Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 30 Mother's Day Brunch Recipes That Celebrate Spring Can't decide what to serve? Here, we make it as easy as choosing sweet or savory. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 7, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: GREG DUPREE This Mother's Day, we're honoring Mom with an elegant brunch menu. It's likely she's spent quite some time cooking for you and your family over the years, and we love having the opportunity to return the favor. Mother's Day falls at the perfect time for embracing all the fresh produce spring has to offer, and incorporating the season's best ingredients into her much-deserved celebratory meal makes it that much more special. Give her the gift of homemade brown butter waffles, a fresh-baked potato tot casserole, a tropical creamsicle smoothie, hearty Italian baked eggs—or all of the above. You can serve it to her on a tray breakfast-in-bed style or gather around the dining room table. Once she's finished with her breakfast, shower her with one of these genius Mother's Day gift ideas, a thoughtful hand-written card, and don't forget to cue up one of her favorite films. Only the best for your number one! Here's a roundup of deliciously simple Mother's Day brunch ideas that will make mom feel loved, appreciated, and seriously satisfied. 18 Mother's Day Quotes, Captions, and Sayings to Make Mom's Day 01 of 30 Pickle Juice Bloody Mary Victor Protasio Start mom’s holiday off on the right foot with this cocktail, which is a twist on the classic bloody Mary. In this version, the addition of pickle juice (straight from that jar of pickles in your fridge!) gives the drink a distinctly delicious, briny flavor. Trust us, it’s a total game changer. get the recipe 02 of 30 Tuna, Chickpea and Cherry Tomato Salad Greg DuPree Chunks of oil-packed canned tuna and tender chickpeas mingle with buttery olives, briny feta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy pita chips, and peppery arugula to yield a protein-packed salad that mom will love. Enlist little ones to help combine ingredients and break the pita chips into pieces. get the recipe 03 of 30 Malted Chocolate Brownies Victor Protasio Give mom a sweet treat courtesy of these fudgy brownies. The secret ingredient—chocolate or vanilla malted milk powder—is mixed with cocoa powder to add another layer of flavor that’s truly irresistible. Before the brownies bake, sprinkle a generous handful of chopped malted milk balls (like Whoppers!) on top to deliver on that malted moniker. get the recipe 04 of 30 Farro Salad With Brown Butter Vinaigrette Victor Protasio Brown butter is the star of this fresh salad, which also includes hearty farro, chopped asparagus, and petit peas. Crunchy pistachios, juicy orange segments, and salty feta add big texture and flavor, while the rich vinaigrette is so good you’ll want to smother it on just about anything. Mom will thank you for this satiating salad! get the recipe 05 of 30 Big Breakfast Salad Victor Protasio This hearty salad has all the favorite components of breakfast, but is impressive enough to be a brunch player too. Inside you’ll find roasted potatoes sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, crunchy bagel chips, sweet cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and plenty of jammy eggs. A creamy avocado-basil dressing ties the whole dish together. get the recipe 06 of 30 Ham and Egg Croissant Sandwiches Victor Protasio Transport mom to Paris with this luxe breakfast sandwich on a fresh croissant. Each sandwich has a fried egg, which you can make a bunch of at once on a sheet pan, baby arugula, a zesty mayonnaise spread, and ham. When grocery shopping, look for French bistro-style ham, which will take these sandwiches up a notch. get the recipe 07 of 30 Breakfast Strata Antonis Achilleos For a brunch dish that’s sure to delight mom (and the rest of the family!) give this breakfast strata a whirl. Featuring mushrooms, leeks, asparagus, spinach, and a Dijon-spiked egg custard, this brunch recipe is healthy and delicious. Plus, you can prepare it the night before so it’s ready to wow mom on Sunday morning. get the recipe 08 of 30 Crunchy Skillet Eggs With Herbs Jen Causey The secret to the crunch in this recipe is panko breadcrumbs, which coat the bottom of the pan to create an irresistible crust. On top of that crust you’ll find fried eggs showered in herbs, with a drizzle of white balsamic vinegar that provides an acidic punch. To complete the meal, serve this dish alongside sautéed fresh chorizo or wilted greens—whichever mom prefers. get the recipe 09 of 30 Saucy Simmered Eggs Victor Protasio This quick take on shakshuka is perfect for a celebratory brunch. Italian spices and a jar of marinara help this dish come together quickly, and once you infuse the sauce with sautéed onion, you’re nearly done. Next, you’ll poach the eggs right in the sauce, top it with chunks of feta cheese, and sprinkle it with herbs. No matter what you do, just make sure to serve this dish with crusty bread so you can dunk it in the jammy egg yolks. get the recipe 10 of 30 Raspberry Smoothie Bowl Christopher Testani Make mom feel like she’s at a five-star restaurant with this vibrant breakfast bowl that comes together in just 10 minutes. The smoothie base is made with a banana, almond milk, frozen raspberries, honey, vanilla extract, and a pinch of cinnamon. Top it off with fresh kiwi, roasted almonds, chia seeds, and granola, and brunch is ready. get the recipe 11 of 30 Berry Baked Oatmeal Victor Protasio Jazz up plain-old oats with this special, berry-studded recipe that requires just 15 minutes of hands-on work. A custard-like mix made with eggs and milk, and flavored with maple syrup, vanilla, and nutmeg transforms oats into a fluffy baked delight. Then, fresh berries of your choosing add jammy richness. get the recipe 12 of 30 Savory Oatmeal With Spinach and Poached Eggs Greg DuPree Or, for something on the savory side, try this oatmeal topped with a perfectly poached egg. You’ll start by cooking the oats in a skillet with some onion, then you’ll stir in plenty of Parmesan cheese and top each serving with chives, spinach, and that poached egg. Easy enough, right? get the recipe 13 of 30 Sunny-Side-Up Sheet Pan Breakfast Greg DuPree Ensure minimal cleanup with this brunch recipe, which is made in a single sheet pan. To start, you’ll crisp the prosciutto in the sheet pan before roasting potatoes and onions. Then, you’ll remove those components, toss some spinach in the mix, and crack several eggs directly into the pan before baking the dish one last time. Top with crispy prosciutto and enjoy! get the recipe 14 of 30 Spring Green Salad Greg DuPree Celebrate spring (and mom) with this vibrant green salad that includes romaine lettuce hearts, chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame. Chives, mint, and pistachios add flavor and texture respectively, and the whole thing is tied together with a creamy avocado and yogurt dressing. get the recipe 15 of 30 Pesto Egg Salad Toasts Caitlin Bensel This elevated take on egg salad, which takes just 25 minutes to make, features a simple stir-together pesto and plenty of peppery arugula. To make this dish truly irresistible, use high-quality crusty bread for the toast. get the recipe 16 of 30 Sun-Dried Tomato Shakshuka Victor Protasio A brunch classic, this dish can easily feed the whole family. The key to this iteration is sun-dried tomatoes, which offer a more concentrated umami flavor and subtle sweetness than canned or fresh tomatoes. The array of just-set eggs are pretty delicious too. Just make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dipping! get the recipe 17 of 30 Smoked Salmon Flatbread Victor Protasio While this dish can totally work for dinner, it’s also a perfectly suitable brunch option that mom might not expect. Here, store-bought naan is slathered with a flavor-boosted cream cheese mixture made with lemon zest, chives, and garlic. Then, smoked salmon as well as thin slices of red onion and a sprinkling of briny, salty capers and peppery arugula complete the dish. get the recipe 18 of 30 Olive and Feta Quiche Victor Protasio This spanakopita-inspired quiche features flaky layers of phyllo pastry and a garlic-infused egg custard base. In every rich bite you’ll also find spinach, briny olives and salty feta cheese. Go ahead and freeze any leftovers so you’re a step ahead for the next lavish brunch. get the recipe 19 of 30 Focaccia Breakfast Sandwiches Victor Protasio The key to this recipe is buying the best, tastiest focaccia you can find. Then, you’ll sandwich cheesy scrambled eggs, salty prosciutto, fresh spinach, and Parmesan-roasted tomatoes between two fluffy slices of the stuff for a 20-minute meal. get the recipe 20 of 30 Corn, Leek, And Bacon Pancakes Victor Protasio If mom loves savory dishes, wow her with these elevated pancakes. After sautéing bacon until it's crispy, save the drippings to infuse leeks with smoky-sweet flavor as they cook. Then, you’ll put a twist on the traditional buttermilk-based pancake batter by adding cornmeal and sweet corn for more texture. Serve these pancakes with a dollop of sour cream and fresh chives, and you’re all set. get the recipe 21 of 30 French Toast Casserole Charles Masters What's the best thing since sliced bread? Sliced bread layered in a casserole dish, soaked in a sweet, eggy custard, and baked. Voila, French toast for a crowd. To make ahead, soak the bread and custard in a bowl overnight. In the morning, layer in a casserole dish and bake as instructed. get the recipe 22 of 30 Brown Butter Waffles Greg DuPree Waffles are probably the kind of food mom frequently makes for everyone else, but rarely enjoys herself. Change that with these breakfast treats, which we're betting you'll want to make over and over again. The simple secret here is melting butter and continuing to cook it until its color turns bronze. The ingredient becomes nutty and caramel-like, adding an irresistible flavor to an otherwise ordinary waffle recipe. And if you want your waffles to be light and airy, be sure to separate the egg whites from the yolk, then whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Our favorite part about this recipe is that it's just as good when made in a big batch, and the resulting waffles freeze exceptionally well. get the recipe 23 of 30 Spiced Rice With Crispy Chickpeas Caitlin Bensel Make mom feel like she's taken a trip to an exotic location with this flavorful rice dish, which just so happens to be vegetarian-friendly. The two main ingredients—rice and canned chickpeas—are pantry staples that get a major upgrade courtesy of melted shallots, garam masala, and dates. Crispy, turmeric-spiced chickpeas and pistachios add a crunch and nutty flavor to this dish, respectively. get the recipe 24 of 30 Italian Baked Eggs Jen Causey Wow mom with this Italian egg dish, which is conveniently big enough to feed the whole family. It's starts with a hearty tomato sauce base that includes turkey sausage and sautéd onion and garlic, and is then topped with four eggs before being baked in the oven. Serve with some mozzarella-topped toasted bread so mom (and you!) can scoop up every last bit of that tomato-y goodness. get the recipe 25 of 30 Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie Greg DuPree Dessert for breakfast is always a brilliant way to celebrate, but even better if the dessert is secretly healthy. Enter this tropical creamsicle smoothie recipe: it's filled with fresh mango, apple cider vinegar, coconut milk, and carrots (a vegetable!). Serving it with a straw is the final touch to helping mom feel relaxed and refreshed. get the recipe 26 of 30 Smørrebrød With Yogurt, Beets, and Eggs GREG DUPREE Smørrebrød is an open-faced sandwich from Denmark, where densely seeded bread is slathered with butter and piled with artfully arranged toppings like pickled herring, cheese, eggs, and herbs. The variations are endless! In this lighter version, yogurt swaps in for the butter, and a fresh marinated beet salad adds fresh tang. Top it off with jammy soft-cooked eggs and briny capers for an especially exciting way to serve your mom her breakfast. If guests are coming, double the recipe and cutt into bite-sized slices. get the recipe 27 of 30 Baked Oatmeal With Cranberries and Almonds Con Poulos This make-ahead whole-grain dish is the perfect breakfast for a busy Mother's Day morning. Serve the dish warm, drizzled with cream or milk. Leftovers will keep refrigerated for about a day. get the recipe 28 of 30 Lemon Iced Tea Maura McEvoy You can't go wrong with lemonade, especially when it's combined with some freshly brewed tea. This refreshing beverage, which is virtually impossible to mess up, is great to make as part of a larger brunch or lunch spread. First you'll heat the lemon peel and some sugar in a saucepan to create a homemade syrup, then you'll steep tea bags in boiling water before stirring in the syrup, fresh lemon juice, cold water, and ice cubes. Garnish the whole thing with some fresh mint leaves and you're good to go! get the recipe 29 of 30 Potato Tot Breakfast Casserole Greg DuPree If you're looking for a Mother's Day brunch dish for the whole family to enjoy, this one is it. It's packed with tater tots, which kids love, and has the normal suspects, like sausage, eggs, and cheese for the grownups. Pro tip: If you like spice, use spicy sausage inside the casserole and top it with sliced jalapeños. get the recipe 30 of 30 Strawberry Buckle With Pecan Streusel J Muckle Make the most of in-season strawberries with this easy-to-make buckle that requires just 20 minutes of hands-on work. In addition to the fresh strawberry filling, this dessert features a pecan streusel topping that perfectly complements a scoop (or two!) of smooth vanilla ice cream. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit