Holidays & Occasions Mother's Day 39 Mother's Day Lunch Recipes To Celebrate Mama We are sure Mama will love any of these ideas. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 9, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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.Whether you prefer a one-dish recipe or want to make a complete lunch spread, we are sure Mama will love any of these Mother's Day lunch ideas. From fresh salads, like our Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing, to decadent dishes, like our Creamy Rice with Scallops, these spring favorites are bursting with color and flavor and are sure to be a hit. After you've indulged and pampered Mama with the best lunch in town, complete your celebration with a beautiful Mother's Day cake that is almost as sweet as she is. Nothing says "I Love You" more than a freshly prepared meal made with love. 01 of 39 Egg Salad Sandwiches Jen Causey If you'll have a large crowd gathering to celebrate Mother's Day, this big-batch recipe is perfect for the occasion. This egg salad recipe, making 44 finger sandwiches, can be assembled the day before your event and stored (covered) in the refrigerator. This relatively simple recipe will create a deviled egg-inspired salad flavored with dried salad seasoning, Dijon mustard, and sweet pickle relish. 02 of 39 Ham Biscuits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 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. 03 of 39 Tarragon Chicken Salad Jennifer Davick 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. 04 of 39 Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa Greg Dupree 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. 05 of 39 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 06 of 39 Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes Becky Luigart Stayner 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. 07 of 39 Hot Chicken Salad Sheri Castle 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. 08 of 39 Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 09 of 39 Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We love fried chicken and pimiento cheese separately, so these sliders that put them together are a Southern dream. Add a creamy mayonnaise spread and grated sweet Vidalia onions, and this recipe will burst with flavor. Use the extra chicken mixture as a dip. 10 of 39 Sheet Pan Chicken with Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Try a lighter version of this classic supper recipe. Sheet pan dinners are ideal when you don't feel like making a mess in the kitchen. Start baking the chicken, then add the vegetables for a simple, one-pan meal. 11 of 39 Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer 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. 12 of 39 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick 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. 13 of 39 Mama's Fried Chicken Southern Living 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. 14 of 39 Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 15 of 39 Strawberry-Spinach Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. 16 of 39 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer 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. 17 of 39 Crab-and-Bacon Linguine Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 18 of 39 Sautéed Radishes with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox This simple but flavorful spring side dish will prove you can use radishes for more than crudité platters. Hickory bacon covers the radishes in a smoky, savory flavoring. Before serving, sprinkle a mixture of thyme and lemon juice. 19 of 39 Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Instead of old-school green bean casserole, serve this lightened-up, modern side this Mother's Day. A seasoned butter sauce covers the sugar snap peas instead of the traditionally thick soup-based sauce. Creole seasoning, almonds, and orange zest are the ideal complements. 20 of 39 Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer 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. 21 of 39 Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox If Mama appreciates a pretty table, impress her with this gorgeously colorful salad. Check your local farmer's market if you need help finding watermelon radishes because you might not find them at your supermarket. Pre-cut your oranges and grapefruits to save time. 22 of 39 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Hector Sanchez 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. 23 of 39 Chilled Radish-and-Avocado Soup Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Start your Mother's Day meal with a refreshing spring soup. It balances the peppery bite from radishes, hot sauce, and chile powder with creamy avocado, tangy buttermilk, and sweet honey. The best part about this recipe is you can prepare it a day in advance. 24 of 39 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos 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. 25 of 39 Easy Egg Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This go-to egg salad recipe looks beautiful for Mother's Day on tea sandwiches. Start with well-seasoned hard-cooked eggs, and add your favorite mayonnaise. Avoid overworking the eggs. 26 of 39 Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 27 of 39 Ham and Noodle Casserole Jen Causey 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. 28 of 39 Asparagus Quiche Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos 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. 29 of 39 Creamy Rice with Scallops Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. 30 of 39 Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Cook these kebabs in mere minutes. The key to correctly cooking these is letting the grill get hot before adding the kebabs. Smaller okra pods tend to work better for this recipe. 31 of 39 Grilled Shrimp Po'Boys with Quick Rémoulade Sauce Max Kelly A fun twist on a Louisiana classic, our Po'Boys are made with grilled shrimp on a bed of creamy-dressed romaine lettuce stuffed inside a hoagie roll and cooked on the grill. These flavor-filled sandwiches are ready in 15 minutes. 32 of 39 Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder Hector Manuel Sanchez For a laid-back Mother's Day backyard barbecue, serve this slow-cooked pork shoulder with potato salad, baked beans, and plenty of extra sauce. This recipe gets unique sweet and tangy flavoring from the soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar sauce. This pork is great served on a bun or on its own. 33 of 39 Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad Becky Luigart Stayner Elevate Caesar salad by roasting the lettuce to caramelize it for extra flavor. Mix in fresh herbs to make your store-bought dressing taste homemade. Try arranging salad toppings, like Parmesan cheese, black pepper, parsley, and croutons, in side dishes so guests can help themselves. 34 of 39 Shrimp and Peas with Farfalle Alison Miksch Lemony breadcrumbs are an easy upgrade to add some extra crunch. In 30 minutes, you can have homemade pasta with a restaurant-quality taste. Top with remaining panko, parsley, black pepper, and lemon zest. 35 of 39 Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions Becky Luigart Stayner 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. 36 of 39 King Ranch Chicken Casserole This comforting casserole is ideal for using leftover cooked chicken (or Thanksgiving turkey) or a large, shredded rotisserie chicken. The recipe also calls for canned tomatoes with diced green chiles, which adds a good amount of tanginess and heat to balance out this rich and creamy dish. 37 of 39 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Becky Luigart-Stayner 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. 38 of 39 Creamy Spring 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. 39 of 39 Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables Alison Miksch This fresh dish gives you plenty of veggies while satisfying your pasta cravings, too. Top with pea tendrils (the tender tips of pea vines) for an unexpected garnish. This dish is the perfect combination of pasta, cheese, and vegetables. Want to make the best Mother's Day brunch? These 45 Mother's Day Brunch Recipes Mama Will Love have you covered. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit