These delicious dumplings are a crispy and easily cooked food fit for any occasion!
Pierogi are a staple food from many Eastern and Central European countries – so much so that pierogi even have a patron saint: St. Hyacinth of Poland. They can be a community effort and symbol of unity, as entire communities can get together and make pierogi all day long for festivals or holidays. Some people have their own recipes for the filling passed down for generations and nothing says familial love quite like a babushka or bubbe’s pierogi recipe!
While Poland might have the patron saint of pierogi, other cultures and countries love them just as much, and there are many varieties that are prepared and cooked the same way or similarly, but named differently. In Romania, where my grandfather comes from, they’re called colțunași and made either with savory mashed potato and meat or as a sweet dessert filled with jam, cherries, or cottage cheese.
While traditionally they can be a labor-intensive food cooked in large quantities, this air-fryer pierogi recipe makes them into an easy-to-eat lunch, dinner, side dish, or snack! The outside is a great crispy texture and the inside is soft and savory – or sweet in some cases, if that’s your preference. My personal favorite direction to go in is savory, more specifically a filling of mashed potato, caramelized onion, and a ground blend of beef and lamb, full of delicious spices like anise, allspice, summer savory, coriander, and garlic, a spice mix my mother taught me for Romanian recipes. If you’re aiming for Polish savory flavors, try paprika, caraway seed, marjoram, allspice, black pepper, and garlic! You can get frozen pierogi easily from the grocery store, or make your own following this Pierogi Recipe and freeze them for later air-fryer use.
Choosing Oils and Flavors…
The oil is important in this recipe to ensure you get that crispy outside. Olive oil has a familiar flavor great for frying, but isn’t the only option. If you’d like a different direction, you can coat your pierogi in melted butter or other oils with a less distinctive flavor, like vegetable oil. If you want to lean into adding flavor, try herb-infused olive oils with added garlic, rosemary, or basil. If your pierogi are savory, these are an excellent option, though for sweet I would recommend the butter or a more neutral oil. Whatever oil or butter you use will infuse your pierogi with its flavor, so be sure to choose a good quality one.
How to Make Ahead and Store
After cooking, you can store your pierogi in an airtight container in the fridge for around 1 week, or for 3 months in the freezer. When you’re ready to reheat and eat, you can put them back in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400F for best results. You could also microwave them, but some of the crispiness can be lost, so I would recommend utilizing your air fryer for reheats to have the best result.
Serving Suggestions
There are many wonderful ways to serve pierogi! Mushroom Gravy can nicely complement a meat and potatoes-based pierogi, as can sauerkraut or Pickled Red Onions. Sour cream with some caramelized onions from our Easy Sautéed Onion Recipe are also fantastic for your savory dishes.
If you’ve gone for a sweet variety instead, try a Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Syrup in autumn, or an Easy Crème Anglaise topped with Candied Pecans. You can also use maple syrup, honey, fruit, ice cream, or jam!
Air Fryer Pierogies
Ingredients Â
- 16 ounces frozen pierogi
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
InstructionsÂ
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Lightly brush each frozen pierogi with olive oil, ensuring both sides are coated.
- Place the pierogi in the air fryer basket in a single layer, avoiding any overlap.
- Cook for 6 minutes, then flip the pierogi over to ensure even cooking.
- Continue cooking for an additional 6 minutes, or until the pierogi are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve the pierogi hot, with your choice of sour cream, caramelized onions, or applesauce.
very good instruction
Thanks a lot Nicolas 😊