This Chicken Matzo Ball Soup recipe is a classic Jewish Passover dish with fluffy matzo balls, tender chicken, and savory vegetables in a rich, flavorful homemade chicken broth. It has all the earmarks of comfort food, so don’t wait for Passover to make it!
Heat the oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat. Once hot, add the chicken, skin-side-down. Sprinkle on the salt and black pepper. Sear until the chicken skin is golden brown, about 2 to 4 minutes, and then flip the chicken over.
Add the onion, nestling it down on the sides of the chicken in the pot. Cook 1 minute, stirring the onion as best you can.
Add 5 cups of chicken stock and the bay leaf, and bring it up to a boil. Cover the pot and cook until the chicken is fully cooked, about 20 minutes, turning the heat down as necessary.
Meanwhile, make the matzo ball mixture. Whisk together the oil and eggs in a medium bowl. Stir in the matzo ball mix packet until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes.
Once the chicken is fully cooked, use tongs to remove it. Let it cool, then pull the chicken off the bone and chop it up (discard the skin and bones).
Stir the remaining 5 cups chicken stock, chopped chicken, carrot, celery, garlic, and thyme into the soup. Bring back up to a boil, and then boil 5 minutes.
Use a 1-tablespoon scoop to measure the chilled matzo ball mixture. Once the mixture is measured out, roll into balls between the palms of your hands (it helps to wet your hands).
Drop the matzo balls into the boiling water. Cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes, turning the heat down as necessary.
Add the parsley and serve.
Notes
Storage and Reheating: You can store chicken matzo ball soup covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. This soup reheats well in the microwave or on the stovetop. If you’re warming it up on the stovetop, just bring it to a gentle simmer.
Tips For Making Matzo Balls: Wet your hands when you roll out the matzo ball mix. It helps prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands! Also, make sure you chill the mixture long enough.