Instant Pot Kugel

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 06/10/21
noodle kugel slice on a plate

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 31 mins
Pressure Build/Release: 18 mins
Total: 64 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Kugels are casseroles that are usually made with noodles or potatoes. The dish is commonly eaten on Shabbat and many Jewish holidays. For Passover, special gluten-free noodles may be used and there are some kugels made using matzo farfel.

This Instant Pot version is made in about half the time it would take to bake a traditional kugel and it frees up the oven for other dishes.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces egg noodles

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

  • 8 ounces cottage cheese

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 3 large eggs

  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 dash nutmeg

  • 1/2 cup raisins, or dried cranberries

For the Cornflake Crumb Topping:

  • 1/2 cup cereal

  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

  • Cinnamon sugar, optional, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Generously butter a 7 x 3-inch springform pan or round pan with a removable bottom ("push pan") and set aside. Alternatively, spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray.

    ingredients for instant pot kugel
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. Put 2 quarts of water in a saucepan with 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for about 7 minutes, or as directed on the package. Drain well and rinse with cold water.

    cooked noodles
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  3. In a mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

    kugel ingredients
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. Beat the mixture with an electric mixer until well blended.

    kugel filling mixture in a bowl with electric mixer
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Add the drained and cooled noodles to the mixture and stir to blend. Fold in the raisins. Add the noodle mixture to the prepared pan.

    noodles mixed with raisins and cottage cheese mixture
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  6. Place the trivet in the Instant Pot and add 1 1/2 cups of water. Place the pan in a baking sling or a foil sling and lower it into the pot.

    pan of kugel in the Instant Pot
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  7. Lock the lid in place and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Choose pressure cook or manual (high pressure) and set the time to 24 minutes. When the time is up, allow a natural release for 10 minutes. Carefully turn the steam release valve to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.

  8. Preheat the broiler. Combine the cornflake crumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

    cornflake crumbs with melted butter
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  9. Sprinkle the cornflake crumbs over the kugel and place it under the broiler for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the topping is crisp and browned.

    cornflake crumbs on the instant pot kugel
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  10. Remove the kugel to a rack to cool completely.

    noodle kugel with cornflake topping in the pan
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  11. Remove the sides of the pan and slice the kugel into serving-size portions. If desired, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

    instant pot kugel serving
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Tip

  • To cook the noodles in the Instant Pot, add the 8 ounces of dry noodles to the pot and cover them with 2 cups of water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook the noodles at high pressure for half the lowest time on the package (If the package calls for 8 minutes, cook at high pressure for 4 minutes) and do a quick release of pressure. Drain and rinse with cold water; set aside and continue with the recipe.

Recipe Variations

  • If you are making a kugel for Passover, use gluten-free kosher for Passover noodles.
  • Replace the raisins or dried cranberries with another kind of chopped dried fruit, such as dried apricots, peaches, prunes, or dates.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
436 Calories
25g Fat
44g Carbs
12g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 436
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 167mg 56%
Sodium 1186mg 52%
Total Carbohydrate 44g 16%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 127mg 10%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 276mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)