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This meat and potato pierogi recipe is true Slavic childhood comfort food. They’re filling, incredibly delicious, and best topped with caramelized onions!

Pierogi in a bowl

Pierogi are one of the most common foods you will find throughout Eastern Europe. The variety of fillings is insane, varying to the season and weather. For this meat and potato pierogi recipe, we keep it simple and comforting with a rich filling of ground meat, onions, and mashed potatoes. YUM!

While pierogis are quite a prep intensive dish, they are perfect for batch cooking and freezing. Whenever you muster up the energy to make them, double or triple the recipe so you have some on hand for a rainy day. You’ve got all the ingredients out already anyway, right? 😉

The process of making meat and potato piergi

What are Pierogis?

Pierogis are one of the most popular foods eaten throughout Eastern Europe. They are tiny boiled dumplings that are served with a variety of fillings and toppings. Below, find a rundown of the texture, flavor, and time it takes to prepare this meat and potato pierogi recipe.

  • Texture: The gummy, boiled pierogi dough is contrasted by a fine filling of meat, onions, and creamy mashed potatoes.
  • Flavor: The flavor of these meat and potato pierogies can best be described in one word: savory.
  • Time: From start to finish, these pierogies take just under an hour and a half to make.

How to Make Pierogi

Making pierogi might be time-consuming, but it’s a pretty simple process. At the end of the day, it just takes a bit of practice to nail down. Below, find a quick rundown of the recipe before you dive in.

  • Make the Pierogi Dough: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sour cream, and milk until smooth. Next, add in the flour and salt. Using a spatula, stand mixer, or hand mixer, beat the ingredients together until well-combined.
  • Make the Pierogi Filling: First, brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium heat until it’s no longer pink. Next, add in the diced onions and cook them until they turn golden brown. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow the filling to cool at room temperature, then grind it using a meat grinder, blender, or food processor. Finally, add the mashed potatoes into the skillet and combine them with the ground meat mixture.
  • Assemble the Pierogies: On a floured work surface, roll out the dough. Using a cookie cutter or floured glass rim, cut out circles from the dough. Next, use a cookie scoop to portion out the filling into the center of each dough circle. Fold the sides over into a half-moon shape and pinch the edges to secure the filling inside.
  • Boil the Pierogies: In a large pot, bring some salted water to a boil. Place the raw pierogies in the water and boil them until they float to the top.
  • Caramelize the Onion: Dice up the other half of the onion and caramelize it with some oil in a skillet. Toss the cooked pierogi in the caramelized onions and serve immediately!
Dough for pierogi
Pierogi filling in a skillet
Pierogi dough cut out
Pierogi on a floured surface

What are Pierogies Traditionally Served with?

Pierogis can be eaten as-is out of the boiling water, but are so delicious when elevated with an assortment of sauces and toppings. Below, find a handful of winning combinations to serve them with:

  • Crispy bacon & caramelized onions
  • Melted butter (European brands like Kerrygold or Pulgra work best) and sour cream
  • Sauerkraut and caramelized onions
  • Melted butter and sautéed garlic
Pierogi in a bowl

Tips & Tricks

Here you’ll find a collection of tips and tricks to help you nail this meat and potato pierogi recipe.

  • Use leftover mashed potatoes for a shortcut. Cut down on day-of prep by making a batch of creamy mashed potatoes the day before or by using leftover mashed potatoes from last night’s dinner.
  • Grind the meat mixture for easier stuffing. Grinding the meat mixture not only evenly distributes the onions, but also makes it easier to stuff the pierogi. A finer texture filling is much easier to work with than a lumpy one.
  • Use a cookie scoop to portion the filling. To ensure that your pierogies are similar in size, use a cookie scoop to portion out the filling. This will also promote even cooking!
  • Pull the pierogies out immediately after they float. Once the pierogies float to the top of the boiling water, they are fully cooked. Prevent yourself from overcooking them by immediately removing them with a slotted spoon.

How to Freeze Pierogi

Pierogies are perfect for batch cooking and freezing. To do so, place the raw dumplings on a generously floured baking sheet in a single layer. Next, pop the entire tray into the freezer uncovered. Once completely frozen, transfer the dumplings to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, simply pop the frozen pierogi into boiling water to cook them.

FAQ

What meat goes good with pierogies?

Ground meat is the best for pierogies, as it’s easier to stuff than other cuts. Beef, chicken, turkey, and pork all work wonderfully.

What’s inside of a pierogi?

The inside of pierogi can be filled with so many different things. Potatoes, cheese, ground meat, and even fruit fillings are all common.

What is the difference between pierogi and varenyky?

Varenyky is a more commonly used term in Ukraine that describes a dumpling similar to Polish pierogi.

What is the difference between pierogi and piroshki?

The difference between pierogi and piroshki is that pierogi are typically boiled while piroshki are mostly fried. While the fillings for both can be similar, pierogi have a gummier dough while piroshki have a more bread-like dough.

How long do pierogies last in the fridge?

Pierogies stay fresh for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Other Pierogi Recipes To Try

Recipe

Pierogi in a bowl

Meat Potato Pierogi

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Servings
12 Servings
Prep Time 1 hr
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This meat and potato pierogi recipe is true Slavic childhood comfort food. They're filling, incredibly delicious, and best topped with caramelized onions!

Ingredients

Pierogi Dough Ingredients

Pierogi Filling

  • 1 lb ground meat
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes
  • 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
  • 1/2 tsp pepper adjust to taste

Pierogi Topping

  • 1 onion
  • 1 tbsp oil for frying
US Units – Metric

Instructions

Pierogi Dough

  • Gather the ingredients for the pierogi dough.
    Ingredients for pierogi dough
  • Whisk the eggs with sour cream and milk until you get a smooth texture. Next, add in the flour and salt.
    Mixture with eggs in a bowl
  • Using a slotted spoon, stand mixer, or hand mixer, stir the ingredients together.
    Dough for pierogi

Pierogi Filling

  • Brown the ground meat in a skillet, continually stirring it as it cooks.
    Meat cooking in a skillet
  • Dice half an onion and add it into the skillet alongside the ground meat. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and cook until the onions are golden brown. Remove the meat mixture from heat and allow it to cool at room temperature.
    Meat onion in a skillet for pierogi filling
  • Using a meat grinder or food processor, grind the meat mixture down until fine in texture.
    Meat filling for pierogi
  • Into the same skillet with meat drippings, add in the mashed potatoes. Next, mix in the ground meat mixture and stir to combine.
    Pierogi filling in a skillet
  • On a well-floured surface, roll out the dough. With a cookie cutter or floured glass, cut out circles from the dough. One by one, place a dollop of the filling into the center of the circle and fold one side of the dough over to create a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges together with your fingers to secure the filling inside.
    Pierogi dough and filling
  • Place the raw pierogis on a floured surface as you go. Optionally, you can choose to freeze a portion for later.
    Pierogi on a floured surface

Cooking Pierogies

  • Bring 3 quarts of water to boil in a large pot. One by one, add the pierogi to the boiling water. Once they float to the top (10-15 minutes), they are fully cooked.
    Meat Potato Pierogi in a draining basket
  • Dice up the other half of the onion and caramelize it with some oil in a skillet. Toss the cooked pierogi with the caramelized onions.
    Onions cooking in a skillet
  • Serve hot and enjoy!
    Pierogi in a bowl
Nutrition Facts
Meat Potato Pierogi
Amount Per Serving
Calories 305 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 57mg19%
Sodium 445mg19%
Potassium 305mg9%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 87IU2%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 47mg5%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted January 7, 2022

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.