IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Make Mother's Day special with these breakfast, brunch and dinner ideas

Create a delightful menu any time of day for mom this year — she deserves it!
TODAY Illustration / Getty Images stock
/ Source: TODAY

Moms have been working harder than ever this past year so, come Mother's Day this Sunday, it's time for everyone else in the household to take the reins. To help you throw the perfect celebration, we've put together an elegant yet simple collection of springtime recipes filled with irresistible dishes you can make with plenty of ingredients you likely already have on hand.

Whether mom has a sweet tooth or loves something savory, there's a recipe here that's guaranteed to impress the most important lady in your life — plus, they're easy enough that even cooking novices of all ages can pull them off without stressing.

Here are our favorite Mother's Day recipes to try this Sunday. And don't sweat it if you're missing something here or there; there are some seriously clever substitutes for common ingredients.

Best Mother's Day breakfast and brunch ideas

Asparagus Tart

This recipe screams springtime and is fantastic for a make-ahead brunch. Assemble the night before, cover, store in the fridge and bake at the last minute before serving.

Sunday Tomato Eggs

Looking for a flavorful egg breakfast? Crack eggs into a spicy tomato sauce and then serve them over toast. Marcus Samuelsson’s Sunday tomato eggs are easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

Keto Cheesy Breakfast Egg Bites

If mom is following a low-carb plan, or you just want one mess-free egg dish to eat in bed, these keto cheesy breakfast egg bites are delicious, plus they add a pretty pop of color on the plate.

Home fries always hit the spot, but these rosemary home fries with pancetta are bursting with savory flavor and plenty of umami thanks to the addition of Parmesan.

Siri's Corned Beef Hash with Eggs

Siri Daly's corned beef egg hash is a one-skillet wonder. It's full of flavor and also tastes great without corned beef if you can't find it at the store or want to make a dish without meat.

Fried Green Tomatoes

What would mom love more than watching the classic movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes," in bed while feasting on a homemade Fried Green Tomatoes recipe? It's all about the simple things in the life.

Avocados are always a win-win and this avocado toast is the perfect way to start mom's day. Anne Burrell's avocado toast is topped with a poached egg, feta and tomato for layers of flavor and different textures.

Savory breakfast and brunch recipes

This recipe combines two breakfast favorites in one: crispy hash browns and baked frittata.

Breakfast Casserole Cupcakes

Is it a cupcake? Is it a casserole? It's both! Make mom a whole meal in just one little cup with this breakfast casserole cupcake recipe.

Bagel and Lox Breakfast Casserole

For mamas who love lox, this bagel and lox breakfast casserole recipe is a Midwestern dream. Ideal for prepping the day before and popping in the oven Sunday morning, it's a filling hot dish that can totally pass as dinner when you want leftovers.

Chorizo Breakfast Burritos

Carson and Siri Daly love to make spicy chorizo breakfast burritos and veggie tacos in the morning. Their recipe packs a lot of flavor into each handheld burrito, so ditch the flatware and dig right in!

Thinly sliced russet potatoes absorb a richly flavored custard as this dish bakes, giving this scalloped potato-and-herb tart its smooth and silky texture.

Donatella Arpaia's Steak and Eggs

Incredibly quick and wonderfully decadent, Donatella Arpaia's steak and eggs make a hearty breakfast or midday meal. Plus, you can use whatever type of steak cut you can find.

Sweet breakfast and brunch recipes

Sunny Citrus Sheet-Pan Pancakes

Mother's Day breakfast is a breeze with these sunny citrus- and maple-topped pancakes that are baked in a sheet pan so everyone can enjoy them at the same time!

Rainbow Funfetti Pancake Cake

Is this breakfast or a dream? This rainbow Funfetti pancake cake is an eye-catching way to treat mom in the morning. Use any type of food coloring you like to make a presentation with mom's favorite colors.

Green Banana Smoothie Bowl

Blend up something that's sweet, but still healthy, with this vegetarian green banana smoothie bowl. It gets bonus points for being ready in just a few minutes.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Bread

This sweet bread is visually appealing, fun to eat and freezes beautifully. Wrap a freshly baked (or frozen) loaf in white parchment paper and tie it up with a ribbon or twine for a lovely Mother's Day surprise. You can also use the chocolate-hazelnut bread for French toast to make a totally unique breakfast dish.

Al Roker transforms one of his wife's favorite dishes, a Dutch Baby, into a luscious dessert. This lemon-vanilla Dutch Baby with blueberry sauce is a light and fluffy cross between a pancake and a popover.

Start your Mother's Day meal on a sweet note with delicate chocolate-hazelnut crepes. The whipped topping really pops with the addition of fruit, like blood oranges or berries.

Sweet potato biscuits with salted maple butter will help elevate any Southern-themed breakfast or brunch. Serve them with ham and brie for sandwiches, whipped cream and sautéed caramelized apples, or simply with this luscious maple butter.

Mother's Day snacks and appetizers

Deviled Eggs with Olives and Rosemary

Upgrade this classic party snack by making deviled eggs with olives and rosemary. These eggs are loaded with vitamin E, plus plenty of healthy fats.

Baked Brie

Get The Recipe

Baked Brie

Damaris Phillips

Baked brie is a decadent appetizer that will keep everyone snacking happily between meals. It's melty and comforting, so serve with your favorite crackers or dried fruits.

Valerie Bertinelli's Stuffed Mushrooms

"I love that these irresistible party bites are not just great tasting but healthy, too," Valerie Bertinelli says about her stuffed mushrooms recipe. "The mushroom caps get stuffed with a variety of sautéed veggies, a sprinkle of cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs. You might want to make extra because they disappear fast!"

