11 Mother’s Day Lunch Ideas: Menus to Delight Every Type of Mama
Eleven complete lunch menus, a main, a side, something sweet and a drink, for the garden-party mom, the brunch-lover, the tea drinker, the spice-lover and seven more. Starting with the gingham-wrapped turkey sandwiches on the pin, made up to four hours ahead.
- 11 full menus
- Pick-the-menu table
- Day-before timeline
- Printable sandwich recipe
The lunch from the pin: sesame-bun turkey sandwiches wrapped in blue gingham and twine, piled on a board with spring flowers.
The best Mother’s Day lunch ideas start with her, not the recipe: what she loves, then one main, one side, one sweet and one drink, mostly made the day before. Find her in the table below, open her menu, and the gingham sandwiches from the pin are there for any menu that needs a main.
In this post:
- Pick the menu by the kind of mom she is
- Gingham-wrapped turkey and Swiss sandwiches, 4 to 16
- Four rules for a lunch that does not wear out the cook
- The day-before timeline
- Six sandwich fillings
- Eleven menus: fresh, brunch and tea, comfort and sweet
- Troubleshooting and 14 FAQs
Pick the Mother’s Day Lunch Menu by the Kind of Mom She Is
A menu for every mom
Garden party, brunch, afternoon tea, Mediterranean, spice-lover, comfort food, grazing board, picnic and more. Each of the 11 is a full menu: a main, a side, something sweet and a drink.
Lunch, not a production
Every menu is built so most of it is made the day before. The timeline table says what to do when, and nobody spends Mother’s Day in the kitchen.
The sandwich that started it
The gingham-wrapped turkey sandwiches on the pin are the featured recipe: 25 minutes, made up to 4 hours ahead, and they look like a café made them.
Uses what is already on the site
Most menus link to a tested recipe for each course, so every line of the menu has a method behind it.
Find her here, then jump to the menu:
| She… | Her menu | Effort | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| She…Loves a pretty table and the garden | Her menu1. Garden-party sandwiches | EffortEasy | StartDay before |
| She…Eats clean and works out | Her menu2. The fresh and light menu | EffortEasy | StartMorning of |
| She…Would rather be on a Greek island | Her menu3. Mediterranean mezze | EffortEasy | StartDay before |
| She…Wants to be outside | Her menu4. The picnic | EffortEasy | StartDay before |
| She…Lives for brunch | Her menu5. Quiche and French toast brunch | EffortMedium | StartDay before |
| She…Takes her tea seriously | Her menu6. Afternoon tea | EffortMedium | StartDay before |
| She…Has no time, ever | Her menu7. The make-ahead menu | EffortEasy | StartTwo days before |
| She…Prefers to graze | Her menu8. The grazing board | EffortEasy | StartMorning of |
| She…Wants real comfort food | Her menu9. Chicken pot pie lunch | EffortMedium | StartDay before |
| She…Likes it spicy | Her menu10. Karahi and naan | EffortMedium | StartDay before |
| She…Is here for dessert | Her menu11. The sweet table | EffortMedium | StartDay before |
Gingham-Wrapped Turkey and Swiss Sandwiches: The Featured Recipe
The main for menu 1 and the backup for any of the others. The card makes 8 sandwiches; tap a count and everything updates.
Gingham-Wrapped Turkey and Swiss Sandwiches
Soft sesame buns, toasted and spread with herb honey-mustard, layered with butter lettuce, folded turkey and Swiss, then wrapped in blue gingham paper and tied with twine: the lunch on the pin. Tap a count and the printable card updates.
How many sandwiches?
Ingredients
- 481216 soft sesame buns or sesame brioche buns, split
- 8 oz1 lb1½ lb2 lb thin-sliced roast or smoked turkey breast
- 4 slices8 slices12 slices16 slices Swiss or provolone, sliced
- 8162432 butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- 1 tbsp2 tbsp3 tbsp¼ cup unsalted butter, softened, for toasting
- ¼ cup½ cup¾ cup1 cup Herb honey-mustard spread: mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp2 tbsp3 tbsp¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 1½ tsp1 tbsp1½ tbsp2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp2 tbsp3 tbsp¼ cup chives, finely snipped
- ½ tsp1 tsp1½ tsp2 tsp lemon juice
- 481216 To wrap: 10-inch squares of blue gingham parchment or wax paper
- 4 pieces8 pieces12 pieces16 pieces kitchen twine, and small herb sprigs or edible flowers to tuck in
Turkey, not ham: roast or smoked turkey breast gives the same pink-and-white look and keeps it halal; check the label on deli turkey. Toast the cut faces so the buns hold for four hours. Gingham paper is sold as deli or sandwich paper; plain parchment with gingham ribbon works too.
