47 Hanukkah Recipes For Your Best Holiday Meal Yet

The Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, is fast approaching (December 18 to 26, 2022). 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 46 recipes here for you. 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 6 recipes here for you, ranging from classic to sweet and spicy (with gochujang!). 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 beef and barley 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.