Fancy Gougères

Mommies deserve something fancy on Mother's Day. Since you probably won't be able to bring her to a lovely restaurant for Mother's Day in 2020, make her some fancy gougères instead. These delicate, peppery cheese biscuits are best served with flavored crème fraÎche, prosciutto and arugula.

Valerie Bertinelli's Roasted Asparagus Pesto Dip

Asparagus is loaded with fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, and a handful of minerals, making it one of the healthiest vegetables. This asparagus pesto dip recipe packs in all of that nutrition with sharp cheeses and crunchy panko bread crumbs.

Mini Taco Salad Bowl Appetizers

A taco salad served in a crunchy shell is always a hit. For this Mother's Day, try making these flavor-packed mini taco salad bowl appetizers.

Best Mother's Day dinner dishes

Home cooks are often chasing restaurant-quality prime rib and this technique ensures you'll get one. Cooking low and slow, then roasting allows you to use the oven for other dishes while you master your prime rib with horseradish sauce.

Hoda Kotb’s mother, Sami, livens up chicken breasts in under 30 minutes with fresh pesto, sliced tomato and gooey melted cheese. It's a five-ingredient pesto chicken recipe you'll be able to memorize.

This classic roast chicken recipe has plenty of savory juices with a crispy skin that's flecked with fresh herbs. It's also served with charred broccoli, which brings it to another level.

Craig's Mom's Mac and Cheese

Make mom a piping hot plate of comforting mac and cheese. Craig Melvin's mom's mac and cheese recipe is the TODAY co-anchor's favorite Southern staple.

These grilled chicken kabobs with pineapple and vegetables can be made on a grill outside, or on a stove using a grill pan. The slightly tropical flair will transport mom to a sunny beach.

Savannah's Mom's Homestyle Fried Chicken

There's a reason we turn to the TODAY anchors' moms for Mother's Day recipes: They really know what they're doing. Savannah Guthrie's mom's homestyle fried chicken is juicy with just the right amount of crunch in every bite.

Easy Mother's Day recipes

Brie Pasta

Get The Recipe

Brie Pasta

Elizabeth Heiskell

This recipe comes together in a flash, but your mom will be blown away when serve this creamy, rich pasta.

Ratatouille Sheet Pan Chicken

Take mom (and her tastebuds) on a trip to France with this simple yet easy ratatouille sheet pan chicken. It's a whole meal in one pan. Bon appétit!

Pepper-Crusted Filet Mignon

This easy steak dinner works as a luxurious mid-day brunch or as an evening feast. You just need four ingredients to master this beautiful filet mignon.

Make the creamiest, dreamiest five-minute fettuccine Alfredo in minutes with this simple trick from The Quarantine Collective co-founder and TODAY food stylist Anthony Contrino.

This easy spaghetti bolognese pie is a cross between the classic, meaty pasta dish and a slice of pie. This dish is hearty and so incredibly fun to make that it might just become your family's new go-to pasta dish.

Get the kids cooking with the Melvin's go-to for lunch or dinner. Ready in 15 minutes (faster than ordering a pizza), Craig and Lindsay's easy English muffin pizzas will keep the little ones busy while mom relaxes.

Easy Shrimp Stir-Fry with Ginger Rice

Beautiful colors, healthy veggies and tender shrimp make this easy shrimp stir-fry with ginger rice a gorgeous dinner for Mother's Day.

Mother's Day cocktail recipes

Rose Blackberry Sangria Cocktail

How gorgeous is this rose blackberry sangria cocktail? Send mom right to a seaside in Spain with this spin on the classic wine-based drink. It's light, floral and makes a perfect drink for any meal.

Get mom what she really wants this Mother's Day: A pitcher of pretty, pink cosmos! Sandra Lee's pitcher cosmopolitan cocktail is designed for a crowd but it's mom's special holiday — so nobody's judging.

Sangria Lemonade

Try another take on sangria by adding something a little more zesty. Sangria lemonade combines two of mom's favorite summer drinks in one.

This refreshing cocktail boasts just the right mix of bourbon, fresh thyme and juice. They call it the Derby Apple Cocktail, and mom will be off to the races ... even if she's just headed to the backyard to relax.

Ina Garten's Cranberry Martini

Ina Garten's cranberry martini is fit for a queen — or a real contessa. Treat mom with this sweet and tangy classic that's one of the Food Network star's favorites.

Best Mother's Day desserts

Strawberry and Vanilla Ice Cream Cookie Cake

Pre-made cookies and store-bought ice cream make a lovely and easy dessert. Assemble it ahead of time and let it chill in the freezer until you're ready to dig in.

What kid doesn't love making Rice Krispies Treats for an after-dinner treat? Get the whole family in the kitchen to create this four-ingredient hybrid dessert, Pop Krispie Treats. We suggest serving them for a family movie night.

Tell mom she's a peach with these brown sugar-peach shortcakes. They're as delicious as they are pretty!

Serve this decadent dish of buttery, flaky croissants drenched in melted chocolate for dessert at breakfast, brunch or even after dinner. Siri Daly's dark chocolate-croissant bread pudding is a casserole for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Lemon Velvet Cake

Take dessert to the next level with this magnificent lemon velvet cake. It's smooth, creamy, moist and strikes the ideal balance between sweet and tangy.

Slow-Cooker Cherry Delight

This slow-cooker cherry delight tastes just like cherry pie but it's a lot easier to make since the slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting.

Need even more Mother's Day brunch ideas? Try these!

Related: