Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 13 Hanukkah Recipes for Your Most Delicious Holiday Meal Yet Light up your dinner spread with these one of these show-stoppers. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 19, 2024 Close Photo: JEN CAUSEY With eight days of celebrating, there's no shortage of opportunity to create a festive and delicious Hanukkah feast. Perfectly crispy latkes, of course, are mandatory. But don't forget about the opportunity to braise a deliciously tender brisket, simmer a pot of matzo ball soup, and serve up sufganiyot doughnuts, honey cakes, and more sweet treats. And while you can't go wrong with a traditional recipe, feel free to get creative with your ingredients and toppings—find our guide to modernizing your favorite Hanukkah classics here. Leftover brisket? Lucky you. Find our guide for putting that perfectly-cooked meat to work all week long here. From start to finish, fill your holiday table with a host recipes that will leave your guests full and happy. 30+ Gift Exchange Ideas—Including Games, Traditions, and Tips 01 of 13 Red Wine Braised Brisket Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Slow-cooked brisket is the ultimate minimal-effort, high-payoff main dish you can serve for Hanukkah dinner. This recipe incorporates red wine to make a savory, saucy gravy and infuse the tender meat with bold flavor. Serve your brisket with grains or roasted vegetables—think couscous, wild rice, egg noodles, or root veggies like carrots and beets—to soak up the extra sauce. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 13 Crispy Garlic-Parsley Potato Latkes Antonis Achilleos Latkes and other fried foods are traditionally served during Hanukkah to symbolize the holiday's miracle: The oil that was only supposed to keep the menorah lit for one day, stayed ablaze for eight. These uber-crisp potato latkes have a delectable garlicky taste that will have everyone going back for seconds. Serve warm with traditional sides of sour cream and applesauce. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 13 Matzo Ball Soup Emily Kinni This rich and hearty soup gets a boost of flavor from chicken thighs that are simmered in the broth and then shredded from the bone. To ensure the matzo balls are cooked correctly, remove a ball from the broth and slice it in half. The color should be light throughout—if the center is darker, continue to cook 5 to 10 minutes more. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 13 Jelly Sufganiyot Jen Causey Hanukkah just got a whole lot sweeter. These melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts, traditionally served on Hanukkah, are the perfect last course to your celebratory dinner. They are irresistibly fluffy and filled with a sweet jam, which makes every bite divine. Each recipe makes eight doughnuts, so you can feed your entire table. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 13 Root Vegetable Latkes Jen Causey Using a combination of carrots, parsnips, and beets—plus the traditional onions and scallions—as the latke base makes the dish lighter and slightly sweeter without sacrificing anything about that crispy, piping hot patty. Plus, the gorgeous, deep orange hue makes these a fun festive twist on a Hanukkah classic. GET THE RECIPE 30 Easy Party Side Dishes That Work For Any Occasion 06 of 13 Bitter Greens and Beet Salad Victor Protasio This colorful salad will surely impress your guests this Hanukkah. On top of radicchio lies roasted red and golden beets, toasted pecans, and fresh parsley, all tossed in a shallot honey-mustard vinaigrette. Refreshing and bittersweet, this salad is an excellent accompaniment to crispy and savory latkes. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 13 Sweet Potato Latkes With Brie Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar Heath Goldman These slightly sweet latkes are paired with salty, creamy Brie and acidic balsamic vinegar. Let the Brie sit out of the refrigerator while you make the latkes so it’s flavorful and runny by the time you’re ready to eat. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 13 Sweet Potato Latkes Emily Kinni For the crispiest latkes, remove as much of the liquid as possible from the grated potato mixture and fry in hot, but not smoking, oil. To keep them warm while making the rest of the meal, hold finished latkes on a foil-lined sheet tray in a 350-degree oven. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 13 Slow-Cooker Coffee-Braised Brisket With Potatoes and Carrots Sang An Brisket does best when it’s cooked low and slow. In this recipe, the meat simmers all day in a combination of tomato paste, coffee, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. It’s also cooked alongside onion, potatoes, and carrots, yielding a full meal that requires some time, but little effort to make. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 13 Gochujang Braised Brisket Greg DuPree Here, gochujang—a spicy and slightly sweet Korean chili paste—kicks the flavor profile of a traditional brisket up to an entirely new level. And no, it won't overpower the dish. Not to mention the fact that the mouthwatering aroma that will permeate your house for the whole day leading up to your Hanukkah dinner can't be beat. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 13 Sufganiyot (Fried Hanukkah Doughnuts) Emily Kinni These no-rise doughnuts are a perfectly indulgent treat for your holiday dinner. For best results, make the dough up to two hours ahead, but wait to fry until the last minute so they'll be piping hot. Serve with a sweet raspberry jam, caramel sauce, or hot fudge. GET THE RECIPE 10 Delicious Mini Desserts That Don't Require Any Baking 12 of 13 Honey Cake Emily Kinni Leave yourself time to focus on dinner and socialize with guests by prepping dessert ahead of time. This delicious and moist honey cake can be made up to two days in advance. To keep the cake fresh, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature until ready to serve. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 13 Macaroon Thumbprints With a Surprise Nutella Center Fred Hardy Finely chopped hazelnuts and coconut flakes make up the foundation of this festive thumbprint cookie. Swap out the coconut flakes on top for blue and white sprinkles to add a little extra Hanukkah cheer. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit