Mother’s Day Menu Builder: Full Meal Plans and Recipe Swaps

Planning a cozy brunch or a full dinner for Mother’s Day? This collection of complete menu plans makes it easy to put together something special. Each menu features carefully matched recipes like casseroles, quiches, spring salads, and sweet finishes, plus suggestions for swaps if you want to mix and match. Scroll through the options below and find the perfect setup for your celebration.

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Mother’s Day Menu Plans

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Choose a full Mother’s Day menu, then mix and match your favorite mains, sides, or desserts. You’ll find plenty of swap suggestions below. Don’t forget to log in to save your custom plan.

Main Dishes for Brunch or Dinner

Looking for something different at the center of the table? Here are some favorite main dishes you can swap into any of the Mother’s Day menus.

Close up view of a slice of quiche on a plate with a fork, napkin in the backgroundMushroom and Goat Cheese QuicheAsparagus-Ham and Gouda Breakfast StrataAsparagus-Ham and Gouda Breakfast Stratasweet potato frittata in a cast iron skilletSweet Potato FrittataSpiral HamSpiral HamA serving of crab benedict on a plate with salad and a fork.Crab Cake Eggs BenedictA tomato quiche with caramelized onions on a cooling rack.Tomato Onion QuicheA tender beef rib being pulled apart with a fork.Oven Braised Beef Short RibsPouring sauce over a serving of chicken cordon blue.Chicken Cordon Bleu with SauceA spatula in a skillet filled with corned beef hash.Corned Beef and HashWild Alaskan King Salmon with Blueberry SauceWild Alaskan King Salmon with Blueberry SauceA large skillet filled with chicken and chorizo paella with lemon wedges on top.Chicken and Chorizo Paellapoblano pepper, mole sauce on a plate. Mole sauce in backgroundStuffed Poblano Peppers

Freshly Baked: Breads, Muffins, and Pancakes

From buttery muffins to hearty homemade bread, these baked favorites are the kind of thing that make a brunch or dinner table feel complete. Pick one (or a few) to round out your Mother’s Day menu.

No-knead rosemary bread in a Dutch oven with parchment paper.No-Knead Rosemary BreadA stack of naan bread with hummus in the background.Naan Bread (Baked 3 Ways)a thick square of light and airy Focaccia breadQuick No-Knead Focaccia Breadcasserole of baked french toast and apples, dusted with confectioner's sugarOvernight French Toast BakePouring maple syrup over a stack of banana pancakes.Buttermilk Banana PancakesOvernight yeast waffle on a plate with a fork, egg, and bacon.Overnight Yeast Wafflessourdough ricotta pancakesSourdough Ricotta PancakesA loaf of sour cream banana bread next to a cup of coffee.One Bowl Banana BreadFreshly baked blueberry muffins in a muffin tin.Sour Cream Blueberry MuffinsA peach coffee cake in a baking dish with 3 scoops of ice cream on top.Peach Coffee Cake Loaded with Juicy Peachesbanana blueberry muffins with cinnamon crumb toppingBanana Blueberry Muffins with Crumb ToppingA slice of applesauce cake on a white plate with a fork.Applesauce Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping

Salads, Fruit, and Light Fare

Add some color and crunch to your brunch (or dinner) with these light, fresh sides. From leafy greens to seasonal fruit, these recipes will balance out your Mother’s Day Menu.

Pouring dressing over the broccoli salad with cranberries.Broccoli Cranberry SaladA large bowl of green bean salad with bacon and tomatoes.Green Bean Salad with Bacon and TomatoesWinter fruit salad with lemon-honey vinaigrette pourMinted Fruit SaladA bowl filled with a noodle salad; miso dressing and peanuts in the background.Cold Noodle Salad with Miso Ginger DressingBrown butter green beans with toasted almonds on a serving platter.Green Beans Almondine with Brown ButterA lemon orzo salad in a bowl mixed with tomatoes, feta, and spinach.Lemon Orzo Salad with FetaA plate filled with kale and mandarin salad next to a fork.Kale Mandarin Saladclose up photo of a serving of roasted pear with mascarpone creamRoasted Pears with Mascarpone CreamSliced carrots in a skillet being tossed with cilantro.Spicy Moroccan Carrot Salad

Appetizer Ideas

Spring rolls sliced in half to show the colorful interior.Fresh Vegetable Spring RollsDipping toast in whipped ricotta.Whipped Ricotta DipShrimp Cocktail AppetizersShrimp Cocktail AppetizersSmall jar of tomatoes, garlic and thyme sprigs covered in olive oil and sitting on a cutting board.Easy Tomato Confit with GarlicA freshly baked asparagus and puff pastry topped with parmesan.Cheese and Asparagus TartA bowl filled with smoked salmon dip.Smoked Salmon Spread

Desserts to Round Out the Meal

Mom deserves dessert. (Probably more than one.) Here are a few options to finish the meal strong—fruit, chocolate, cake… we’ve got it all covered.

Chocolate peanut butter tart with chocolate ganache on top.Chocolate Peanut Butter TartSlices of cream cheese frosting chocolate cake on three plates.Intense Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese FrostingA coconut roll Swiss cake on a white platter.Coconut Cake RollA slice of lemon cake garnished with lemon and mint.Lemon Icebox CakeA stack of thick brownies.Triple Chocolate BrowniesStrawberry Rhubarb CrispStrawberry Rhubarb Crispclose up of a serving of raspberry lamington on a plate with forkRaspberry Lamingtonsoverhead view of lemon tartCreamy Whole Lemon TartA slice of truffle-like Chocolate Caramel TartChocolate Caramel TartRed velvet cake roll showing the end of the roll with the swirl of cake and ermine frosting filling.Red Velvet Cake RollTwo slices of pie on white plates.Foolproof Lemon Meringue PieA stack of salted chocolate truffle cookies on a platter.Chocolate Truffle Cookies

Meal Planning Tips

Start with the main dish. Whether it’s a brunch casserole or a roast for dinner, your menu should revolve around the centerpiece. Pick that first, then fill in the rest.

Use the Save Feature: Log in and save your recipes to your collection so you can come back and finalize your plan (and even create a shopping list).

Make a timeline. Jot down when things need to go in the oven, come to room temp, or be reheated. It’s one of those things that feels optional, until it’s suddenly not.

Prep what you can in advance. Mix dressings, slice fruit, prep batter, and even set the table the day before. You’ll thank yourself later.

Lean on make-ahead dishes. Stratas, quiches, baked goods, and chilled desserts are all easy to prep in advance and serve without fuss.

Go semi-homemade when it makes sense. Bakery bread, pre-washed greens, or a good store-bought pie crust can save serious time without compromising the meal.

Don’t overdo it. One “wow” dish is plenty. Keep everything else simple, tasty, and easy to serve.