Southern Soul Food Mother’s Day Dinner Ideas – Are you wondering, “What would be a good dinner menu for Mother’s Day?” or how to make your mom or wife feel special on this day? You’ve come to the right place for soul food dinner ideas rich in seasoning and flavor, just like how mom always nourishes you!
Here I am with my mom, after making our family’s buttermilk fried chicken recipe.
How can you make Mother’s Day special?
Mother’s Day honors the culinary skills handed down through generations and fills the day with nostalgia and family connections. It is a celebration not only of mothers but also of shared memories, brought to life on your Mother’s Day menu with every bite of pecan pie to every sip of sweet tea.
The Soul Food Pot is inspired by my Great-Grandma Florence’s Southern soul food recipes.
To capture the essence of Southern cuisine for your Mother’s Day dinner, focus on a table setting that complements beloved Southern dishes such as fried chicken, gumbo, and peach cobbler.
To create a warm and inviting atmosphere, incorporate classic Southern elements. Perhaps checkered tablecloths and mason jars for drinks like sweet tea. These touches pay homage to traditional Southern cooking and provide the perfect backdrop for enjoying comfort food favorites, from macaroni and cheese to sweet potato pie.
Soul food Mother’s Day dinner ideas
A good dinner made exceptional for Mother’s Day includes a variety of flavorful dishes, from fried chicken to seasoned pasta recipes. The curated dishes listed here are essential for creating comforting soul food meals.
Each dish features a rich blend of seasonings, flavors, and traditions, making them perfect for an exceptional dinner to celebrate the incredible mothers in your life on their special day!
This dish stands at the heart of your Southern Mother's Day celebration, embodying the warmth and love that soul food fried chicken effortlessly imparts.
You don't need to take mom to a restaurant for Southern BBQ chicken. With my easy recipe for Southern baked BBQ chicken, she can enjoy the same delicious savory flavors in the comfort of her home!
Need to nourish and unite a nation? Then you need Madam VP's (Mamala's) quick and easy recipe for a Sunshine State-inspired dish, perfect for a quick resolution for a family meal, thanks to the Instant Pot!
Imagine the delight in your mother's eyes as you serve this blueberry chicken thighs recipe. It's a novel twist on a soul food classic but also saves precious time, allowing for more moments spent with her and the family.
Crispy skin and moist, juicy, flavorful meat embody a Southern turkey recipe cherished in Black culture. It's an exceptional addition to your Mother's Day soul food menu.
Experience the delightful fusion of Southern comfort and home-style goodness in this incredible chicken pot pie recipe that will have mom's taste buds singing!
With simple, soulful seasonings, succulent lamb chops become not just a meal but an expression of enduring love and gratitude when served on Mother's Day.
Thus, let us pledge to make each meal for our mothers with a banquet of love, starting with the comforting embrace of a soulfully made Southern meatloaf recipe.
This dish features tender shrimp combined with zesty Italian dressing in a pasta salad. Serve it to mom on Mother's Day to celebrate flavors and strengthen family connections.
This Southern spaghetti recipe embodies the loving gesture of providing mom with food for the body and nourishment for the soul, reflecting the essence of Southern hospitality.
The simple joy of sitting down to a family dinner featuring spaghetti tossed in a flavorful red sauce and topped with shredded seasoned chicken is something mom can appreciate.
This Instant Pot recipe beautifully combines simplicity with sophistication, showcasing how technology blends with tradition to create family-style dishes that resonate with the essence of Southern cooking and timeless gatherings for Mother's Day.
Consider these easy soul food side dishes for your Mother’s Day Sunday dinner. They not only nourish the body but also uplift the spirit, bringing your dinner together in joy and remembrance. These dishes, rich in generations of love and skill, provide the perfect backdrop to honor mom and celebrate the family bonds that define you.
Southern potato salad is a must-have for any African American holiday celebration. Mom will surely miss this creamy and tangy dressing, balanced with soul food seasonings and flavors if it's not part of her Mother's Day feast!
Macaroni salad is an essential part of Black culinary traditions. The choice of ingredients respects tradition, while a handful of soulful seasonings and spices enhance the flavor. It's a recipe for success and the perfect addition to Mother's Day!
Soul food coleslaw recipes are packed with flavor! This classic dish pairs perfectly with smoky BBQ meats and is a must-have for a Mother's Day cookout menu.
