It’s here! My Pesach Menu Template for 2024/5784, along with a filled-in sample to inspire your planning.
The seasons fly by, and before you know it Pesach has arrived. Over the years I’ve refined a practical, repeatable approach to holiday menus that keeps things delicious without overwhelming you or your kitchen. This Pesach menu template for 2024/5784 is the result: a labor of love that balances tradition, simplicity, and crowd-pleasing recipes.
I generally keep my core menu consistent from year to year, swapping in a few new dishes when I discover recipes that excite me. My philosophy is simple: serve the food your family loves. You don’t need a long parade of courses or dozens of protein options. A well-curated selection of favorites, prepared well, will make the holiday — and the hosting — much more enjoyable.
One cookbook I turn to often is My Pesach Kitchen; it’s full of classic recipes that stand the test of time and are easy to repeat each year. Use trusted sources you enjoy, but don’t feel pressured to reinvent the wheel every year.
For a long time I used to avoid repeating any dish on menus, spending hours brainstorming new ideas. That approach proved unnecessary. If a recipe is a family favorite, include it. Repeating dishes reduces stress, shortens prep time, and guarantees happy guests. Focus on quality, not quantity.
Below is a sample menu I used for Pesach 5784. It’s designed to show balance across appetizers, dips, salads, sides, soups, mains, and desserts while remaining practical for a busy host or hostess.
Pesach 5784 Sample Menu
| Appetizer | Dip | Salad | Side | Soup | Meat | Poultry | Side 1 | Side 2 | Dessert | Guest | |
| Seder 1 | gefilte fish | dill | coleslaw | beet salad | chicken soup | Yom Tov roast | x | potato kugel | apple crisp | nut torte | |
| Day 1 | dill salmon | matbucha | portobello salad | x | x | garlic brisket | kishke capons | mashed potatoes | carrot muffins | brownie & coffee ice cream | |
| Seder 2 | gefilte fish | spicy olive | crunchy coleslaw | x | chicken soup | Mommy’s YT Meat | x | roasted potatoes | apple crisp | nut torte | |
| Day 2 | chicken a la king | baba ganoush | Euro salad | guacamole | x | London broil | chicken marsala | scalloped potatoes | roasted cauliflower | mousse | |
| Thursday C”H | BBQ | ||||||||||
| Friday Night | harissa salmon | onion chutney | guacamole | fried eggplant | chicken soup | ribs | spinach chicken | potato kugel | apple kugel | blondie fruit platter | |
| Shabbos Day | eggs and liver | Mom’s eggplant | deli salad | deli platter | x | yapchik | grilled chicken | x | x | chip sticks | |
| Second Days Night 1 | meatball fish | jalapeno | green goddess | roasted eggplant | cream of chicken | pulled brisket | chicken saltimbocca | twice-baked potatoes | sweet potato souffle | mousse | |
| Second Days Day 1 | pesto salmon | schug | big hearty | x | x | mushroom meatballs | California chicken | mashed potatoes | roasted broccoli | crumb cake | |
| Second Days Night 2 | fish latkes | mushroom dip | terra chip | fried onions | cabbage soup | wine-braised roast | scalloped potato chicken | carrot muffins | sweet potatoes | misc. | |
| Second Days Day 2 | cream salmon | garlic confit | crunchy coleslaw | x | x | London broil | pastrami capons | paprikash potatoes | apple crisp | misc. |
As I build the menu I create the grocery list at the same time. Writing ingredients down while filling out the menu saves time later and reduces the chance of forgetting something important. When an ingredient is used in multiple dishes I list it multiple times and add notes in brackets to indicate which recipe each portion is for.
For example:
Kishe [capons]
Kishke [cholent]
I also save these grocery lists so I can refer back to them after shopping—useful for confirming what I bought, noting items the store was out of, and making improvements for next year’s plan.
If you need guidance on kitchen tools and equipment for Pesach, I have a comprehensive Pesach buying guide that outlines the small appliances and utensils that make holiday cooking easier. A short checklist of essentials can streamline setup and help you avoid last-minute runs to the store.
A final tip: plan for prep and storage. Make a timeline for what can be made in advance and what must be finished the day of the holiday. Label containers and group ingredients together so reheating and final assembly go smoothly. With a clear menu, a paired grocery list, and a realistic prep schedule, Pesach can be both meaningful and manageable.