Whether you're new to the springtime Jewish holiday or have been celebrating your whole life, you know that Passover is ALL about tradition. There are some long-established menu items you must have at your Seder dinner table and are likely 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, 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.
1
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.
2
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.
3
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 .
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4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
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7
Easy 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 Easy Rack of Lamb recipe.
8
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.
9
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.
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10
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.
11
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 .
12
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.
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13
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.
14
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.
15
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.
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16
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.
17
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.
18
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.
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19
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 .
20
Best-Ever Egg Salad
Make this egg salad using your extra seder plate hard-boiled eggs. Feel free to sub the mayonnaise for sour cream or Greek yogurt if you can't find OU-P mayo.
Get the Best-Ever Egg Salad recipe.
Camille Lowder
Digital Food Producer
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
