These Mother’s Day recipes prove that there is such a thing as Mom-food. How do I know this? Because I am a mom. Mom food is multi-faceted and full of variety. It includes everything from salads to spaghetti sauce, from cinnamon rolls to chocolate. But in my book, all Mom-food must meet three necessary requirements:
1) Be delicious. Like so delicious that you keep going back for little niblets no matter how much self-control you think you have.
2) Be easy to make. Moms don’t have a lot of extra time. Have you noticed this? The last thing she wants to do is spend an hour and a half in the kitchen preparing dinner, use every thinkable kitchen gadget, and then sit down only to look at the mound of dishes she has to wash.
3) Be family-approved. Moms deal with a lot of complaining in the kitchen, especially from their kiddos. Whether they are picking the olives out of their pasta salad or refusing to eat their Brussels sprouts, kids have a way of ruining a mom’s labor of love.
So, my gift to you is 15 foolproof Mother’s Day recipes that meet all these requirements. You can’t mess these up, folks! A monkey can make them… yet they are full of flavor and kid-approved. So whether you are cooking for your mom this holiday or just want to add a few new easy recipes to your repertoire, I’m sure you’ll find something for you.
Just one question. Can we start with dessert first? That’s always my favorite!
Mommy’s Sweet Treats
For Mother’s Day recipes, starting with something sweet is always a good idea. These treats are perfect for spoiling Mom or indulging yourself, because you deserve it, too!
Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Iced Coffee
This Mama’s got to have her coffee! I admit that I have AT LEAST two cups of coffee a day, but sometimes it’s more like 4! As the summer months approach, I switch to iced coffee so I don’t sweat my socks off. I used to work at Starbucks, so I figured out a way to duplicate their creamy vanilla brew in my own kitchen for a fraction of the cost. This recipe will have you rarin’ to go, and it will put a few extra dollars in your wallet too.
Orange Poppyseed Bundt Cake
This stuff is as bright and sunshiny as it looks! The cake is light and fluffy, and the orange cream cheese frosting will have you licking the bowl. If you are cooking for your mom or having a bunch of friends over, this would be the perfect cake to share. I sent it to work with my husband one day, and all the men in the office gave a resounding thumbs up. So if men like it, you can bet Mama and the kids will, too.
Lemon Blueberry Bread
Speaking of bright, citrus-y flavors, this lemon blueberry bread is probably my favorite. I love the combination of lemons and blueberries together. My kids eat this like candy, and it rarely lasts more than a day in my house. How do I remedy that problem? I make at least two loaves! The bread is also a wonderful gift to make for a friend and freezes well…but why freeze it when you can eat it today?! 😉
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls. Rolls of cinnamon. Buns of buttery goodness. Whatever you want to call them, these beauties are dynamite! Now before you go thinking they’re hard to make because I’m-not-a-baker, yeast is involved, this is something for the Great British Baking Show, yada yada… they’re not. There are simple step-by-step instructions, and it’s nearly impossible to mess up. If I can make them, you can make them. And you know your family will love you when they smell these in the oven!
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
It doesn’t get easier than a no-bake pie recipe. And since strawberries are in season and cream cheese is always in season (hallelujah!), this cheesecake is the perfect option for your next dessert. It’s so simple that I bet if you batted your eyes and pursed your lips, you could get your hubby to make it for you. It’s worth a try, lol!
Mommy Ain’t Got Time for That
These Mother’s Day recipes are for busy moms who need delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. Quick, easy, and packed with flavor, just the way we like it!
Crockpot Baby-Back Ribs
These things are AH-mazing! Every time I make them, the meat falls right off the bone! All you need is your Crockpot, BBQ sauce, and a simple rub mixture to make an awesome dinner. If I didn’t have 6 little eyes watching my every move, I’d eat these right out of the slow cooker. But I am trying to instill some sense of propriety in my children, so most times, I use a plate. Most.
