This Crock Pot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa is comfort food made easy! Combine savory frozen pierogies, smoky kielbasa, Alfredo sauce, and cheddar cheese in the slow cooker for an effortless meal that’s hearty and comforting.
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This filling pierogi casserole with kielbasa takes crock pot casseroles to a new level! The flavors are bold, but there isn’t a lot of prep work or complicated ingredients. It’s the perfect low-effort meal for a busy family that can be enjoyed any day of the week.
If you like easy crock pot comfort food recipes, you will love my Slow Cooker Meatloaf, Crock Pot Goulash, and Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy Comfort Meal: Sausage and pierogies are a delicious comfort meal, but making it from scratch is not ideal for a busy weeknight. This pierogi kielbasa casserole in the slow cooker eliminates the work to make an effortless dinner.
- Delicious Flavor: The savory pierogies, smoky kielbasa sausage, and cheesy sauce make a delicious meal that the whole family will love!
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses frozen pierogies, cooked kielbasa, and jarred Alfredo sauce, so there is hardly any prep work and the ingredients are easy to find.
Ingredients
- Frozen Pierogies: Part of what makes this crock pot pierogi casserole so simple is the use of frozen pierogies. I use Mrs. T’s cheddar pierogies, but you can use whatever brand you like best.
- Smoked Kielbasa Sausage: This Polish sausage has a distinct smoky flavor and is very savory. It’s the perfect complement for cheesy pierogies.
- Red Bell Pepper: Add a little color and sweetness with bite-sized pieces of red bell pepper in the casserole.
- Alfredo Sauce: Give this casserole a rich flavor and creamy texture with your favorite jarred Alfredo sauce. This cheesy sauce packs a lot of flavor into the dish.
- Garlic: Fresh or jarred garlic adds a little zesty flavor to the casserole.
- Cheddar Cheese: This cheesy kielbasa and pierogi casserole taste best with freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese. It gives it an extra bite and burst of flavor.
- Green Onions: Freshly chopped green onions are the perfect garnish for pierogies. Don’t skip adding them on top of your casserole when serving.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Make It Vegetarian: This dish is easy to make vegetarian-friendly. Just be sure to use a meat-free frozen pierogi and skip the kielbasa. You could also use a vegan kielbasa, which is available at some grocery stores.
- Try Different Cheeses: Play with the flavor of the casserole by using fresh cheeses. Gouda adds more smokiness and isn’t as sharp as cheddar. Meanwhile, Parmesan is very flavorful and pungent. You could even try it with Swiss cheese or Provolone.
- Add Veggies: Make the casserole a balanced meal and add some vegetables. Mushrooms, caramelized onions, and spinach are great additions. You could also add a bag of frozen broccoli or some sauerkraut.
How to Make Pierogi Casserole in the Crock Pot
This savory pierogi casserole feels like a warm hug in food form. It’s hearty and savory and tastes like a dish from childhood, but it’s also quick and easy, which is perfect for a rainy weekend dinner or busy weeknight meal.
- Step 1: Add the Pierogies and Kielbasa. Place the frozen pierogies, sliced kielbasa sausage, and chopped bell pepper in the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot. Toss them equally to distribute the meat and pierogies throughout the dish.
- Step 2: Add the Sauce.Mix the Alfredo sauce, garlic, and seasonings in a bowl. Pour the sauce over the pierogies and kielbasa.
- Step 3: Let It Cook. Secure the lid on the slow cooker and let the casserole cook for 2½ to 3½ hours on high or 4-5 hours on low.
- Step 4: Add the Cheese. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the pierogi crockpot casserole. Cover again until the cheese melts completely. Then garnish with green onions before serving.
Expert Tips
- Shred the Cheese Yourself: While using prepackaged shredded cheese saves time, freshly shredded cheese melts evenly and tastes better. The few extra minutes spent shredding cheese are worth it!
- Different Pierogi Flavors Change the Dish: This pierogi casserole recipe uses cheddar pierogies, but there are many flavors of frozen pierogies. Onion, loaded potato, broccoli and cheddar, and bacon pierogies all taste a little different, so experiment with what kind you like best!
- Always Use a Cooked Sausage: Kielbasa is a smoked meat that is cured, which means it doesn’t need to be cooked, just heated. If you use a different sausage, be sure it is cured because this recipe isn’t meant for cooking raw meat.
Storage Directions
- Storing: If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this pierogi and kielbasa casserole for about 2 months.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove until heated through. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth or water to keep the pierogies moist as they reheat. Be sure to thaw frozen leftovers in the fridge for 24 hours before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This simple, no-fuss pierogi and sausage casserole is the perfect comfort meal during a busy week. It’s a true dump-and-go recipe without a lot of prep work and no extra dishes. Everyone will love the smoky, cheesy casserole and you probably won’t have leftovers!
- Skip adding the kielbasa and serve the pierogi casserole as a side dish for smothered pork chops or French onion pork chops!
- Pair crock pot kielbasa and pierogies with slightly bitter veggies like collard greens or Brussels sprouts.
- A savory meal like this calls for something sweet! Try slow cooker monkey bread or blueberry cobbler for dessert.
- Use any leftover kielbasa to make these crock pot kielbasa bites!
Recipe FAQs
If you aren’t a fan of the flavor of jarred Alfredo, then you can make your own cream sauce. Heat a cup of chicken, or vegetable, broth with cream cheese and garlic in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Once the cream cheese is fully melted, pour the cheesy sauce over the crock pot pierogies and kielbasa and cook according to the recipe.
This is a great casserole to make in the oven too! Combine all the ingredients in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes. Then add the cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes until it is all melted.
This recipe is not great for homemade pierogies. They will completely fall apart and turn mushy in the crock pot.
More Delicious Crock Pot Casserole Recipes
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Crock Pot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa
Ingredients
- 1 (32 ounce) bag of frozen pierogies I used Mrs. T's cheddar pierogies
- 1 (14 ounce) smoked kielbasa sausage Sliced into rounds
- 1 medium red bell pepper cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 (15 ounce) jars of Alfredo sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- green onions chopped
Instructions
- Add pierogies, kielbasa sausage, and bell pepper to a 6-quart crock pot. Toss until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, add Alfredo sauce, garlic, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix until well combined and pour over pierogies and sausage.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½ to 3½ hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- In the last 15 minutes, sprinkle cheese over the top. Cover again until melted.
- Garnish with green onions before serving and enjoy!
Notes
- Freshly shredded cheese melts more evenly and tastes better than pre-shredded cheese, so I recommend shredding the cheese yourself.
- Instead of jarred Alfredo sauce make your own cream sauce with chicken broth, cream cheese, and garlic. Heat them in a saucepan over medium-low heat until the cream cheese is fully melted, then pour the cheesy sauce over the kielbasa and pierogies.
- If you use a different sausage than kielbasa, be sure it is cured because this recipe isn’t meant for cooking raw meat.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen says
This recipe has it all. It's cheesy, creamy and oh so good. You won't regret making it.
Tina says
Thank you. it turned out great!
Ryan Allen says
I makes me so happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Colette Carlton says
Thanks so much for the pierogies recipe ❤️♀️
Ryan Allen says
You're so welcome! Hope those pierogies bring all the comfort and flavor. Let me know how they turn out!