This Crockpot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa is the epitome of comfort food. Creamy cheddar pierogies and savory kielbasa are slow-cooked to perfection, creating a rich and satisfying dish that warms you from the inside out. The cheesy goodness and hearty flavors make it a go-to for cozy weeknight dinners or when you need a no-fuss meal.
The beauty of this casserole lies in its simplicity and adaptability. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or prepping for a week of hearty meals, this dish delivers on flavor with minimal effort. Pair it with a simple green salad, and you’ve got a complete meal that’s sure to please everyone around the table.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 packages of Mrs. T’s Cheddar Pierogies
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz block of cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 lb kielbasa, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Add 3 cups of chicken broth to a 4-6 quart crockpot.
- Layer frozen pierogies, sliced kielbasa, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese in the crockpot.
- Set the crockpot on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, warm the cream cheese with the remaining cup of chicken broth and whisk until smooth.
- Stir the cream cheese mixture into the crockpot, then sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
- Cover and let cook for an additional 30 minutes on low, allowing the cheese to melt.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with sliced green onions.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 6 hours | Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Kcal: Approx. 450 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
The Crockpot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa is a heartwarming, simple-to-make dish that takes advantage of the convenience of slow cooking while offering rich, comforting flavors. This recipe combines tender pierogies, savory kielbasa, and creamy, melted cheddar cheese, all gently cooked in chicken broth for hours until everything blends together in a cohesive, delicious meal. It’s a dish that brings together Eastern European culinary influences with American comfort food, making it a popular choice for busy families, casual gatherings, or anyone seeking a filling, no-fuss meal.
The Appeal of Pierogi Casserole
Pierogies are a classic Eastern European dumpling, typically filled with mashed potatoes and cheese, and have become a beloved comfort food in many households around the world. Traditionally boiled or fried, this recipe gives pierogies a new twist by incorporating them into a casserole, where they take on even more flavor as they soak in the broth and melt into the other ingredients. The slow-cooked kielbasa adds a rich, smoky element, while the cheddar cheese and cream cheese mixture provide a luscious, creamy finish. Together, these components create a casserole that’s as indulgent as it is simple to prepare.
Why Use a Crockpot?
The slow cooker is a lifesaver for busy cooks. It allows you to prepare a meal with minimal hands-on time, leaving you free to focus on other tasks while the ingredients slowly meld together. In this recipe, the crockpot works its magic by breaking down the pierogies and kielbasa, helping the flavors develop over the long cooking time. The extended, gentle heat ensures that each pierogi soaks up the broth and cheese, becoming soft and full of flavor. The result is a dish that feels like it’s been carefully attended to for hours, even though most of the work was done by the slow cooker.
A Nostalgic Dish with Modern Convenience
Many families associate slow-cooked meals like this one with nostalgia and tradition. Whether it’s the smell of a slow-cooking stew or a hearty casserole like this one, the scent can fill your home with warmth and memories of family gatherings. For this particular recipe, the combination of kielbasa, pierogies, and cheddar cheese is likely to remind many of their childhoods, where simple yet hearty meals were often the stars of the dinner table. This dish brings that same sense of nostalgia but adapts it for modern kitchens by using the crockpot.
Adaptability for Different Tastes and Diets
One of the best aspects of this Crockpot Pierogi Casserole is how versatile it is. You can make this dish your own by customizing the ingredients to suit your family’s preferences or dietary needs. For example, it can easily be adapted into a vegetarian version by omitting the kielbasa and opting for vegetable broth in place of chicken broth. Alternatively, a plant-based sausage can be used to maintain the meaty, smoky flavor while making the dish suitable for vegetarians. For those following a gluten-free diet, gluten-free pierogies are widely available and can be swapped into the recipe without sacrificing taste or texture.
Additionally, you can easily introduce more vegetables to the dish for added nutrition and variety. Consider mixing in spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, or onions before cooking to create a heartier, more nutrient-rich casserole. The flavors of the vegetables meld beautifully with the creaminess of the cheese and the smokiness of the kielbasa, adding color and texture to the dish.
A Meal for All Occasions
While this dish is perfect for weeknight family dinners, it’s also a great option for gatherings and potlucks. The casserole is filling and rich enough to serve as a standalone meal, but it can also be paired with a simple side salad or some steamed vegetables for a more complete spread. Its no-fuss preparation means you can pop it in the crockpot in the morning and have a hot, ready-to-eat meal by dinnertime, freeing you from the stress of last-minute cooking.
Storage and Leftovers
Another advantage of this recipe is that it stores exceptionally well, making it a great option for meal prep or batch cooking. Once cooled, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheating is easy—just pop it in the microwave or warm it on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to maintain the creamy texture. The casserole can also be frozen for longer-term storage, which is particularly helpful if you’re planning meals ahead for busy weeks. Simply store individual portions in freezer-safe containers and thaw them out when you need a quick, comforting dinner.
A Comfort Food Staple
Comfort food is defined by its ability to provide both physical and emotional satisfaction, and this Crockpot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa fits the bill perfectly. The combination of creamy cheese, tender pierogies, and smoky sausage is as soothing as it is flavorful. Whether you’re eating it on a cold winter evening or serving it at a family get-together, this casserole is guaranteed to leave everyone at the table feeling full, warm, and content. It’s a recipe that proves you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to create a hearty, satisfying meal.
Conclusion
The Crockpot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa is a perfect blend of convenience, nostalgia, and flavor. Its simplicity makes it ideal for busy families, but the rich, hearty flavors ensure it’s a dish worthy of special occasions as well. With just a few basic ingredients, most of which you can likely find in your pantry or freezer, you can create a comforting casserole that’s sure to become a regular part of your meal rotation. Plus, the endless possibilities for customization mean you can tweak the recipe to suit your tastes, dietary needs, or whatever ingredients you have on hand.