Lazy Pierogi Recipe

Homemade pierogi on your mind? Use this age-old hack for making sweet cheese varenyky in 30 minutes. By combining the dough and the filling in one, you’ll get all the flavor, minus the work. Lazy Pierogi are going to become your favorite!

Looking for the savory version of varenyky or pirogies? Make some potato pirogies with caramelized onion.

What are Pierogi?

Traditional cheese pierogi (that’s what they’re called in Poland) or cheese varenyky (that’s what they’re called in Ukraine, where I’m from) are made of dough pockets filled with either savory or sweet fillings. Anything from potatoes, meat, cheese, or even fruits can serve as the filling depending on the season and the craving.

Making the authentic version of pierogies will require rolling a homemade dough thin, cutting out circles, then filling them with the filling of choice, and finally pinching the pockets closed by hand. They’re so fun to eat, but a lot less fun to make if you ask me.

You May Like

Farmer’s Cheese Recipe (Tvorog)

Syrniki Recipe

Farmer’s Cheese Crepes with Blueberry Sauce

What are Lazy Pierogies?

Lazy Pierogi is a spin on the original that combines all the ingredients into tiny dumplings to save time and effort.

Perfect lazy pierogies are light, fluffy, and not gummy or heavy. If they’re gummy or heavy, you’ve added too much flour and should scale back next time.

A distant relative of the gnocchi, these sweet little dumplings are very popular in many Slavic countries for their ease of making and the well-loved taste of tvorog. My grandma used to make them for breakfast, and we loved it!

Tvorog (tastes like yogurt, looks like feta) is the key ingredient in these lazy pirogies, and you can find it in many European or Russian stores or make your own tvorog using only 2 ingredients.

Let’s make some lazy pierogi! Here’s what you’ll need –

Ingredients for the Pierogies 

• Tvorog (or Cottage Cheese)
• All-purpose flour
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract

See the bottom of the post for a recipe card.

Here’s a quick rundown on how to make the Lazy Pierogies:

1. First, combine all ingredients with a mixer, by hand, or fork until a dough forms.
2. Divide into 4 pieces.
3. Roll each piece into a 3/4 inch rope, then cut into 1/2 inch dumplings.
4. Boil in water, cook the lazy pierogies in batches and then remove with a sieve to a bowl.
5. Add some butter and toss to coat.
6. Serve lazy varenyky with sweetened sour cream and/or jam of choice.
7. Voila! Enjoy!

Scroll to the bottom for the recipe card with the full recipe & detailed instructions. 

Looking for more quick and easy recipes?

• Air Fryer Salmon & Asparagus
• Honey Glazed Salmon Recipe
• Quick Chebureki Recipe
• Easy Shrimp Scampi

Print

Fast and Easy Lazy Pierogi Recipe

5 from 6 votes

The easy hack to get all the pierogi flavor in 30 minutes flat! Lazy pierogi combines the dough and the filling to make soft, fluffy dumplings your whole family will love.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian

Keyword: lazy pierogi, lazy varenyky

Calories: 867 kcal

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Lazy Pierogi dough

• 3 cups well-drained farmer's cheese (tvorog), packed (extra whey drained if needed)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

To serve:

• 3 tbsp butter, unsalted
• 1 cup sour cream full fat
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Fill a large (6-8 qt) pot with water 3/4 full. Set it over high heat and bring to a rapid boil.

2. Make the lazy pierogi dough: Meanwhile, in a large mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment or a regular bowl with a fork, mix all ingredients until they come together into a dough. The dough might still be sticky, which is normal. The more flour, the heavier the dumplings will be, so do not add more than necessary.

   TIP (NOTE 1): Test the dough for proper texture - rip a marble-sized piece and roll it into a ball. Drop into boiling water and let it float to the top, then cook for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon. Taste the dumpling. If it holds shape well, then do not add any more flour to the dough. If the lazy pierogi dumpling is too soft and comes apart in the water, add several tablespoons of flour and mix it in. Repeat the "test" if necessary until the proper texture is achieved. The perfect dumpling is very soft, but holds shape, and doesn't fall apart in the water. The lazy pierogi will be less soft after about 5-10 minutes of being out of the water, account for this when tasting it for proper texture.

3. Shape the pierogis: Turn dough out onto the floured surface and cut into 4 even pieces. Roll each piece into a 3/4 inch thick rope. Add flour as necessary to prevent sticking.

   Cut the rope into 1/2 inch pieces. The dumplings will almost double in size as they cook.

4. Cook the cheese pierogies in 2 batches by dropping handfuls into boiling water and gently stirring immediately. Cook for ~ 1 minute after they float to the top. Do not overcook, or the dumplings will dissolve in water. Taste 1 for doneness, then remove with a colander or a slotted spoon to a bowl. Toss them with some butter to prevent the pierogies from sticking.

5. To serve: combine 1/2 cup sour cream with 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract (optional) and stir until the sugar dissolves. Now add a spoonful of this mixture to the top of the lazy pierogies. Or, top with a tablespoon of your favorite jam or berries and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

• Note 1: This test should only be performed the first time you use this recipe. Every brand of tvorog has different amounts of moisture (whey). The more moisture, the more flour the lazy pierogi recipe will require.

  I use well-drained tvorog, so my recipe doesn't call for too much flour. If you use tvorog with more whey, you will use more flour. Adjust the flour amount for your tvorog. If using the same brand tvorog next time, note the amount of flour used the first time and add that amount from the start.

Nutrition Facts

Fast and Easy Lazy Pierogi Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 867 Calories from Fat 405

% Daily Value*

Fat 45g69%

Saturated Fat 27g169%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 265mg88%

Sodium 222mg10%

Potassium 190mg5%

Carbohydrates 85g28%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 36g40%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 799IU16%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 93mg9%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Print