Noodle Kugel (2024)

Pronounced kuh-gull or koo-gull, kugel is a Jewish dish that’s been around for hundreds of years. It’s a popular option for both special holidays and everyday gatherings alike. Whether you have Bubbe’s favorite recipe or are looking to try something new, kugel is an excellent dish for any occasion—and one you’ll come back to again and again.

Note that this noodle kugel recipe contains dairy, so keep that in mind if you or your guests follow strict kosher guidelines.

What is kugel?

Hailing from Germany, kugel is, at its core, a baked casserole with starch (usually noodles or potatoes), eggs and fat. While that’s the base, kugel can be found in many variations from savory to sweet. The word kugel is German for “sphere,” which refers to the dumplings that made up the earliest version of the dish.

Today, both noodle kugel and potato kugel are common additions to special meals. Noodle kugel tends to be more popular because of its versatility, and it’s more likely to be a sweet dish with added fruits and spices. Potato kugel is typically a savory recipe, and it can be made with onions, herbs and meat.

Ingredients for Kugel

  • Egg noodles: Since this is a casserole-sized dish, we recommend using extra-wide egg noodles. However, if you want to bake this kugel in muffin tins, purchase medium-width egg noodles.
  • Eggs: The egg noodles are essentially baked into a custard, and no custard is complete without a good amount of eggs!
  • Sugar: Use granulated sugar for this noodle kugel recipe. Brown sugar would discolor the kugel.
  • Cinnamon graham crackers: Don’t reach for just any old graham crackers from the shelf! Double-check that they’re infused with cinnamon.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the noodles

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Cook the noodles according to package directions, and drain. Toss the noodles with butter, and set aside.

Step 2: Mix the kugel ingredients

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In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, sour cream and cottage cheese until well blended. Stir in the noodles.

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Editor’s Tip:Make sure the noodles have cooled to prevent them from scrambling the eggs.

Step 3: Top with crackers

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Next, transfer the mixture to a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Combine the cracker crumbs and butter, and sprinkle over the top.

Step 4: Bake

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Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 50 to 55 minutes. Any hotter could cause the custard to split.

Step 5: Serve the kugel

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Let the kugel stand for 10 minutes before cutting, if you can wait that long! Serve warm or cold.

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Recipe Variations

  • Add mix-ins: Stir in fruits like raisins, dried cherries, apple or apricot preserves (like our apricot kugel). Nutmeg and cinnamon also add cozy warmth to any noodle kugel recipe. You can even make a citrusy kugel, as we do in our lemon kugel.
  • Make a different topping: Our kugel recipe uses a graham cracker crumb, but you can try a variation with a cornflake or streusel topping.
  • Make a non-egg noodle kugel: Not a fan of egg noodles? Try an untraditional option, like onion kugel, which uses finely chopped onions and matzo meal as the base of this dish.
  • Bake in a different pan: Don’t have a 13×9-inch baking dish? Cut the noodle kugel recipe in half to convert to an 8×8-inch pan.

Can I make kugel ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the kugel a day in advance. Don’t bake it just yet. Instead, cover the pan of kugel in storage wrap, and keep it in the fridge. Bake it off whenever you’re ready the next day!

How to Store Kugel

To store leftover kugel, allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Keep the kugel in its pan, and wrap it in storage wrap, or place slices of noodle kugel in an airtight container. Kugel can last in the fridge for up to three days.

How to Freeze Kugel

To freeze, allow the kugel to cool completely to room temperature. Wrap the kugel very well in storage wrap and aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to two months. Reheat the kugel in a 325° oven until warmed through, about 30 minutes.

Kugel Tips

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Can you make egg noodles for noodle kugel from scratch?

Definitely! Follow these tips for making egg noodles from scratch.

Should kugel be served hot or cold?

Sweet noodle kugel can be served warm or cold at holiday gatherings, parties, potlucks and brunches.

Watch how to Make Noodle Kugel

Noodle Kugel Recipe

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Prep Time20 min

Cook Time50 min

Yield15 servings.

Ingredients

  • 1 package (1 pound) egg noodles
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 2 cups 4% cottage cheese
  • TOPPING:
  • 3/4 cup cinnamon graham cracker crumbs (about 4 whole crackers)
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Text Ingredients

Directions

  1. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Toss with butter; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, sour cream and cottage cheese until well blended. Stir in noodles.
  2. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top.
  3. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until a thermometer reads 160°, 50-55 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or cold.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 526 calories, 27g fat (15g saturated fat), 202mg cholesterol, 326mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (33g sugars, 1g fiber), 16g protein.

Author

Alexa Hackfort

Alexa is a writer who believes there’s always room for ice cream. Based in Milwaukee, she enjoys exploring the city, tackling new recipes and planning her next trip.

Noodle Kugel (8)

I made this dish for a party with our friends. It was a big hit! —Lauren Kargen, Buffalo, New York

Noodle Kugel (2024)

FAQs

Noodle Kugel? ›

Hailing from Germany, kugel is, at its core, a baked casserole with starch (usually noodles or potatoes), eggs and fat. While that's the base, kugel can be found in many variations from savory to sweet. The word kugel is German for “sphere,” which refers to the dumplings that made up the earliest version of the dish.

What is a noodle kugel made of? ›

Hailing from Germany, kugel is, at its core, a baked casserole with starch (usually noodles or potatoes), eggs and fat. While that's the base, kugel can be found in many variations from savory to sweet. The word kugel is German for “sphere,” which refers to the dumplings that made up the earliest version of the dish.

Why do Jews eat kugel? ›

Kugels are a mainstay of festive meals in Ashkenazi Jewish homes, particularly on the Jewish Sabbath and other Jewish holidays or at a tish. Some Hasidic Jews believe that eating kugel on the Jewish Sabbath brings special spiritual blessings, particularly if that kugel was served on the table of a Hasidic Rebbe.

Do you eat noodle kugel hot or cold? ›

Do You Eat Noodle Kugel Hot or Cold? While noodle kugel should be removed from the oven and cooled for at least 30 minutes after baking, it can be eaten at any temperature. Eaten warm, when just set, noodle kugel's texture is more akin to a baked mac and cheese (the extra-crunchy noodles on top might be the best part.)

What's the difference between a kugel and a casserole? ›

The common denominators of all true kugels are a starch base, eggs (or egg substitute), and fat, without the addition of water or other liquids. If the dish lacks any of the basic ingredients, it is technically a casserole or cake, not a kugel.

What do you eat with kugel? ›

Kugel is traditionally served as a side dish alongside something meaty like brisket or roast chicken. In this case it would normally be served warm, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold the next day. Sweeter versions can also be eaten hot or cold, and taste great with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.

Why does my noodle kugel fall apart? ›

Make Sure to Cool Your Kugel

Once it's baked, a kugel needs to cool, otherwise it will fall apart when slicing. Give it at least an hour to cool and set up, then slice and serve it warm or at room temperature.

What is kugel in English? ›

noun. ball [noun] anything roughly round in shape. a ball of wool. bowl [noun] a wooden ball rolled along the ground in playing bowls.

What did Jews eat for breakfast? ›

The Israeli breakfast is a dairy meal, and a variety of cheeses are offered. Fish is pareve and so is permitted with a dairy meal, and herring is frequently served. Other smoked or pickled fish dishes are also common, including sprats, sardines and salmon.

Do Jews eat pretzels? ›

Pretzels – this bread twisted into a knot hails from Germany's Jewish population. These can be eaten as snacks and come in hard and soft variants as well as in different flavours – salted pretzels, cheese pretzels, chocolate-covered pretzels, etc. are a few.

What nationality is kugel? ›

For the predominantly Ashkenazi Jewish American community, kugel is still one of the most popular holiday staples. In Israel, many families call the pastry “kigel” (pronounced kee-ghel), the Galician way. Kugel is the Lithuanian version.

Is a noodle kugel ok for Passover? ›

Often kugels are made with noodles, a product generally not permitted during Passover (seven or eight days, depending on one's family tradition) because they contain regular flour. As a consequence, most kugels served at Passover are made with potato.

Why is kugel sweet? ›

Kugel is a sweet, egg noodle casserole. The noodles are boiled and then baked with some sugar, eggs, sour cream and cottage cheese.

What does "kugel" mean in Yiddish? ›

The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...

When should I eat kugel? ›

Thanksgiving and Rosh Hashanah simply are not the holidays without homemade kugel. Ever since I was young, kugel has been one of my all time favorite dishes. Even though it's usually considered a meal for holiday occasions, I love to have it all year round.

What is a substitute for farmers cheese in kugel? ›

ILOC tip: if you can't find farmer cheese, just do a full pound of cottage cheese instead.

How do you describe kugel? ›

Kugel is a sweet, egg noodle casserole. The noodles are boiled and then baked with some sugar, eggs, sour cream and cottage cheese. It's our family tradition to also add raisins.

What are Amish egg noodles made of? ›

Contains Egg, Wheat

ENRICHED DURUM FLOUR (DURUM WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), EGG YOLKS.

Does noodle Kugel need to be refrigerated? ›

Does noodle kugel need to be refrigerated? Yes, because of the dairy, kugel must be kept in the refrigerator. Storing leftover baked kugel: Let cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

What country does kugel come from? ›

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