On Mother’s Day, brunch is usually the star of the show…but not everyone is about mimosas and French toast casserole. What’s the best way to treat the woman who lovingly made you PB&Js every day for half your life? With a five-star lunch, of course. Whether your mom is a chickpea Caesar salad type of gal or prefers a chicken pesto sandwich on homemade focaccia, these 45 Mother’s Day lunch ideas are sure to inspire your feast.
45 Mother’s Day Lunch Ideas to Celebrate Your Mom, from Fancy Salads to Savory Tarts
Three words: Caesar pasta salad
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Published Apr 10, 2024
Robert Bredvad/The Secret Ingredient Cookbook
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, low sugar
If you want the fluffy indulgence of pancakes and the savory flavor of a breakfast sandwich, but you refuse to babysit the stove, this lofty skillet creation is the answer to your needs. You can customize the toppings with any seasonal ingredients you please.
2. Chickpea Caesar Salad with a Cheater’s Dressing
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian
We adore a C.C.S. (that’s chicken Caesar salad for the uninitiated), but it’s fun to switch up the formula. Crisp, seasoned chickpeas make this version vegetarian-friendly, while a simple shortcut (ahem, mayo) makes the dressing a cinch to throw together.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Don’t stare into those gorgeous puddles of cheese for too long, or you’ll never look back. All this cheesy flatbread needs is a big green salad with a zingy lemon dressing to make it a full meal.
4. Mediterranean Sheet Pan Eggs
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Hot tip: These crowd-pleasing eggs make an excellent sandwich if you nestle a slice between two pieces of a ciabatta. Add bacon or prosciutto if you want to blow Mom away.
5. Za’atar Roasted Carrot and Tabbouleh Bowls
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, make ahead
For the mom who’s on a health kick, these nourishing tabbouleh bowls will satisfy her cravings. The carrots are seasoned with za’atar, a popular Middle Eastern spice blend that’s a mix of sesame seeds, sumac, oregano and thyme.
6. All-Year-Round Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, sheet pan recipe, vegetarian
We know tomato season is a few months away, but with the help of your oven, you can transform even the saddest grocery store produce into something dreamy. For the most impressive results, channel Ina Garten and break out your “good” olive oil.
7. Roasted Potato Galette with Crème Fraîche and Smoked Salmon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
Two words: potato pie. Each layer of thinly sliced spuds is sprinkled with Parmesan and brushed with butter, so it comes out of the oven cheesy and golden. The lox and crème fraîche are just gilding the lily (but it’s Mother’s Day, so don’t skip ’em).
8. One-Pot Pasta with Peas, Artichokes, Lemon and Mint
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pot, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Skip the jarred marinara—this pasta sauce practically makes itself out of grated cheese and lemon juice. Top it all off with a sprinkling of mint, lemon zest and black pepper, and you’ve got a dish that looks—and tastes—like it took hours, not 30 minutes.
9. Deb Perelman’s Carrot Tarte Tatin
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion–worthy
Imagine it: All the things that make sautéed carrots delicious—butter, salt, pepper, thyme, balsamic vinegar and a little honey—wrapped up in a flaky pastry and creamy goat cheese. Psst: The crust is store-bought.
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion–worthy
This savory pie is meant to look rustic, which totally works in your favor. Instead of messing with a fancy crimped edge, you can just fold over the dough to encase the herby, garlicky filling.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
This dish has all the beloved flavors of the Italian antipasto (juicy tomatoes, creamy cheese, fresh basil and bright balsamic vinegar), plus the picnic-friendly portability and satisfying texture of pasta. If the weather is nice enough, take your Mother’s Day lunch alfresco.
12. Asparagus and Fontina Quiche
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
For as impressive as it looks, it’s hard to believe that this custardy quiche comes together with less than ten ingredients. We can’t think of a better way to take advantage of asparagus season.
