A comforting bowl of homemade goodness that tastes like it came from a New York deli.

Have you ever had Matza Ball Soup? If you’ve visited New York City and stopped at a traditional Jewish deli, there’s a good chance you’ve tried this classic comfort food. Tender Matzo Balls floating in flavorful chicken soup make for a cozy meal that’s perfect any time of year.

The good news? You don’t need a trip to New York to enjoy it. This semi-homemade version is surprisingly simple, especially when you start with a quality box mix and some homemade chicken broth from your freezer.

Let’s make it together!

What You’ll Need

For the Matzo Balls

• 1 packet matzo ball mix (from a box such as Manischewitz)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp avocado oil or vegetable oil

For the Soup

• Chicken broth
• Cooked chicken, chopped
• Carrots, diced
• Celery, diced
• Onion, diced
• Fresh garlic
• Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper

Why I Love This Recipe

One of my favorite freezer-cooking habits is keeping homemade chicken broth and cooked chicken on hand. It turns recipes like this into a quick weeknight meal.

While some recipes are worth making completely from scratch, matzo ball soup is one place where I happily take a shortcut. The boxed mix is delicious, reliable, and incredibly easy.

If you can make a boxed cake mix, you can make matzo balls!

Step 1: Prepare the Matzo Ball Mixture

In a batter bowl, combine:

• 1 packet matzo ball mix
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons oil

Mix until combined.

That’s it!

Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

Julie’s Tip

You can make the mixture earlier in the day or even the day before if you’d like. Giving it time to chill helps the matzo balls hold their shape beautifully.

Step 2: Start the Soup Base

While the matzo mixture chills, begin building your soup.

Heat an 8 Qt Stainless Steel Stock Pot over medium heat and add a small amount of olive oil.

Add:

• Diced carrots
• Diced celery
• Diced onion

Cook until the vegetables begin to soften.

Step 3: Add the Seasonings

Once the vegetables have started cooking, add:

• Fresh garlic
• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper

I like adding the garlic after the vegetables have softened a bit so it doesn’t burn.

The aroma at this stage is absolutely wonderful.

Step 4: Add the Broth

Pour in your chicken broth and bring everything to a gentle simmer.

Allow the vegetables to cook until tender and the broth becomes flavorful.

Freezer-Friendly Shortcut

I often make a whole chicken in my Deluxe Multi-Cooker and save both the chicken and broth in the freezer. Pulling them out for recipes like this makes dinner come together incredibly fast.

Step 5: Form the Matzo Balls

Once the mixture has chilled, use a scoop to portion it.

I like using a Medium Scoop because I prefer larger matzo balls.

If you’ve ever ordered matzo ball soup at a traditional deli, you’ve probably seen some enormous matzo balls! Mine aren’t quite baseball-sized, but I do like them substantial.

After scooping:

• Wet your hands
• Gently roll each portion into a smooth ball

Julie’s Tip

Wet hands are the secret! The mixture can be a little sticky, and damp hands make shaping much easier.

Step 6: Cook the Matzo Balls

Bring a separate 3 Qt Stainless Steel Sauce Pan bring water to a boil.

Using a Spider Strainer, gently lower the matzo balls into the boiling water.

Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.

Why I Use a Spider Strainer

It helps lower the matzo balls safely into the water without splashing, making the process much easier and safer.

Step 7: Add the Chicken

As the soup continues simmering, stir in your chopped cooked chicken.

I like adding it near the end so it doesn’t overcook.

The chicken simply warms through while keeping its tender texture.

Step 8: Assemble the Soup

Once the matzo balls are finished cooking, carefully remove them with the spider strainer.

You’ll notice they’ve expanded quite a bit while cooking!

Place one or two matzo balls into each bowl.

Then ladle the hot chicken soup and vegetables over the top.

Serving Suggestions

This soup is perfect on its own, but it’s also wonderful served with:

• A simple green salad
• Fresh herbs such as parsley and/or dill sprinkled on top

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✓ Comforting and cozy

✓ Freezer-friendly

✓ Budget-friendly

✓ Easy shortcut with boxed mix

✓ Great use for homemade broth

✓ Perfect for chilly days

✓ Feels special without being difficult

Final Thoughts

Matzo Ball Soup is one of those recipes that feels like a warm hug in a bowl. The flavorful broth, tender chicken, soft vegetables, and pillowy matzo balls come together to create a meal that’s simple, satisfying, and full of comfort.

Whether you’ve enjoyed it in a New York deli before or this is your very first time trying it, I hope you’ll give homemade matzo ball soup a place on your menu.

Have you ever tried matzo ball soup? I’d love to hear if you’re already a fan or if this recipe will be your first experience!