40+ Modern Passover Recipes To Spice Up Your Meals All Week Long
If you happen to be new to the springtime Jewish holiday or have been celebrating your whole life, you'll quickly learn that Passover often involves some long-established menu items you must have at your Seder dinner table. Chances are, there's a few things you are likely going to be eating all week long (hi, hello matzo), but for everything else, it’s a real mix of what you or your family and loved ones are into. Our 50 Passover dinner recipes includes both classics and innovative recipes so you can truly make the holiday your own.
The term “Passover” refers to the biblical stories of the 10 plagues sent by God to convince the Egyptian pharaoh to “let the Jewish people go” and the eventual exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. The last of the 10 plagues was the killing of all firstborn Egyptian sons, during which God instructed the Jewish people to slaughter a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood to instruct the Angel of Death to “pass over” them. After this last plague, the Pharaoh ordered the Jews to leave Egypt. As the story goes, they packed in such a hurry that they didn’t have enough time to even let their bread rise (if you’ve ever made homemade bread, you can imagine), and only were able to bring unleavened, cracker-like bread called matzo with them.
To celebrate this exodus, Jewish people today continue to remove chametz from their diets (and their homes, for some strict households) for the duration of Passover, as well as make sure all other ingredients they’re using are specified Kosher for Passover. Simply put, chametz is basically any leavened flour product like bread, cake, cookies, etc. Traditionally Jewish people also have avoided kitniyot, or legumes (like peanuts, peas, and beans), though recently modern families have begun reintroducing them into their Passover diets. In addition, they must continue to follow general Kosher rules (meat and dairy can’t be eaten in the same meal, though fish and eggs are considered neutral, or pareve; no pork products; etc.) Most families also traditionally make a seder plate full of items that help in the retelling of the Passover story before dinner.
We get it, this might all seem like a LOT. We’ll assume that if you’re keeping strictly kosher, you’ll be aware of Kosher products and the regulations you abide by, and will sub in or out of these recipes as needed. For everyone else, we hope these recipes will help broaden your perspective, and inspire you to try something new. We think the best part about appreciating a culture you’re not a part of is the opportunity to try something new, while also having the flexibility to (respectfully!) not be perfect about it.
No matter what, it’s a great time to avoid processed foods, and you’ll largely find only whole ingredients here. We’ve got options for a seder plate, like homemade charoset (and an egg salad to use up your hard-boiled eggs), as well as many noodle-less, low-carb “pasta” alternatives. Hot tips: make your noodles out of eggs, and turn your matzo into a pastrami-inspired kugel or pizza! A brisket is classic, but we’ve included some other impressive roast meats, like chicken, rack of lamb, and salmon too. Side dishes—like our cranberry apple quinoa salad, our potato kugel, and chicken matzo ball soup—are also represented. End your meal with a creative twist on matzo, like in our matzo icebox cake or our chocolate matzo toffee (we’ve got coconut macaroons, pavlova cupcakes, and a flourless chocolate coconut cake too if you’re SO over matzo by then 😜).
For more Passover inspiration, click here to see how Miayim Bialik gets ready for her (vegan) seder dinner, and here for more Slightly Kosher recipes.
Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe
A symbolic dish of past hardships, warming matzo ball soup is an essential component of the Passover feast. The time and effort you invest really pays off here; plus, it couldn’t be easier: Throw a few roughly chopped vegetables, a whole chicken or two, some herbs, and chicken stock into a large pot and basically walk away for two hours.
Get the Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce
Pavlovas have a crispy exterior with a soft, marshmallow-like interior, and these mini ones made into cupcakes are ideal for serving to guests. Dollop with a little homemade whipped cream and raspberry sauce for the perfect bite.
Get the Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce recipe.
Apple Cider Braised Brisket
Apple cider adds a subtle sweetness to a classic brisket, and after letting it braise low and slow, it will be as tender as possible. Letting the potatoes and carrots cook with the brisket flavors them from the inside out, and the whole dish will be deeply savory.
Get the Apple Cider Braised Brisket recipe.
Pastrami Matzo Kugel
Of all the various kugels (potato and noodle being the most popular), matzo kugel tends to not get any love. This incredibly flavorful Reuben-inspired recipe is here to change all that.