Instructions
Make the spread
Stir the mayonnaise, Dijon, honey, chives and lemon juice together. Taste; it should be tangy-sweet. Chill while you toast.
Toast the cut sides
Butter the cut sides of the buns and toast them face-down in a dry skillet over medium heat for a minute, until golden. A toasted face is what keeps the bread from going soggy in the paper.
Spread edge to edge
Spread a thin layer of the honey-mustard on both cut faces, right to the edges. The spread seals the bread; a gap at the edge is where it goes soft.
Layer lettuce first
Bottom bun, two lettuce leaves, the turkey folded loosely in ribbons (2 oz each), a slice of cheese, then the top. Lettuce against the bread is the moisture barrier; folded turkey gives the deli-counter height on the pin.
Wrap and tie
Set each sandwich in the middle of a gingham square, fold the front and back up around it so the top shows, and tie a length of twine around the middle with a bow. Tuck a herb sprig or a small flower under the knot.
Chill and serve
Keep covered in the fridge up to 4 hours. Pile on a wooden board with flowers around it and set it out 15 minutes before lunch so the cheese is not fridge-cold.
Four Rules for a Lunch That Does Not Wear Out the Cook
Wrapping: a sandwich in the middle of a gingham square, the paper folded up, twine tied in a bow, a herb sprig tucked under the knot.
One menu, four parts
A main, a side, something sweet and a drink. More than that and the table is crowded and the cook is tired. Pick the mom, pick her menu, stop there.
Make the sweet and the drink the day before
Desserts and punches are the easiest things to make ahead and the hardest to do well at the last minute. The main gets assembled in the morning.
Toast, spread to the edge, lettuce first
For any sandwich made ahead: toasted cut faces, spread right to the edges, lettuce against the bread. That is the difference between crisp at 1 p.m. and soggy at noon.
Set the table before you cook
Cloth, flowers in a jar, napkins and the board out the night before. When the food is ready there is nothing left to do but carry it out.
The Day-Before Timeline
Whichever menu you pick, this is the order:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| WhenTwo days before | What to doShop; make dessert that keeps (cakes, cookies, bars, cakesicles); set the table if the room is free |
| WhenThe day before | What to doMake the drink base, the sauce or spread, salads without dressing, quiche or pot pie filling; wash herbs and flowers |
| WhenMorning of | What to doBake the quiche or pot pie; assemble and wrap sandwiches; cut fruit; dress the board |
| WhenOne hour before | What to doDress salads; take cheese and sandwiches out of the fridge; finish the drink with ice and soda |
| WhenAt the table | What to doCarry it out, pour the drink, and sit down; the cook is a guest too |
Six Fillings for the Gingham Sandwiches
Up close: the toasted sesame bun, butter lettuce, ribbons of turkey and the edge of the gingham paper.
Same bun, same wrap, a different filling. Tap one:
Gingham Turkey and Swiss Sandwiches
The recipe above: toasted sesame buns, herb honey-mustard, butter lettuce, folded turkey and Swiss. The sandwiches on the pin.
Chicken Pesto Sandwiches
Sliced roast chicken, basil pesto stirred into the mayonnaise in place of the mustard, fresh mozzarella and arugula. Ciabatta rolls instead of sesame buns if you like. Nut-free pesto with sunflower seeds for a nut-free table.
Egg Salad and Cress Sandwiches
Six eggs, chopped, with ¼ cup mayonnaise, a teaspoon of Dijon, chives, salt and pepper, on soft white rolls with a handful of cress. The vegetarian classic; best made the morning of.
Caprese Sandwiches
Fresh mozzarella, salted tomato slices patted dry, basil leaves and a little olive oil and balsamic glaze on toasted focaccia squares. Add the tomatoes an hour before serving so the bread stays crisp.
Turkey, Cranberry and Brie Sandwiches
The featured sandwich with brie in place of Swiss and a spoon of cranberry sauce on the top bun. Sweet, creamy and a little festive; very good on a croissant.
Smoked Salmon and Dill Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Cream cheese whipped with dill, lemon zest and a few capers, smoked salmon, thin cucumber ribbons, on soft brown rolls or bagels. The elegant one, and the first to go at a tea table.
