57 Hanukkah Recipes For Your Best Holiday Meal Yet
As the Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, is fast approaching (December 25, 2024 to January 2, 2025), we’re looking forward to playing dreidel (and winning gelt!), lighting the menorah with loved ones, and, of course, all the delicious food. Whether you’re Jewish and keep kosher, are celebrating with someone who is, or are just looking to expand your culinary horizon, we’ve got 57 recipes here for you, from apps to mains to desserts. The best part about celebrating for 8 nights? You can try them ALL.
If you’re unfamiliar, Hanukkah is a holiday commemorating Jewish triumph over invading Syrian forces that had been destroying Jerusalem around the second century B.C. After the Jewish people had successfully driven out the Syrian invaders, they went to rededicate the city’s Second Temple by relighting a menorah that was meant to be kept burning every night. Though they only had enough oil for one night, it stayed lit for eight, a phenomenon now known as the miracle of Hanukkah. To celebrate this miracle, Jewish people eat a number of foods fried in oil, the most well-known of which are potato latkes and jelly donuts called sufganiyot.
Another miracle that is often celebrated during Hanukkah is the story of Judith, a woman who enticed the leader of an opposing force with… cheese. As the story goes, she tricked her way into his confidence, then plied him with salty cheese and very strong wine. One thing led to another, and he passed out drunk, leaving her free to cut off his head and bring it back to her village in victory. To commemorate her bravery, many people choose to eat heavy dairy dishes, so we’ve included a number here, like our cheese blintzes, our noodle kugel, or our rugelach. Kosher rules forbid consuming meat and dairy within the same meal, but with 8 nights of celebrating, you can surely find time to enjoy these sweet treats.
Speaking of, let’s talk dinners. Brisket is traditional, and we’ve got 5 recipes here for you, ranging from classic to BBQ. If brisket seems like too much, roast chicken, lamb, and fish dishes like our coconut curry salmon, our Moroccan lamb tagine, or our maple mustard chicken legs are also always welcome on the table. Because it falls in December, Hanukkah is also a holiday that’s perfect for a number of warming dishes, like soups and stews. Check out our Thai chicken coconut soup, our carrot ginger soup, or our braised short ribs with 40 cloves of garlic for ideas, but as long as it’s kosher, anything goes.
Want more Hanukkah ideas? Check out our favorite Hanukkah appetizers and cookies too.
Prime Rib
There’s no debate: Prime rib is what you serve when you’re looking for the most impressive centerpiece to your holiday dinner table. This large-and-in-charge cut of beef not only boasts a show-stopping display, but is unmatched in flavor.
Get the Prime Rib recipe.
Latkes
Just about every culture has its own form of fried potato, but latkes are something extra-special. Crispy-crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, they’re basically the best parts of a hash brown and a potato pancake all rolled into one. Don’t be surprised if you’ve eaten 2 or 3 before they even reach the table.
Get the Latkes recipe.
Pull-Apart Jelly Donut
Although baked instead of fried, this pull-apart ring is reminiscent of sufganiyot, made easier for those of us who don't have a good fryer set up at home. Try it with whatever kind of jam you like!
Get the Pull-Apart Jelly Donut recipe.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Tossed in a honey and vinegar dressing and roasted until glazed and crisp, these sweet and tangy sprouts will steal the (side) show wherever they go. Roasting at high heat on a bare metal sheet pan is key to getting gorgeously browned, crackling-crisp sprouts.
Get the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Gelt Thumbprints
For such a simple game, spinning the dreidel easily inspires some fierce competition over who will end up with the largest pile of gelt. The thing is, those coins are usually made up of, to put it kindly, not-so-great chocolate. What then to do with your sweet spoils? Make these chocolate-orange thumbprint cookies! With fewer than 10 ingredients, you can turn your winnings into a cute Hanukkah dessert that's perfect for sharing.
Get the Gelt Thumbprints 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 SO tender. Letting the potatoes and carrots cook with the brisket flavors them from the inside out, and the whole dish will be deeply savory. You're going to love these leftovers.
Get the Apple Cider Braised Brisket recipe.
Fennel Salad With Apples & Radishes
When you're looking for a side dish that tastes extremely fresh even in the depth of winter, look no further than fennel salad. It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfectly light and refreshing, especially if you serve it alongside heavier cold weather comfort foods.
Get the Fennel Salad With Apples & Radishes recipe.
Roast Chicken
The perfect centerpiece to any holiday dinner, the steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy.
Get the Roast Chicken recipe.
Hanukkah Gelt
♫ "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel..." ♫ If you truly want to take your game over the top, play for homemade gelt! They're super-easy to make at home (we used a mini muffin tin), and you can decorate them however you like.
Get the Hanukkah Gelt recipe.
Big Mac Latkes
A crispy, fresh latke is one of life’s greatest joys, but when you make it Big-Mac-style, you’re in a whole new universe of delicious. Packed with dill pickles and sesame seeds, stuffed with melty American cheese (optional), and drizzled with Big Mac sauce, this fresh spin on the classic Hanukkah treat will truly have you lovin’ it.
Get the Big Mac Latkes recipe.
Homemade Chicken Soup
We love matzo ball soup, but sometimes you want something a little simpler. For this classic recipe, we chose to strip it back to focus on the essence of the dish: the tender shredded chicken and that rich golden broth it creates.
Get the Homemade Chicken Soup recipe.
Spicy Sesame Salmon
If you’re looking for a new, creative way to cook salmon, look no further. The great thing about this recipe (besides those black and white sesame seeds, ofc!) is it’s baked instead of pan-fried, and you can marinate the salmon the night before, making your Hanukkah meal come together extra fast.
Get the Spicy Sesame Salmon recipe.
Challah
Similar to brioche, challah is an egg-enriched loaf that is slightly sweet and wonderfully soft inside. It's time to put your braiding skills to good use!
Get the Challah recipe.
Balsamic Glazed Carrots
Roasted carrots are a classic easy side dish that we turn to time and time again, whether we're serving up a holiday dinner or a quick weeknight meal. They're extremely versatile, and take to a variety of seasonings and flavors. That being said, topping them with a balsamic glaze truly takes them over the top.
Get the Balsamic Glazed Carrots recipe.
Coconut Curry Salmon
The coconut milk and spice go so well together here, making a rich but not heavy sauce that is dairy-free and so so creamy. 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.
Get the Coconut Curry Salmon recipe.
Giant Skillet Latke
While frying up an endless supply of latkes is part of the holiday fun, this recipe turns the classic into an impressive dish for brunch or a breakfast-for-dinner meal. It’s all the flavor and crispiness of a traditional latke with less oil, in half the time!
Get the Giant Skillet Latke recipe.
Challah Rolls
This particular challah dough is a bit on the sweeter side, and it lends beautifully to a variety of applications, from being a dinner side to a base for sandwiches. Hot tip: These rolls taste phenomenal when toasted!
Get the Challah Rolls recipe.
One-Pan Tuna Pasta
This recipe is a bit of a riff on a pasta puttanesca, using familiar ingredients such as capers, anchovies, and olives. But instead of sitting over a pot of simmering tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes form a paste that, when combined with pasta water, is transformed into a luscious sauce—and it’s all made in one pan!
Get the One-Pan Tuna Pasta recipe.
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
This savory-sweet salmon never disappoints, and is wonderful alongside a variety of cheesy sides this Hanukkah. Searing fish might seem intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it'll be second nature.
Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.
Sufganiyot
This lightly fried, gorgeously dusted, low-key sugary jelly donut serves as a reminder that life can be sweet sometimes—which is exactly why we make it exclusively for the most festive of Jewish holidays. You can really fill the donuts with whatever filling makes you happy...as long as it's sweet.
Get the Sufganiyot recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Babka
A traditional babka is a braided, sweet yeasted bread filled with chocolate. This fruitier take is filled with a blueberry sauce and topped in an easy lemon glaze instead. It's sweet and tart and the perfect stunner to serve for dessert this Hanukkah.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Babka recipe.
Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup
Cozy and nourishing, we crave matzo ball soup pretty much year-round. 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.
Sugar Cookie Dreidels
You can use your favorite homemade sugar cookie dough or follow our lead and use a couple store-bought logs. These will turn out so cute, no one mind either way! These work with any small candy, from the mini M&M's we used here to Nerds or Skittles, so have fun with it.
Get the Sugar Cookie Dreidels recipe.
Hot Honey Chicken & Rice Bowls
Make these mid-Hanukkah when you want to keep with some traditional ingredients, but also need a packable lunch. The chicken gets tossed in a hot honey you make yourself (which means you can adjust the heat if you want!) and becomes perfectly sweet and spicy.
Get the Hot Honey Chicken & Rice Bowls recipe.
Sous Vide Brisket
Sous vide is one the most ideal methods for cooking something like a brisket, no smoker needed. All you need are a few spices and some time, and you will have melt in your mouth, meaty goodness that rivals anything a fancy smoker can make. To replicate the flavor from a smoker, we use smoked paprika. And if you can get your hands on some pink curing salt you can also mimic that “smoke ring” all the best pitmasters aim for.
Get the Sous Vide Brisket recipe.