Get the Pastrami Matzo Kugel recipe.
Sweet & Sour Braised Red Cabbage
One of our favorite ways to prepare cabbage is to braise it. This mostly hands-off method produces perfectly crisp-tender cabbage, with a TON of flavor.
Get the Sweet & Sour Braised Red Cabbage recipe.
Hot Honey Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
Looking to spice up your usual Passover main? Make hot honey chicken and Brussels sprouts. Featuring a simple glaze hacked from a store-bought condiment, this one-skillet meal promises maximum flavor with minimal fuss, and tender chicken with gorgeous golden-brown, shatteringly crispy skin.
Get the Hot Honey Chicken & Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Chicken Matzo Ball Soup
A symbolic dish of past hardships, warming matzo ball soup is an essential component of the Passover feast. The time and effort you invest really pays off here; plus, it couldn’t be easier. Throw a few roughly chopped vegetables, a whole chicken or two, some herbs, and chicken stock into a large pot and basically walk away for two hours.
Get the Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Matzo Magic Bars
If you've ever had magic bars (aka seven-layer bars), you know a great dessert doesn't have to be complicated. These matzo-based bars are a genius play on the no-fuss sweet à la cookbook author Molly Yeh, and they're the perfect Passover dessert when you don't have time to make coconut macaroons.
Get the Matzo Magic Bars recipe.
One-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken
We paired quick-cooking chicken cutlets with a spicy-sweet coconut milk sauce that’s out-of-this-world tasty. Tomatoes (and tomato paste) bring it back down to Earth, so you can make this over and over (and over!) again this Passover. Not convinced? Did we mention this comes together in just one pan, in less than 30 minutes?!
Get the One-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken recipe.
Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad
We don’t believe in boring salads at Delish, and crunchy apples and tart cranberries bring a lot of life to this one. The slightly sweet and lemony dressing is a delight, so make extra and put it on everything during Passover.
Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.
Steamed Carrots With Hot Honey Butter
To make this delicious vegetarian side dish, you'll toss a pound of steamed carrots in a slightly spicy honey-butter glaze. Rather than cooking the carrots and the glaze together in the pan, you'll cook the carrots and the glaze separately. Serve these as part of a spring brunch spread or alongside roasted lamb at Passover.
Get the Steamed Carrots With Hot Honey Butter recipe.
Feta & Herb Crusted Salmon
For this Mediterranean-inspired dish, you just arrange your salmon on a sheet tray (lined with aluminum foil for the easiest cleanup), sprinkle on the toppings, and bake it for 25 minutes. No flipping, no sticking, and no mess!
Get the Feta & Herb Crusted Salmon recipe.
Roast Chicken
The perfect roast chicken recipe doesn't require a lot of extra ingredients, just some kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Really! That's it. The steps to make this chicken are simple, too: You season the bird, then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy. The perfect centerpiece to your Passover dinner, this roast chicken recipe is an absolute must to have up your sleeve.
Get the Roast Chicken recipe.
Air Fryer Coconut Macaroons
These are the perfect bite-size treat for any time of day—feel free to skip the chocolate if you want to keep them less sweet. For a pink, raspberry version, smash 1/4 cup fresh raspberries into the foamy egg white mixture with a fork and then toss in the coconut.
Get the Air Fryer Coconut Macaroons recipe.
Matzo Pizza
Whether you observe Passover and have leftover matzo to use up or are just looking for a crispy, crunchy, thin-crust pizza, this recipe is going to be a hit. Use this recipe as a guide to whatever flavor combinations you can think of!
Get the Matzo Pizza recipe.
Rack of Lamb
A roasted rack of lamb is the perfect Passover showstopper. Don't forget to make this with enough time to spare—as with other meats, you'll want to let it rest before carving to ensure that all the juices stay locked in.
Get the Rack of Lamb recipe.
House Latkes With Horseradish
Though latkes are commonly served with applesauce and plain sour cream, here, they get a flavor-boost with a spicy horseradish and chive sour cream topping, which adds savory depth to each bite.
Get the House Latkes With Horseradish recipe.
