Homemade Cheddar Potato Pierogi is my grandma’s recipe for traditional Ukrainian pierogi filled with cheesy potatoes and topped with butter and fried onions. Make them for Christmas, Lent or anytime you’re craving authentic pierogies!
This is hands-down the best recipe for pierogi dough I’ve ever made, and I’ve tried several pierogi recipes over the last few years. The dough is easy to work with, and the cheesy filling is loaded with flavor. If you want to make homemade cheddar pierogi, this is the recipe for you!
I got this recipe for pierogi from my grandma, who got if from her Baba, and so on up the family tree. Grandma would come over every Christmas Eve, and my mom and I would spend all morning helping her make these cheesy potato dumplings to eat for Holy Supper that evening.
My family is a mix of Ukrainian – Ruthenian – Polish – Russian heritage, but these pierogi, or pedohe as we used to call them, are from my grandma’s Ukrainian side. My Polish relatives filled their pierogi with a mix of farmer’s cheese and mashed potatoes, but Grandma always filled hers with cheddar cheese mashed potatoes.
She also made a few sauerkraut pierogi, but I absolutely hated these when I was young. I wouldn’t mind these now, but my kids would never go for that! So, we stick with the cheddar potato version.
Making pierogi isn’t hard — You’re basically making a simple filled pasta. But, it takes a lot of time and energy to complete the whole process, but it’s easier if you have as much help as possible. For us, it’s definitely a family project, but I’m beyond thrilled that I can hand this recipe down to my own kids. And honestly, we have a lot of fun in the process!
This recipe for pirogi dough uses potato water left over from boiling the potatoes for the filling. So, cooking the potatoes is the first step. I use Yukon Gold potatoes, and I leave the skins on while boiling them. It’s a cinch to peel the potatoes while they’re warm!
You mash the warm potatoes with shredded cheddar cheese, set them aside to cool, and then, you can start the dough. Like I said, this dough is so easy to work with, and it comes together in no time.
You need to let the dough rest for about 20 minutes after you’re done kneading it. Then, roll it out, and use a drinking glass or cookie cutter to cut circles out of the dough.
Use a tablespoon to scoop out some of the cheddar potatoes, and place a spoonful in the center of the circle. Next, you fold the edges together, and pinch, pinch, pinch the dough so that it’s completely closed.
One of my girls made up a little song and dance about pinching the pierogi dough when she was younger. Good times! Seriously though, it’s a great way for kids to get involved in the kitchen!
Next, you boil the pierogi in a nice big pot of water. When they rise to the top, they’re done. You could stop at this point, since they’re technically cooked. But, you really, really, should take it a step further.
We like to fry the boiled pierogi in a large skillet filled with melted butter and fried onions, which really makes the pierogi taste incredibly delicious! I prefer my pierogi a little soft in the center, while the Hubs prefers his crispy. So, I make them both ways, and everybody is happy.
If you haven’t guessed by now, this is not a low-fat recipe! But, don’t let that stop you from making and eating homemade pierogi! It’s definitely a treat!
