If you’re hunting for the very best Passover dishes to carry you through a beautiful Seder, I’ve gathered up 23 of my absolute favorites right here. From the first bite of charoset to the last crumb of chocolate-covered matzo, I’ve got all the cozy, traditional recipes you need, plus a few delicious surprises in between.
1. Easy Coleslaw
Coleslaw is always pretty simple, but you can stir this Easy coleslaw together in five minutes flat. It truly doesn’t get any speedier than that.
You can shred your own mix if you like, though using a bag from the store tastes every bit as good. All you need to do is whisk up the homemade dressing and toss everything together.
2. Moist Passover Apple Cake
Everything you need to know about this lovely dessert is sitting right in the title: moist Passover apple cake. The Granny Smith apples and orange juice bring a delightful little tartness that balances all the sweetness and cinnamon. Every single bite is incredibly soft, tender, and melts right in your mouth, exactly as promised.
3. Matzo Brei (Fried Matzah)
Matzo brei is basically my favorite scrambled eggs with crispy fried bits of matzo tucked right in. You can press it into an omelet or a cake-like round, but I’ll always reach for the scramble method.
Want to dress it up? Toss in cheese, smoked salmon, grilled onions, or any herbs and spices you love. If you know how to scramble an egg, you’ve totally got this.
4. Harvard Beets
I need beets to be cooked exceptionally well before I really enjoy them, and these Harvard beets always win me over. They’re made with salt, sugar, cornstarch, and cider vinegar, and once done they look almost exactly like slices of jellied cranberry sauce. They pair so nicely alongside just about any meat dish on the plate.
5. Cauliflower Chocolate Pudding
Have you ever wished you could eat something deeply sweet and decadent and have it genuinely count toward your daily fruits and veggies? Now you can.
This indulgent chocolate pudding is made from cauliflower, yes cauliflower, plus ten pitted Medjool dates. It’s totally vegan friendly and excellent down to the very last spoonful.
6. Matzo Ball Soup
Whether I’m ladling this traditional Jewish soup into bowls for Passover, Rosh Hashanah, or just a chilly, rainy afternoon, it’s always one of my top picks. The steps are wonderfully simple, and you can even prep pieces ahead when your schedule feels tight. The matzo balls turn out airy and light, bobbing gently right on the surface of the broth like little savory clouds.
7. Passover Rainbow Cookies
I can already hear you thinking, “Hold on, I thought cookies were off the table for Passover!” And you’d be right, but these “cookies” are really more like tiny, moist, fluffy layered cakes built from matzo meal. The kids will absolutely flip for the brightly colored centers and that rich chocolate glaze spread over the top.
8. Chocolate Matzo Layer Cake
I’m not entirely sure what it is about matzo that works so perfectly in layered sweet treats, but whatever magic it is, I absolutely love it. This cake feels like a dreamy cross between tiramisu and an icebox cake. It’s wonderfully sweet, but the coffee soaked matzo layers keep it from going over the top, and best of all, it’s 100% kosher.
9. Roast Chicken
This is one of my absolute favorite Passover chicken recipes because that skin gets impossibly crispy and is slathered in the most mouthwatering garlic and lemon butter. Inside, the meat stays so tender and ridiculously juicy it almost defies logic.
It’s herby, garlicky, and swims in its own buttery, liquid gold pan juices. Fair warning: you’ll never want to make chicken any other way again.
10. Charoset
This is one of those recipes where apples, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and wine come together in the most irresistible, cozy way. I’m fully on board with anything that tastes this sweet and earthy.
To make it truly the best charoset you’ve ever spooned onto your plate, I always chop the apples and walnuts by hand. It gives everything that perfect nubby, rustic texture a food processor just can’t deliver.
11. Homemade Horseradish
If you’re ready for some serious heat, this homemade horseradish will bring all the fire you can handle. With nothing more than peeled and diced horseradish root, water, sea salt, and white wine vinegar, you’ll whip up two cups of a punchy condiment that wakes up your whole mouth.
For a milder kick, stir in the vinegar right after processing. Let it sit a while before adding it if you want things extra fiery.
