50 Mother’s Day Lunch Recipes That Feel As Special As She Is
We're sure Mama will love any of these tasty dishes.
Celebrate all the moms in your life this Mother's Day with a homemade meal that she doesn't have to lift a finger to prepare. Let her sit back and enjoy the day as you get busy preparing any of these delicious yet relatively simple recipes.
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Asparagus Gratin
Crisp-tender asparagus baked under a creamy, cheesy sauce will be a definite crowd-pleaser at Mother's Day lunch.
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Chicken Piccata
Mama will love the slight Southern twist on this Italian-American favorite.
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Ham Biscuits
There's nothing more comforting than a fluffy buttermilk biscuit with ham. Make the biscuits up to two weeks in advance and freeze them. When ready to serve, bake the frozen biscuits for 12 to 14 minutes at 450°F.
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Spring Salad With Berries And Bacon
Fresh and fun, this easy salad is a must have for your next Mother's Day lunch.
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Crispy Chicken Thighs With Roasted Radishes
Served on a bed of tender radishes, this fancy fried chicken recipe is easy enough lunchtime—no deep frying required!
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Tarragon Chicken Salad
This chicken salad recipe has it all. This recipe, filled with crunchy, zesty, and creamy flavors, uses fresh chopped tarragon as its secret ingredient. Toast the pecans before chopping them into this chicken salad for the best flavor.
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Baked Crab Cakes
Crispy, buttery, and delicious, crab cakes are always a hit for lunch.
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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Fresh tomato salsa—made with tomato, red onion, lime juice, jalapeño, and salt—is sprinkled on top of these pork tacos. The best part about this recipe is your slow cooker does most of the work. Add the fresh herbs after removing the pork from the slow cooker to preserve their flavors.
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Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad
Light and airy cheese puffs paired best with this tangy ham salad. Start with smoked, chopped ham and combine it with finely chopped scallions and flat-leaf parsley. Try seasoning with Creole mustard and cayenne pepper based on your heat preferences.
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Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes
This one-dish meal is flavorful and filling. Serve with crusty French bread to soak up the sauce. Citrusy lemon, rosemary, and garlic are a dynamic trio.
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Hot Chicken Salad
Try this upgraded version of a classic Southern lunch recipe this Mother's Day. After combining the delicious chicken salad mixture, top it with water chestnuts, slivered almonds, and crisp potato chips. Fresh lemon juice adds the perfect touch of tart flavoring.
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Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing
Ready in just 30 minutes, this meal is light and refreshing. Buttermilk dressing pairs just as well with a garden salad as it does with these salmon cakes. Try to find salmon from the fish's tail, which is thinner, contains a little more fat, and is generally more flavorful than fillets.
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Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
This easy casserole starts with a box of stuffing mix. As the chicken bakes on top of the stuffing and rice layer, it creates lots of delicious flavor.
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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie With Puff Pastry
Frozen puff pastry sheets elevate the look of this classic dish. Save time on Mother's Day by chopping the vegetables and shredding the chicken up to two days in advance. Complete this dish by covering the chicken mixture with flaky, buttery pastry squares.
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Spaghetti Casserole
Your go-to pasta recipe transformed into a casserole. With only eight ingredients, this dish will be your new favorite way to make pasta. Plus, store-bought tomato sauce and canned tomatoes make this the ultimate time-saving recipe.
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Mama's Fried Chicken
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. You can't go wrong when deciding to make fried chicken for any event. Soak the chicken in buttermilk for at least two hours before frying for the best results.
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Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese
Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef if Mama prefers. This comfort dish comes together and is ready to serve in about half an hour. Garnish with fresh basil.
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Strawberry-Spinach Salad
There's nothing that feels more springy than a strawberry and spinach salad. Add in chopped pecans, crumbled blue cheese, and dressing, and you have a salad you'll want to serve at every family gathering. The key to this salad is using the freshest strawberries you can find.
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Heirloom Tomato Pie
Roasting the tomatoes before the pie goes in the oven adds flavor and keeps them from getting soggy. Save time by roasting the tomatoes the day before and storing them in an airtight, refrigerated container. The Parmesan-Buttermilk crust is the perfect complement to this traditional Southern dish.
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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine
This seafood pasta is everything you want in a dish—elegant, easy, and delicious. This recipe feels fancy enough for a special occasion but is easy enough to make any day of the week. Buttery jumbo lump crab pairs perfectly with white wine, heavy cream, and bacon sauce.
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Spring Vegetable Sauté
This simple, colorful and flavorful side dish will have everyone eating their vegetables. Plus, it proves you can use radishes for more than just crudité platters.
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Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing
This seasonal salad is delicious, served chilled or at room temperature, so it's perfect for hosting. Adjust the amount of asparagus, sugar snap peas, and English peas based on your preferences. A light lemon dressing tops this salad with bright and tangy flavors.
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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
This casserole is easy to transport and easier to enjoy. Sure to be one of your new favorites, this casserole has all the classic Southern ingredients: chicken, butter, cheese, pasta, and a dash of hot sauce. Depending on your heat preferences, add more or less hot sauce.
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Shrimp and Grits Casserole
We turned Mama's favorite shrimp and grits into a one-dish casserole. This dish is as easy for you to make as it is to enjoy. On the side, serve the "shrimp gravy" or savory pan sauce.
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Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing
This colorful twist on a classic Cobb feels indulgent when drizzled with bacon dressing. Substitute chicken or ham for the shrimp or feta for the blue cheese, depending on your preferences. This fresh and nutritious recipe will be a crowd favorite.
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Ham and Noodle Casserole
Hosting is easy when lunch is ready to go from the freezer with a family-friendly casserole recipe. The secret ingredient to this casserole is the chive-and-onion flavored cream cheese. Make one for Mother's Day and freeze a second for a later date.
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Asparagus Quiche
Mama will be so impressed with your braided crust on this easy and fresh quiche recipe. Save time with store-bought pie crust. Spring vegetables and Gouda cheese are a dynamic duo.
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Creamy Rice with Scallops
Balance sweet corn with smoky bacon in this creamy seafood special. Combine these ingredients with Arborio rice and sea scallops for a simple dish. Remember to pat the scallops dry with a paper towel before adding them to the pan.
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Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
This hearty dish comes with a side and a sauce all in one. Browning the chops will give the pan sauce a deep, mustardy flavor. Substitute your favorite apple variety, but this recipe works well with Granny Smiths.
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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole
Up to one month before your event, prepare this casserole and keep it frozen. Chicken and rice pair perfectly in this dish. Sliced toasted almonds add a sophisticated quality to this comfort dish.
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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Make this fan-favorite pasta ahead for a no-fuss Mother's Day lunch. This cheesy baked pasta, topped with crispy breadcrumbs, will convince even picky eaters to love kale. Pre-chopped kale and pre-shredded cheese save time.
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Shrimp Salad
A lemony shrimp salad is the perfect light and refreshing lunch to make for Mom.
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Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
You don't have to serve a full afternoon tea set for Mom to appreciate the care that goes into making these dainty sandwiches.
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Crispy Tuna Patties
These versatile patties can be served over greens for a light lunch or on a bun for hearty main dish.
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Salmon Bagel Sandwiches
We swapped slow-cooked salmon for lox in this take on a bagel sandwich that's perfect for breakfast or lunch.
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Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles
This make-ahead recipe is perfect for a busy Mother's Day weekend and leaves more time for the important things, like spending time with Mama.
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Teriyaki Salmon Bowls
Switch things up for mom with this sweet and savory recipe for lunch.
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Egg Salad
Egg Salad makes not only for a delicious lunch, but the perfect addition to your spread for this Mother's Day. This recipe is simple and undeniably tasty.
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One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
If you're searching for a delicious favorites mash-up that can feed a group, look no further. Flavorful fajitas and satisfying pasta come together in just 35 minutes in this dish.
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Green Tomato Gazpacho
This refreshing warm-weather soup is delicious served warm or chilled.
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Greek Chicken Bowls
Keep your Mother's Day lunch bright and filling with these Greek chicken pita-inspired bowls.
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Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Crisp, fresh sugar snap peas and sweet honey-dijon dressing blend perfectly to create a delectable light lunch.
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Avocado Toasts With Watermelon Radishes
This vibrant avocado toast is perfect for treating Mom to a beautiful and delicious Mother’s Day brunch at home—no overpriced café required.
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Old Bay Rémoulade with Crudités and Shrimp
It's like a charcuterie board but with shrimp and veggies, oh and don't forget about the delicious rémoulade.
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Greek Pasta Salad
This vibrant Greek pasta salad is a perfect addition to any Mother’s Day table, with briny olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta bringing bold flavor without the usual raw onions and peppers.
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Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
This five-ingredient slow-cooker pulled pork is an easy, hands-off way to serve something special for Mother’s Day—tender, flavorful, and ready to use in all kinds of dishes.
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Soupe Au Pistou
Light yet hearty, this spring vegetable soup—finished with a garlicky basil pistou—is perfect for sharing with the people who nourish us most.
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Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas
This quick, flavor-packed pasta is perfect for a relaxed Mother’s Day meal, thanks to pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and fresh-tasting refrigerated pesto.
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Simple Oyster Stew
If your mom loves the flavors of the coast, this no-frills oyster stew is a perfect way to honor her this Mother’s Day.
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Roasted Pepper-Tomato Salad With Crispy Black-Eyed Peas
We never get tired of tomato salad around here, especially when we're dreaming up fresh takes for a special occasion like Mother’s Day.
Want to make the best Mother's Day brunch? These Mother's Day brunch recipes Mama will love have you covered.
Read the original article on Southern Living