Feta, Spinach, & Tomato Stuffed Salmon
We're always on the hunt for Passover dinner ideas that can do double-duty as a casual dinner wonder and a seder party stunner, and this stuffed salmon does just that. Oven-roasted salmon is already delicious on its own, but adding a filling made of briny feta cheese, earthy cooked spinach, and savory-sweet cherry tomatoes will take your favorite fish up a few notches.
Get the Feta, Spinach, & Tomato Stuffed Salmon recipe.
Chicken Marbella
The most signature part of this dish has to be the complex, sweet-briny marinade that flavors our chicken. With prunes, olives, capers, and herbs, this marinade might seem surprising, but trust us—the result is a flavor-packed dish you won't be able to get enough of.
Get the Chicken Marbella recipe.
Best Chicken Salad
We'd argue that our balance of add-ins here is the pinnacle, but once you nail the chicken and the dressing, you can feel free to spread your wings and give it your own personal flair.
Get the Best Chicken Salad recipe.
Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots
This recipe made us wonder, Why don’t we roast carrots more often? When they roast, their flavor concentrates and sweetens. Pair that with copious amounts of umami-packed Parmesan and just a touch of lemon, and you’ve got a super-irresistible dish you’ll come back to again and again.
Get the Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots recipe.
Tzimmes
The word tzimmes has its origins in Yiddish: To "make a big tzimmes about something" essentially means making a big fuss. Here, there's hardly any! The carrots and dates are quickly braised in an orange sauce and finished with fresh parsley for a pop of green.
Get the Tzimmes recipe.
Giant Skillet Latke
To serve this giant latke, you’ll want impressive toppings such as smoked salmon with sour cream, capers, or maybe even a spoonful of caviar. For a sweet-savory combination, try applesauce and crème fraîche.
Get the Giant Skillet Latke recipe.
One-Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus
We're always looking for new ways to switch up our Passover chicken dishes, and when we're craving something light and easy, this one-pan meal is one we turn to again and again. Chicken, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes are all cooked alongside a sharp, acidic, yet sweet homemade balsamic glaze in this recipe, so you can enjoy a dinner with maximum flavor and minimum cleanup.
Get the One-Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus recipe.
Roast Lamb
Roasting a lamb shoulder is just as easy, if not easier, than roasting a chicken. All you need to do is rub your roast with a mixture of fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil and throw it in the oven for an hour or so. Bonus points if you roast the meat on top of a bed of potatoes for the perfect complete meal.
Get the Roast Lamb recipe.
Salmon & Potato Skillet
We love a hands-off dinner, and this salmon and potato skillet is just that. In just 45 minutes, you’ll have an easy, delicious, and filling meal that can be customized every time you make it (so go ahead and make it more than once this Passover week!).
Get the Salmon & Potato Skillet recipe.
Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles
Missing noodles this Passover? Make these cacio e pepe sweet potato noodles. Tossed in buttery black pepper sauce and showered with Parmesan and Pecorino, these sweet potato noodles are so delicious that no one will even think about asking for “regular” pasta.
Get the Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles recipe.
Matzo Granola
Observing Passover doesn’t have to mean missing out on your favorite carby breakfast foods, especially if you’re a cereal nut. When crumbled by hand, the ever-versatile unsalted matzo makes a crisp yet hearty base for the perfect granola.
Get the Matzo Granola recipe.
Baked Salmon
This baked salmon is the best way to feed a crowd. There's no skillet cooking at all—everything is oven-baked in foil, making prep and cleanup a breeze. We believe it might just be the best baked salmon recipe...ever, and it goes super well with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
Get the Baked Salmon recipe.
Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cake
Don't be surprised when you see cracks in the top of this chocolate cake—this is normal with flourless cakes, since steam causes the batter to expand while baking. When the temperature cools, it'll collapse back down, creating the signature cracks. Topped with a layer of cocoa powder, the result is gorgeously artistic.
Get the Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cake recipe.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
For when you're craving pizza this Passover, use cauliflower instead of wheat for the crust! Top with your fave veggies (just avoid meat if you're keeping kosher).
Get the Cauliflower Pizza Crust recipe.
Coconut Curry Salmon
The coconut milk and spice go so well together here, making a rich, but not heavy, sauce that really tastes and feels far more complicated than it is. The salmon simmers in the milk, keeping it very tender and flaky and extra flavorful. Spoon the sauce over the salmon a few times as it cooks to give it a nice coating, then serve with cauliflower rice!
