48 Mother’s Day Lunch Ideas to Celebrate Your Mom, from Fancy Salads to Savory Tarts

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, make ahead
• Serves: 4

I adore a C.C.S. (that's chicken Caesar salad for the uninitiated), but it's fun to switch up the formula. "This one features roasted chickpeas for a boost of protein that happens to be cheaper than chicken," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen explains, "plus a magical cheater's Caesar dressing that skips the raw egg and anchovies."

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

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. "I highly recommend going the extra mile and making the included homemade crust," Gillen says, "but I also understand you'd rather...shortcut with store-bought or swap in a frozen puff pastry to save time."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

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," Gillen asserts.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Scallops for lunch? Yup, I 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. "They should be as dry as possible before they go in the pan," Gillen notes. "Pat them well with paper towels before seasoning and cooking, and you'll be rewarded with a caramelized, flavorful brown crust every time."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

"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," Gillen raves. If the weather is nice enough, take your Mother’s Day lunch alfresco.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This verdant sauce is bright, fresh, salty and creamy all at once, and with just 11 ingredients, it's a cinch to make. Think of it like a cross between pesto and ranch dressing. "The exact mix of herbs you use doesn't need to be precise, but a combination of tarragon, basil and chives is a good place to start," Gillen says.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

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," Gillen adds.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Lobster? In this economy? "These shrimp rolls can satisfy your craving without blowing your entire grocery budget," Gillen writes. They have all the essentials: buttery rolls, fresh herbs and a creamy-yet-light, New England-style dressing that has just the right amount of mayonnaise.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Remember the upside-down pastries that took over food TikTok in 2023? They're every bit as delicious today. "My version features a blackberry-Brie combination that's a little bit sweet, a touch savory and as easy to devour as it is to assemble," Gillen writes. "I highly recommend serving them on the patio with a Hugo spritz for the full effect."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

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," Gillen adds.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, dairy free
• Serves: 6 to 8

This lettuce-free salad is designed to be prepared in advance, so all the components have plenty of time to mingle and marinate. "I chose purple cabbage because I like the color it adds," Gillen writes, "but you can also use green cabbage. Use a rotisserie chicken for ultimate convenience, or cook your own chicken breasts if you have the time."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, make ahead
• Serves: 6

My take on yogurt dip features frizzled carrot in herb-infused oil and chopped pistachios for layers of texture and flavor. "For a thicker dip with the most pronounced swirl of oil, choose a naturally thick Greek yogurt—such as Fage—or swap in sour cream or labneh," Gillen adds.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, low sugar
• Serves: 2

If you want the fluffy indulgence of pancakes and the savory flavor of a breakfast sandwich, but you refuse to babysit the stove for a bunch of short stacks, this lofty skillet creation is the answer. You can customize the toppings with any seasonal ingredients you please.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 4 to 6

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. Psst: If you don't own a pizza stone, invert a baking sheet and use the bottom as your cooking surface.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 12

Instead of standing by the stove frantically waving a spatula, toss everything onto a baking sheet and let the oven do the heavy lifting. 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.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, make ahead
• Serves: 4

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. If you make them ahead, just be sure to store the tabbouleh, feta and roasted carrots separately in airtight containers in the fridge, combining everything just before serving.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

I 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, along with a touch of salt and sugar.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
• Serves: 6

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 all over. The lox and crème fraîche are merely gilding the lily (but it’s Mother’s Day, so don’t skip ’em).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

"This one is as easy as sautéing carrots in all of the things that make sau­téed carrots delicious—butter, salt, pepper, thyme, balsamic vinegar and a little honey," recipe creator Deb Perelman writes. Wrapped in flaky (store-bought!) puff pastry and creamy goat cheese takes the veggie way over the top.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

This savory pie is meant to look rustic, which totally works in your favor. Instead of fussing over a fancy crimped edge, simply fold over the dough to encase the herby, garlicky filling. In less than one hour, the warm-weather gem will be ready to serve for Mother's Day lunch.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 6 to 8

As impressive as it looks, it’s hard to believe that this custardy quiche comes together with less than ten ingredients. Personally, I can’t think of a better way to take advantage of asparagus season than with a boatload of fontina.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

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.) Flecks of sun-dried tomatoes and a smattering of feta add just enough brightness to every bite.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, low sugar, make ahead
• Serves: 4

