Whether you're preparing for Passover or just have some extra matzo on hand, these matzo recipes offer easy, creative and delicious ways to enjoy matzo.
Matzo Ball Soup
This wouldn’t be a proper list of the best matzo recipes if we didn’t include some kind of matzo ball soup! Whether you start with a store-bought box mix or make homemade matzo balls with schmaltz, this soup is the ultimate cozy comfort food.
Matzo Brei
One of the most beloved Passover recipes, matzo brei is made with dampened matzo, beaten eggs and milk. You can serve it in one big piece or break it up for a scrambled effect.
Gefilte Fish
Gefilte fish is one of the more time-intensive recipes on this list, but it’s worth every second. The homemade version tastes much better than the jarred gefilte fish you’ll find at the store, so you may never go back!
Matzo Pizza
Who needs traditional pizza dough when you have matzo? Slather on a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce, add a handful of shredded cheese and top it with your favorite veggies. It’s finished baking when the cheese looks melty and delicious.
Matzo Toffee
Matzo toffee is one of the most popular Passover dessert recipes. Our recipe is topped with slivered almonds, but other toppings like sea salt, dried fruit, pecans or pistachios work just as well.
Passover Rainbow Cookies
Ground matzo and almond flour are used instead of regular flour for this Passover-approved version of Italian rainbow cookies. The cookies originated in Italian-American communities in New York City (hence the red, white and green colors representing the Italian flag). Jewish bakeries began making a kosher version, and it’s been popular at Jewish celebrations ever since.
Potato Kugel
Kugel is a classic Jewish food recipe served at many holidays, but it’s often made with noodles (an off-limits food for Passover). This recipe uses potatoes and matzo meal instead, making it perfect for your Passover Seder meal.
Passover Popovers
Leavened foods are off-limits for Passover, but popovers are an iconic Passover side dish. So how do they get their tall, fluffy structure? The interaction between the thin batter and the hot oven creates steam, which causes the popovers to rise. And with just five ingredients, they’re easy to make too.
Matzo Meal Pancakes
The perfect Passover brunch involves these matzo meal pancakes. Double-check that your matzo meal is kosher for Passover, if keeping kosher, as not all brands certify their matzo.
Chocolate-Covered Matzo
We love a chocolaty snack any day of the week. And when Passover rolls around, that snack is definitely going to be chocolate-covered matzo. For a little something extra, sprinkle the crackers with chopped nuts or add a drizzle of white chocolate.
Apple Cake for Passover
I always like to bake a snacking cake for the week so I can steal a sneaky slice whenever the craving calls. With a matzo cake meal base, this apple cake is perfect for the week of Passover. The apples and cinnamon create delicious pockets of joy, and a dollop of whipped cream on top adds a burst of sweetness.
Zucchini Latkes
Latkes are traditionally a Hanukkah recipe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the crispy patties year-round. In this recipe, matzo meal holds the shredded zucchini and grated onion together.
Passover Meatballs
These meatballs bind together with eggs and ground matzo meal and are covered in a sweet tomato glaze. They cook on the stovetop for almost an hour (which makes the kitchen smell incredible). One reviewer had success baking them in the oven, which is a good option if stovetop space is at a premium.
Onion Kugel
Our Passover-approved onion kugel recipe calls for finely chopped onions and matzo meal instead of the usual egg noodles or sliced potatoes. If you prefer a savory kugel over a sweet one, this recipe is for you.
Passover Rolls
This Passover recipe can be used to create dinner rolls for your Seder celebration or bagel bites for breakfast (they’re especially tasty when slathered with kosher-friendly cream cheese). Either way, these rolls are a great way to use up a whole cup of matzo meal!
Minas (Matzo Pies)
Matzo pies (aka minas) are a traditional Passover dish for many Sephardic Jews in Turkey, Greece, Spain and parts of Africa. This vegan spinach and potato matzo recipe from Nava Atlas of The Vegan Atlas is based on a traditional minas recipe. However, a creamy blend of cashews and avocados is used instead of cheese.
Passover Baklava Bimuelos
Bimuelos are doughy fried balls that are often considered a traditional Hanukkah food, but you can make them with matzo for Passover. Cookbook author Samantha Ferraro makes her mother’s baklava bimuelos for Passover. Made with crushed matzo, eggs and spices, they’re fried and covered in rose water syrup and a layer of ground pistachios.
Chocolate Matzo Cake
This layered chocolate matzo cake comes from Israeli baker and food writer Natalie Levin of Lil’ Cookie. With pieces of softened matzo sandwiched between thick layers of homemade chocolate ganache, how can you go wrong? She tops the cake with shaved white chocolate, but you could also use nuts, coconut or other toppings.
Matzo Mac and Cheese
Pasta is off the menu during Passover, but you can still get your favorite comfort food fix. This matzo version of mac and cheese comes from
Matza-quiles
Inspired by Mexican chilaquiles, this matza-quiles recipe comes from food writer Emily Paster of West of the Loop. Similar to matzo brei, softened matzo is cooked with onions and eggs to make a tasty scramble. Then, it’s finished with salsa, avocado, queso fresco and cilantro for a vibrant (and delicious) meal.
Matzo Granola
Oats aren’t kosher for Passover, so this matzo granola recipe from blogger Sheri Silver is a great breakfast alternative. It calls for almonds, pecans, coconut, figs and dates, but you could use any of your favorite nuts and dried fruit. Try walnuts and dried apples for charoset-inspired granola.
Matzo Recipes FAQ
What are traditional matzo dishes for Passover?
Traditional matzo dishes for Passover include matzo ball soup, matzo brei, gefilte fish and kugel. These recipes work for dinner or lunch throughout the duration of Passover.
How can matzo be used in desserts?
Matzo can be ground and mixed into dessert batters instead of regular wheat flour for cookies, cakes and fried dough balls, layered with chocolate until softened, or baked with toffee until crisp and brittle-like. Since matzo has a neutral flavor, it pairs well with everything, from fruit and coconut to cocoa and nuts. It quickly softens when moistened, like ladyfingers, but if you toast it, as in matzo toffee, it retains some crunch.
Are there gluten-free matzo recipes?
Matzo is not gluten-free since it is made from flour, so you would need to start with gluten-free matzo to make a gluten-free matzo recipe. Depending on the ingredients used to make the matzo gluten-free, they may not be suitable if you keep kosher for Passover. If you don’t keep kosher, just ensure the other ingredients in the recipe are gluten-free and stick to recipes with minimal ingredients, like matzo pizza or chocolate-covered matzo.
What is matzo made of?
Matzo is an unleavened bread made from flour and water. Kosher for Passover matzo is mixed and baked quickly so the dough doesn’t have a chance to rise or ferment. Some brands use whole wheat flour, spelt flour, or even gluten-free ingredients like tapioca starch or potato flour, although these versions may not be suitable for Passover. Matzo can be salted, unsalted or flavored with anything, from herbs to everything bagel seasoning.