Candied yams are infused with a legacy of love and resilience. They tell a story of generations, hard work, and the incredible women who have passed these recipes down through the years.
In Southern cuisine, savory breads and dressings stand at the heart of every celebratory meal. These are not just accompaniments but pivotal elements that shape the Mother's Day dining experience.
A comforting Southern cabbage recipe embodies love, tradition, and the warmth of African American Southern cooking. These meals provide a perfect opportunity to honor the women who shaped who we are today.
Gather the secret ingredient to make Mama's hearty red beans and rice because a Mother's Day gathering does more than just satisfy hunger. It strengthens familial bonds and fosters a deep sense of belonging.
Soul food cornbread has become a staple for occasions like Mother's Day. It adds an essential layer of warmth and familiarity that binds the entire meal together.
For a perfect finale, consider serving banana pudding or peach cobbler—two quintessential Southern desserts. These dishes originated from this region, providing the South with an extraordinary claim to each. These delightful desserts will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth at your Mother’s Day dinner.
For Mother's Day, banana pudding serves as a sweet tribute to the warmth and nurturing nature of mothers everywhere. Its layered combination of vanilla-flavored custard, ripe bananas, and soft Nilla Wafers, all topped with a light meringue or whipped cream, provides a comforting hug in every bite.
A homemade, moist yellow cake topped with whipped pineapple frosting, filled with vanilla pudding, and sweet mandarin oranges. Pig pickin cake is as unique as its name, making it a perfect standout recipe for Mother's Day, capturing the joy of sharing a special menu with mom.
The allure of my soul food carrot cake recipe lies deep within its spiced complexity. This is my Great-Grandma Florence's recipe. It seamlessly melds the warmth of spices with the luxurious texture of finely grated carrots and a creamy frosting to top off the experience.
In the Black community, sweet potato pie is a testament to a commitment to celebrate mothers. Traditionally prepared with love and patience, this dessert carries sweet, earthy flavors that resonate with comfort and nostalgia.
The table on Mother's Day wouldn't be complete without the luscious presence of pecan pie. This dessert fills the room with the aroma of sweet, toasted nuts. The golden and crumbly crust pairs perfectly with the rich, caramelized filling.
A soul food apple pie recipe takes a beloved American classic and infuses it with a unique Southern twist, making it an absolute must-have for any Mother's Day celebration. It's a heartwarming tribute to the love and care mothers have shown throughout the years.
Southern red velvet cake offers a taste of tradition and love wrapped in its velvety texture. This cake stands out with its iconic deep red hue, a symbol of love and celebration, making it perfect for honoring mothers.
With its molten center, this dessert pairs perfectly with the classic comfort found in Southern baking. It offers a delightful surprise for mom that captures the essence of celebratory desserts.
Why wait to start the festivities at dinner? Surprise Mom early with her favorite Southern dishes from my soul food Mother’s Day brunch menu. It’s not complete without sweet tea, a refreshing staple that harmonizes with every dish.
For a boozy brunch, consider Moscato sangria or adding bourbon to your sweet tea to bring warmth to the celebration. These iconic and beloved beverages perfectly embody the essence of Southern hospitality.
Every memorable Mother's Day brunch begins with the perfect drink. It sets a celebratory tone and creates a warm atmosphere from the very start. Southern sweet tea embodies tales of tradition, Southern hospitality, and care—ingredients woven into every sip.
Raise a glass and toast to the maternal figures in your life! Moscato sangria is a vibrant mix that bridges the old with the new. Its effervescence and fruity notes dance on the palate, promising a Mother's Day brunch filled with laughter and cherished conversations.
A Mother's Day brunch filled with Southern charm isn't complete without delicious starters. Fruit-infused water serves as the ideal introduction to the feast, celebrating refreshing beginnings and embodying the essence of Southern hospitality.
Refreshers like the Disney Dole Whip, a favorite at the Southern Florida theme park, cleanse the palate. Refreshers like this at brunch pave the way for a culinary journey to "The Most Magical Place On Earth," Disney World, highlighting some of mom's most memorable experiences!
For Mother's Day brunch, the perfect blend of creamy, buttery grits is paired with spicy, succulent shrimp, making every bite a delightful experience. This dish has been a favorite for generations, effortlessly capturing the essence of Southern hospitality and culinary mastery.