12. Passover Popovers
Every time I spot a recipe for Passover popovers, I have to play that little game of “say that five times fast” because the name is just so fun to roll off the tongue. Luckily, they’re also super easy to make and taste amazing.
They bake up soft and moist with pleasing outer crusts that crumble in exactly the right way. Shape them like dinner rolls or make them more like muffins, either path is delicious.
13. Brisket
Brisket is that classic Passover centerpiece that honestly tastes incredible all year long. Yes, I know it asks for patience while it cooks, but nothing even comes close to a deeply flavorful smoked brisket once it’s done. You’ll simply trim it up, season it generously, wrap it snugly in butcher paper, and let it hang out on the grill to soak up all that smoky goodness.
14. Horseradish Sauce with Beets
This sauce is the ideal way to add a little tang and a whole lot of heat to any sandwich or protein you’re serving. Some folks use it as a dipping sauce, but because it packs such a punch, I prefer to spoon just a tiny bit onto my food for that perfect kick. Dipping straight into it would honestly set my mouth on fire.
15. Pot Roast
I honestly love anything I can toss into the slow cooker and walk away from until it’s perfectly finished. It’s the pinnacle of easy cooking.
Pot roast is also pure comfort in a bowl. This one features carrots, onions, and red potatoes, all simmered with red wine and Worcestershire sauce for a savory, rich flavor the whole family will ask for again and again.
16. Matzo Lasagna
This kosher, vegetarian lasagna is so delicious you’ll want to bookmark it and make it on regular rotation. It’s packed with all my favorite herbs and vegetables, like onions, spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, garlic, and basil. Smother everything in three different cheeses and you’ll pull a restaurant-worthy pan of lasagna out of the oven that everyone will go crazy for.
17. Jewish Sweet and Sour Meatballs
If you want to bring a little burst of different flavor to your traditional Passover table, these sweet and sour meatballs are the answer. They ask for a handful of ingredients and a bit of love to get just right, but they’re an amazing treat once everything comes together. The balance between sweet and tangy is so spot on it’ll totally delight your taste buds.
18. Baked Salmon
Whether you need a main dish for the holiday or just a simple dinner tonight, baked salmon is a delicious, nutritious option that feels relatively light and healthy. I season this one with salt, pepper, garlic, and an Italian herb blend. A spritz of fresh lemon juice and a pretty slice on top tie it all together beautifully.
19. Cauliflower Rice
Even though regular rice isn’t a leavened food, many families still skip it during the Passover Seder, unless it’s cauliflower rice. This clever swap is also lighter and much healthier than the original grain. It’s a perfect fit for anyone managing diabetes or following a low carb or keto way of eating.
20. Chocolate Covered Matzo
If you’re craving a lazy Passover dessert that takes almost no effort but tastes like it came from a fancy bakery, grab your matzo. Then cover it in chocolate.
That’s honestly the whole secret. You’ll pour a melted butter and sugar mixture over the matzo, sprinkle on kosher chocolate chips, and let them melt into a blanket of yummy milk and semi sweet chocolate.
Freeze the whole thing and then snap it into bite sized pieces. It’s that simple and that irresistible.
21. Apple Matzo Kugel
This dish is incredible, overflowing with sweet, cinnamony apple goodness and studded with raisins, dried apricots, butter, orange juice, and brown sugar. It bakes up into the kind of cozy, fruity dessert that skips the yeast and any other off-limits ingredients. If you need a memorable Passover treat, this one is firmly at the top of my list.
22. Matzo Granola
Giving up granola can feel tough, so I say don’t do it: just make it with matzo instead. Throw in plenty of chopped nuts, plus honey, sugar, coconut, cinnamon, and warm spices. Bake everything until the matzo dries out and the coconut turns a gorgeous golden brown, then let it cool completely so each piece crisps up as much as possible.
23. Tzimmes
Tzimmes literally means “to make a fuss,” and I promise everyone at the table will fuss over this stunning, jewel-toned side dish. It piles together root veggies like orange yams, white sweet potatoes, and carrots with dried fruits such as apples, prunes, and cranberries. A splash of orange juice, a shake of cinnamon, and a generous pour of honey turn the whole thing into something that’s just as yummy as it is gorgeous.
