38 Mother's Day Dinner Ideas To Surprise Mom This Year

In the South, a home-cooked meal is the ultimate way to show love, and it starts with choosing the perfect recipe. Flowers and candy are certainly appreciated on Mother's Day , but this year, show your mom (or the mother figure in your life) how much you care by making her an extra special meal.

We've gathered these impressive yet doable dishes to suit every taste and budget. Whether your mother likes to keep things light with a salad or craves comfort food, there is a quick and easy dinner here that will make her day. If your mom can't stay out of the kitchen, let her relax with a  refreshing spring cocktail . And don't forget  dessert !

Cajun Shrimp Salad

If a big bowl of salad is Mom's idea of a perfect meal, she'll love this spiced up recipe topped with shrimp and andouille sausage.

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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Combine two favorite dishes into this chicken Caesar pasta salad for mom's new favorite dinner. Creamy Caesar dressing coats bursts of tomato, crunchy romaine lettuce, and tender  rotisserie chicken .

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Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Mom will feel like she's dining in a French cafe with one bite of this creamy, mushroom-sauced chicken. Serve with crusty bread on the side for soaking up every last bit.

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Cranberry Chicken Salad

Bring the bright, creamy, delicious flavor of the lunchtime favorite to dinnertime with bright pops of dried cranberries (which you can easily swap in cubed apples if you prefer). Mom taught us the trick of using a rotisserie chicken for all sorts of meals—and there's no better way to treat her than to whip up a homemade cranberry salad with one.

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Baked Lemon-Thyme Salmon

This simple-to-make meal requires only 15 minutes of hands-on time, and the main dish and sides cook on one pan. Send the leftovers home with Mom so she'll have enough for Salmon Niçoise Salad.

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Zucchini Pasta

This easy pasta is both light and creamy. Packed with tender slices of zucchini and fragrant basil, it's a satisfying early summer meal that's easy to pull off.

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Strawberry-Spinach Salad

This springy salad makes use of abundant strawberries from the farmers' market. Serve this salad with protein, such as grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, or shrimp.

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Lemon Roast Chicken With Rainbow Carrots

Roasting a whole chicken is surprisingly simple but will make a big impression when you pull it out of the oven for mom. Pretty rainbow carrots are a colorful nod to spring.

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Fig Flatbread

Here's a delicious and unexpected meatless main: fig flatbread with goat cheese and arugula. If you can't find figs, you can substitute sliced peaches or tomatoes.

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Chicken-And-Broccoli Skillet Pasta

This 30-minute meal is a one-dish dinner that will please the whole family. Piquant peppers give this dish a sweet-and-spicy brine. Substitute your favorite noodles for the egg noodles called for in this recipe.

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Crispy Chicken Thighs With Roasted Radishes

Fried chicken has never been this easy or elegant. Buttery roasted radishes take this Southern classic to a whole new level.

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Skillet Shrimp Destin With Orzo

This shrimp recipe proves an easy meal with a short list of ingredients can still be a showstopper. This recipe, using primarily pantry staples, is light and refreshing. Save fresh herbs, such as dill and parsley, to sprinkle on top of this skillet dish before serving.

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Honey Mustard Chicken

If you think chicken breasts are boring, this recipe will change your mind. A honey mustard pan sauce flavored with garlic and rosemary turns a weeknight staple into something memorable.

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Southern Niçoise Salad

The classic salad gets a Southern twist with potato salad and smoked trout. There's little prep work involved to make this beautiful Mother's Day spread. Cook and trim the green beans, make the dressing, and then assemble everything on a large platter.

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Creamy Pesto-And-Shrimp Penne With Peas

Convenience items like pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and store-bought pesto will lend a helping hand so you can serve a delicious homemade meal in 25 minutes. Save some pasta water to add towards the end of cooking, creating a silkier sauce. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan for a restaurant-worthy dish.

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Chicken Lombardy

This dish is similar to chicken Marsala, but with a gooey layer of cheese baked on top. It's ready to serve in just 45 minutes but tastes like a restaurant dish.

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Chicken Divan

This twist on classic Chicken Divan falls between a dressy and "dump-it-and-forget-it" style recipe. While perfectly easy to make, this dish is still company-worthy. Parmesan cheese and whipped cream create an ultra-rich, cheesy sauce.

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Pasta With Shrimp And Tomato Cream Sauce

This pasta dish is easy to make but feels fancier than any usual weeknight dinner . Look for various tomatoes, such as cherry or grape, to add a bright, colorful selection to this dish. Fresh shrimp works best in this recipe, so you don't overcook them.

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Creamy Rice With Scallops

Bacon makes everything better, and it definitely contributes to this dreamy dinner. Sweet corn and scallops balance the taste of this risotto-like dish's smoky, salty bacon. Sea scallops—large or jumbo—are better than bay scallops because the smaller seafood will overcook.

