This Baked Pierogi Casserole is the ultimate comfort food meal that comes together with minimal effort. It features tender dumplings and savory sausage smothered in a rich, creamy cheese sauce, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you need a hearty dinner on the table.
You will love how the cheesy sauce bubbles up golden brown around the pierogies, creating a satisfying texture that is creamy, savory, and absolutely delicious.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: This dish is savory and rich, with a tangy kick from the sour cream and cream cheese base, balanced by the mild spices and savory sausage.
- Texture: Expect soft, pillowy pierogies and tender slices of sausage coated in a smooth, velvety sauce, finished with a melted, bubbly cheese topping.
- Time: This recipe requires about 10 minutes of active prep time and 40 minutes of baking time.
- Difficulty: Easy. This is a simple “dump and bake” style casserole that requires no pre-boiling of the pasta.
What Youāll Need
To make this casserole, you will need a 9×13-inch baking dish and a mixing bowl. The base of the meal relies on frozen pierogies and sliced sausage, which makes it incredibly filling. The sauce is a quick whisk-together mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and chicken broth seasoned with pantry staples like onion and garlic powder. Finally, a blend of cheddar and mozzarella brings that essential melty finish.
Ingredient Notes
- Sausage ā The recipe calls for sliced sausage. You can use your favorite variety, such as beef smoked sausage, turkey kielbasa, or chicken sausage. Make sure it is sliced into uniform rounds for even heating.
- Frozen Pierogies ā Keep these frozen until you are ready to assemble the casserole. There is no need to boil or thaw them beforehand; they will cook perfectly in the sauce. Potato and cheese filled pierogies are a classic choice here.
- Cream Cheese ā This provides the thick, creamy base for the sauce. It is crucial that the block is softened so it mixes smoothly without lumps.
- Sour Cream ā Adds a nice tang and helps thin the cream cheese slightly for a coatable sauce.
- Cheeses ā A combination of cheddar and mozzarella gives you the best of both worlds: sharp flavor and a great cheesy pull. Shredding your own cheese from a block often results in a smoother melt.
- Chicken Broth ā This liquid helps steam the frozen pierogies while they bake and creates the right sauce consistency.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables: You can easily boost the nutrition by adding a handful of spinach or some diced bell peppers into the baking dish with the sausage and pierogies.
- Spice it up: If you enjoy a bit of heat, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
- Herbs: Fresh parsley or chives can be used as a substitute for green onions if you prefer a different herbal note for garnish.
How to Make Baked Pierogi Casserole
- Prep the oven and dish: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Assemble the base: Place the sausage slices and the frozen pierogies directly into the prepared baking dish. Spread them out so they are relatively even.
- Make the sauce: In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to whisk together the softened cream cheese and sour cream until the texture is smooth.
- Season and thicken: Add the chicken broth, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese to the bowl. Whisk everything until it is well combined.
- Coat the casserole: Pour the creamy sauce mixture over the pierogies and sausage. Use a spoon or spatula to mix gently, ensuring everything is coated well.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese over the top of the dish.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. This traps steam to cook the frozen pierogies through.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes. The top should be bubbly and golden.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Let it cool for a few minutes to set slightly, then top with sliced green onions for garnish before serving.
Pro Tip: To ensure your sauce is perfectly smooth, make sure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature before whisking. If it is too cold, you may end up with small lumps that are hard to whisk out.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t thaw the pierogies: This recipe is designed for frozen pierogies. If you thaw them first, they may become too soft or mushy during the 40-minute bake time.
- Tent the foil: If your casserole dish is very full, lightly spray the underside of the foil with cooking spray before covering the dish. This prevents the melted cheese from sticking to the foil when you remove it.
- Check for doneness: After the total baking time, a knife inserted into a pierogi should slide in easily, indicating the dough is cooked and the filling is hot.
- Resting time: Letting the casserole sit for about 5 to 10 minutes after taking it out of the oven allows the sauce to thicken up slightly, making it easier to spoon onto plates.
FAQs
- Can I use fresh pierogies instead of frozen? The cook time and liquid ratios in this recipe are specifically calibrated for frozen pierogies. Using fresh refrigerated pierogies might result in them being overcooked. If you must use fresh, you would likely need to reduce the baking time significantly.
- What kind of sausage works best? Any fully cooked smoked sausage works well. Beef, chicken, or turkey sausages are excellent options that pair well with the cheesy sauce.
- How do I store leftovers? Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
This casserole is a heavy, hearty meal on its own, so lighter sides work best to balance the plate.
- Green Salad: A crisp garden salad with a vinaigrette dressing cuts through the richness of the cheese sauce.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or green beans add nice color and nutrition to the meal.
- Bread: A slice of crusty bread or a dinner roll is great for scooping up any extra sauce left on the plate.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can prepare the sauce mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. However, since the pierogies should remain frozen until baking, it is best not to assemble the entire casserole until you are ready to put it in the oven. If you combine the frozen pierogies with the sauce too early and put the dish in the fridge, the pierogies may thaw unevenly and become soggy.
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Baked Pierogi Casserole
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This Baked Pierogi Casserole is the ultimate comfort food meal that comes together with minimal effort, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Featuring tender dumplings and savory beef or turkey sausage smothered in a rich, creamy cheese sauce, this dish is hearty and satisfying. You will love how the cheesy sauce bubbles up golden brown around the pierogies, creating a velvety texture that requires no pre-boiling.
Ingredients
- 14 ounces sliced beef or turkey sausage, cut into 1/4-inch thick rounds
- 32 ounces frozen pierogies (potato and cheese filling recommended)
- 1 (8-ounce) block softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, divided
- Sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Oven and Dish
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy cleanup.
Step 2: Assemble the Base
Place the sliced beef or turkey sausage and the frozen pierogies directly into the prepared baking dish. Spread them out gently so they are distributed in a relatively even layer.
Step 3: Make the Cream Base
In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to whisk together the softened cream cheese and sour cream until the texture is completely smooth and lump-free.
Step 4: Season and Thicken
Add the chicken broth, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, half of the cheddar cheese (1/2 cup), and half of the mozzarella cheese (1/2 cup) to the bowl. Whisk everything until it is well combined.
Step 5: Coat the Casserole
Pour the creamy sauce mixture evenly over the pierogies and sausage. Use a spoon or spatula to mix gently, ensuring every piece is well-coated in the sauce.
Step 6: Top with Cheese
Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the dish.
Step 7: Bake Covered
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. This step traps steam to cook the frozen pierogies through perfectly.
Step 8: Bake Uncovered
Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes. The top should become bubbly and turn a golden brown.
Step 9: Garnish and Serve
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes to set slightly. Top with fresh sliced green onions for garnish before serving.
Notes
Vegetable Boost: To increase the nutritional value, you can mix a handful of fresh spinach or diced bell peppers into the baking dish with the sausage and pierogies before adding the sauce.
Don’t Thaw: Remember to keep the pierogies frozen until you assemble the dish. Thawing them beforehand can result in a mushy texture after the 40-minute bake.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce thickens when cold but loosens up nicely when reheated in the microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1260mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: baked pierogi casserole, easy weeknight dinner, frozen pierogi recipes, sausage and pierogi bake, creamy pierogi casserole, comfort food dinner
