Pierogi Dumpling Recipe
Updated Mar 01, 2025
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I’m going to show you a simple pierogi dumpling recipe. This homemade pierogi recipe is a Polish food that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Traditionally, an easy Easter recipe, we make these Polish dumplings all year round.
Growing up in inner-city Detroit, my childhood was filled with many visits to the local bakeries owned by Polish friends and families. During certain times of the year, you could get all sorts of Polish cuisine, from fresh kielbasa sausages to these amazing Polish dumplings.
At less than $2.00 per serving, you can’t afford not to make our family recipe for Polish dumplings!
Table of Contents
About This Pierogi Dumpling Recipe
As a boy, I was lucky because my mom knew how to make Polish dumplings and we didn’t have to depend on the bakery. My family was pretty traditional, and Polish food was very important to us. For different seasons, we would have different family meals from our Polish heritage, made in the traditional way.
In keeping with the Polish Christmas tradition, we would have a special type of meat pie. That recipe was handed down from my dad’s side. At Easter time, we would have Polish stuffed cabbage.
But, perhaps more than any other holiday food and during the weeks leading up to Easter, my mom would make this family recipe of Polish pierogi, for a wonderful Lenten treat.
What are Pierogi?
Sadly, most Americans know this ethnic food as “Mrs. T’s Pierogies.” Although I have nothing against Mrs. T (I’ve never met her), I’m here to tell you that you can do much better with homemade pierogi from Mrs. (or Mr.) X. (Use the first letter of your last name.)
Kielbasa (Polish sausage) is the go-to side dish for this recipe. If you want a complete Polish meal, try this slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut. It’s the perfect food to serve with pierogi!
The best way I can describe them is as a Polish ravioli. Usually, Polish dumplings are served on meatless Fridays during Lent. These homemade ravioli can be filled with a wide variety of things.
Although pierogi are the national dish of Poland, these boiled and then lightly fried Polish dumplings are popular in other countries in eastern Europe such as Hungry, Ukraine, Russia and some Baltic countries. Depending on which country you are in, they are known by many different names and spellings, including:
- Vareniki
- Varenky
- Perogi
- Pirohy
- Phyrohy
- Dumplings
This pierogi dumpling recipe be filled with almost anything, but in Polish homes, the traditional filling combines potatoes and farmer’s cheese.
As I started to make this pierogi dumpling recipe for my family, I played around with the filling recipe. Then one day, I took a cue from one of my favorite side dishes, a twice-baked potato.
Thus, I began to add bacon, sauteed onions, and sour cream to the potato mixture. For those of you who decide to make this for Lent, omit the bacon bits. You will still have a wonderfully delicious batch of Polish dumplings.
Let me tell you, once you fill the pierogi dough with this flavorful mixture, and then fry them up and add a dollop of sour cream, you are in heaven.
If you like this Polish dumpling recipe, you want to take a look at our Easy Potato Dumplings, our recipe for Steamed Dumplings with Hungarian Goulash, and for a sweet dumpling recipe, these Old-Fashioned Amish Apple Dumplings are a must-try!
Ingredients Notes
Pierogi are made with simple, wholesome ingredients are used to make a comforting and satisfying dish. The dough is soft and slightly elastic, made from flour, eggs, sour cream, and a pinch of salt.
Our pierogi filling is a creamy and flavorful blend of mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and a touch of sour cream, with optional bacon for a smoky bite.
These homemade Polish dumplings are delicious on their own or pan-fried in butter for an irresistible, crispy finish.
Use Ingredients You Already Have
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How to Make Homemade Pierogi
(See the pierogi recipe card above for the full list of ingredients and instructions.)
This is my family’s recipe for homemade pierogi. It is how my mom always makes these and how her mom taught her to make them. My mom often stuffed her pierogi dumplings with a potato and cheese filling while growing up.
Start by Making the Pierogi Filling
If you were to ask any of my siblings, I am certain that their favorite Polish dumplings, as well as mine, would be the potato and cheese filling.
However, there are plenty of Polish pierogi recipes. They can also be stuffed with sauerkraut or cabbage, a mixture of roasted meats, or even be turned into a sweet treat by filling them with a plum or prune mixture.
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- Start by peeling and dicing some potatoes. We prefer russet potatoes as their starchy composition gives you a light and fluffy yield.
- Fill a stockpot with saltwater and boil the potatoes until they are fork-tender.
- While the potatoes are cooking, you can saute the onions. Reserve a little of the bacon grease to use for extra flavor. You’ll want to sautee them slow and low until they have a nice brown color from caramelization.
- Drain the potatoes and place them in a large bowl. Use a potato masher or fork to incorporate the rest of the filling ingredients. Allow the mixture of filling to cool
- When the dumpling filling mixture has cooled, you can roll it up into little balls, 1/2 to 2 inches in size. While you are waiting for the filling mixture to cool, you can start making the dumpling dough.
Make the Pierogi Dough
When putting this pierogi dough together, you may need to slightly tweak the ingredient measurements. The ratio of eggs to flour and sour cream is a starting point. You may need to add additional sour cream or milk in order to get an elastic consistency for the piorogi dough.
The dough may feel wet, but don’t add more flour at this point. When it goes in the refrigerator, it will firm up and make it easier to roll. Do not overwork the dough. Combine it to the point where it is well blended and you start to get an elastic pull to it.
- Combine all of the dough ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
- Mix the ingredients together, starting with a fork and eventually using your hands. The dough should come together and it should be stretchy. Add small amounts of milk or sour cream to get the right consistency.
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it until it all comes together.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to about 1/8″ thickness.
The next step is fun!!
- Use a large-rimmed drinking glass (about 4 inches in diameter) to cut the dumpling dough. Place a ball of filling in the center of each circle and fold it over.
- Seal each pierogi tightly with wet fingertips and crimp the edges with a fork.
- Boil the pierogi in a stockpot of salted water. They are finished cooking when they rise to the top.
Allow the boiled dumplings to drain and cool on a rack. They can be wrapped and frozen at this point to enjoy later.
- Lightly saute each portion in a frying pan with hot melted butter.
This pierogi dumpling recipe makes a great side dish or even a main dish on its own. When you make these, I would suggest making a large batch.
Polish dumplings freeze well for a future meal. However, I can almost guarantee that they won’t last that long.
When I make homemade pierogi, the kids go wild. It is not uncommon for each boy to eat 3…4…5 pierogi. I think the record is 10, held by our son Isaiah.
Please give these Polish dumplings a try. Your family will thank you!
Recipe Questions and Answers
Yes. Chunkier leftover potatoes are the best type for pierogi. If they are too smooth and creamy, the pierogi will fall apart.
If using leftover mashed potatoes to make pierogi, do not add butter to the filling. Be sure that your leftover mashed potatoes are refrigerated before reusing them.
After they are filled, pre-freeze the uncooked dumplings on a flour-dusted baking sheet covered in plastic wrap.
Once they are frozen, you can transfer them to a zip lock bag for longer storage.
Top Tip for Freezing these Polish Dumplings: Freezing them in a single layer will help keep them from sticking together!
You can fill pierogi with savory meats like bacon, sausage, and chunks of ham. Cheeses make a great filing as well. We prefer cheddar but use whatever cheese tastes good to you.
Make a dessert pierogi by adding sweet fruit and berries such as blueberry, cherry, or plum filling.
What to serve with Polish dumplings
Polish dumplings are always served around Easter in our family. This is usually a savory comfort food (depending on the filling.)
Therefore, savory side dishes with the pierogi as a main course will taste great. Some of our favorite things to serve with Polish dumplings include:
- Fried Cabbage with Bacon
- Creamed Spinach and Parsnips
- Balsamic Garlic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Steamed Kale
Recipe Recap
- Make a filling using a mixture of mashed potatoes and cheese.
- Make the dough, using flour, egg, salt, and some sour cream.
- Roll the pierogi dough out and fill and seal each portion with the filling.
- Boil each dumpling in some salted water.
- Drain the batch when they are completely cooked.
- Use a pan to brown the finished pierogi and serve with sour cream.
Scott Shows You How to Make Polish Dumplings in More Detail
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Pierogi Dumpling Recipe
Save This Recipe for Later (You’ll Want It Again)
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Equipment
Ingredients
for the Filling
- 2 pounds potatoes, Use Russet potatoes
- 8 oz Sharp cheddar cheese grated, You may use mild cheese as well.
- 6 slices bacon, Thick cut, coarsely chopped, fried, and drained.
- 1/2 onion chopped and sauteed
- 1/2 stick butter
- 2-3 Tbs sour cream
- 2-3 Tbs cream cheese
- Tbs salt for pot of water for the potatoes
Instructions
- Peel and dice potatoes, fill a stock pot with water and add potatoes and salt to the water. Boil the potatoes until they are fully cooked, or you can easily puncture them with a fork with no resistance
- While the potatoes are cooking, saute the onions in a fry pan using a little butter and some of the drippings from the bacon. You want the onions to brown and caramelized.
- Drain water from the cooked potatoes and use a potato masher to mash them. Add the cheddar cheese, cream cheese. Then, mix together until the cheese is fully melted and set aside until cooled. Once cooled, form the cheese and potato mixture into 1/2 to 2 inch balls.
- While the potato mixture is cooling begin to make the dough. In a mixing bowl, add the flour, eggs, salt, and sour cream. Using a fork, stir the ingredients together. You will want to use your hands at some point to fully incorporate the ingredients.
- The dough should start to come together. If it does not, add a little more sour cream or a little milk. Once it begins to come together, place on a floured surface and kneed the dough until it comes completely together.
- Wrap the dough in some plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
- Next, take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll out on a floured surface until the dough is approximately 1/8 of an inch. (Don't get too caught up in the thickness. You want it to be workable and not too thin that the dough will puncture when you are filling it.)
- FYI: Dough should be somewhat elastic while you are rolling it out. This means that it should spring back as you are rolling it out into a circle.
- Use a drinking glass to cut circles out of the dough. Place your filing ball in the center of the dough and Fold the dough over the filling. You will need to stretch the dough over to seal. Using your fingers, pinch the dough closed.
- If the dough does not seal, wet your finger and run your finger on the edge of the dough. This should act as a “glue” to seal your dough. You can also use a back of a fork to help seal your edges. This gives the Pierogi a very nice look.
- Your finished Pierogi will have a semi-circle appearance. Set aside and continue to make the rest of your Pierogi.
- Fill a stock pot with salted water and bring to a boil and then add a few Pierogi at a time. Allow Pierogi to cook in the boiling water until the Pierogi float to the top. This will take a few minutes. Remove from water and place on a cooling rack to drain and cool. Continue this process until done with all Pierogi.
- When ready to eat, fry in butter in a pan over medium heat until Pierogi are golden brown on both sides. Serve with sour cream and chopped green onion stems (optional)
Notes
- If using leftover mashed potatoes to make pierogi, do not add butter to the filling.
- While you are rolling out the pierogi dough, you’re looking for a little elasticity in the dough; you want it to spring back a bit while you roll it out.
- When you place the filling on the dough to make these Polish dumplings, you are going to have to stretch the top edge of the dough to envelop the pierogi filling.
- You may need just a bit of water on your fingertips to help seal each pierogi tightly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Polish Recipes
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Golumpki Recipe (Polish Stuffed Cabbage)
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Golumpki Soup
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What to Serve with Pierogies – 15 Easy Recipes
These are just some of the Polish recipes that my mom and my grandmother would make all the time when I was a kid. I hope you’ll give them a try as well!
If you’re making this pierogi dumpling recipe for Easter, you may want to take a look at our Pizza Rustica (Italian Easter Pie.) It is another classic Easter recipe that is out-of-this-world delicious!
I love to read about how food and ‘behind the scene’ stories comes together.
I would love to try to make these gorgeous pierogies…thank you for your clear instructions on how to make ’em 😀
I have to tell you guys I adore this recipe, thanks for sharing a tried traditional recipe from your family. I love when people keep the old world traditions going. It makes me sad to see so many recipes from our childhood being forgotten. I could eat several of these pierogies!!!
I need like five of those pierogis please. I can see myself eating it with delight. Love your story behind the recipe.
These pirogies — oh – I could eat a dozen of them! Pass some this way…
G’day Dan and thanks for sharing at the Say G’day Party Pinned!
I hope you will like to join me again next Saturday, perhaps bring a friend and can share up to 3 links! Cheers! Joanne
We love perogies in Pennsylvania too Dan, these look delicious!
These look so amazing! I grew up in Ohio and it was so easy to find pierogi. Here in AZ, not so much! Thanks for sharing such a beloved dish!
I enjoyed the video, the story and the recipe! Pierogi are so good..the family loves them. These look perfect!
I have to tell you guys a secret, this is one of my favorite foods and man I can eat several! I have been looking for a more traditional recipe and I think I found it here today.
Besos
Heidy
The look so good!!! Thanks for the recipe and the great photos. Please stop by and share your blog posts at the Home Matters Linky Party (the door is open now until midnight and re-opens on Friday EST). We’d love to have you for a visit.
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Thanks for the nice comments. I hope that you give these a try.