Half-Calorie Chicken Enchiladas
The fact that these chicken enchiladas are a much lighter version than the heavy Mexican favorite is just a bonus to the 20-minute recipe! Really? Dinner in 20 minutes? Yes, it can be done. I can’t promise that the kids will leave you alone while you put these together, but I can promise that if you make them, you won’t be sorry. I even include a recipe for homemade cilantro-lime salsa.
Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs
I’m including another Crockpot recipe because I am all about making dinner as easy as possible. Sweet and sour meatballs are a cinch because all you have to do is whisk up the sauce, coat the meatballs, and turn the slow cooker on. Don’t forget that last step! How many times has my mom-brain forgotten to flip that switch? Ah!
Black Bean Nachos
What mom doesn’t love nachos? I don’t think I’ve met one yet! With this recipe, you can have a whole sheet pan in less than 20 minutes. The kids fall in love with me when I make these! I even admit to making them late one night when my husband and I were binge-watching Netflix and wanted a salty snack. Come on, you know you’ve done it too… wink, wink. 😉
Green Chile Cheese Quiche
Quiche is totally mom-food. I never ate it when I was a kid because I saw vegetables in it and said, “No, I don’t want that. It’s mom-food.”
Translation: it’s healthy, and I’d rather eat fruit loops. Ha! Now, I’m the mom and make quiche regularly for both breakfast and dinner. My three kiddos love this recipe because it is cheesy and has a mild pico de gallo on top. I have also served this three different times at my church’s monthly mom’s Bible study, and there is never any left. That’s gotta tell you something.
Mommy Loves Salad
These Mother’s Day recipes are light, fresh, and full of flavor. Whether you’re making a side dish or a meal on its own, these salads are sure to be a hit!
Apple Blue Cheese Salad
This beauty of a salad will take you all of 5 minutes to make, and it’s so pretty! The dressing is made of oil and Dijon mustard, a cool compliment to the tangy blue cheese you pour on top. If you want to take it to share, don’t toss the apple dressing with the lettuce until go-time, or the lettuce will get soggy. Not only is this a potluck favorite, but I make it regularly as a side dish.
Greek Pasta Salad
Oh man, just looking at this picture is making my mouth water. I can taste that tangy dressing and feta cheese right now! It’s the kind of salad that gets better as it sits, so it’s ok to make it ahead of time. I also love that it is full of healthy vegetables. The kids don’t mind eating this Greek pasta salad because it is so colorful!
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ok, so I know this isn’t really a salad, but it does have spinach in it. Does that count? This dip is absolutely irresistible. People will hover around the slow cooker, chips in hand, fighting over the last bite. This is the kind of dip that will put your cooking on the map. It will make you famous. It will make your mom proud. Did you like that last one? 🙂
Apple Celery Coleslaw
People have been giving me flack because this “coleslaw” doesn’t have mayo. It has a sweet oil and vinegar base instead. And you know what? I’m still calling it coleslaw, lol! Not only can it be a delicious “salad,” but we put it on top of our pulled pork sandwiches the other day, and it was phenomenal. The best part is that it can be made in 5 minutes.
Grandma Ruth’s Potato Salad
I would be remiss if I didn’t include my Great Grandma’s recipe in all this mom-food. This potato salad is so scrumptious that it has been in the family for 5 generations. My mom made it for me when I went back home in February, and I made it for Easter just last month. The potato salad gets better as it sits, so it’s totally okay to make it up to 24 hours in advance. I guarantee that this will be a hit if you take it to a potluck or BBQ!
Heartwarming Mother’s Day Recipes to Make Her Smile
These are the three that call me Mommy! Joshua will be 7 over Memorial Day, Nevaeh will be 6 in June, and Caleb is 3. Can you tell what a little rascal he is? I was trying to take an Easter Sunday picture at church, and he was anything but cooperative. But I love the picture, actually!
I hope these 15 foolproof Mother’s Day recipes can help make your mom’s day, and every day, a little easier. If you’d like a few more ideas, check out my recipe index or my Mom Food board on Pinterest.
Happy cooking, y’all!
