Fill Your Heart (and Belly) With These Delicious Pierogi Filling Ideas

Pierogi are typically filled with mashed potatoes, so why not swap the potatoes for sweet potatoes? You can even test different types of sweet potatoes for varying flavors and colors. Add your favorite spices — try adding some heat with chili powder or make a sweeter pierogi by adding in some cinnamon and a touch of maple syrup — to change up the flavor of this filling.

For a savory, earthy flavor, combine kale and leek with your favorite dairy or non-dairy cheeses. These pierogi are perfect for cooler days or any time you just want something super cozy and comforting. Make sure to saute the veggies before adding them into the pierogi dough.

Spinach and ricotta are great in pasta, on pizza and in pierogi. Chop the spinach finely before mixing it into the ricotta; no need to cook the spinach in advance. If you want to experiment further, try adding in some marinated artichoke hearts to this combo as well.

Pumpkin, or other autumnal squash like acorn or butternut squash, adds an earthy yet slightly sweet flavor to the pierogi. Like with sweet potato pierogi, you can lean into some savory or even spicy flavors or go sweeter with the addition of warming spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Sauteed mushrooms and onions lend a rich, indulgent flavor to your pierogi. You can add these ingredients into a classic potato pierogi or skip the potatoes altogether. For the best flavor, get the mushrooms golden brown and caramelize the onion before adding it all into the pierogi dough.

For an authentic pierogi dish, try your hand at making sweet cheese pierogi, which are filled with twarόg, or farmer’s cheese combined with sugar and vanilla. Check out this pierogi ze słodkim serem recipe for tips and tricks for achieving tasty, traditional sweet cheese pierogi.

Sauerkraut is another classic pierogi filling that can be surprisingly customizable. Combine it with mushrooms, onions, garlic and/or cheese depending on your preferences. This pierogi type is delicious on its own, or pair it with Maggi seasoning sauce, which you can find at most grocery stores or online.

If you’re looking for a non-dairy filling, lentils and garlic are rich and flavorful, no cheese necessary. Cook up red or green lentils and saute some garlic, then combine them together in the filling. If dairy’s no issue for you, you could add some cheese here as well, or try this combination with leafy greens (like spinach or kale), mushrooms and/or onions.

For another sweet treat, berries make a great filling for pierogi. Go all in with one type of berry or make a mixed berry filling. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are all great options here. This recipe from Polish Your Kitchen is a helpful place to start.