bright dish. If your mom's a sweet-and-spicy lover, this is bound to become her new fave springtime dinner.
Get the Strawberry Jalapeño Chicken recipe.
14
Chicken Fajita Marinade
No need to make reservations out, THIS marinade is the best way to make delicious at-home chicken fajitas. It transforms plain chicken breasts into juicy, flavorful strips that are perfect for folding into flour tortillas, then topping with all your mom's faves!
Get the Chicken Fajita Marinade recipe.
15
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon & Orzo
When your mom is in the mood for comfort food, and you're looking for an easy one-pan dinner, this recipe with creamy orzo and sun-dried tomatoes is the recipe to turn to. If you have any white wine left from deglazing the pan, feel free to pour yourself a glass alongside. 😉
Get the .
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16
Vodka Meatballs
Creamy vodka sauce is the ultimate comfort food, and with the addition of easy chicken meatballs, it becomes a simple, hearty dinner. We think these are perfect on their own, but feel free to serve them with pasta or crusty bread to soak up all that delicious sauce.
Get the Vodka Meatballs recipe.
17
Pasta Alla Gricia
Along with carbonara, cacio e pepe, and amatriciana, this completes the four classic pasta dishes of Rome. And it's a classic for good reason: It gets its unbelievable flavor from only four ingredients, including guanciale (pancetta works too), Pecorino, and tagliatelle pasta. 😍
Get the Pasta Alla Gricia recipe.
18
Feta, Spinach, & Tomato Stuffed Salmon
Oven-roasted salmon is already delicious on its own, but adding a filling made of briny feta cheese, earthy cooked spinach, and savory-sweet cherry tomatoes will take your favorite fish up a few notches. To finish it off, the salmon gets topped with a mix of scallions, crushed red pepper, and yep—extra cheese. Mmm.
Get the .
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19
Skillet Eggplant Parm
This dish has all the eggplant Parm flavors you love, lightened up a bit for warmer weather. Instead of breading each slice of eggplant, you'll top the entire skillet with panko bread crumbs, making it easy and special enough for your mom.
Get the Skillet Eggplant Parm recipe.
20
Lemon Butter Feta Chicken Pasta
A creamy, rich pasta sauce with fresh lemon and tangy feta and juicy chicken thighs all come together in one pot for a very simple but satisfying meal. It’s the even easier version of everyone’s favorite baked feta pasta, made extra springy to celebrate on Mother's Day.
Get the Lemon Butter Feta Chicken Pasta recipe.
