27 Recipes So Good, Mom Might Brag About You This Year

If there’s ever a day to bring your best to the table, it’s Mother’s Day. These easy, crowd-pleasing recipes feel like something Mom would’ve made—or better yet, be proud to see you serve. Whether you’re handling the sides, the sweets, or something hearty in between, these are the kinds of dishes that earn compliments before the first bite. With all 27 recipes, you just might give Mom a new favorite to brag about.

Marinated Brussels Sprouts

These Brussels sprouts get a boost from a quick marinade that makes them bright and bold with very little effort. They’re a great way to add crunch and color to any Mother’s Day table. Serve them cold or room temp—they’ll keep their charm either way. Mom will love the flavor just as much as the ease.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Brussels Sprouts

Spring Onion Potato Salad

This potato salad skips the heaviness and leans into spring with sharp green onions and a lighter dressing. It’s easy to prep ahead and tastes even better after a chill in the fridge. The texture hits the right balance of creamy and firm. Even Mom might ask you to bring it again next year.
Get the Recipe: Spring Onion Potato Salad

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, these potatoes are the kind of side dish that gets more attention than the main. The parmesan crust bakes right on and brings big flavor with no extra work. They pair with everything and reheat like a dream. There’s a good chance Mom sneaks a few before dinner is served.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Greek Lemon Garlic Potatoes in a black dish with lemon in the background. — Greek Lemon Potatoes. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

These roasted potatoes come out golden and infused with lemon and oregano, making them a fresh twist on the usual starches. They’re flavorful enough to stand on their own but happy to sit next to anything on the plate. All they need is a little prep and a hot oven. They’re the kind of dish Mom calls “company-ready.”
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

A bowl of roasted brussels sprouts. — Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brussels sprouts roast up crisp and caramelized, while crumbled feta and sliced almonds bring richness and crunch. This dish balances savory and tangy in a way that feels a little elevated without being extra. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but special enough for Mom. And she’ll definitely ask what’s in it.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board. — Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Sweet and slightly sticky, these carrots look impressive but take very little effort to make. The honey brings out their natural sweetness without overpowering the dish. Roast them until just tender and finish with a pinch of salt. They’re the kind of side that disappears before seconds are even served.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

These green beans are quick to cook and full of flavor, thanks to garlic and a crispy onion topping. They bring crunch, color, and a little drama to the plate. Plus, they reheat well, making them a great prep-ahead option. It’s a dish that tastes like you really tried—even if you didn’t.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Worcestershire Green Beans

A splash of Worcestershire sauce transforms these green beans into a savory side with just a few ingredients. They come together fast and bring a subtle depth that keeps folks guessing. It’s the kind of shortcut that works like magic. Even Mom will want the trick behind that flavor.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Zucchini Noodle Salad

Light, crisp, and just a bit quirky, this zucchini noodle salad brings fun and freshness to the table. It’s great for warmer days and doesn’t wilt like a leafy green might. Add a bright dressing and you’re done. Mom might not even miss the pasta.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad

Grandma’s Cornbread

Overhead shot of cornbread in a cast iron skillet with a single slice cut out. — Grandma’s Cornbread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Soft in the middle and golden on top, this cornbread hits all the right nostalgic notes. It works with savory dishes and sweet spreads alike, so it rarely sees leftovers. One bowl and a hot oven is all it takes. It’s the kind of bread that makes Mom say, “Now that’s how it’s done.”
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cornbread

Greek Quinoa Salad

Quinoa salad in a brown bowl, garnished with pita bread. — Greek Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Packed with veggies, olives, and a splash of lemon, this salad is light but still satisfying. It’s great for prepping ahead and doesn’t mind sitting out for a bit. The quinoa keeps it filling without being heavy. It’s a dish Mom can feel good about sharing—and snacking on later.
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

A baked dish with a large serving of cheesy cauliflower in a glass baking dish is next to a white plate holding a portion of the same dish. The background is a light wooden surface. A fork is visible beside the plate. — Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

This cheesy bake turns simple cauliflower into a creamy, comforting side dish with minimal prep. It’s rich without being too much, and goes with almost anything. The top gets golden and bubbly in the oven. It’s the one Mom might sneak a forkful of while setting the table.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Crunchy, tangy, and just a little smoky, this broccoli salad is always a crowd-pleaser. The bacon adds boldness while the dressing ties it all together. It’s easy to mix ahead and doesn’t need reheating. The kind of side that somehow ends up on everyone’s plate—and disappears first.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

A bowl with spiral pasta, vegetables, pepperoni, and arugula. — Zesty Italian Pasta Salad. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

This pasta salad skips the mayo and brings all the bright flavor of an Italian dressing. Tossed with crunchy veggies and pasta, it holds up well at room temp and in the fridge. It’s ready in minutes and vanishes even faster. The kind of side dish Mom calls a smart move.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

These Brussels sprouts come out tender and caramelized with a tangy glaze that adds depth and shine. They’re easy to prep but still feel like you went the extra mile. A quick roast is all it takes. This one’s for when you want Mom to raise an eyebrow—in a good way.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Mini Apple Pies

These handheld apple pies have everything Mom loves about the full version, just in a smaller, snackable form. They’re flaky, filled with spiced apples, and perfect for passing around. You can bake them ahead or warm them up right before dessert. You’ll probably need to make more than one batch.
Get the Recipe: Mini Apple Pies

Honey Garlic Carrots

These carrots are glazed in a sticky honey garlic sauce that works for kids, grownups, and definitely Mom. Roasted until tender with crisp edges, they’re sweet and savory at once. They pair well with almost any meal and look good doing it. Even better—there’s nothing fussy about them.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

Easy Squash Casserole

A glass baking dish filled with baked squash casserole. — Easy Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

This casserole is creamy, cheesy, and packed with tender squash under a golden topping. It’s the kind of comfort dish that always feels right, especially on a special day. Easy to assemble and crowd-approved. Mom might say it reminds her of something Grandma used to make.
Get the Recipe: Easy Squash Casserole

Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Light and bright, this couscous dish has tender asparagus and a citrus kick that wakes up the plate. It’s quick to toss together and tastes good warm or chilled. A great side that feels like spring without screaming for attention. Just the kind of subtle win Mom loves.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Peach Crumble Bars

With a buttery crust and jammy peach center, these bars taste like a shortcut to pie—but in the best way. They slice up clean and look great on a dessert tray. Easy to make ahead and hard to stop eating. They might be the only dessert that has Mom going back for thirds.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crumble Bars

Citrus Dream Tart

Creamy, citrusy, and finished with a golden crust, this tart is as refreshing as it is satisfying. It cuts like a dream and sets up well in the fridge. No last-minute prep required. A light and cheerful finish that feels just right for Mom.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Dream Tart

Taco Potato Casserole

This casserole mixes seasoned beef, potatoes, and cheese into a hearty one-dish wonder. It’s bold, comforting, and feeds a table with ease. You can prep it ahead and bake it when ready. It’s the kind of dish Mom might request on more than just holidays.
Get the Recipe: Taco Potato Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole

This all-in-one casserole layers creamy chicken with broccoli and potatoes for a full meal in one pan. It’s hearty without being heavy, and easy to throw together on busy days. The crispy topping seals the deal. Mom might call it your smartest move yet.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Potato Casserole

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Small baking dish with scalloped potatoes. — Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These scalloped potatoes bake up creamy and soft with a golden finish that steals the show. They’re simple to prep and feel like a treat every time. Pair them with any main or let them shine solo. One of those sides that earns compliments before the plates are even cleared.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Screaming Skillet Green Beans

These green beans are cooked hot and fast for charred edges and big flavor. Garlic and a hint of spice give them a little extra personality. Quick to finish and even quicker to disappear. Mom’s gonna want the recipe—and maybe the skillet.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter

These biscuits come together in minutes and bring a citrusy sweetness that feels just right for the occasion. The honey butter melts right in and makes them special with no extra steps. They’re soft inside and golden on top. They’ll definitely earn a spot next to Mom’s favorites.
Get the Recipe: Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Creamy and rich with a subtle nuttiness from browned butter, these mashed potatoes are anything but basic. Garlic brings balance without overpowering. They’re smooth, flavorful, and hard not to love. Just the kind of side dish Mom might ask for every year.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes