Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel also known as Noodle Pudding, is a favorite Holiday, Shabbot, Chanukkah side dish. It also makes a great dessert.
Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel
Think of Instant Pot Noodle Kugel like a sweet baked egg and noodle pudding. Lots of noodles, cheese, sour cream, raisins and love and you’ve got the best Jewish Noodle Kugel you’ve ever made.
Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel!
With my Grandma Rose’s Jewish Noodle Kugel being the greatest kugel on earth, I had to convert it to the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker and OMG, still this Sweet Baked Egg Pudding casserole is so delicious and still the GREATEST KUGEL ON EARTH! Lots of eggs, noodles, sweet cheese and raisins make Noodle Kugel a perfect side dish, snack and dessert. Perfect for pot lucks. Everyone always loves KUGEL.
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel
- Extra Wide Egg Noodles
- Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream
- Eggs
- Raisins and Cinnamon
- Sugar, Butter, Lemon Juice
What I love about the Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel is that you can easily brown the top without ever turning on the oven just by using a Crisping Lid. Of course, if you prefer, go a head and pot the cooked kugel in the oven or in the air fryer and brown the top.
Soak Raisins in Water to Plump
Why Soak Raisins?
- Soaking raisins will plump them up and keep them from being very chewy.
- The texture after cooking is much better.
If you do not want to soak the raisins, you do not have too. This is just a personal preference.
Both Black Raisins or Golden Raisins can be used at the same time. Other types of dried fruit can be used too!
Pro Tip: For an interesting twist, soak the raisins (or whichever dry fruit you are using) in some brandy instead of water.
Various Dried Fruit To Use
- Diced Mix Fruit
- Fruit Cake Fruit
- Craisins Dried Cranberries
- Diced Apples
- Diced Pineapples
- Dried Apricots, chopped
- Sun Dried Fruit Medley is really nice to use. It adds color and the combination of the dried fruit is super tasty.
Whichever dried fruit you choose to use, the first thing is to soak the fruit/raisins in fresh water. The raisins will plump and be nice in the kugel as opposed to chewy and hard from baking.
Pro Tip: Don’t use candied fruit (you know, the kind you would use for a Christmas Holiday Fruitcake) when making kugel. It will be way too sweet.
Add the pasta to the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
The egg noodles will cook super fast, so don’t leave the kitchen.
To avoid the sputtering that sometimes happens when doing a quick release, use short, intermittent movements to release a little steam at a time.
Pro Tip: Running the cooked noodles under cold water will stop the cooking process. They need to be al dente since they are going back into the pressure cooker.
Lower Carb Option for Noodle Kugel
Diabetics and those watching their carbohydrate and sugar intake, you could make a more diabetic friendly option.
- Use Miracle Noodles. instead of pasta
- Use a Sugar Substitute in place of white sugar
- Swap the raisins out for diced peeled zucchini
Pro Tip: Cottage cheese still has some carbs, so please check the nutrition and eat according to your personal requirements.
Beat Six Eggs Well
I use a Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer as it is so easy to just mix all the ingredients together and get them blended really well.
For all you who love to beat your eggs hard in my Pressure Cooker New York Cheesecake recipe, which you shouldn’t, here is your chance!! Hahahahaha.
Dump in Filling Ingredients
Add in the cottage cheese, sour cream, cinnamon, sugar, lemon juice and the rest of the ingredients to the Large Mixing Bowl and beat it really well so that there are no chunks of cottage cheese.
Beat the filing until smooth!
You will want a nice and smooth consistency.
Drain Noodles, Rinse under Cold Water
By this time the noodles should be finished cooking. Drain the water and run the noodles under cold water.
Dump in the Egg Noodles into Filling Mixture
Gently fold the noodles into the Large Mixing Bowl with the cottage cheese mixture and combine well.
Gently make sure all noodles are coated with the luscious filling
Can Other Noodles Be Used?
- Yes. Very often when I make Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel, I’ll use various shapes of pasta. For Chanukkah, I have used pasta shaped like dreidels and Star of David/Jewish Star Pasta.
- For Christmas (oh, you would be surprised at how popular this kugel is at Christmas pot lucks) I use pasta in the shape of Christmas Trees. This ALWAYS goes over really well!
- Heart Shaped Pasta is super nice too!
- You can even use plain old Spaghetti Noodles which are always fun to use.
Another wonderful recipe to bring to a potluck is my Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake, which is to die for…..really!
Drained Raisins
There are other fruit variations too. Using canned and fresh fruit gives the Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel a different texture. Dried fruit has a chew to it, but fresh and canned fruit will generally blend in with the cheese mixture. It kinds of reminds me a fruit blintz.
Fresh and Canned Fruit Options
- Crushed Pineapple
- Diced Granny Smith Apples are super nice
- Fresh or Canned Apricot
Pro Tip: Fresh and canned fruit may not be as sweet and the sweetness (sugar) may need to be adjusted.
