Noodle Kugel Recipe

Noodle kugel recipe is one of our family favorites. Slightly sweet from golden raisins and creamy with a vanilla yogurt custard. Great to serve as a side dish, but perfect all by itself. This can be put together quick and easy.

When Taylor was a toddler, noodle kugel was one of her favorite foods. I would make it in muffin tins so that she would have individual servings for lunch or a snack. She seemed to get tired of it after a few years and I had forgotten about the recipe.

When she came home from college we came across our old kugel recipe and she couldn’t remember what it tasted like, so I made it for dinner.  Wow, why had I stopped making this!

What is Kugel

Kugel is commonly served around the Jewish holidays, for a full history you can check out Jamie Geller’s website. I’m not Jewish but my grandparents are German and this is a German dish. It’s generally made with some type of custard and egg noodles. My version is slightly sweet and has golden raisins.  I consider it a comfort food that’s not quite as rich as Macaroni and Cheese.

It also reminds me of rice pudding. It’s a great pasta casserole to serve with almost any main course. It’s not as heavy as a cheesy side or potato but compliments almost any meat dish. It’s not spicy and is loved by both kids and adults.

Since it’s just the two of us now, I’ll make a batch and freeze it in smaller portions to pull out as a side for whatever I’m fixing for dinner.

Why you’ll love a noodle side dish

• It’s easy and simple to prepare.
• Are you tired of roasted potatoes, this will be a nice change.
• You can serve it with almost anything, especially great with ham.
• It’s creamy without feeling heavy.
• Doesn’t everyone love golden raisins!

What you’ll need

• Vanilla yogurt – this creates the custard. Use plain or vanilla flavored Greek yogurt, Siggis is my favorite.
• Cottage cheese – great at helping to create a custard filling
• Cinnamon – adds a slightly woodsy, sweet flavor to the custard
• Egg noodles – a little lighter than traditional pasta
• Golden raisins – adds to the sweetness and texture
• Pantry staples – milk, butter, eggs, sugar

What are egg noodles

Egg noodles are simply pasta that is enriched with eggs. Italian pasta is typically just flour and water. The eggs give them a richer taste, color and texture.

How do you make a noodle kugel recipe

Step 1:

Start with milk, vanilla yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, cinnamon and sugar. You’ll need to either process this in a food processor or use an emersion blender to make it smooth. If you don’t have either, a blender or hand mixer will work or just try a whisk. 

Step 2:

To the egg mixture, add cooked egg noodles and raisins.

Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar.

Step 3:

Bake for about 30 minutes until the custard is set and the top is golden brown and slightly crispy.

Pro tip: This is typically made in a casserole dish, but try baking it in a muffin pan for individual servings. Great for lunches or afternoon snacks.

Recipe notes

• Instead of a food processor, you can use an emersion blender or a hand mixer.
• You can add a half teaspoon of nutmeg to compliment the cinnamon
• If you prefer less sugar, use just a ¼ c and let the vanilla yogurt be the sweetness you taste
• Because egg noodles cook quickly, cook them a little under the recommended al dente time because you don’t want them mushy after baking in the custard.

Noodle kugel is great on its own or as a side.  I would serve it like you would macaroni and cheese, it’s a much healthier alternative. The golden raisins are a nice addition and add a little sweetness which pairs well with almost any meat.

We had forgotten how much we liked this simple creamy dish.  It brought back lots of happy memories and I’m so glad I became re-acquainted with it.

What should you serve with noodle kugel

• Marsala steak with a buttery mushroom Marsala sauce will be a show stopper whether for family or your next dinner party.
• Try Chicken with shallots for dinner. It’s a quick and easy recipe you can prep in five minutes and forget it. A healthy and fabulous weeknight dinner.
• This dinner recipe will impress when entertaining so make sure to put Pork tenderloin with cherries on the menu soon.
• Chicken and tomatoes is a simple and easy recipe. Tomatoes roasted in a slightly sweetened balsamic glaze transforms the chicken into a fabulous low carb dish in under 30 minutes. 
• With red wine braised Short ribs, you’ll find melt in your mouth beef that falls off the bone. Braised on the stove and then cooked slowly in the oven with red wine for a delicious dinner with minimal prep work.

FAQs and tips

Comforting SIDE DISHES