With all the traditional elements and flavors of homemade pierogi including mashed potatoes and cheese, but built like a lasagna with layers of pasta, this Pierogi Lasagna combines the two comfort food favorites into a delicious casserole.
Other delicious twists on lasagna include our Lasagna Roll Ups, Mexican Lasagna, and Chocolate Lasagna for dessert!
Easy Pierogi Casserole
We took some favorite elements from our homemade pierogi recipe and classic features from lasagna and combined them into a delicious casserole! This Pierogi Lasagna has layers of tender noodles, cheesy mashed potatoes, and perfectly seasoned cottage cheese.
Got a craving for potato and cheese dumplings? With this layered pierogi casserole, you can fill that craving in under an hour. It’s perfect for using up any leftover mashed potatoes or on the days when you need some comfort food.
What is a Pierogi?
Pierogi (which is both singular and plural, by the way!) are Polish dumplings made with a soft dough and filling of your preference. They are filled with both savory and sweet ingredients, with the most common being mashed potatoes and cheese. You can also add meat, vegetables, mushrooms, sauerkraut, etc. They are then boiled in water and pan-fried in butter.
This pierogi lasagna takes some of those elements and turns it into a fantastic casserole. It’s much easier to make and still super delish.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make this mashed potato casserole.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Mashed potatoes – You’ll need mashed potatoes with butter and milk added, as if you were serving the mashed potatoes as a side. They should be warmed when added to the casserole.
- Cottage cheese – Use 4% cottage cheese for the best texture. You can also use ricotta cheese, if preferred.
- Cheddar cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese is mixed in with the mashed potatoes and added to the top of the casserole.
- Lasagna noodles – Cook and drain the noodles before beginning the casserole.
- Butter – Unsalted or salted will work here. Cube the butter for easier melting.
- Sweet onion – These are sautéed and add a subtle sweet flavor to the cottage cheese layer.
- Egg – Acts as a binder to help hold the filling together.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Scallions – To garnish the casserole at the end.
Easy Add-Ins
Like pierogi dumplings themselves, there are so many possibilities when making this pierogi casserole. If you have a favorite pierogi flavor, you can easily transform it into this casserole by mixing the ingredients in with the mashed potatoes. Here are a few ideas:
- Crispy crumbled bacon
- Sliced, cooked mushrooms
- Sauerkraut (well-drained)
- Ground beef (cooked and drain)
- Sausage (cooked ground Italian sausage)
- Scallions or chives (mixed into the potatoes instead of just as a garnish)
Tips for Success
This casserole is already super simple to make, but here are a few tips to make it even easier.
- Warm the mashed potatoes first. Warm mashed potatoes are much easier to mix and spread then mashed potatoes straight from the fridge. Add a splash of milk if needed to make them softer.
- Do not use no-boil noodles. This mashed potato casserole doesn’t work with no-boil noodles. You need to buy regular lasagna noodles and cook them before building the casserole.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar. Be sure to use a good quality brand of cheddar cheese and to shred it yourself instead of buying it pre-shredded. It will melt better and give the lasagna a much better flavor.
- Allow to sit before cutting. If you try to cut the pierogi casserole as soon as it comes out of the oven, you will end up with a mess. Allowing it to sit for 10-15 minutes will give the ingredients time to solidify.
Serving Suggestions
Just as you might serve pierogi dumplings with a dollop of sour cream and some diced scallions, this casserole version is no different. Those two additions really finish off the dish.
Since this casserole is on the heavier side, it pairs well with a simple side salad and/or some roasted vegetables. Roasted carrots, roasted asparagus and roasted broccoli are personal favorites.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Make Ahead. This pierogi casserole can be prepared up to a day in advance. Prepare as directed then cover with foil and refrigerate. You will need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time when baking it directly from the fridge.
- How to store leftovers. Leftover pierogi casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Cover the pan with foil or transfer to an airtight container. It does not freeze well.
- How to reheat leftovers. Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or the microwave, until just warmed through.
More Comfort Food Recipes:
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Minestrone Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Chicken Alfredo
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Pierogi Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter , cubed
- 1 medium sweet onion , diced
- 2 cups 4% cottage cheese , drained well (see note below)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 cups mashed potatoes (with butter and milk added, warmed)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese , divided
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles , cooked and drained
- sour cream and diced scallions , for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray; set aside.
- Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, and the sautéed onion.
- In another bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, 1 cup cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper.
- In the prepared baking dish, create layers, starting and ending with noodles:Lay 3 noodlesSpread evenly with 1 1/2 cups mashed potato mixtureLay 3 noodlesSpread evenly with all of the cottage cheese mixtureLay 3 noodlesSpread evenly with the remaining 1 1/2 cups mashed potato mixtureLay 3 noodlesTop with the remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese
- Cover and bake for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
- Let stand 10-15 minutes before slicing into squares – this will help it solidify and prevent everything from oozing out.
- Slice and serve with a dollop of sour cream and a few diced scallions.
Notes
- Crispy crumbled bacon
- Sliced, cooked mushrooms
- Sauerkraut (very well-drained)
- Ground beef (cooked and drain)
- Sausage (cooked ground Italian sausage)
- Scallions or chives (mixed into the potatoes instead of just as a garnish)
I made this last night for dinner and it was a BIG hit with my better half. I sliced and quartered kielbasa and added it over the layers of mashed potatoes.
What a clever and delicious idea!