13. Chicken Pesto Focaccia Sandwiches
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories
You can certainly use store-bought focaccia for these pesto-laden sammies, but making your own would really show Mom you love her. (Hint, hint.)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes
This verdant sauce is bright, fresh, salty and creamy all at once, and with just 11 ingredients, a cinch to make. Think of it like a cross between pesto and ranch dressing.
15. Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, low sugar
Chicken salad sounds kind of meh on paper…but when you jazz it up with homemade tarragon mayonnaise and quick-pickled onions, it’s all we want to eat for lunch. Luckily, we think your momma will agree.
16. Cherry Tomato Galette with Garlic and Herbs
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Combine sweet, roasted cherry tomatoes and a beyond flaky crust, and the results are like a pinkies-out pizza that’s perfectly occasion-worthy. You can even roast the tomatoes ahead of time.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <500 calories
Snacking tip: The dressing on this creation works beautifully on crisp greens and pasta, but also as a dip for veggies, pretzels, pita bread and all other dunkable items.
18. Shaved Spring Vegetable and Apple Salad with Ginger-Dijon Dressing
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, <15 minutes, vegetarian
Nothing says “spring” like a gorgeous platter of crisp, seasonal vegetables. The tangy-sweet-spicy dressing, while homemade, is impossible to mess up (it comes together entirely in a blender).
19. Squash and Squash Blossom Frittata
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Frittatas are the ultimate easy meal. They look impressive, require minimal effort and can be made with fresh seasonal produce, pantry staples or the leftovers in your fridge. Here, the squash blossoms are an optional addition, so skip if you can’t find ’em.
20. Kale and Cheddar Cheese Galette
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
If we could always eat our greens encased in pie crust and paired with cheese, you bet we would. Zhuzh up the store-bought pie crust with a little egg wash, which will help with browning.
21. Spicy Pineapple Prosciutto Tarts
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
If you like Hawaiian pizza, you’ll love these sweet and savory tartlets, which come together in all of 30 minutes. And even if you don’t like Hawaiian pizza, you’ll still like these cuties.
22. Seared Scallops with Citrus-Shallot Salad
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Scallops for lunch? We went there. And why wouldn’t you? The shellfish is secretly easy to cook at home, since it requires just a few minutes of searing in a hot skillet.
23. Poached Egg with Frisée and Arugula Salad
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Boiled eggs: depressing. Poached eggs: Did you become a professional chef or something? Scale up the recipe as needed for your guests, then pair it with soup and crusty bread to complete your Mother’s Day lunch.
24. Ultimate Cheese Plate with Roasted Grapes
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. A cheese plate can absolutely be a meal if you set your mind to it. Roasting the grapes makes the whole thing seem fancy, not to mention they’re deliciously caramelized and sweet.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
Pea soup doesn’t exactly conjure up images of an elegant, holiday-worthy lunch…but this one is made with fresh produce and a host of fresh herbs to keep it like and bright.
26. Miso-Tahini-Glazed Roasted Eggplant with Farro
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, gluten free
Here’s final proof that eggplant doesn’t need to be fried or covered in cheese to be positively delightful. (Your mom will think you’re a magician. Don’t tell her it’s the miso.)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
This easy, sheet-pan dish is all about the layers: sauce-soaked freshly fried tortillas, a bed of baked eggs and fresh toppings like avocado, red onion, radish, cilantro and hot sauce for a burst of flavor in every bite.
28. Charred Summer Squash with Whipped Feta
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion–worthy
TBH, you’d be hard-pressed to find something that doesn’t go well with this tangy, fresh feta dip. If your mom doesn’t love squash, try swapping in sautéed broccoli or blistered snow peas instead.
29. Dorie Greenspan’s Potato-Parm Tart
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes (+ chilling time)
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
If you want to look like you pulled out all the stops, this is the ticket. The buttery crust requires minimal shaping, the filling is rich with cheese and aromatics and the whole thing bakes in less than an hour.
