Cheap Recipes for Mother’s Day

Updated 4/22/23

Make something special for your mom on Mother’s Day – without spending a lot of money. Here are dozens of cheap recipes for Mother’s Day: Make her a meal, a special dessert or a gift from the kitchen.

Budget-Friendly Mother’s Day Recipes

If you’re cash-strapped but still want to give your mother something special for Mother’s Day, consider making her something homemade. The old saying is true: Homemade gifts are the best gifts!

Moms like things like salads, little sandwiches, appetizers, and pretty desserts.

Save the meat and potatoes for Father’s Day.

Here, I’ve chosen some of my favorite cheap recipes that I think your mom will love!

Get the recipe: Assemble a European-style breakfast bar (on the cheap!)

Get the recipe: Glazed donut muffins

Get the recipe: Chocolate-covered strawberries made in an ice cube tray

Get the recipe: Brown butter brownies

Get the recipe: Lentil, feta, grape, and walnut salad

Get the recipe: Grape, proscuitto, and arugula flatbread

Get the recipe: Spicy tuna sushi bowls (fully cooked!)

Get the recipe: Cashew caramel turtles

Get the recipe: Raw carrot cake

Get the recipe: Norwegian almond cake

Get the recipe: Dessert charcuterie board

Get the recipe: Pimento-green olive spread

Get the recipe: Vegetable pizza (served cold)

What Can I Cook For My Mom On Mother’s Day?

First, decide whether you want to cook your mom a meal (breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner) or a special dessert or other homemade treat.

Then, consider what your mom loves to eat. If you’ve decided on breakfast or brunch, figure out what your mom’s favorite breakfast foods are.

Naturally, every mom has different tastes. But if you’re looking for some fun recipes to try that are generally enjoyed by most moms (and most anyone!), check out: Breakfast croquettes, homemade empanadas, super simple chocolate truffle dip (with strawberries) or mini pies.

Pro Tip: Moms Love Appetizer Spreads

If you want to surprise your mother with something really special, why not assemble an appetizer platter? Choose from one of these budget-friendly ideas:

• Harvest/fall appetizer platter
• How to assemble a veggie tray on a budget
• How to assemble an unforgettable charcuterie platter on a budget
• How to set up a hummus bar
• Budget-friendly mezze platter
• The $10 appetizer spread

How Can I Make Mother’s Day Special Without Spending A Lot Of Money?

There are so many ways to honor your mother on Mother’s Day without spending a lot of money.

• Make her something special: Any of the aforementioned recipes are great for Mother’s Day. Make her a meal or her favorite dessert.
• Do something special for her: You don’t have to cook or bake to celebrate your mom. Consider doing something for her instead, like taking care of all the chores for the day or doing the laundry. As a gift, consider framing some beloved family pictures or making a photo collage. Create a Mother’s Day handprint craft. Write her a poem or make her a homemade card. Spend some quality time with her by going for a walk or taking her out for coffee. Think about her favorite hobbies and interests and plan your celebration around that.

Remember: You don’t have to spend a lot of money to celebrate your mom, grandma, mother-in-law or other special woman in your life. Whether you make one of these cheap recipes or do something else for your mom, it’s truly the thought that counts!

Need more inspiration? Check out my Cheap recipes for Mother’s Day Pinterest board.

And let’s not forget the dads! Check out this list of 50 cheap recipes for Father’s Day.

Honoring My Own Mom

It takes some people decades to realize that they’re turning out to be just like their mothers. I, on the other hand, have known it for quite a long time. Here are some of our similarities:

• We both love coffee shops
• We’re both scared of flying, but tolerate it to go on great trips together
• We both love going on walks
• We’re both tireless bargain shoppers, enjoying thrift shops and garage sales
• We’re both terrified of mice
• We both prefer to be out and about doing something, as opposed to sitting inside
• We both like animal prints, scarves, accessories, and flashy shoes (although comfortable clothing is preferred when nobody is looking!)
• We both love croissants, clam chowder, and peanut butter and honey on toast

Happy Mother’s Day, mom! I am truly blessed to have such a loving, supportive, energetic, up-for-anything, generally awesome mother like you!