Friends, are you ready for some seriously good Passover food? I sure am!
Passover, which you might also know as Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday where families and friends gather to share the story of Exodus. And you know a huge part of that celebration is the food!
For eight days, we say goodbye to pasta and cereal, but we say hello to some of my all-time favorites. These recipes are the real deal, perfect for making your Seder dinner a complete hit.
1. Matzo Lasagna
Matzo Lasagna? Oh my gosh, YES. This kosher, vegetarian lasagna is so unbelievably good, you are going to want to make it all the time, so you should probably just bookmark this recipe right now.
It’s loaded up with all your favorite veggies and herbs like onions, spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, garlic, and basil. Then you get to smother it in three different cheeses.
The result is a totally restaurant-worthy lasagna that everyone will go wild for. It’s a home run.
2. Easy Coleslaw
Coleslaw is already a pretty simple dish, but this version? You can whip it up in five minutes or even less. Does it get any easier than that? I think not!
You can totally make your own coleslaw mix if you’re feeling it, but it tastes just as delicious with a store-bought bag. All you have to do is make the homemade dressing and toss it all together.
Just remember to let it chill in the fridge for at least a couple of hours before serving. Easy-peasy.
3. Matzo Brei (Fried Matzah)
Okay, let’s talk about Matzo Brei. At its heart, it’s scrambled eggs with some delicious fried matzo thrown in. You can also get creative and make it omelet-style or even cake-style, but I’m a huge fan of the scrambled version.
Want to jazz it up? Go for it! Add some cheese, smoked salmon, grilled onions, or your go-to herbs and spices. Seriously, if you can scramble an egg, you can absolutely nail this dish.
4. Baked Salmon
Whether you need a main course for Passover or just a fantastic weeknight dinner, you can’t go wrong with baked salmon. It’s a delicious, nutritious, and a pretty healthy choice.
For this one, you’ll season it with salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian herb seasoning. Give it a spritz of lemon juice and garnish with a lemon slice. Pop that beauty in the oven for about 15 minutes, and you’ve got yourself a light but totally filling entree. So good!
5. Pot Roast
I am all about any recipe I can toss in the slow cooker and forget about. Talk about the ultimate cooking convenience! Plus, pot roast is just one of those dishes that feels so homey and comforting.
This version is packed with carrots, onions, and red potatoes. It gets its unique, savory flavor from red wine and Worcestershire sauce, and it’s a taste the whole family is going to love. This is a must-make.
6. Roast Chicken
This has to be one of my favorite Passover chicken recipes. It has that perfectly crispy skin that’s slathered in the most mouth-watering garlic and lemon butter.
The inside is so tender, moist, and unbelievably juicy. It’s herby, garlicky, and served in its own liquid gold juices. I’m just saying, you might never want to make chicken any other way again.
7. Tzimmes
Tzimmes means “to make a fuss,” and trust me, everyone will be making a fuss over this gorgeous, colorful, and slightly sweet Passover side dish.
It’s a stunner, filled with root veggies like orange yams, white sweet potatoes, and carrots. It also features dried fruits, including apples, prunes, and cranberries.
A splash of orange juice, a dash of cinnamon, and some honey bring it all together into something that’s as yummy as it is beautiful.
8. Chocolate Matzo Layer Cake
I’m not entirely sure what makes matzo so perfect for layered sweet treats, but whatever it is, I am so here for it. This cake is kind of like a cross between tiramisu and an ice-box cake.
It’s sweet, but not overwhelmingly so, thanks to the coffee-soaked matzo layers. And the best part? It’s 100% kosher. It’s a total winner.
9. Matzo Granola
Giving up granola can be tough for some people, so I say don’t! Just make it with matzo instead. You’ll throw in lots of chopped nuts, and add some honey, sugar, coconut, cinnamon, and spices.
Bake it until the matzo gets dry and the coconut turns a beautiful golden brown. Let it cool completely to get it as crispy as possible. Then, just mix in your favorite dried fruits and add it to yogurt, milk, or however you love to enjoy your granola.
10. Cauliflower Rice
So, even though rice isn’t a leavened food, tradition keeps it off the table for most families during their Passover seders. Unless, of course, it’s cauliflower rice!
Cauliflower rice is also a lighter and healthier option than regular rice. It’s an awesome choice for anyone who is diabetic or following a low-carb or keto diet.
11. Brisket
Brisket is such a classic Passover dish, and it tastes incredible any time of year. As you probably know, it takes a little while to cook, but honestly, nothing beats a flavorful smoked brisket, no matter how long it takes.