Babka French Toast
We love a classic French toast, but when we're looking for something extra special, this babka French toast is out of this world. It may sound intimidating, but the best part is that you’re not making it from scratch. You can purchase one right from the store, a loaf that’s already enriched with chocolate, cinnamon, and sugar syrup. It gets soaked in a simple egg and milk mixture, pan seared in butter, and coated in a raspberry butter. It's a luxury in little time.
Get the Babka French Toast recipe.
Maple-Mustard Chicken Legs
A roasted chicken is one of our favorite meals, but we don't always have the solid 2 hours it takes to roast one. These glazed then baked chicken leg quarters are the perfect compromise. Also featuring potatoes and carrots, they're guaranteed to be an crowd-pleasing Hanukkah dinner.
Get the Maple-Mustard Chicken Legs recipe.
Grapefruit & Goat Cheese Fennel Salad
Crisp licorice-y fennel is best from winter to early spring, so for this Hanukkah-friendly salad, we paired it with wintery ingredients like juicy grapefruit, briny Kalamata olives, creamy goat cheese, and some rich toasted pine nuts. Skip the cheese if you like; it's still super-flavorful without it.
Get the Grapefruit & Goat Cheese Fennel Salad recipe.
Garlic-Lemongrass Roast Chicken
Looking for something a little out of the ordinary for Hanukkah dinner this year? You've got to try this roast chicken—fish sauce and two heads (!) of garlic make it spectacularly flavorful (make sure to use kosher oyster sauce if needed!).
Get the Garlic-Lemongrass Roast Chicken recipe.
Matzo Ball Soup
True Jewish food-philes know that matzo ball soup isn’t just for your Passover feast. For many who love it, it’s the taste of warmth and comfort, perfect for the winter holiday.
Get the Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Braised Short Ribs With 40 Cloves of Garlic
Does anything impress quite the way braised short ribs do? They feel truly restaurant fancy, but here's a secret: Short ribs are pretty easy to make at home. This is the ideal dish to make for company when the weather's cold and you want to stay inside.
Get the Braised Short Ribs With 40 Cloves of Garlic recipe.
Cheese Blintz
There's a good reason why this well-loved Ashkenazi Jewish dish is so popular year-round across brunch menus everywhere: Blintzes are decadent but delicate, creamy yet balanced. Our secret ingredient: nutmeg! It makes the cream taste richer without being too fatty, and tames the tartness of the fruit as well.
Get the Cheese Blintz recipe.
Latke Cookies
No Hanukkah celebration is complete without a big plate of crispy, craggly latkes. If you're more of a sweets fan but want to keep with tradition, we've got just the cookie for you. Our favorite part? A homemade apple caramel as a nod to the applesauce often enjoyed with potato pancakes.
Get the Latke Cookies recipe.
Coconut Ranch Kale Salad
This vegan coconut ranch dressing is absolutely irresistible. (Seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it, and because there's no dairy in it, you can!) But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?
Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.
Sweet Noodle Kugel
Kugel is basically the Yiddish/Jewish word for casserole. While there are many savory versions (such as this giant-latke-esque potato kugel), we have a soft spot in our hearts for this eggy, cinnamon-y sweet version too.
Get the Sweet Noodle Kugel recipe.
One-Pot Creamy Vegan Greens
Creamed spinach without the dairy? Yes, please. Not only is it a bit more nutritious, but it’s also just as delicious. This recipe is packed full of iron-rich spinach, which becomes tender as it cooks in the flavorful sauce. To make this one-pot side dish, we use a few simple ingredients to make these greens something truly special.
Get the One-Pot Creamy Vegan Greens recipe.
Carrot Ginger Soup
Canned coconut milk makes this flavorful soup super-creamy and rich while keeping it conveniently dairy-free. Want to up the presentation even more? Add crispy fried shallots and chili oil for that final chef’s kiss.
Get the Carrot Ginger Soup recipe.
Loukoumades
This dough is made with flour, sugar, yeast, and lemon zest. The loukoumades are then drizzled with melted chocolate, covered in cinnamon and honey, and sprinkled with pistachios. Yum!
Get the Loukoumades recipe.
Chicken Schnitzel
The key to good schnitzel is pounding the chicken evenly to ensure that the meat is well tenderized and there are no thick and thin parts to ensure even cooking. Serve the finished schnitzel with some roasted potatoes and tons of freshly squeezed lemon.
Get the Chicken Schnitzel recipe.
BBQ Brisket
If you live in a temperate climate and are looking for creative Hanukkah fare, make this BBQ-inspired brisket on your grill. The key is to sear it, then move it to a cool zone where it can continue cooking for a few hours.
Get the BBQ Brisket recipe.