Fresh and Outdoor Mother’s Day Lunch Menus
Menus 1 to 4, for the mom who wants it light and pretty:
The Garden-Party Mom Featured
Main: the gingham-wrapped turkey and Swiss sandwiches above. Side: mandarin orange salad. Sweet: strawberries and cream. Drink: blush Mother’s Day punch. Flowers on the board, the sandwiches piled in the middle.
The Fresh and Light Mom Light
Main: grilled chicken salad bowls with lemon and olive oil. Side: one of the high-protein lunch bowls. Sweet: layered fruit parfaits. Drink: a cucumber smoothie. Bright, colourful and done in an hour.
The Mediterranean Mom Make ahead
Main: lemon-garlic chicken skewers with warm pita. Side: hummus, tabbouleh, olives and feta on one platter. Sweet: lemon bars. Drink: mint lemonade. Everything but the skewers is made the day before.
The Picnic Mom Outdoors
Main: the strawberry cream cheese croissants from the picnic list. Side: caprese skewers and a rainbow fruit board. Sweet: mini berry tarts. Drink: pink lemonade in jars. A gingham blanket, a basket, and lunch in the park.
Brunch, Tea and Make-Ahead Mother’s Day Lunch Menus
A Mother’s Day lunch table: the sandwiches on the board, a quiche, a salad, scones and a jug of blush punch among the flowers.
Menus 5 to 8:
The Brunch-Lover Mom Classic
Main: a basic quiche with spinach and cheddar. Side: fruit salad with mint. Sweet: blueberry French toast casserole. Drink: a Mother’s Day coffee. Quiche and casserole both bake in the same oven.
The Tea-Time Mom Elegant
Main: three kinds of finger sandwiches (the egg salad and smoked salmon fillings above, plus cucumber). Side: charcuTEArie cups. Sweet: rhubarb scones with clotted cream and jam. Drink: a pot of good tea.
The Make-Ahead Mom Busy
For the mom who would hate you cooking all morning. Main: crustless quiche, served at room temperature. Side: pasta salad, dressed an hour before. Sweet: cranberry orange scones. Drink: iced tea. All of it made two days ahead.
The Grazing Mom No cook
Main: a Mother’s Day board: cheeses, turkey, fruit, crackers, honey and flowers. Side: grazing cups for anyone who wants their own. Sweet: chocolate-dipped strawberries. Drink: sparkling water with citrus.
Comfort, Spice and Sweet Mother’s Day Lunch Menus
Menus 9 to 11:
The Comfort-Food Mom Cozy
Main: chicken pot pie with a crescent roll crust. Side: a crisp green salad with a lemon vinaigrette. Sweet: rhubarb cake. Drink: sparkling apple juice. The filling is made the day before; the crust goes on in the morning.
The Spice-Loving Mom Bold
Main: chicken karahi with warm naan. Side: cucumber-mint raita and a sliced onion and tomato salad. Sweet: rice kheer with cardamom and pistachios, made the day before. Drink: sweet lassi.
The Sweet-Tooth Mom Dessert
A light lunch so dessert can be the main event. Main: the featured sandwiches, halved. Side: fruit skewers. Sweet: Mother’s Day donuts and flower cakesicles. Drink: the blush punch.
More for the day:
- The table: dining table decor and brunch tablescapes
- If she prefers brunch: make-ahead brunch recipes and Mother’s Day brunch recipes
- For a crowd: the Mother’s Day buffet spread
- Tea party food: 45 tea party food ideas
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| ProblemSoggy sandwiches | Likely causeUntoasted bread, wet lettuce, tomato added early | FixToast the faces, dry the lettuce, add tomato last |
| ProblemPaper came undone | Likely causeFolded loosely, tied before folding | FixFold tight around the sandwich, then tie |
| ProblemToo much food, tired cook | Likely causeFive dishes instead of four | FixOne main, one side, one sweet, one drink |
| ProblemEverything ready at different times | Likely causeNo plan | FixThe timeline table; most of it is done the day before |
| ProblemCheese sweating, mayo warm | Likely causeOut too long | FixOut of the fridge 15 minutes before, back in after an hour |
| ProblemQuiche soggy at the base | Likely causeCrust not blind-baked | FixBlind-bake 10 minutes, or go crustless |
| ProblemPunch flat | Likely causeSoda added the night before | FixBase ahead; soda and ice at the table |
| ProblemTable looks bare | Likely causeFood in containers | FixOne board, flowers in a jar, cloth napkins |
Nutrition (approximate, per featured sandwich)
One of 8 gingham turkey and Swiss sandwiches with the honey-mustard spread. The other menus vary; the fresh and light menu is the lightest, the comfort-food menu the most filling.