Tips for Making Homemade Cheddar Potato Pierogi
- Use Yukon Gold potatoes for the filling, and boil the potatoes with the skin on for easy pealing
- Reserve 1 cup of potato water for the dough
- Knead the dough until it’s no longer sticky, and your hands are clean after handling the dough
- Allow at the dough to rest for at least 20 minutes before rolling
- Keep dough covered to prevent drying out
- Dip fingers in water to help seal the dough while forming the pierogi
- Freeze pierogi after you make them to cook later
Recipe for Homemade Cheddar Potato Pierogi
Homemade Cheddar Potato Pierogi
Ingredients
For the Pierogi Dough
- 5 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 1 cup lukewarm potato water
- 1/2 cup milk
For the Cheddar Cheese Potato Filling
- 5 Yukon Gold potatoes
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk (optional)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
For the Filling
- Add potatoes to a large pot, add enough cold water to completely cover potatoes, and boil in salted water until fork tender
- Reserve 1 cup of water, drain, peel potatoes, add cheese, salt and pepper, and mash with fork or potato masher until blended. Add the milk to make potatoes creamier, if needed. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed
- Set aside
For the Dough
- In a large bowl, stir the flour and sea salt together, and push aside to form a well in the bowl
- Add eggs in the center, then the butter and milk, and start mixing dough with fork
- Gradually add the potato water, and mix until dough starts to form. Add enough water to form a ball, and knead until no longer sticky. Add more water if too dry or more flour if dough is still too sticky
- Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 20 minutes to rest
- Divide dough into 4 separate pieces, and keep covered to prevent drying out
- Roll out one piece at a time on a floured surface, and cut out circular shapes with a drinking glass or round cookie/biscuit cutter
- Place a tablespoon full of potatoes in center of dough, fold ends over, and pinch together, using water to help seal dough
- Place pierogi on lightly greased cookie sheet until dough is used up, and keep covered until ready to boil
- Boil pierogi in salted water, a few at a time, until they float to surface
- Remove with slotted spoon, and serve or fry with butter and onions before serving
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy our family’s recipe for homemade cheddar potato pierogi as much as we do!
Shared at Weekend Potluck
Happy Cooking,
Maria says
These were incredible! The recipe made enough for three meals for my family of three. We put the extras on a lined baking sheet (silicone mat, but parchment paper or waxed paper would work, too) in a single layer and froze them overnight. Then we divided them into two meals’ worth in Ziplock bags. Freezing them separated like that makes it so they don’t all stick together in the bag. When we were ready to have them for dinner, we just plopped them frozen in to boiling water and they were just as good as the first night. Thank you so much for such an easy and delicious recipe!
Dee says
I am so happy to hear this, Maria. Thank you for the wonderful review!
Lisa says
This recipe looks awesome! My grandma always called them “our pedohe” and I never knew why. I’m glad someone else says it too! Do you have any tips on freezing them, so that I can make a bunch at once? And, have you ever done a cost analysis on this? It’d be cool to know how much you save making these yourself.
Thank you!
Dee says
You can freeze them in freezer bags with wax paper between the layers. I usually lay them flat so that they don’t stick together. I’ve never calculated the cost because what you’re really saving by buying them is time. But, homemade pierogi are definitely worth it! š
Mel says
My dough was so elastic. I could hardly roll it out! I had to waste so much dough. What did I do wrong?
Dee says
Oh no! I’ve never had that happen with this pierogi. Did you let it rest? It does need time to rest, and it’s very easy to work with after that.
Heather Ann Palmer says
I used this recipe for my first time making my own perogies and I’m so happy with how they turned out!! thank you for sharing. <3
Dee says
I am so glad to hear this, Heather! Thanks so much! š
Jan says
Oh my gosh I haven’t had perogies in YEARS! YOu make it look so easy! I’d love for you to share over at a new party called Let’s Party…. look forward to seeing you there!
Sid says
I learned how to make these from a friend, time to make some again. I’ve got this bookmarked to try.
Dee says
I hope you like them, Sid. I wish I had time to make them more often! š
Jessica | Novice Chef says
We are total pierogi heads in my house! I can’t wait to try yours!
Jen says
How many eggs? they aren’t listed in your ingredients but the dough requires them!
Dee says
Oops, So sorry! — 2 eggs. That’s what I get for typing late at night.
Abeer says
I love potato pierogi! Your look absolutely fantastic!
Natalie A says
I have never heard of Pierogi before! This looks and sounds so good!
Des says
These sound fabulous!
Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says
I have to try this out! They look so good!
Jen says
These are my husband’s favorite!! He’s going to flip when he sees I’ve made these for him! Thank you!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I remember when my college roommate introduced me to pierogis for the first time! I’ve never thought about making them homemade. Challenge excepted!
Kristen Chidsey says
I grew up eating Pierogi and LOVE them. I never thought to make them on my own. I am definetly trying this recipe!! You make it look so easy.
Dee says
Thanks, Kristen. It’s not that hard to make pierogi, but it takes a long time! Definitely worth it, though! š