Get the Coconut Curry Salmon recipe.
Potato Kugel
For when you can't have traditional noodle kugel (😥), this gluten-free potato kugel is the next best thing. It's essentially a giant latke!
Get the Potato Kugel recipe.
Ultimate Macaroons
When you just can't stand any more matzo-based desserts, make these gluten-free coconut macaroons instead. You could skip the chocolate, but we don't recommend it. 😉
Get the Ultimate Macaroons recipe.
Cacio E Pepe Egg Noodles
Cacio e pepe is one of our all time FAVORITE pasta dishes. This lightened-up version calls for making your egg noodles from scratch, sans flour—the good news is it's SO much easier than it sounds. All you need is a good nonstick pan, and you'll be on your way to OU-P pasta bliss.
Get the Cacio E Pepe Egg Noodles recipe.
Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup
Cozy and nourishing, we crave matzo ball soup pretty much year-round, though it's a MUST for Passover. Although schmaltz (AKA chicken fat) and chicken broth are typically included in this classic Ashkenazi Jewish soup, it’s not hard to swap in vegetarian-friendly ingredients.
Get the Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Smashed Potatoes
These crispy potatoes are totally versatile; you can top them with cheddar, ranch seasoning (good use for any leftover seder plate karpas, or parsley), or even brie. Skip the Parmesan and swap the butter for olive oil if you want to serve these alongside meat as a side, or put them out alongside toothpicks as an app.
Get the Smashed Potatoes recipe.
Gefilte Fish
After making these, buying store-bought gefilte fish will be a thing of the past. Serve these with horseradish leftover from your seder plate for the full experience.
Get the Gefilte Fish recipe.
Savory Matzo Brei
We like sour cream and chives on our savory version, but you could also go sweet (breakfast for dinner?) with applesauce, jam, or even maple syrup. To make this more desserty, skip the onions and add a little sugar and cinnamon. Yum!
Get the Savory Matzo Brei recipe.
Charoset
Perfect for your seder plate! Feel free to swap in your preferred nuts and dried fruit—promise it'll turn out just as good whatever you go with.
Get the Charoset recipe.
Matzoh Icebox Cake
This tastes just like tiramisu! Make it the day before your celebration to ensure the matzo has enough time to soak and turn cakey.
Get the Matzoh Icebox Cake recipe.
Zucchini Ravioli
Is there any noodle zucchini can't replace? Have a bounty of zucchini you want to use? Check out our zucchini lattice lasagna or our zucchini lasagna roll-ups too.
Get the Zucchini Ravioli recipe.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Cocoa powder and eggs give this gluten-free cake all the lift and structure it needs. It can be made ahead of time too—just wait 'til right before serving to pour the ganache to really wow your guests.
Get the Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe.
Zucchini Lattice Lasagna
No noodles here! Pro tip: Dab your zucchini with a towel when the lasagna is done cooking, then broil the cheese on top so it gets extra bubbly and crispy.
Get the Zucchini Lattice Lasagna recipe.
Instant Pot Cheesy Spaghetti Squash
You can top spaghetti squash however you like, but for a vegetarian, wheat-free meal we love treating it as "lasagna." Italian-inspired food is also a great use of any leftover seder plate karpas, or parsley, for garnish.
Get the Instant Pot Cheesy Spaghetti Squash recipe.
Beef Brisket
Making a giant, roasted brisket for your family or friends is basically the best way to say “I love you” this Passover, and not because it took you hours and hours. This preparation is much easier and quicker but doesn't sacrifice flavor or tenderness.
Get the Beef Brisket recipe.
Sweet Potato Salad
Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of sweet potatoes. Did we mention it's great warm or cold (which means you can make it ahead and eat it all Passover week long!)?
Get the Sweet Potato Salad recipe.
Slow-Cooker Brisket
If you've always avoided making this hearty meal for your Passover dinner because of how labor intensive it may seem, let us introduce a superhero: the slow cooker. Be prepared—this dish will make your kitchen smell divine.
Get the Slow-Cooker Brisket recipe.
Chocolate Toffee Matzo
This candy has become a post-seder classic and is a great way to utilize any extra matzo you bought. Make a lot and give as gifts!
Get the Chocolate Toffee Matzo recipe.
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