Mother’s Day Lunch Ideas: FAQs
What should I make for Mother’s Day lunch?
Pick the menu that fits her: the gingham turkey sandwiches for a garden lunch, quiche and French toast casserole for a brunch-lover, finger sandwiches and scones for a tea lover, chicken karahi for a mom who likes spice. Each of the 11 menus above is a main, a side, a sweet and a drink.
What is an easy Mother’s Day lunch?
The garden-party menu: the featured sandwiches (25 minutes, made up to 4 hours ahead), a mandarin orange salad, strawberries and cream and a punch made the night before. Or the grazing board, which needs no cooking at all.
How do I make the gingham-wrapped sandwiches on the pin?
Toast the cut faces of sesame buns, spread herb honey-mustard to the edges, layer butter lettuce, folded turkey and Swiss, then fold a square of blue gingham paper up around each and tie it with twine and a herb sprig. The card above scales from 4 to 16.
Can I make Mother’s Day lunch ahead?
Most of it. Desserts two days ahead, drinks bases, dressings, fillings and salads the day before, sandwiches and quiche the morning of. The timeline table above has the whole plan.
How far ahead can sandwiches be made?
Up to 4 hours in the fridge, wrapped, if the bread is toasted, the spread goes to the edges and the lettuce sits against the bread. Add tomato and cucumber no more than an hour before.
How many dishes do I need?
Four: a main, a side, something sweet and a drink. For more than 8 people add a second side, not a second main. More than that tires the cook without adding to the lunch.
What drinks go with Mother’s Day lunch?
A blush punch, mint or pink lemonade, iced tea, sparkling apple juice, a pot of tea or sweet lassi. Every drink on these menus is alcohol-free; make the base the night before and add ice and soda at the table.
What is the difference between a Mother’s Day lunch and brunch?
Brunch leans sweet and eggy and starts around 10 or 11; lunch is savoury-first and starts nearer 1. Menus 5 and 6 are brunch- and tea-style; the rest are lunch. Either way, the four-part rule holds.
What is a good vegetarian Mother’s Day lunch?
The tea-time menu with egg salad and cucumber sandwiches, the Mediterranean mezze without the skewers, or a quiche from the brunch menu. The caprese and egg salad fillings replace the turkey in the featured sandwich.
How do I make it feel special without a lot of work?
Set the table the night before: a cloth, flowers in a jar, cloth napkins and one wooden board. Wrap the sandwiches in gingham paper. The setting does more than an extra dish.
What desserts suit a Mother’s Day lunch?
Lemon bars, rhubarb cake, scones with jam and cream, strawberries and cream, flower cakesicles and glazed donuts all appear in the menus above. Pick one; make it two days ahead.
How do I feed a crowd for Mother’s Day?
Tap 16 on the sandwich card, add the grazing board and a second side, and make a double batch of punch. Or set out the buffet spread linked above and let everyone help themselves.
Can children help make Mother’s Day lunch?
Yes: wrapping the sandwiches in gingham paper and tying the twine, arranging the fruit, setting the table and making the punch are all jobs for children. An adult handles the knife and the oven.
Is this menu halal?
Yes as written. The featured sandwiches use turkey in place of ham, every drink is alcohol-free, and vanilla is alcohol-free. Check the labels on deli turkey and cheese if that matters to you.
Save the pin so the eleven menus, the timeline and the sandwich recipe are one tap away.
More for Mother’s Day
The punch, the table, the board, the brunch, the cakesicles and the tea menu.
Blush Mother’s Day Punch
Pretty, pink and alcohol-free. See the recipe → The TableMother’s Day Table Decor
Fifteen ways to set it. See the ideas → GrazingMother’s Day Charcuterie Board
Menu 8, in full. See the guide → BrunchMake-Ahead Mother’s Day Brunch
For the morning version. See the recipes → SweetMother’s Day Cakesicles
The dessert that looks like a gift. See the recipe → Tea25+ Tea Time Menu Ideas
Menu 6, expanded. See the ideas →Find her menu, make most of it the day before, wrap the sandwiches in gingham, and sit down with her when lunch is served.
Pin these Mother’s Day lunch ideas for the week before.