All you need to do is trim it, season it, wrap it up in butcher paper, and let it smoke on the grill. When it’s done, you’ll have a perfectly seasoned, tender, and juicy masterpiece.
12. Passover Popovers
I can’t help it; every time I see a recipe for Passover popovers, I have to play the “say that five times fast” game. It’s just so fun to say! And luckily, they’re also incredibly easy to make and taste amazing.
They are so soft and moist, with a pleasing outer crust that’s just perfectly crumbly. You can shape them like rolls or make them more like muffins. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
13. Charoset
Any recipe that includes apples, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and wine is a recipe I can get behind. The secret to making this the best charoset you’ve ever tasted? Chop the apples and walnuts by hand.
It gives it the most perfect texture that you just can’t achieve with a food processor. Oh, and don’t forget to lightly toast the walnuts before adding them. It makes a huge difference!
14. Jewish Sweet and Sour Meatballs
If you’re wanting to add a little bit of an ethnic twist to your traditional Passover meal, you should definitely consider these sweet and sour meatballs.
They do require several ingredients and a bit of time to get just right, but once they’re done, they are a fantastic treat. They have that perfect balance between sweet and tangy that will absolutely delight your taste buds.
15. Moist Passover Apple Cake
Everything you need to know about this incredible dessert is right in the name: Moist Passover apple cake.
It has a delightful tartness, thanks to the Granny Smith apples and orange juice. It’s also sweet, cinnamony, and just like the name says, so incredibly moist.
Every single bite is soft and will just melt in your mouth. So, so good.
16. Homemade Horseradish
Looking for some hot stuff? With this homemade horseradish, you’ll have all the heat you can handle.
You only need some peeled and diced horseradish root, water, sea salt, and white wine vinegar to make two cups of this yummy, mouth-fiery horseradish.
If you want a milder version, add the vinegar right after processing. If you like it HOT, just wait a little longer before adding it in.
17. Cauliflower Chocolate Pudding
Have you ever wished you could eat something sweet and decadent and have it count toward your daily veggie intake? Well, now you can!
This indulgent chocolate pudding is made from cauliflower, yes, cauliflower! It also has 10 pitted Medjool dates in it. It’s vegan-friendly and excellent down to the very last spoonful.
And if you have any leftovers, which, let’s be real, is unlikely, you can refrigerate them for about a day.
18. Apple Matzo Kugel
This dish is just incredible, packed with sweet, apple-cinnamony goodness. It’s also filled with raisins, dried apricots, butter, orange juice, and brown sugar.
If you’re on the hunt for a delicious dessert that doesn’t have any yeast or other forbidden ingredients, this is hands-down one of the best choices out there. It’s a total must-try.
19. Chocolate Covered Matzo
When you’re looking for a lazy Passover dessert that takes almost no effort but tastes like it came from a fancy bakery, what do you reach for? Matzo, of course! Then, you cover it in chocolate. Yep, that’s seriously all it takes.
Cover your matzo in a melted butter and sugar mixture, then top it all with kosher chocolate chips. They’ll melt into a yummy layer of milk and semi-sweet chocolate.
After that, you just freeze the whole thing and break it into smaller, bite-sized pieces. It’s a dream.
20. Matzo Ball Soup
Whether you’re making this traditional Jewish soup for Passover, Rosh Hashanah, or just a cozy, rainy weekend, this recipe is one of the best around.
It’s so simple to follow, and you can even prep parts of it ahead of time if you’re short on time. The Matzo balls are so light and buoyant, they’ll float gently right on top of your soup. It’s just perfect.
21. Harvard Beets
For me to truly enjoy beets, they have to be cooked exceptionally well, but I really do like Harvard beets. (And no, I’m not totally sure why they’re called that.)
They’re made with salt, sugar, cornstarch, and cider vinegar, and when they’re done, they look almost exactly like sliced cranberry sauce. They pair beautifully with just about any kind of meat. You have to give them a try.
22. Horseradish Sauce with Beets
This sauce is the absolute perfect way to add a bit of tang and a whole lot of heat to any sandwich or protein dish you’re making. Some people like to use it as a dipping sauce, but wow, it is hot!
I prefer to just add a little to my food for that extra kick. I think trying to dip anything into it would probably set me on fire!
23. Passover Rainbow Cookies
I know what you’re probably thinking. “Hey, wait a minute! I thought you said no cookies during Passover!” And you’re right, I did say that.
But these “cookies” are more like tiny, moist, and fluffy layered cakes that are made from matzo meal. The kids will especially go nuts for them because of their bright, colorful centers and that rich chocolate glaze on top. They’re a guaranteed hit!