How to Make the Best Matzo Pizza During Passover

Matzo pizza is a classic dish to make during Passover. And like so many cultural food traditions, there’s no standard recipe on how to make this cheesy delight. Every household makes their matzo pizza somewhat differently, perhaps even year-to-year, as it’s usually only eaten for this major Jewish holiday. Beyond the classic red sauce and mozzarella combo, you can change up the toppings as you would with any pizza.

Whatever you choose, it’s a great way to use up that box of matzo and make a quick and easy meal during Passover when leavened products (like bread, pasta, pastries, and pizza dough) are not allowed.

Ingredients for matzo pizza

To make it, you’ll need:

• matzo
• pizza sauce (or your favorite jarred red sauce)
• mozzarella or other cheese
• toppings of your choice

One matzo pizza serves one person.

Step 1: Prepare the matzo

Heat an oven or toaster oven to 375°F. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and top it with the matzo. If the matzo itself isn’t perfectly flat, arrange the concave side facing up (humped side down).

Step 2: Sauce the matzo

Using a spoon, gently spread the pizza sauce in a thin layer so as not to crack the matzo. You can leave a small border on each side like a pizza crust. Avoid creating any pools of sauce as it will cause the matzo crust to get soggy.

Step 3: Add cheese and toppings

Make “flowers” with mozzarella pearls and halved yellow cherry tomatoes.

Sprinkle your matzo with cheese, covering the sauce in a single layer. For a standard-size matzo, this is 3 to 4 ounces of shredded cheese (or about 1/2 cup). You can use low-moisture or fresh mozzarella—shredded or torn—or the cheese of your preference. A hard cheese, like Parmesan or pecorino, can also be grated on top.

Arrange toppings over the cheese layer, such as:

• sautéed mushrooms
• canned olives or artichokes
• steamed spinach
• fresh tomato slices or halved cherry tomatoes
• anchovies
• really any of your favorite pizza toppings

Step 4: Bake and enjoy!

Bake the matzo pizza until the cheese melts, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, add fresh basil (if desired), and enjoy immediately.

Matzo pizza variations

Matzo pizza can be as unique or traditional as you want it to be.

Switch up the base with:

• vodka sauce
• alfredo
• pesto
• or a combination of your favorite Italian sauces

Try these combos:

• creamy spinach and artichoke white pizza
• spicy red sauce matzo pizza with Calabrian chile paste and provolone
• bechamel (thickened with potato starch instead of flour for Passover), ricotta, and figs drizzled with olive oil and ground black pepper

For small portions, matzos can be cut in halves or quarters to serve.