30 Traditional Hanukkah Foods to Celebrate the Festival of Lights
These appetizer, dinner and dessert recipes deserve a spot on your Hanukkah menu.
Whether you're throwing a big Hanukkah party or hosting a smaller intimate dinner complete with a Hanukkah movie, celebrate in the most delicious way possible with these traditional Hanukkah foods — plus a few new twists (skillet carrot latkes, anyone?).
Observed starting at sundown on December 25th this year, the Festival of Lights marks the rededication of Jerusalem's Holy Temple during the second century B.C.E. As the story goes, the Maccabees revolted against Greek occupiers and recaptured the temple. The eight-night celebration honors the fight of the Maccabees for religious freedom and Jewish independence in 142 B.C.E. Victorious, this group of warriors moved to rededicate their holy temple but had only a small amount of oil to light the menorah. Miraculously, the flame burned for eight full days.
Today, many of the customs, Hanukkah decorations and foods served honor the miracle of oil, such as the lighting of a menorah each night of the celebration. Hanukkah recipes often use oil to commemorate that same oil that kept the lights burning — which means many of the foods on this list are cooked in oil — and lots of it! 'Tis the season for crispy fried latkes and deep-fried pillowy sufganiyot. That said, there are plenty of hearty mains, fun appetizers and fresh sides to round out your Hanukkah menu.
So go ahead and make the most of the holiday with an abundance of delicious foods. Happy Hanukkah!
Herby Latkes
Latkes are a must for any Hanukkah party. Give the classic potato pancakes a fresh upgrade by folding chopped parsley and dill into your grated spuds before frying.
Get the Herby Latkes recipe.
Oven-Braised Brisket
Good news for anyone who wants to get a head start on cooking: This brisket tastes even better when prepped the night before, since you can cut clean, delicately thin slices of meat. The dish gets warmed up via reheated vegetables and an irresistible tangy-sweet sauce.
Get the Oven-Braised Brisket recipe.
Challah
If you have always wanted to bake your own loaf, but never knew where to start — we’ve got you. This recipe has been tested (and tested again!) for success, so you can trust it will work in your kitchen.
Get the Challah recipe.
P.S. Bake an extra loaf of this eggy, slightly sweet bread. Leftovers make the best French Toast.
Orange- and Garlic-Roasted Broccoli
Round out the meal with a healthy vegetable side that doesn't skimp on flavor.
Butterflied Chicken
The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen has roasted hundreds of birds over the years and found that this culinary technique works best for ensuring fast and even cooking.
Get the Butterflied Chicken recipe.
Sufganiyot
These deep-fried jelly donuts are a staple this time of year and while you can grab some from the bakery, making your own just feels so much more impressive. Plus, they taste 10 times better when eaten while still warm.
Get the Sufganiyot recipe.
Shortcut Mini Sufganiyot
Not into making a yeasted dough from scratch? This recipe skips that whole process (including frying!) but still gives off a homemade vibe. The secret: pipe jam into store-bought glazed donut holes, then shower with confectioners' sugar right before serving.
Get the Shortcut Mini Sufganiyot recipe.
Skillet Roasted Chicken
Expecting a smaller crowd? Prepare a feast — complete with roast chicken and seasonal vegetables — all in a single skillet. Easy!
Get the Skillet Roasted Chicken recipe.
Salmon Rillette
Kick off the festivities with a savory spread that features salmon two ways: poached and smoked.
Get the Salmon Rillette recipe.
RELATED: The Best Hanukkah Appetizers to Kick Off the Festivities
Crispy Skillet Carrot Latkes
Serve up the traditional Hanukkah food — but with a twist! Baked in mini cast iron skillets, these carrot-and-potato pancakes don't require frying.
Get the Crispy Skillet Carrot Latkes recipe.
Hanukkah Honey Balls
Feast on these sweet, honey-glazed puffs of dough all eight nights.
Get the Hanukkah Honey Balls recipe.
Easy Potato Latkes
Follow our foolproof formula for fried potato perfection, then serve up the crispy spuds with creative toppings (think: horseradish sour cream, chopped dill and pomegranate arils). Fun, right?
Get the Easy Potato Latkes recipe.
Homemade Applesauce
Up the ante on your latke accompaniments by making your own applesauce from scratch. It’s easier than you’d think!
Get the Best Homemade Applesauce recipe.
Slow-Cooker Brisket
Just set the brisket in your slow cooker in the a.m., and you can forget about it all day. It'll be ready to eat when it's time to light the menorah.
Get the Slow-Cooker Brisket recipe.
RELATED: These Are the Best Slow Cookers to Buy, According to Expert Testing
Roasted Pepper Dip
Starting the meal with this light and smoky dip and plenty of vegetables means you save room for decadent brisket and latkes.
Get the Roasted Pepper Dip recipe.
RELATED: The Best Party Dips to Serve a Crowd
Roasted Beet and Orange Salad
This colorful, earthy salad hits all the right notes — each bite is sweet, salty and crunchy, with the occasional hit of creaminess from shaved ricotta salata.
Get the Roasted Beet and Orange Salad recipe.
Jammy Walnut Rugelach
These crisp, light treats are delicious with post-dinner coffee.
Get the Jammy Walnut Rugelach recipe.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Out of oven space? The air fryer is a perfect tool to roast up this extra-crispy, sweet and salty veg.
Get the Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts recipe.
RELATED: These Are the Best Air Fryers to Buy, According to the Good Housekeeping Institute
Orange-Ginger Roast Chicken With Fennel and Radicchio Salad
This stunning main stars in-season produce like citrus and fennel, so you're in for the freshest flavor.
Get the Orange-Ginger Roast Chicken with Fennel and Radicchio Salad recipe.
Everything Bagel-Crusted Salmon
Usually made with poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion and salt, everything spice blend (plus a squeeze of lemon!) provides fast flavor for flaky roasted salmon.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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