Description
This hearty Pierogi Casserole layers tender potato pierogi with a creamy cheddar cheese soup mixture, farmer’s cheese, fresh spinach, sautéed onions, and smoky kielbasa sausage. Baked to bubbling perfection and finished with a broiled crispy top, this comforting dish is perfect for a family dinner or potluck.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 2 lb. potato pierogi (or your favorite frozen pierogi flavor), divided
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Cheese & Dairy
- 1 (10.5-oz.) can cheddar cheese soup or cream of mushroom soup
- 8 oz. cheddar, shredded, divided
- 15 oz. farmer’s cheese or ricotta, divided
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 (5-oz.) pkg. fresh or frozen spinach, thawed, drained, divided
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped or thinly sliced, divided
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Thinly sliced scallions, for serving
Protein
- 1 (12-oz.) pkg. smoked kielbasa sausage, thinly sliced, divided
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Dish and Pierogi: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 13″ x 9″ or 11″ x 7″ baking dish with 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange 12 pierogi around the bottom of the prepared dish in an even layer.
- Make Cheese Mixture and Layer Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the cheddar cheese soup (or cream of mushroom soup) with three-quarters of the shredded cheddar. Pour half of this soup mixture evenly over the arranged pierogi. Crumble half of the farmer’s cheese over the pierogi. Then, sprinkle half of the spinach, half of the chopped onion, and half of the sliced kielbasa sausage on top. Season lightly with kosher salt to taste.
- Repeat Layering: Repeat the layering process with the remaining pierogi, soup mixture, farmer’s cheese, spinach, onion, and sausage. Finally, evenly sprinkle the remaining one-quarter of shredded cheddar cheese on top. Season again lightly with salt, and drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the entire casserole.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake until heated through and bubbling, about 45 minutes.
- Broil for Crispy Top and Serve: After baking, switch your oven to broil. Carefully broil the casserole for about 3 minutes, watching closely, until the top becomes crispy and golden brown. Remove from oven, garnish with thinly sliced scallions, and serve warm.
Notes
- You can swap the cheddar cheese soup with cream of mushroom soup for a milder flavor.
- Make sure to thaw and drain spinach well to avoid extra moisture in the casserole.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the kielbasa and consider adding mushrooms or other vegetables.
- If you cannot find farmer’s cheese, ricotta is a suitable substitute.
- This casserole can be assembled in advance and refrigerated before baking; just add extra baking time if cold from fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Keywords: pierogi casserole, potato pierogi, kielbasa, kielbasa casserole, cheesy pierogi bake, comfort food, Eastern European dinner
