What to Serve with Perogies: 10 Savory Side Dishes

Bite-sized and oh-so-addictive, perogies are a fun little snack. But if you want a more balanced meal, you need to know what to serve with perogies.

Luckily, I have a few great ideas below!

Perogies are classic comfort food.

These pockets of dough are often stuffed with mashed potatoes, fried onions, sauerkraut, bacon, mushrooms, spinach, and cheese.

Sounds heavenly, right?

So when you’re deciding on side dishes for perogies, be sure to pick something complementary.

For example, you can’t go wrong with Polish smoked sausage!

What Are Perogies?

When we think of dumplings, our minds almost always go to Asian cooking.

But, did you know that Europe also has its version of these little stuffed dough pockets?

Pierogi, or perogies, are half-moon dumplings brought to us by the Polish. They’re made with either flour or pastry dough and are traditionally stuffed with cheese and potatoes.

Some variations have meat fillings such as pork, veal, beef, chicken, fish, and even lamb, duck, and goose.

Others prefer mushrooms, sauerkraut, spinach, and broccoli.

They don’t come in solely savory stuffings, though. They can also be stuffed with sweet fruits such as berries, apricots, and apples for a satisfying dessert.

Perogies don’t have to be served with European dishes.

There are many ways you can elevate your store-bought perogies, and I’m here to tell you about them. 

So let’s check out the sides!

1. Bacon and Caramelized Onions

Let’s start with a traditional Polish topping.

Cheese and potato perogies are usually topped with crisp and smoky bacon and sweet caramelized onions.

This topping has a wonderful balance of sweet and savory and tastes amazing with the dumplings.

To make:

1. Fry bacon in a pan until crisp.
2. Take the bacon out, then sauté the onions in the bacon grease.
3. Add some butter for more flavor, and season with salt and pepper.
4. Pour a bit of beer to help soften and caramelize the onions.

For an earthy flavor, add some fresh herbs such as rosemary, basil, parsley, and thyme.

2. Sour Cream, Onions, and Mushroom

Sour cream and onions are another traditional pierogi topping.

But you can quickly enhance the flavor even further by adding some earthy mushrooms!

Here’s how:

1. Combine wild mushrooms, such as red pine and porcini, with onions.
2. Sauté them in butter, and season them with your favorite herbs and spices.
3. Top the pierogi with the veggies, and add a dollop of sour cream. 

3. Kielbasa

This Polish smoked sausage is ridiculously plump and juicy, and it tastes fantastic with perogies!

To prepare:

1. Place the pierogis and Kielbasa on a sheet pan.
2. Add some onions and bell peppers coated in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.
3. Pop the tray in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. 

Don’t have Kielbasa on hand? Don’t be afraid to be experimental and explore other smoked sausage options.

4. Carrots, Parsnip, Brussels Sprouts

This trio of vegetables tastes oh so good together.

You’ve got earthy parsnips, nutty Brussels sprouts, and sweet carrots giving you the perfect combination of flavors and colors.

It’s exactly what your savory pierogi needs!

Drizzle the veggies with some maple syrup for that extra dose of sweetness. Then pop them in the oven to caramelize and crisp up. Yum!

5. Cucumber Salad

Cucumbers are cool and crisp, and they give a beautiful contrast to the richness and tenderness of perogies.

So, for a delicious side dish, how about a Greek cucumber salad?

Just mix cucumber slices, red onions, dill, oregano, and Greek yogurt.

For the dressing, combine olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice. So refreshing.

6. Cabbage and Bacon

Cook up some cabbage to give your perogies a touch of green. It gives your tender dish a nice crunch as well.

Cabbage isn’t the tastiest of vegetables, but no worries! That’s what the bacon is for.

It will give the cabbage a wonderfully smoky and salty flavor.

To prepare:

1. Fry bacon chunks and sauté the cabbage in the grease.
2. Add some butter for more flavor if you wish. You can also season it with garlic powder and paprika for more excitement!

That’s it – it’s simple, but the flavors are phenomenal.

7. Nachos

Yup, you read that right, nachos! No need to get a bag of nacho chips, though, because that’s what the perogies are for.

For this Mexican twist:

1. Deep fry the dumplings until they’re crisp and firm.
2. Layer them on a platter and load them with your favorite nacho toppings – tomatoes, jalapenos, beans, and cheese… lots and lots of cheese.
3. Top it with a dollop of sour cream and guacamole, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful fusion of European and Tx-Mex flavors.

8. Cranberry Relish

Cranberry relish has that wonderful blend of sweet and tangy, and it goes well with savory perogies.

Not only do the flavor profiles complement each other, but the cranberries also give your plate a nice pop of color. 

9. Slow Roasted Tomatoes

Another simple dish that will complement your perogies is slow-roasted tomatoes.

Roasting tomatoes will enhance their flavor without being too overpowering. Perfect for your Pierogies!

They might take a while to cook, but it doesn’t take much effort.

1. Slice the tomatoes in two and place them on a baking tray, skin-side down.
2. Add a piece of garlic to each tomato and top them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. Sprinkle a bit of sugar, salt, and pepper, then roast them in the oven for about 30 minutes.

What you get are sweet and juicy tomatoes with a beautiful char on the outside.

10. Butter, Sugar, and Cream

This last topping is perfect for fruit-filled Pierogies.

Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top, and add a dollop of butter and whipped cream.

These simple additions will take your humble pierogi to a whole new level of deliciousness!

You can also add some chocolate shavings for added aesthetic and flavor.