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Lasagna Roll Ups

Transform everyone's favorite pasta dish into these beautifully presented roll-ups. Three kinds of cheese in this recipe ensure every bite will be a cheesy delight—and you can always add more on top. Customize this dish to your preferences by adding or substituting mushrooms or spinach.

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Beefy Baked Ravioli With Spinach And Cheese

Store-bought refrigerated ravioli help reduce preparations and cooking time for this recipe. This comforting skillet supper seamlessly pairs pasta, beef, cheese, and vegetables into a one-dish meal. Customize this dish based on your preferences, switching ground turkey or chicken for the beef, or Swiss chard leaves for the spinach.

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Fresh Salmon Cakes With Buttermilk Dressing

Upgrade traditional crab cakes this Mother's Day. These Salmon Cakes have a crispy exterior and tender, flavorful interior. Top these salmon cakes with a homemade buttermilk dressing and serve with a fresh green salad .

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Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Get the flavor of chicken Parmesan without any frying required with this Italian-inspired casserole. Have this classic dish on the table in under an hour, packed with cheesy seasoned chicken. If you miss the noodles, pair this dinner with a side of pasta.

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Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Enjoy an elegant Mother's Day dinner by serving classic beef tenderloin as the main dish. Despite its fancy appearance, this dish requires little preparation and only 10 minutes of active cooking. A coating of mustard and mayonnaise helps seal in the meat's juice.

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Easy Shrimp Scampi With Basil

Succulent shrimp and fresh basil make this quick meal a crowd-pleaser. Save some pasta water to add to the wine, butter, and lemon juice, creating a silky sauce. You can substitute chicken stock for the wine if you prefer.

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Roasted Spatchcock Chicken

When in doubt, take a page from Ina Garten's book: A roasted chicken is always a good idea. Spatchcocking means butterflying the bird while roasting the chicken, which helps prevent dryness. Ask your butcher to help flatten the chicken so the breast and legs can cook at the same level.

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Chicken-And-Biscuit Cobbler

You can't go wrong with making comfort food for your family on Mother's Day. While your Chicken and Biscuits might not be as good as your mother's, this hearty cobbler will fill you with warm feelings and flavors. To save time, use rotisserie chicken in this recipe.

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Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

Roast is always a staple for family dinners. We guarantee this recipe will become an instant favorite as it takes only 20 minutes to assemble. Serve over egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes .

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Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce Over Pappardelle Pasta

You'll get to spend more time with Mom while this slow-cooker sauce cooks to perfection. A bit of crusty bread and a side salad make this a restaurant-worthy meal that's even better at home.

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Bacon Lover's Cacio e Pepe

This classic dish is good as is, but the addition of smoky bacon really makes it feel like an indulgence. We like bucatini, long tube-shaped pasta, but you can use spaghetti in its place.

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Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

Perfect for a patio meal, this refreshing pasta dinner is filled with fresh veggies and shrimp. Broccolini and snap peas add crunch, and red bell pepper and spinach layer the flavor.

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Zucchini Lasagna

The minute you set this showstopper on the table, Mom is sure to be impressed. Weave thin strips of zucchini to create the pretty lattice top. Underneath, a layer of gooey, cheesy lasagna noodles and sauce awaits.

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Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon With Veggies And Oranges

A good meal doesn't need to be complicated, and this salmon dinner proves it. You can have a delicious, complete meal that includes fresh spring vegetables on the table in 25 minutes.

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Creamy Vegetable Pot Pie

Spring veggies are the star of this comforting meal. Carrots, leeks, mushrooms, and fresh peas combine in a rich, creamy base. For a pretty presentation that will win over Mom, cut puff pastry sheets into triangles and arrange in a flower shape on top.

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Chicken Scallopini

This pretty dish comes together in just 30 minutes. The tender, crispy, and juicy chicken pairs perfectly with the rich mushroom sauce. Serve over noodles for a complete meal in no time.

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Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken

A cast-iron skillet helps crisp the skin before you place the chicken on the sheet pan. This dish is the perfect blend of savory and sweet flavoring. Enjoy the convenience of cooking the chicken, baby potatoes, orange slices, and rosemary all on one tray.

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Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

This one-dish dinner makes a budget-friendly, comforting chicken-and-rice casserole into a formal dinner worthy of Mother's Day . It has all the good flavors and textures your family loves, including chicken, garlic, sage, rice, parsley, and Parmesan. Let this dish stand for a few minutes after baking so the rice absorbs all the liquids.

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Slow-Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Buttery, tender chicken thighs are enrobed in a delicious sweet, salty, garlicky sauce. This dish goes perfectly with rice to soak up every bit of sauce, and sure, you can include some vegetables on the plate, too. All you need is a slow cooker!

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Related: 25 Make-Ahead Mother's Day Desserts That Will Have Mom Going Back For Seconds

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