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 I want to eat for lunch. Luckily, I think your momma will agree. Serve ’em with fresh potato chips.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Combine sweet, roasted cherry tomatoes with a beyond flaky crust, and the results will be like a pinkies-out pizza that’s decidedly special 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
• Serves: 4 to 6

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. "I've updated it to include omega-rich avocado in place of eggs, which yields an even creamier consistency than the classic dressing," recipe creator Kelly Senyei alleges.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

Nothing says “spring” like a gorgeous platter of crisp, seasonal vegetables. The tangy-sweet-spicy dressing, while homemade, is impossible to mess up, since it comes together entirely in a blender. Make it in advance for lightning-fast assembly on Mother's Day.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Frittatas are the ultimate easy meal. They look impressive, require minimal effort from the cook and can be made with fresh seasonal produce, pantry staples or the leftovers in your fridge. Here, the squash blossoms are optional, so skip them if you can’t find ’em.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4

If I could always eat my greens encased in pie crust and paired with cheese, I would. Zhuzh up the store-bought pie crust with a little egg wash, which will help with browning (and keep your guests from clocking your clever shortcut).

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

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 enjoy these cuties. “You could serve them alongside a salad as a meal—say, a really delicious brunch,” recipe creator Erin McDowell notes, “but they also make a great appetizer for a cocktail party.” 

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

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.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

I’ve said it once and I’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. As for the fromage, the recipe calls for ricotta, Brie and sharp cheddar, but you can serve any type you fancy.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, make ahead
• Serves: 6

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. Any mix of soft herbs will work, but I'm partial to the combination of parsley, mint, dill and chives.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, gluten free
• Serves: 2 to 4

Here’s final proof that eggplant doesn’t need to be fried or covered in cheese to be positively delightful. "I roast the eggplant with olive oil so that it becomes soft and tender, which makes for a nice contrast to the farro, a grain I love for its nutty taste and chewy texture," recipe creator Samah Dada writes. 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
• Serves: 4 to 5

“This dish is all about the layers,” recipe creator Elizabeth Van Lierde notes, “with 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.” Serve it write off the sheet pan for maximum convenience.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

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 summer squash, try swapping in sautéed broccoli or blistered snow peas instead. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the naan for dipping.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion­-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

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. "To play around with the flavors, replace the potato with an apple, preferably one with red skin," recipe creator Dorie Greenspan suggests. "Or, for fun, make the tart with alternating slices of potato and apple."

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

For a fresh yet filling Mother's Day lunch, make Mom this protein-rich, 20-minute salad. It's fresh, bright, photogenic and ready in a flash. If she doesn’t like shrimp, use slices of medium-rare steak or flaked grilled fish instead.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, low carb, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

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 sweetness just right.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
• Serves: 8

Behold, a beautiful salad that's practically no-cook, feeds a crowd and won’t wilt when you set it out on the patio. You'll only need to use the stove to blanch the asparagus and sugar snap peas to tender-crisp perfection. Sounds like a Mother's Day lunch miracle to me.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion­-worthy
• Serves: 4

If you want to feel elegant with minimal effort, make this 25-minute fish dish for Mom. Salting the cod generously on all sides, then setting it aside while you prep the other ingredients, allows it to keep its shape better during the cooking process. All that's left to add is crusty bread for soaking up the brothy tomato sauce.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, low carb
• Serves: 4

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 chicken breast, ground pork or turkey or diced tofu instead.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

For Moms who favor a big salad for lunch, this curried kale number is sure to impress. The creamy dressing comes together quickly, simply by blending goat cheese with store-bought harissa, Champagne vinegar and honey—a little spicy, a little acidic and a little sweet.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

I bet you’ve never combined silky-smooth burrata and spicy chili crisp before. But once you experience the way the condiment complements the gooey, creamy cheese, you’ll never look back. In addition to being a garnish, it's also the key component in the zippy salad dressing.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 3 to 4

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. Even better? "The eggplant crisps up in the oven to create the tastiest little veggie croutons you've ever had," recipe creator Adeena Sussman notes.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Behold, a light, 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 her usual fare.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, <30 minutes
• Serves: varies

This vegan pizza features a surprising secret ingredient (no, not pineapple). It starts with store-bought flatbread, so it’s easy to assemble for lunch and it’s topped with everything bagel seasoning because, well, why not? Even better, the recipe doesn't include measurements, so let your instincts (and appetite) lead the way.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

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. Easy enough?

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This pasta is so much more than jarred red sauce dumped on a pile of spaghetti, but without requiring 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.