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This recipe was inspired by my Eastern European roots! If you love Pierogi from your local grocery store, these Classic Pierogi with Potatoes and Cheese will win you over!

PIerogi with onion in a pan

The Classic Pierogi is the perfect way to use leftover mashed potatoes. The simple filling is comforting and irresistible. Good luck only eating a few! If you’ve never had pierogi before, they are much like Asian dumplings with an Eastern European twist. Trust me, you’re going to love them.

My family grew up calling these potato filled morsels “vareniki”. My mother would make a huge batch with leftover mashed potatoes and us kids would gobble them up before they even hit the table. Today, I like to top them with some crispy bacon and a huge dollop of Canadian sour cream.

What are Classic Pierogi With Potatoes and Cheese

These dumplings are stuffed full with creamy mashed potatoes and cheese and covered with the most irresistible breading. Get ready to fall in love.

  • Flavor: Salty mashed potatoes and tangy cheddar cheese make for a simple and delectable flavor profile.
  • Texture: The breading is first boiled and then pan fried for the perfect bite. I like to think that these pierogis are equally binge worthy for both their taste and texture. There’s something so satisfying about the crispy outer layer and the ultra creamy inside.
  • Time: All together, these pierogis take about an hour and a half from prep to finish.

How to Make Classic Pierogi

Although these pierogis look impressive, they are actually quite easy (and fun!) to make. Follow the simple steps below and have your guests thinking you snuck a Ukrainian grandma into your kitchen.

  • Filling: Use leftover mashed potatoes or whip up a quick batch. Mix in some sharp cheddar cheese.
  • Dough: Whisk eggs with sour cream and milk. Add in flour and salt. Knead the dough by hand or with a standing mixer. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes once fully kneaded and elastic.
  • Shape Pierogi: Roll out dough on a well floured surface. Cut circles out of the dough using a cookie cutter or a floured glass cup. Place a dollop of filling in each round. Fold the dough over like an empanada and pinch together the edges to seal the filling inside. Place pierogi on a floured surface.
  • Cook Pierogi: Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. One by one, add pierogi into the boiling water. Once they float to the top, they are ready! Pour cooked pierogi into a strainer. Sautee some onions in a pan with butter. Add pierogi into the pan and crisp up both sides.
potato filling in a bowl
dough kneaded together
potato filing inside vareniki dough
PIerogi with onion in a pan

Pierogi Variations

Mashed potatoes and cheese not your style? That’s okay! Here are a couple other fun filling options to try out.

  • Ground beef and onions.
  • Ham and cheese.
  • Blueberries and farmer’s cheese.
  • Sauerkraut and mushroom.
  • Caramelized onions and mashed potatoes.

Ways to Serve Pierogi with Potatoes and Cheese

There are so many different ways you can serve your pierogis. Here are a couple of our favorites:

  • Pierogi with Butter: Boil your pierogi and them toss them with butter immediately.
  • Pan Fried: After you boil them, toss them in a buttered pan to create a golden crust. This is a great way to serve leftovers!
  • Cartelized Onions: Toss your pierogi with caramelized onions for a wonderful texture.
  • Bacon: Pan fry some bacon bits and toss them with your pierogi.
PIerogi with onion in a pan

Making Pierogi In Advance

  • Cook & Refrigerate: After cooking your pierogi, toss them in butter and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store for up to a week.
  • Freeze for Later: Place raw pierogi on a floured baking sheet. Place in the freezer. Once frozen, remove from tray and store inside a freezer-safe bag.

FAQ

Are pierogis Polish or German?

Pierogis likely originated from Poland. However, there is much debate over this. It’s been pretty difficult to track where the first recipe popped up.

What are pierogis traditionally served with?

Traditionally, pierogis are served with caramelized onions, bacon bits, and/or a dollop of sour cream.

How do you know when pierogies are cooked?

Once they float to the top of the boiling water, the pierogis are fully cooked. I love how this takes all the guesswork out of cooking!

Why is my pierogi dough sticky/dense?

Using less of more flour is the trick. Add in the flour slowly to control the texture and adjust accordingly.

Other Pierogi Recipes To Try

Can’t get enough of pierogis? Us either. Here are a couple other recipes to try.

Recipe

PIerogi with onion in a pan

The Classic Pierogi (Potato and Cheese)

Print Pin
Servings
15 servings
Prep Time 1 hr
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This recipe was inspired by my Eastern European roots! Do you like Pierogi, these Classic Pierogi with Potatoes and Cheese will win you over!

Ingredients

Filling

  • 3 lb large potatoes
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/4 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Serving

US Units – Metric

Instructions

Potato and Cheese Filling

  • Cook potatoes in salty water until you can easily pierce them with a fork. Drain water from cooked potatoes. Mash them with some warm milk and butter. Mix in cheese.
    potato filling in a bowl

Pierogi Dough:

  • Whisk eggs with sour cream and milk until you get an even texture.
    milk with eggs in a bowl
  • To the liquid ingredients, add in flour and salt.
    flour added to liquid ingredients
  • Knead the dough by hand or by using a standing mixer. Allow dough to rest for 10 minutes once fully kneaded and elastic.
    dough kneaded together

Making Pierogi

  • Roll out the dough on a well floured surface. Cut circles out of the dough using a cookie cutter or a floured glass cup.
    vareniki dough and potato filling
  • One by one, spoon filling into dough dough. Fold the dough over to create a quesadilla or empanada shape. Pinch edges together with your fingers to seal the filling inside.
    formed vareniki with potato filling
  • Flour the surface where you plan to place pierogi. Note: You can freeze the pierogi at this point and save them for later.
    Pierogi on a plate

Cooking Pierogi

  • Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. One by one, add pierogi into the boiling water. Once they float to the top (10-15 minutes into the cooking), they are fully cooked.
    cooked pierogi in a drainer
  • In a buttered pan, sauté onion to a golden brown. Add pierogi to pan. Fry sides of pierogi to a golden brown.
    PIerogi with onion in a pan
Nutrition Facts
The Classic Pierogi (Potato and Cheese)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 189 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 40mg13%
Sodium 408mg17%
Potassium 87mg2%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 253IU5%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 69mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Posted June 7, 2021

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.