I like matzo ball soup. It’s out of character because I live by the “more is more” approach. My froyo cups are 90% toppings, my baked potatoes suffocate under blankets of chili, cheese, peppers, and chives, and I do not lose sleep knowing that people look at me in horror as I add gobs of Nutella and whipped cream to Ben and Jerry’s. But matzo ball soup is simple—it’s purely a broth base with matzo balls. Where’s the meat? Where’s all of the stuff that makes the soup exciting? But after taste testing matzo ball soup mixes, I can honestly say that I really enjoy it.
But that’s beside the point. We’re here because, presumably, you already like matzo ball soup. You like it so much you’re looking for a shortcut to enjoying matzo ball soup. You want to know about the best matzo ball soup mix. I tried found four to recommend.
To try the mixes, I followed package instructions to form the balls and make the broth. I kept it as simple as possible, keeping everything to broth and ball across the board, though some mixes gave the option to throw in some vegetables or additional seasoning. I was keeping things fair and trying out that Coco Chanel quote about Even though I ended up with a table full of what the old me would have considered wastefully simple soups, I really enjoyed them all. It’s rare that I do a test where there were no stinkers, but no mix I tried had me questioning why matzo ball soup is so well loved. While none were bad, some still edged out the competition.
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- Streit’s Classic Matzo Ball & Soup Mix
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The broth in this matzo ball soup mix is perfectly passable, but the matzo ball is the star of the show. It actually tastes like something other than the broth it soaks up. Texturally, they’re somehow both dense and light, like a Shcrodinger’s cat of Jewish delicacy. The broth comes off a little on the bland—but only because the balls are so flavorful. I happily ate many of the nutty, toasty spheres of matzo goodness.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Manischewitz Matzo Ball Mix
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While I did fall in love with matzo ball soup over the course of this taste test, I will admit that one of my favorite parts of this tasting was commenting on “ball texture.” But that doesn’t take away from the merit of these delightfully spongy balls! Since this matzo ball mix doesn’t include soup, I boiled them in chicken broth. The matzo balls were easy to make, and promptly became bloated and saturated with chicken broth flavor. They’re a little on the salty side, but you can rectify that by using low-sodium broth or cutting the soup with water.
Credit: Liv Averett / Manischewitz
- Lipton Kosher Soup Secrets Matzo Ball & Soup Mix
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I consider Lipton soup packets to be the official food of the latchkey kid, and often find myself nostalgic for the alarming saltiness and the aggressively processed flavor. While I love those “cream of chicken” soup packets, I was surprised to find that I loved this matzo ball soup mix because the broth is actually pretty subtle. The matzo balls are denser than a lot of the others, with a good, grainy texture. For anyone looking for a more delicate soup and a sinker matzo ball instead of a floater, this is the best matzo ball soup mix for you.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Manischewitz Matzo Ball & Soup Mix
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As soon as I tasted it, I wrote this note, all in caps: “THIS BROTH IS SO GOOD.” After many more spoonfuls, I stand by my initial observation. The broth is deceptively pale and thin, considering it packs a ton of flavor. It’s layered and complex without being overwhelming or confusing, and it is seasoned with the perfect amount of salt. For how quick and easy it was to pull together, it didn’t taste packaged or processed. It’s almost unfair how homemade this matzo ball soup mix tastes out of the box. The matzo ball itself isn’t quite as flavorful as some others, but it’s the perfect sponge for the broth. This is the best matzo ball soup mix for classic, comforting, homemade-style matzo ball soup.
Credit: Liv Averett / Manischewitz
Best Matzo Ball Flavor
Best Matzo Ball Only Mix
Best Dense Matzo Ball
Best of the Best
Other matzo ball soup mixes we tried: Streit’s Gluten Free Matzo Ball and Soup Mix, Manischewitz Reduced Sodium Matzo Ball Mix, Matzo Project Matzo Ball Soup Kit
