This incredibly comforting Baked Pierogi & Kielbasa Casserole requires almost zero prep work! Frozen potato dumplings and smoky Polish sausage are baked to perfection in a rich, creamy cheese sauce for the ultimate weeknight dinner.
Contents
Ingredients
- 2 16-ounce boxes frozen potato and cheese pierogies
- 1 pound smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half for a lighter version
- 1 10.5-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
Instructions
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Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch white ceramic baking dish so the pierogies don’t stick.
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Layer Pierogies: Arrange the frozen pierogies in a single, snug layer in the bottom of the baking dish. It’s fine if they overlap just a bit, but try to keep them mostly in one layer so they bake up evenly and get those nice golden tops.
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Add Kielbasa: Scatter the sliced kielbasa rounds evenly over the pierogies, making sure every scoop will get a bit of sausage. Let some pieces rest on top so they can crisp around the edges in the oven.
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Mix Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and the condensed cream of mushroom soup until smooth and well blended. This makes the rich, creamy sauce that will bubble up around the pierogies as they bake.
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Pour Sauce: Pour the cream-and-soup mixture evenly over the pierogies and kielbasa, tilting the pan gently if needed so the sauce seeps down between everything. You want all the dumplings to have some sauce around them.
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Add First Cheese Layer: Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for later. This first layer will melt into the sauce and help it thicken and cling to the pierogies.
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First Bake (Covered): Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place it on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, until the sauce is hot and starting to bubble around the edges.
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Second Bake (Uncovered): Carefully remove the foil from the dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the top. Return the casserole to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, the top is golden in spots, and the kielbasa edges are lightly crisped. (Optional: If you’d like a deeper golden brown top, switch the oven to broil for 1–3 minutes at the end, watching closely so the cheese bubbles and browns without burning).
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Rest & Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for about 5–10 minutes before serving. This short rest helps the sauce settle so every spoonful has soft dumplings, smoky sausage rounds, and gooey, bubbling cheese.
Notes
Pro-Tip: For an extra layer of savory flavor, try pan-frying your sliced kielbasa in a hot skillet for 3-4 minutes before adding it to the casserole dish. This optional step renders out a bit of the fat early and gives the sausage an incredible, caramelized exterior!