30. Citrus, Shrimp and Quinoa Salad with Feta
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
For a fresh yet filling lunch, make mom this protein-rich, 20-minute salad. And if she doesn’t like shrimp, use slices of medium-rare steak instead.
31. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, low carb, special occasion–worthy
With grilled fruit and cheese in the mix, this filling salad is all but guaranteed to wow your guests (including Mom). Even if the peaches aren’t perfectly in season, charring them will bring out their natural flavors.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Somehow, all those aspirational rice bowl recipes you see on Instagram require dirtying every single pot and pan in your kitchen. These salmon bowls are the delicious exception. They come together in one pot, plus, the beyond-simple sauce can be made ahead.
33. 20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
Behold, a beautiful salad that’s practically no-cook, feeds a crowd and won’t wilt when you set it out on the patio. Sounds like a Mother’s Day miracle to us.
34. Tomato-Poached Cod with Fresh Herbs
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
If you want to feel elegant with minimal effort, make this 25-minute fish dish for Mom. All you need to add is crusty bread for soaking up the brothy tomato sauce.
35. Grilled Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, low carb
These light yet flavorful, quick-cooking wraps give vacation vibes even if there’s still an early spring chill in the air. If you don’t want to use chicken thighs, you can swap in ground pork or turkey, too.
36. Shrimp Rolls with New England–Style Dressing
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
These buns have all the elements of a lobster roll, without blowing your entire grocery budget: buttery rolls, fresh herbs and a creamy yet light New England–style dressing that has just the right amount of mayonnaise.
37. Curried Chicken and Kale Salad with Creamy Harissa Dressing
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein
For Moms who favor a big salad for lunch, this curried kale number is sure to impress. The creamy dressing comes together quickly by simply blending goat cheese with store-bought harissa, Champagne vinegar and a little honey.
38. Chili Crisp Burrata Salad with Arugula, Apple and Walnuts
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook
We bet you’ve never combined silky-smooth burrata and spicy chili crisp before. But once you experience the way the condiment mixes with the gooey, melty cheese, you’ll never look back.
39. White Shakshuka with Roasted Crispy Eggplant
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, gluten free
Instead of the typical tomato- and pepper-based shakshuka, this one starts with yogurt for a creamy twist. Seasoned with lemon and herbs, it turns almost ricotta-like in the oven.
40. Spring Pea Fritters with Whipped Feta
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly
Behold, a light and fresh late-spring meal that comes together in one bowl and uses frozen peas for convenience. Serve the bites with dollops of the tangy whipped feta and a simple green salad for a dreamy Mother’s Day lunch that’s way more exciting than Mom’s usual fare.
41. Flatbread Veggie Pizza with Pineapple
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, <30 minutes
This vegan pizza features a surprising secret ingredient (no, not pineapple). It starts with store-bought flatbread so it’s easy to make for lunch, and it’s topped with everything bagel seasoning because, well, why not?
42. Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
The Italian pasta dish this mac is inspired by is a little tricky to pull off, but this sauce comes out cheesy and silky every time, thanks to an almost foolproof béchamel. Don’t skip toasting the ground pepper; it’s the secret to unlocking tons of flavor.
43. BLT Galette
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Even if the tomatoes aren’t in season yet, they’ll still taste great in this bacon-laced pie. The heat of the oven concentrates their flavors as it turns out a flaky crust. Add cheddar or Gruyère cheese to take it over the top.
44. Double Pea, Prosciutto and Burrata Platter
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly
If you, like us, consider a charcuterie board a type of entrée, you should try this springy platter of veg, meats and cheese. It’s ready to serve in ten minutes and you don’t even have to turn on the oven.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, special occasion–worthy
This pasta is so much more than jarred red sauce dumped on a pile of spaghetti, but without a ton more effort. The combination of butter, garlic and shrimp will make your mom swoon. (Add crusty bread and a big salad to enhance the effect.)