A heartfelt fried chicken and waffles recipe serves as a tribute to the maternal figures in our lives. It expresses gratitude and love and plays a special role in the day's celebration. It's an irresistible choice, seamlessly merging breakfast and dinner favorites into one spectacular meal!
Deviled eggs are a staple at any Southern table, embodying the perfect blend of creamy and spicy flavors that welcome mom with delicious flavor and open arms.
In the heart of every Southern brunch lies a hidden gem, a dish that refreshes the palate and delights the senses. This is where the Southern tomato watermelon salad shines. It embodies the essence of Mother's Day recipes, offering a refreshing contrast to the richer, more decadent dishes typical of Southern cuisine.
Are you searching for a classic Southern bread pudding or a soul food African American bread pudding recipe for your Mother's Day celebration? Look no further—this is your easy go-to recipe!
The Southern tea cake offers a delicate and tender finish, evoking memories of past celebrations and honoring moms who have nurtured and shaped generations.
Pour your love into making this delicious goddess recipe for mom! While mythical ambrosia of the gods granted immortality to those who consumed it, our version offers a divine and refreshing taste that beautifully complements fried chicken and potato salad. This sweet addition enhances the richness of Mother's Day brunch, making it an unforgettable experience.
What recipes do you wish your mom or grandmother had passed down to you?
If there’s a recipe you wish had been passed down, you can create a new tradition and impress your mom with these classic soul food recipes. They are quick and easy to make, with step-by-step instructions.
From Southern banana pudding prepared the traditional Black way to sweet potato pie, these soul food recipes are approved by moms, grandmas, and aunties! These authentic soul food recipes are so delicious that your mom will think you brought home takeout from her favorite Southern eatery!
How can you make your mom or wife feel special on Mother's Day? You've come to the right place for soul food dinner ideas, such as my Southern buttermilk fried chicken recipe. This dish is rich in seasoning and flavor, just like how mom always nourishes you!
3cupsbuttermilk(Buttermilk = 3 cups of milk & 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar)
1teaspoonsalt
Ingredients for Black folks soul food buttermilk fried chicken
6-8pieceschickenor one 3-pound chicken cut into pieces
48ozpeanut oilor vegetable oil
2cupsall-purpose flourdivided
1 ½teaspoongarlic powder
1 ½teaspoononion powder
1 ½teaspoonpaprika
1 ½teaspoonsalt
¾teaspoonred pepper
¾teaspoonblack pepper
1egg
½cupbuttermilk (½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk & ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar)
Instructions
Instructions for buttermilk marinade chicken brine
To make homemade buttermilk, use 3 cups of milk and 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the two ingredients together and let them sit for 5 minutes.
Open the Instant Pot lid and add the buttermilk and 1 teaspoon of salt to the stainless steel inner pot.
Add the chicken pieces, skin-side up, to the pot with the buttermilk. (No Instant Pot? No problem! – allow the chicken to marinate in the buttermilk for 4 hours to overnight.)
Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is in the sealing position – up) and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot (you can discard the buttermilk) and set the chicken pieces aside on a rimmed baking sheet to cool off to the touch.
Instructions for soul food buttermilk Southern fried chicken
Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into a deep fryer, 6-quart skillet, or Dutch oven until the oil is 1-inch deep.
Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up. Place 1 cup of the divided flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl (or 1-gallon resealable food storage bag).
Shake (or mix) the sealed bag to combine the ingredients for a homemade poultry seasoning, and set the flour mixture aside.
Pour the second cup of flour into a second resealable bag (or medium-sized mixing bowl) and set it aside.
Whisk together ½ a cup of buttermilk and egg in another medium-sized bowl, and set that mixture aside too.
Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
The chicken will go through a 3-step process from here.
First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture.
Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
Place the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, skin-side down, and be careful not to overcrowd the chicken in the oil. You can fry a second batch if need be to avoid overcrowding by frying all the chicken at once. Just make sure the hot oil remains at 350 degrees F.
Cook the chicken pieces for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
As the chicken batter turns golden brown, remove it from the hot oil.
Allow the chicken to drain in a closed container (to keep the fried chicken warm) with a paper towel under the chicken.
Serve soul food Southern buttermilk fried chicken right away, and enjoy!
What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!