Chocolate Babka
A Jewish sweet braided bread loved by all, babka is stuffed, rolled, then baked with a variety of fillings. Chocolate babka tends to dominate the flavor popularity contest, but there's a certain appeal to a cinnamon babka that just can't be denied—which is why this recipe sneaks both into the mix.
Get the Chocolate Babka recipe.
Honey Garlic Chicken
The cooking method here is one that we love using at Delish: First you sear the chicken in an ovenproof skillet to take on some crust, then you transfer it to a preheated oven to finish cooking. It saves you cleanup—one-pan for the win!—and cooks the chicken perfectly.
Get the Honey Garlic Chicken recipe.
Moroccan Carrot Salad
This carrot-and-raisin salad gets an upgrade with a slightly spicy, slightly sweet harissa and honey sauce. It brings out the sweet freshness of the carrots and makes the whole dish sing. We're tempted to pour it over all of our salads from here on out.
Get the Moroccan Carrot Salad recipe.
Farro Salad
With nuts, cheese, fruit, and leafy arugula, this salad really feels like a full meal. Feel free to skip the cheese if you're serving it alongside a meaty main. It's still got all the elements you need: sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, fatty, and fresh.
Get the Farro Salad recipe.
Citrus Olive Oil Cake
Frying things in oil is a big tradition on Hanukkah, but we'd get it if you were intimidated by a big vat of hot oil. Instead, make this citrusy, tender cake instead! Lemon and orange zest play super well with the grassy, bright flavors of olive oil.
Get the Citrus Olive Oil Cake recipe.
Rösti
Swiss rösti is essentially the fanciest potato latke you’ll ever eat, where the best part is the topping. We view it almost like a Hanukkah pizza. We love classic applesauce, but you can go fancy with a bit of lox, sour cream, fresh dill, and roe for an amazing treat for any Hanukkah celebration.
Get the Rösti recipe.
Challah French Toast
Slightly stale challah is perfect for soaking in the custard and fries up into a beautiful crisp exterior with a still pillowy soft interior. It's the perfect French toast to make for breakfast during Hanukkah (and after, using holiday leftovers!).
Get the Challah French Toast recipe.
Apple Coffee Cake
Apples work wonders in this easy coffee cake. They add extra sweetness as well as making the cake moist and tender. We love it with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples, but your favorite baking apple will do the trick!
Get the Apple Coffee Cake recipe.
Classic Latkes
If you ask us, you're not truly celebrating the Festival of Lights without a crispy batch of latkes. Serve these homemade ones with sour cream and homemade applesauce for the PRIME Hanukkah experience.
Get the Classic Latkes recipe.
Rugelach
Rugelach is a pillowy soft and flaky filled pastry-turned-cookie filled with jam or a sweet walnut and brown sugar mixture. The cream cheese dough is surprisingly easy to make and to roll, any imperfections are part of the charm. We can't get enough!
Get the Rugelach recipe.
Best-Ever Beef Brisket
Preparing beef brisket for your Hanukkah dinner is a labor of love your whole crew will be thankful for, and fortunately, our recipe cuts down on as much of that labor as possible. Our oven-roasted recipe makes preparation so much simpler, without sacrificing on any tenderness or flavor.
Get the Best-Ever Beef Brisket recipe.
House Latkes
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. Got leftover horseradish? Stir them into these creamy horseradish mashed potatoes.
Get the House Latkes recipe.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
These dairy-free chocolate chip cookies are crisp on the edge and pleasantly chewy in the center. They're perfect for serving after any meat-heavy Hanukkah feast.
Get the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Potato Kugel
Kugel is a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish style of casserole. There are tons of types, and the most popular might be the sweet noodle variety. If you can't do gluten or aren't a big sweets fan, don't fret— this potato kugel is an amazing alternative.
Get the Potato Kugel recipe.
Slow-Cooker Brisket
Eating some perfectly cooked, tender brisket is basically the food equivalent of someone giving you a big hug. Unfortunately, many people avoid making it because it can be a labor intensive endeavor but no more! Just let your slow cooker do all the work.
Get the Slow-Cooker Brisket recipe.
Thai Chicken Coconut Soup
Creamy coconut paired with ginger and lime gives this soup a unique and delicious flavor, without dairy! This Thai soup is also traditionally topped with chili oil to give it some heat—give it a try even if you're not a spice fan, the creamy coconut milk helps mellow it out.
Get the Thai Chicken Coconut Soup recipe.
Beet Pickled Eggs
This easy recipe turns regular ol' hard-boiled eggs into something special. Serve these deviled eggs as a festive app or side dish for Hanukkah dinner, or make a batch and snack on them all 8 days long.
Get the Beet Pickled Eggs recipe.
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