Recipe Roundup

37 Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas to Celebrate the Best Mom Ever

Because moms can’t live by brunch alone, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite Mother’s Day meals for eating at night.

By Joe Sevier and The Editors of Epicurious

April 25, 2022

Gourmet's Lemony Risotto with Asparagus and Shrimp in a bowl with lemon wedges and a glass of white wine on the side.

Have you made a plan for Mother’s Day dinner yet? Lots of moms wake up to breakfast in bed or an elaborate brunch on the second Sunday in May, but the day’s not over when those plates are cleared. The following Mother’s Day meal suggestions will keep your mother (or your favorite mother figure) fed into the evening. We have spring-y pastas, smoky grilled favorites, classic Gourmet recipes that’ll hit many a mother with a touch of nostalgia, and plenty more of the tried-and-true recipes we’d gladly make for our own moms. Just remember one thing: Whether you got the lady the newest Instant Pot or merely the pleasure of your own company (she’d love either), she’s going to want dessert too. We’re thinking cake.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
1/37
Sticky Grilled Chicken
Cutting each chicken breast into three pieces for this Mother’s Day dinner recipe means they'll cook at the same rate as the rest of the chicken—and more surface area means more of the molasses-pomegranate-apricot BBQ sauce in every bite.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
2/37
Lemon-Roasted Salmon With Escarole, Asparagus, and Potatoes
Rub a salmon fillet with lemon zest and dried oregano, then use the lemon juice to make a salad dressing with dill and honey. It’s a Greek-inspired fish dinner that’s sure to become Mom’s favorite meal of the year.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
3/37
Manicotti
Want a project to cook for (or with!) Mom? Prepare tender, crepe-like manicotti wrappers, then fill them with a creamy trio of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella and cover with fresh tomato sauce before baking.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Lillian Chou
4/37
Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu, with its fragrant sauce of chiles, fermented black beans, ground pork, and Sichuan peppercorns, is a classic example of Sichuan’s famed ma la (numbing and spicy) flavor.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell
5/37
Classic Sole Meunière
This classic French bistro preparation pairs lightly breaded fish with a rich, nutty, and bright brown butter–lemon pan sauce.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
6/37
Sri Lankan Cashew Curry
Whole cashews are the star of this comforting vegan curry. They simmer and soften enough to sip up luscious coconut milk, scented with ginger, cumin, turmeric, and fennel.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
7/37
Pulled Mushroom Tacos With Salsa Guille
This recipe lets mushrooms shine, turning them crispy and meaty—almost like carnitas. Top with a creamy, savory peanut butter and serrano salsa.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad
8/37
Lemony Risotto With Asparagus and Shrimp
This elegant shrimp risotto is a perfect Mother’s Day dinner idea. With bright flavor from lemon zest and fresh asparagus, it’s made for spring.
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Photo by Alex Lau
9/37
Seared Duck Breasts With Blood Oranges
If you can’t find frisée for this play on duck à l’orange, use arugula, escarole, or another assertive (but tender) salad green.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
10/37
Garlicky Instant Ramen Noodle Salad With Grilled Chicken Thighs
This fun grilled chicken recipe, inspired by a specialty of Thai street vendors, starts with a packet of instant ramen and ends with Mom saying, “I love you.”
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
11/37
Crispy Chicken Over Turmeric-Lemon Cabbage and Peas
One great thing about this one-pan main dish: If you make extra chicken thighs and silky braised cabbage, Mom will have a few weeknight meals to look forward to—because the flavors only get better.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
12/37
Clams With Sherry and Olives
The complex flavor of this dish—briny, aromatic, slightly spicy—belies the extraordinarily simple method of actually making it.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
13/37
Shrimp Scampi
Garlicky, buttery shrimp scampi takes little more than a skillet and 15 minutes to make at home. Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the sauce or toss with cooked linguine and a little pasta water.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
14/37
Baked Salmon With Lemon and Thyme
Baking salmon in a low oven keeps the fillets moist and tender for an elegant meal that’s virtually guaranteed to become a staple in your repertoire.
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Following stints at StarChefs and Saveur, Joe joined Epicurious in 2016 where he’s written about how to make the very best biscuits, the singularity of third-culture cooking, and the ultimate cream cheese frosting. Currently, he works across both BA and Epi as the senior SEO editor for cooking stories, which ... Read More

Senior SEO Editor, Cooking

The Epicurious editorial team develops original recipes, and publishes stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably. See our full masthead, here. ... Read More

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37 Mother’s Day Cakes That’ll Make Mama Swoon

Layers of chocolate, frills of coconut, tangy lemon-glazed and rhubarb-studded: You’ve hit the cake motherlode.

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61 Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas for the Mom Who Has It All

Including a very thoughtful family.

You Know Who Would Love This Coconut-Stuffed French Toast? Your Mom

Add raspberry rhubarb compote, whipped cream or yogurt, and maybe even sprinkles. A day celebrating those who have mothered us seems the time for every flourish.

Tara O'Brady