Gently fold in the raisins
Kugel is a Jewish dish, but so many of my friends who are not Jewish, use this dish for Christmas dinner. I have seen them use Santa shaped pasta and cranberries!
Pour half the mixture into the Push Pan
Generously, butter your Push Pan so that the kugel will easily release.
Since the posting of this recipe, I have switched to using this cake push pan with handles. It makes is to easy to get the pan in and out of the pressure cooker.
Pro Tip: DO NOT USE PARCHMENT ROUNDS for the Kugel. While Parchment Rounds are great when making cheesecake, it is not for making Kugel, as it will adhere and become one with the Kugel. Trust me on this! Don’t do it.
Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel
This is how the noodle kugel looks right out of the pressure cooker. Because I love the crispy top, here is what you do to make it nice and brown and crispy as if baked in the oven.
Place the CrispLid on top of the Instant Pot
After the Instant Pot Noodle Kugel is “baked” you will want to give the top a nice browning so that some of the noodles turn brown. The crispy part on top is the best! If you want the cornflake topping, add it now and then brown the top. If not using the cornflake topping, still, brown the top!
Browning the Top
- Use a temperature of 350 degrees and place your Crisping Lid on top. Keep an eye on it, so that the kugel does not burn.
- I recommend either of these two Crisping Lids:
- Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Amazon)
- Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Amazon)
Crisped Up Pressure Cooker Jewish Kugel
Alternatively, you can put the Instant Pot Noodle Kugel under the broiler or use an air fryer to broth the top.
My preference is not adding the cornflake topping, but most people LOVE the topping, so try it both ways and see which you prefer.
Clearly, Instant Pot Jewish Noodle Kugel looks better after browning
Removing the Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel
How to Eat Jewish Noodle Kugel
- My favorite way to eat Kugel, is at room temperature. You certainly can serve it directly from the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker, if you like, but I suggest allowing it to get to room temperate.
Pro Tip: You can also make Kugel the day before and refrigerate it to serve with your meal.
How to Remove Kugel from Pan
- Before removing the sides from the Kugel, allow it to set up a while, about an hour. It may be fine to remove the pan right away; I just never tried, so I can’t speak to that…..
- Take any can or jar and place the Push Pan on top and pull the ring down. The Kugel will appear like magic. I use a really Thin Slotted Turner to remove the Kugel off the bottom of the Push Pan and on to a plate.
Yummy Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel
Yummy Instant Pot Noodle Kugel can be served hot, warm, room temperature or cold. My favorite way is room temperature. For those who do not keep Kosher, but love Jewish food, Instant Pot Kugel goes great with my Friday Night Shabbos Brisket.
Bring Instant Pot Noodle Kugel to a buffets or to a BBQ. It is also great as desert or just for a snack. It is a great “make a head” dish!
Besides brisket, Kugel goes really well with London Broil or Grilled Tri-Tip! Enjoy.
More Jewish Recipes to Make:
- Air Fryer Chanukkah Latkes are totally yummy
- For bites, try my Air Fryer Potato Latke Bites.
- Pressure Cooker Jewish Sweet and Sour Stuffed Cabbage Holishkes
- Pressure Cooker Friday Night Shabbos Brisket.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- Instant Pot Crisping Lid or Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Mealthy) / Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Amazon)
- di Oro Living Silicone Spatulas Set
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- Salbree Steamer Basket
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer
- Cake Push Pan with Egg Bite Molds Set
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Here is your handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 8 oz Wide Egg Noodles drained/rinsed
- 1/2 Tablespoon Butter
Filling
- 3 large Eggs
- 1 cup Cottage Cheese
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 cup White Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Lemon Juice
- 1/2 cup Raisins White or Black
- 1 Tablespoon Butter for dotting
Optional Topping (if using topping, omit cinnamon in filling)
- 1/4 cup Corn Flakes
- 1 teaspoon White Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tablespoon Butter
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Soak raisins in a bowl of water to plump.
- Add egg noodles and water to just barely cover the noodles to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
- Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 1 minute. When Beep sounds, do a Quick Release by carefully using intermittent movements to toggle the Pressure Valve open and close, to avoid spewing liquid.
- Immediately, rinse under cool water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
Filling
- Beat or whisk eggs. Add cottage cheese, sour cream, sugar, cinnamon, salt, lemon juice and beat well. Fold cooked noodles into mixture.
- Drain water from raisins and fold into mixture.
- Generously grease your Push Pan, Pour noodle mixture into Push Pan and dot with butter.
- Add 1.5 cups of water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot and place in a trivet. Place Kugel on top of trivet.
- Lock on Lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes.
- When Beep sounds, allow a 15 minute Natural Pressure Release.
- Open lid and if using topping, add it now.
- Place Mealthy Crisplid on top of pressure cooker. Set temperature to 375 degrees and cook for 5 minutes.
Topping (optional)
- Crush corn flakes and mix with sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of noodle mixture and dot with butter prior to crisping.
Notes
Various Dried Fruit Can Be Used
- Diced Mix Fruit
- Fruit Cake Fruit
- Craisins Dried Cranberries
- Diced Apples
- Diced Pineapples
- Sun Dried Fruit Medley is really nice to use. It adds color and the combination of the dried fruit is super tasty.
Browning the Top
- Use a temperature of 350 degrees and place your Crisping Lid on top. Keep an eye on it, so that the kugel does not burn.
- I recommend these two Crisping Lids:
- Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Amazon)
- Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Amazon)
Macaroni and Noodle Options
- Spaghetti Noodles are always fun to use.
- Star of David/Jewish Star Pasta
- Christmas Tree Pasta - I like to use this for office holiday parties. When I do, I use the tree pasta with cranberries, making it very festive
- Gingerbread Man Shaped Macaroni
- Bunny Shaped Pasta
This Old Gal's Pasta Rule of Thumb
- Look at package of pasta and find the variable cook time. Choose the lesser time given and then subtract 2 minutes. For example, if your package of pasta says "cook for 8 - 11 minutes," take that 8 minute number and cut it in half, which is 4. Then subtract 2 minutes from the 4 minutes and you will end up with the proper cook time. In this example the cook time will be 2 minutes.
- After the 2 minute pressure cook time is up, wait 5 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
- If the variable cook time on your package of pasta is 11 - 16 minutes, err on the lesser side. In this instance, the cook time would be 3 minutes. It is better to end up with overly firm pasta rather than mushy because you can continue to cook the pasta, but if it is mushy, there is nothing you can do to correct.
- If the pasta is too firm or al dente for your taste, simply put the lid back on the pot and let the pasta sit in the hot pot. The residual heat will continue to cook the pasta. Check after a few minutes to see if the pasta has reached the perfect firmness for your liking. If not give it a stir and let sit some more.
Nutrition
PIN this Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel (Luchen Kugel)!
Pressure Cooker Jewish Noodle Kugel (Luchen Kugel)
OMG, this is fantastic! I made it without the topping and it was a big hit at my house. My husband, who usually doesn’t say things like this, said “You need to mark that one as a do often dish”. He, also, said it was like having desert of dinner 🙂
Thank you, JoAnne. Jill
Are the ingredients the same if you do it in the oven the old fashion way? If not can you please give me the ingredients for the kugel? It sounds Delicious. Thanks so much.
Jill,
Why does it say pour in half the mixture. But in the directions it doesn’t. I poured all in. It seems ok but I am letting it sit. I did not use a spring form or push pan but a greased oven safe dish. Really nervous. Pls respond 🙂
I don’t see where it says half. Are you following the recipe card? Jill
My mom made luchen kugel as a side dish, so this one was different, but oh so good.
Satisfied this gal’s sweet tooth for sure. I actually looked up and said, “ hey mom! Look what I did!”
Thanks for a lovely treat Jill, but even more, thanks for the memories.
Awww, thanks so much, Anne. What a sweet note. Jill
Thank you for making tried and true recipes available for the Instant pot. I am not able to locate the pressure or time for grandma roses noodle kugel. Can you please let me know? Thank you
Jill, Another delicious recipe, reminiscent of the sweet kugel I like to make. I’m looking forward to making it in my Instant Pot! Likewise with your brisket recipe, which is quite different than mine. One small note: I see you as an excellent food educator, and as such I’ve no doubt that you’d want anything you publish to be accurate. For your non Jewish readers, and any others who might not be familiar with Jewish dietary laws (kashrut), those who observe the laws of kashrut would never serve a dairy dish with a meat dish, as the mixing of milk and meat is forbidden. I no longer keep strictly kosher, nevertheless I take care to disseminate accurate information, as I’m sure you do, too. I understand that you’ve shared your own family tradition, and I respect that!
Everything sounds wonderful!
How would I convert this to pressure cooker. I have made this a long time ago.
I have a recipe for Kugel: (oven version)
1 Can Crushed pineapple(undrained)
1 pkg wide egg noodles
1/4 c melted butter
1# cottage cheese
1pt sour cream
1 c milk
1/2 sugar
2 tsp salt
What is the cook time for an 8 inch push pan? Thanks!
Can u give instructions for making in the air fryer
Any chance you have a savory kugel recipe? My grandma Rose used to make sweet but my grandma Esther made a savory kugel. Thanks.
Hi Claudia~
My Grandma Rose used to make a Savory Kugel too and I believe I have her recipe. I will get to it shortly. I remember it having a lot of pepper.
Jill
I have wanted to try Kugel for years, and your photos and recipe just increased the want to! I noticed in the directions you said to not use parchment paper, yet there was a photo right above that showing the paper in the push pan…or am I confused? Thanks for all your great recipes!
Hi Nancy~
You are not confused. The reason I said trust me, don’t use parchment, is because I did and it stuck to the Kugel. I was trying something new to see what would happen.
Jill
My dad loved this with cherries.
Hi Pam~
Cherries is a nice touch!
Jill