35 Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas

Read Time: 29 mins

35 Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas1/35 Dill Sauce with Salmon 93 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Skill Level Easy Total Time 35 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: There’s nothing like fresh salmon, and my mom bakes it just right so it nearly melts in your mouth. Plus, the sour cream dill sauce is subtly seasoned with horseradish so that it doesn’t overpower the delicate salmon flavor. —Susan Emery, Everett, Washington Nutrition Facts: 4 ounces cooked salmon with about 2 tablespoons sauce: 418 calories, 33g fat (11g saturated fat), 100mg cholesterol,

643mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 26g protein

643mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 26g protein. This elegant salmon recipe doesn’t require any knife work beyond slicing a few pieces of onion and lemon. Even a kitchen novice can make this special dinner. Make the dill sauce while the salmon bakes (or earlier in the day) so the flavors have time to meld. 2/35 Easy Chicken Piccata 58 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Easy Chicken Piccata Recipe photo by Orly Catz for Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Easy chicken recipes are my

go-to dinner choice

go-to dinner choice. My chicken piccata pasta dish is ready to serve in a half hour. It takes just a few minutes in the oven to bake to tender perfection. —Hannah Williams, Malibu, California Nutrition Facts: 5 ounces cooked chicken with about 2 tablespoons sauce: 382 calories, 23g fat (8g saturated fat), 117mg cholesterol, 725mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 36g protein. It’s simpler than you think to make restaurant-worthy chicken piccata, complete with a bright and briny lemon caper sauce, at home. This recipe starts with boneless skinless chicken breasts split horizontally into two pieces. Or, you

can buy thin-sliced boneless chicken breasts as a shortcut

can buy thin-sliced boneless chicken breasts as a shortcut. 3/35 Blackened Halibut 8 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Blackened Halibut Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Try serving this spicy halibut recipe with garlic mashed potatoes, hot crusty bread and a crisp salad to lure in your crew. After trying a few halibut recipes, this one is my family’s favorite. —Brenda Williams, Santa Maria, California Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet: 189 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 51mg cholesterol, 758mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate

(1g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein

(1g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 fat. An easy spice rub, including a few essential spices, is the key to an easy fish meal with a ton of flavor. Halibut is a great choice to cook in a skillet. It needs only a few minutes on each side to cook through. Overcooking it will make it dry and tough, so watch the clock! 4/35 Steak au Poivre Test Kitchen Approved KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME Skill Level Easy Total Time 35 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Have

an elegant restaurant experience right at home with this steak au poivre

an elegant restaurant experience right at home with this steak au poivre. Peppercorns season the steak to create a peppery, light crust. Then, butter, shallots, garlic, Cognac and heavy whipping cream combine to create a thick brown sauce that lathers the steak, creating a delightful bite. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked steak with 2 tablespoons sauce: 376 calories, 26g fat (13g saturated fat), 97mg cholesterol, 884mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein. Yes, moms love a steak dinner, especially one based on a classic steakhouse recipe. This one features a peppery, tender steak

topped with a creamy Cognac-spiked sauce

topped with a creamy Cognac-spiked sauce. Freshly crushed peppercorns are the key to getting the right bold flavor without any peppery dust that burns your throat. This recipe recommends a mortar and pestle. If you don’t have one, put the peppercorns in a thick plastic food storage bag and crush them with a meat mallet. 5/35 Creamy Lemon Pasta 49 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Lemon-Garlic Cream Fettuccine Recipe photo by Sheri Silver for Taste of Home Skill Level Medium Total Time 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve been making this lemony pasta for

the family for years

the family for years. It’s both simple and indulgent enough to make it a go-to recipe. —Anne Miller, Glenfield, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 518 calories, 34g fat (21g saturated fat), 102mg cholesterol, 346mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 11g protein. If your mom is a pasta lover, this lemony, garlicky fettuccine recipe is an easy but impressive Mother’s Day dinner she will love. Instead of a flour-based sauce, the pasta is coated with a silky combination of heavy cream and cream cheese, which will thicken as it cools. Save half a cup of hot pasta water

and toss in a spoonful at a time to thin the texture to your liking

and toss in a spoonful at a time to thin the texture to your liking. 6/35 Veal Scallopini 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Best Veal Scallopini Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I found the original version of this dish in a magazine and adjusted it to suit my family’s tastes. Because delicate, fine-textured veal comes with a short cooking time, this simple entree is even more attractive. —Ruth Lee, Troy, Ontario Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 435 calories, 35g fat (16g saturated fat),

Thin slices of veal cook quickly in this easy one-skillet recipe

120mg cholesterol, 941mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 21g protein. Thin slices of veal cook quickly in this easy one-skillet recipe. The simple pan sauce has sliced mushrooms. While white button mushrooms work just fine, we find that combining other types of mushrooms like oyster mushrooms, cremini and shiitake deepen the flavor. 7/35 Pappardelle Bolognese 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pappardelle Bolognese Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 3 hours 50 min Servings 12 servings (2-1/4 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My robust ragu combines ground beef, sausage and chicken.

Serve it over any type of pasta, or baked or fried polenta

Serve it over any type of pasta, or baked or fried polenta. It’s even good on its own with a slice of hot buttered garlic bread. —Caroline Brody, Forest Hills, New York Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 461 calories, 35g fat (16g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 712mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 21g protein. This pasta dinner features a long-simmering, lightly creamy three-meat sauce. The sauce cooks for over three hours total, so plan enough time for it to be ready by dinner. Or, make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to four

Like a lasagna recipe, it gets better as it sits

days. Like a lasagna recipe, it gets better as it sits. 8/35 Dutch Oven Whole Chicken 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Dutch Oven Whole Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This Dutch oven roast chicken recipe gets wonderful flavor from the celery, onion and parsley tucked inside. This is my family’s favorite way to make roast chicken. When my daughter was away at school, she even called home to ask me for the recipe so she could make it herself.

—Judy Page, Edenville, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 525 calories, 25g fat (7g saturated fat), 157mg cholesterol, 1399mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 52g protein. If you have never roasted a whole chicken in a Dutch oven, you are missing out on a tender, juicy way to enjoy chicken. The aromatics here stick to classic flavors like onion, celery, dried thyme and parsley. You can easily switch things up by using other herbs or maybe your mom’s favorite! 9/35 Beef with Polenta 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Rosemary Braised Beef with Polenta Recipe photo by Taste of Home

This is true comfort food

Skill Level Easy Total Time 7 hours 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love beef roast in the slow cooker, and it’s fun to pair it with something a little different from potatoes! This is true comfort food. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 471 calories, 25g fat (11g saturated fat), 130mg cholesterol, 1216mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 39g protein. A slow cooker is the secret to meltingly tender shredded beef for a meal that’s elevated comfort food. The Parmesan polenta served with the meat is cooked

in half milk and half water

in half milk and half water. You could use all water or broth for a lighter polenta or all milk for an extra-creamy version. 10/35 Shrimp Asparagus Pasta 35 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Asparagus ‘n’ Shrimp with Angel Hair Recipe photo by Taste of Home Skill Level Easy Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We’ve all heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so when I plan a romantic dinner, this shrimp asparagus pasta with angel hair is one dish I like to serve. It is easy

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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