The humble perogy (also called pierogi) is a delicious dish; it’s a simple dumpling dough wrapped around a savory filling of meat, potatoes, cheeses, or sauerkraut.
However, while tasty on their own, perogies tend to consist of starches and proteins. So what do you do when you want to add something to it?
If you’ve been wondering what to dish up alongside your next batch of Polish dumplings, here are 18 ideas for what to serve with perogies.
Table Of Contents
Soups to Serve with Perogies (Pierogi)
Soups are an excellent side dish, and they can be a great addition to a meal that features perogies as the main course.
1. Borscht
Borscht is a classic Ukrainian soup, often brightly colored due to beets as the main ingredient. It can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference.
If you’d like to produce a milder flavor, substituting some or all of the beets with carrots or parsnips is an option.
It has been proved an amazing side to serve with perogies especially in dinner since it’s low in calories.
2. Cold Cucumber Soup
As the name suggests, you should serve this soup cold.
It can have an intense flavor if you’re using soured milk for a classic take, but sour cream or plain yogurt will have the same effect.
The addition of fresh dill for seasoning adds an aroma that’s sure to become a favorite.
3. Butternut Squash Soup
If you have the time or energy, roasting the butternut squash whole in your oven before you shred its insides for this winter-themed soup will bring out the nutty flavors.
4. Tomato Soup
As a perfect summer and fall soup, this soup will accent a perogy meal just right. If you roast the tomatoes beforehand, it’ll add even more flavor!
Salads to Eat with Perogies (Pierogi)
While salads seem like a stereotypical side dish, their accent to an entree of perogies adds a crisp balance with minimal effort.
5. Herb Salad
As the name suggests, this salad is less about lettuce and more about herbs. Leafy herbs like watercress, chives, mint, and parsley give your meal a fresh taste.
Shave some parmesan cheese or crumble some feta on top with salt and pepper, and voila, the perfect simple side dish.
6. Head Salad
This one’s name comes from the half of a head of iceberg lettuce you can use in its preparation.
Since iceberg lettuce tends to not have much flavor on its own, you add apple pieces, crushed walnuts, and bacon bits.
Topping it with your favorite vinaigrette is the perfect way to take this sweet and salty salad to the next level.
7. Sauteed Kale and Apple Cider Vinegar
Unlike other salads, this salad is served warm and adds a tangy flavor to your meal.
In addition, sauteeing the kale makes it more tender than raw, making it slightly more palatable to those who may not enjoy kale as much.
8. Cucumber and Radish Salad
As it’s often paired with balsamic vinaigrette or a creamy dill dressing, this salad adds a zing of freshness and crunch to any dish.
Grate some lemon zest on top of those sliced cucumbers and radishes to give it an extra kick.
What Vegetable to Serve with Perogies (Pierogi)
Roasted vegetables are a classic when you’re wondering what to serve with perogies—or anything, for that matter!
While there are plenty of tried and true favorites, maybe you’ll find one you’ve never heard of and want to try.
9. Brussel Sprouts and Bacon
This one is easy and done all in one pan!
Slice those sprouts in half, cut up some fresh bacon, spread them on the pan with some olive oil and salt, then pop them in a hot oven until everything has a nice browned color.
10. Sauteed Asparagus and Mushrooms
You can do this one in 10 minutes since you want those asparagus spears and mushrooms to keep some of their stability.
Soggy vegetables are never the goal with any side dish. Whether you use butter or olive oil for these, don’t forget the salt!
11. Brown Sugar Carrots
After slicing your carrots into discs, coat them lightly in oil and roast in the oven until they’re at the consistency you prefer.
Once you take them out of the oven, saute them on medium to low heat with a scoop of brown sugar.
Only cook until a glaze evenly coats every carrot slice, be careful not to burn them! Sugar is easy to burn if you aren’t careful.
12. Fried Green Beans
If you have an air fryer, this side dish will be a breeze.
Roasting your green beans in your fryer with some salt and light oil will give them that perfect crispy consistency.
If you don’t have an air fryer, no sweat! Simply saute them like you would the asparagus in number 10 of this list.
13. Oven Roasted Broccoli
Much like the brussel sprouts, this side dish is perfect once you see those browned edges.
Remember to cut the whole florets into smaller, more manageable pieces. Add salt and pepper to taste, and maybe sprinkle some grated parmesan or cheddar cheese on top for some extra flavor.
14. Spicy Roasted Cauliflower
Like the broccoli previously, cut your cauliflower into smaller pieces, then coat them in olive oil.
Next, toss them into a mix of paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
Once the cauliflower is coated evenly on all sides with spices, pop them in the oven and let roast until they’re at your preferred firmness.
15. Garlic Roasted Beets
Beets have a nutty aroma and an earthy flavor; they’re lovely when roasted to the point of retaining some of their firmness.
Whether you mince or dice the garlic, be sure to spread it evenly with your beets before roasting so that the pieces can absorb the flavors.
What Meat Goes with Perogies (Pierogi)?
16. Chicken or Turkey
There are a lot of different types of meat to choose from.
If you’re looking for something a little bit lighter, try chicken or turkey as your main protein source. You can use these proteins in many different ways and they go well with perogies.
17. Pork or Beef
Pork and beef can be a great side for Perogies.
Both have more fat content than the other meats which can be great if you want an indulgent meal that will stick with you all day long!
18. Seafood
Seafood is also a popular choice when it comes to perogies because it adds a nice flavor without being too heavy on calories.
However, seafood does tend to cost more than pork or beef, so keep that in mind when planning out your grocery list.
FAQs About Perogies
What goes well with perogies for dinner?
Eating less meat for dinner can help you lose weight and reduce the burden on your intestines.
So you’d better eat some vegetables with perogies, such as brown sugar carrots or fried green beans.
What sauce do you eat with perogies?
It all depends, I’ve listed the top 5 sauces that goes well with perogies:
- Butter Sauce
- Mushroom Sauce
- BBQ Sauce
- Sweetened Cream
- Fruit Sauces
How to make perogies?
The easiest way to make perogies:
A Balanced Meal
Having the 4 main food groups is essential to a nutritious meal, but it doesn’t have to be bland!
These fantastic Polish dumplings may be delightful on their own, but they can be complemented wonderfully by some delicious side dishes when served as a savory main course.
So when debating what to serve with perogies, trying some of these flavorful options is sure to be a hit with family or guests.
Also interested in potstickers? Learn the top 15 sides to eat with potstickers.
