Matzo Ball Soup

Homemade matzo ball soup for Passover or anytime! Fluffy matzo balls in a light, clear broth. Add chicken meat for a heartier meal.

By
Coco Morante
Coco Morante
Coco Morante
Coco began developing recipes for Simply Recipes in 2016 and is the author of five cookbooks. She is an industry expert on Instant Pot cooking.
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Updated May 27, 2022
Coco Morante

When it comes to matzo ball soup, the fluffy matzo balls are the real stars of the show. They float in a clear chicken broth with some carrots and celery, but that’s about it!

Passover dinner would not be the same without a bowl of this light, brothy matzo ball soup.

Options for a Heartier Matzo Ball Soup

If you want to make a heartier bowl of soup, you can add chicken meat. Just poach some chicken breasts or tenders in the chicken broth until cooked through, and then shred or cut them into bite-sized pieces before adding the meat back to the soup.

If you're making your chicken stock from scratch, you could also poach some chicken breasts or thighs along with the bones and add them to your soup before serving.

Once Passover is over and you no longer need to observe the dietary laws of the holiday, think about adding some noodles or kreplach (a.k.a. meat-filled dumplings) for a really deluxe bowl!

Matzo Ball Soup
Coco Morante

Tips for Perfect Matzo Balls

  • Chill the matzo mixture for at least two hours before shaping the matzo balls (or up to a day ahead). This gives the matzo meal plenty of time to absorb the liquid and results in matzo balls with better texture and that don't fall apart during cooking.
  • Keep the pot covered while cooking the matzo balls! This helps them cook more quickly and evenly.
  • When done, the matzo balls should all be floating on the top of the water and will have doubled in size.

Making Your Matzo Balls Float

One last note about making the matzo balls: Dense matzo balls are "sinkers." They stay on the bottom of the pot. Proper matzo balls (a.k.a. "floaters") should bob to the surface of the pot while they're cooking.

Note that the matzo balls won't be fully cooked when they first float—they'll still need a full 40 minutes of cooking time—but floating matzo balls are a good indication you didn't mess up your matzo balls!

Can You Free Matzo Balls?

The texture may not be be quite as perfectly fluffy, but yes, you can freeze matzo balls! Cook them first, then let them fully cool and blot them dry. Freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, transfer to a ziplock bag or freezer container, and freeze for up to a month.

Reheat matzo balls from frozen by gently simmering in chicken stock or broth until warmed through.

More Great Passover Recipes!

Matzo Ball Soup
Coco Morante

Matzo Ball Soup

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Chilling 2 hrs
Total Time 3 hrs 5 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

For the matzo balls:

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 tablespoons schmaltz (chicken fat), melted, or any neutral-flavored oil

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 cup matzo meal

For the soup:

  • 6 cups chicken stock, homemade or store-bought

  • 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced thinly (about 1/8-inch thick)

  • 2 inner ribs of celery, peeled and sliced thinly (about 1/8-inch thick)

To serve:

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or dill

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Make the matzo ball mixture:

    Make the matzo ball mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, schmaltz, water, salt, and pepper. Stir in the matzo meal. Cover the bowl tightly and chill it in the fridge for at least two hours, or up to a day ahead.

    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
  2. Shape and cook the matzo balls:

    In a large saucepan or soup pot, bring 3 quarts of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt to a boil. When the water is boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low.

    Use your hands to roll the matzo ball mixture into approximately 1-inch balls. As you finish rolling each ball, gently drop it into the simmering water.

    When all of the matzo balls are in the water, immediately cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Let the matzo balls simmer, covered, for 40 minutes, until they have floated to the top and roughly doubled in size. Avoid uncovering the pot while the matzo balls are cooking (a covered pot helps the matzo balls cook more evenly and quickly).

    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
  3. Warm the broth and vegetables:

    While the matzo balls are simmering, bring the chicken broth up to a simmer in a medium (3-quart) saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced carrots and celery and reduce the heat to low.

    Simmer the vegetables in the broth until they’re tender, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and keep the broth covered so it stays hot while the matzo balls finish cooking.

    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
    Matzo Ball Soup
    Coco Morante
  4. Serve:

    Use a slotted spoon to transfer three matzo balls into each soup bowl, then ladle 1 1/2 cups of broth into each bowl. Garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of parsley or dill and a few grinds of black pepper. Serve piping hot.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
445 Calories
22g Fat
39g Carbs
21g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 445
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 29%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 131mg 44%
Sodium 903mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 21g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 46mg 4%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 584mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.