Crockpot Pierogi Casserole with Kielbasa (Print version)

Frozen pierogi, smoky kielbasa, and creamy cheddar sauce cook into a rich, cozy slow cooker casserole.

# Ingredients:

For the casserole

01 - 2 (16 oz) packages frozen potato and cheese pierogi, not thawed
02 - 1 lb (450 g) smoked kielbasa, sliced 1/2 inch thick
03 - 1 3/4 cups (415 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
04 - Nonstick cooking spray or 1 teaspoon butter for greasing

For the cheese sauce

05 - 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream
07 - 2 cups (225 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced, for serving

# Instructions:

01 - Grease a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray or butter. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chicken broth for the sauce.
02 - Add the frozen pierogi and sliced kielbasa to the slow cooker. Pour in the remaining 1 1/2 cups chicken broth.
03 - Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for about 4 hours, until the pierogi are hot and tender.
04 - In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Stir in sour cream, reserved broth, 1 cup cheddar, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
05 - Spoon the cheese sauce over the hot pierogi and kielbasa. Gently fold until coated, cover, and cook on high for 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
06 - Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheddar over the top. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until melted and creamy.
07 - Top with sliced green onions and serve hot with extra sour cream if desired.

# Good to know:

01 - Use frozen pierogi straight from the freezer for the best texture.
02 - For deeper kielbasa flavor, brown the sausage slices before adding them to the slow cooker.
03 - Leftovers keep refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.