Air Fryer Pierogies Recipe

Pierogies are a traditional Polish food consisting of dumplings filled with savory (or sometimes sweet) fillings. They’re often seen as a comfort food, but making them from scratch is a day-long event. This Air fryer pierogies recipe is convenient, flavorful, and satisfying, and making them in the air fryer makes mealtime even faster and easier.

Whether you're whipping up a quick dinner for your family, looking for a simple side dish, or feeding a crowd, we think you’ll love these ideas for air fryer pierogies. Keep reading to learn more about how to make air-fried pierogies.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Pierogies
• Air Fryer Pierogies Ingredients
• Steps for Cooking Air Fryer Pierogies
• Pierogies Serving Suggestions
• Tips and Hints for Delicious Air-Fried Pierogies
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Air Fryer Pierogies Recipe

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Pierogies

Air-fried pierogies are quick and convenient. Here are more reasons you’ll enjoy serving them up:

• They’re versatile. You can use these as the star of your dinner plate, as a delicious side dish alongside a piece of meat, as an appetizer, or, in the case of fruit-filled dumplings, as a dessert. The possibilities are nearly endless!
• Kids love them. Pierogies are similar to ravioli, which children love, so these will be a hit, too.
• They’re available in many varieties. Most pierogies are savory, and they come filled with potatoes, cheese, sauerkraut, or mushrooms. Others are sweet, and they come with blueberries, plums, or other fruits inside. You can get full-sized or mini pierogies, too.
• They’re not messy. While pierogies are often eaten with a knife and fork, you can also eat these with your hands if desired, and they aren’t drippy, greasy, or wet.
• Pierogies are a hit at potlucks and parties. They’re simple enough to heat quickly and delicious enough to appeal to a crowd. They’re also easy to prepare in large quantities; simply repeat the instructions until you have all of your dumplings cooked.
• They’re affordable. For the brand I purchased at my local grocery store, I paid under $5 for 12 good-sized pierogies. This will vary based on the brand you choose, of course.

Air Fryer Pierogies Ingredients

To make pierogies in the air fryer, the only ingredients you absolutely need are the pierogies themselves as well as cooking spray of some sort. 

However, to make your pierogies into a meal, you have lots of options in terms of ingredients. Here are a few to consider:

• Sour cream: This goes well with most savory pierogies.
• Applesauce: You might choose a sweet option alongside fruit pierogies or those made with potatoes and cheese.
• Whipped cream: This would be a topping for fruit pierogies.
• Caramelized onions: Onions are tasty on top of any of the savory pierogies.
• Bacon: Bacon, bacon bits, or small sausage pieces are another popular accompaniment.
• Cabbage or sauerkraut: Create a hearty meal by serving your pierogies on top of or next to sauteed cabbage or jarred sauerkraut.
• A main dish meat of your choice: You can use your pierogies as a filling side dish.
• Dipping sauces of your choice: Ranch, marinara sauce, and cheese sauce are all potential options.
• A garden salad on the side: You can make a garden salad or any vegetable alongside your pierogies for a light lunch or dinner.

The ingredients you choose depend on which type of pierogies you’re making and how you plan to serve them. We’ll have many ideas below so you can mix and match your ingredients!

Steps for Cooking Air Fryer Pierogies

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
2. Spritz both sides of your frozen pierogies with nonstick cooking oil. Alternatively, you can toss them in a small amount of oil.
3. Place the pierogies in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (You may need to do more than one batch.)
4. Cook for 12 to 14 minutes for full-sized pierogies (reduce the time to about 10 minutes for mini pierogies). Flip them over halfway through the cooking time.
5. Check to be sure they are golden on both sides. If they aren’t, cook for another minute or two.
6. Remove from the air fryer basket and serve with the toppings and side dishes of your choice.

Alternate stovetop directions:

You can either saute or boil pierogies on top of the stove. Sauteing them will create the same type of crisp, golden texture as air-frying, and boiling them will make them softer, similar to ravioli.

To saute:

1. Heat a pan on medium heat. Add butter or oil to the pan and wait for it to get hot.
2. Add the pierogies in a single layer. 
3. Cook for 8 minutes on each side for full-size pierogies (6 minutes preside for mini pierogies).
4. Serve as desired.

To boil:

1. Boil 3 quarts of water on the stovetop.
2. Add frozen pierogies, and bring it back up to a boil.
3. Cook pierogies for an additional 3 minutes, then remove from the water.
4. Serve as desired.

Pierogies Serving Suggestions

It would be perfectly delicious to heat up some pierogies in the air fryer and eat them as-is, but here are some ways to kick them up a notch:

• Serve them up with a generous dollop of sour cream. 
• Pair them with caramelized onions and bacon or sausage bits.
• Plate them alongside sauteed veggies (cabbage is a good one) or sauerkraut.
• Serve sweet pierogies with ice cream, whipped cream, and/or chocolate syrup.
• Add them to a meal of roasted pork or chicken for a full dinner.
• Drizzle pierogies with cheese or marinara sauce for kid-friendly fare.
• Dip crispy pierogies into your favorite sauce; this one is particularly appealing to children.
• Serve with a drizzle of lemon butter sauce, then pair with fish and asparagus or spinach.
• Put them out along with sliced sausage, cheese, and fruit as part of a charcuterie tray.
• Make skewers out of mini pierogies, sausage slices, and grilled mushrooms.

As you can see, air fryer pierogies are super versatile, so use your imagination and let your creativity shine!

Tips and Hints for Delicious Air-Fried Pierogies

Making pierogies in the air fryer is easy, and they’ll likely come out perfectly. Here are a few hints and tricks to ensure yours are hot, crispy, and exactly the way you want them.

• Be sure to preheat your air fryer. You want that oil you’ve sprayed on them to sizzle when it comes into contact with the fryer basket, as that’s what will make them golden.
• Don’t overcrowd the pierogies. Since they’re frozen, they can get soggy as they thaw if there’s not good airflow on all sides. Leave some space between them, and cook more than one batch if needed.
• Flip your pierogies halfway through. This will ensure even cooking on both sides.
• Adjust the cooking time if needed. If the timer dings and your pierogies don’t look golden or crispy at all, give it a few more minutes. Air fryers differ by brand and model, so you might need to do a little tweaking to get the most delicious pierogies possible.

Don't miss out! Also, try Air Fryer Corn On The Cob