17 Pierogi Sauces and Toppings for Sweet and Savory Pierogi

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Struggling to find the perfect pierogi topping? Sweet or savory, the right pierogi sauce can make all the difference.

This guide breaks it all down – simple, tried-and-true options organized to match any pierogi.

Here’s a quick look at all the sauces and toppings to explore:

Savory Pierogi Sauces and Toppings

When it comes to topping your savory pierogi, the classics are always a win—sour cream, melted butter, and sautéed onions never let you down. Buttered breadcrumbs, a Polish favorite, are just as reliable.

Other toppings? They’re a bit more particular. It all comes down to the filling, so trust your instincts and experiment to find the perfect match.

Sour Cream

Sour cream is a firm favorite when it comes to pierogi toppings and for a good reason. It adds a tangy twist to any pierogi filling, and the cool cream contrasts nicely with the warm dumplings.

Sour cream works well with savory pierogi as-is without any extra seasoning.

If you’re out of sour cream, plain Greek yogurt, skyr, or a vegan-friendly alternative can step in. Make sure it’s tangy, not sweet.

Related: Here’s how to make vegan pierogi.

To serve, you can either spoon it over the dumplings or place the sour cream in a separate bowl for dipping.

Melted Butter

Melted butter is another topping that pairs well with all kinds of savory fillings, adding a richness that’s hard to resist. If you pan-fry your pierogi—which I highly recommend—you simply pour the melted butter over them, and voila, they’re ready to serve.

You can substitute clarified butter or ghee, but I’d avoid oil for this purpose. If you’re pan-frying the pierogi in oil, it’s best to leave it in the pan.

Sauteed Onions

Onions are a surefire way to enhance the flavor of savory dishes, including pierogi.

Chop an onion or two and sauté in a lightly greased skillet until they’re soft and translucent, which usually takes up to 10 minutes.

You can then either scatter the onions over your pierogi or add the pierogi to the pan and sauté them together with the onions for a flavor boost. If you opt for the latter, consider adding more butter or oil to prevent the pierogi from burning.

Yellow onions work best, but you can sub in red onions or shallots in a pinch.

Sounds up your street? Check out my recipe for pierogi with onions.)

(In theory, you could carmelize the onions instead of simply sauteing them, but that takes way too long, in my opinion.)

Polish Buttered Bread Crumbs

This topping is a step up from melted butter, and it’s very popular in Poland. You can pour buttered bread crumbs over many dishes, including Polish potato dumplings and steamed veggies.

The preparation is straightforward. Melt 2 oz of butter (half a stick) in a pan and stir in 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture turns golden brown. Pour it hot over your pierogi.

Fresh Herbs (Dill, Parsley, Chives, etc.)

Topping your pierogi with fresh herbs can be a great idea, but make sure to choose ones that complement your fillings.

Parsley is a pretty universal herb that goes with lots of savory fillings. Others, like dill, are more specific in their pairings. For instance, dill works well with asparagus pierogi but doesn’t mesh as nicely with lentil pierogi.

Ketchup

Ketchup works wonderfully as a topping for pan-fried meat pierogi or potato and cheese pierogi. It’s not a combo that’s particularly popular in Poland, but definitely one worth a try.

Garlic Sauce

For garlic lovers, why not add more of that flavor to your pierogi? You can make garlic sauce with your favorite recipe and pour it over the dumplings or serve it on the side for dipping.

But keep the fillings in mind. While garlic sauce works great with meat pierogi, it might not pair as well with sauerkraut and mushrooms pierogi.

Mushroom Sauce

Mushroom sauce can be a versatile topping for savory dishes, but it requires a bit more effort to prepare. That’s why I listed it last.

If you’re looking for a recipe, check out this one.

Sweet Pierogi Sauces and Toppings

Choosing the right topping for your dessert pierogi comes down to how sweet the filling is.

If it’s already on the sweeter side, powdered sugar might be a bit much. Instead, go for something tangy like sour cream or rich like maple syrup to balance things out.

On the other hand, if your filling isn’t too sweet—or has a bit of tartness, like strawberry pierogi made with whole berries—a touch of extra sweetness can work wonders. That’s where powdered sugar, honey, or your favorite sweetener shines.

Not sure what to go with? Fresh fruit, a simple berry sauce, jam, or jelly are always safe bets. They strike just the right balance to keep your pierogi from being overly sweet or too tart.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Sour Cream

Surprisingly, sour cream works just as well for sweet pierogi as it does for savory ones. It adds a tangy balance to sweet fillings and gives a nice temperature contrast with the hot pierogi.

If you’re unsure about your dessert pierogi topping, try sour cream. If it’s too tangy, a dusting of powdered sugar can soften the sourness.

You can sub in a dense yogurt, like Greek yogurt or skyr in a pinch.

Powdered Sugar

Powdered sugar is a sweet and simple choice when your pierogi need a bit of extra sweetness. But remember, if the filling is already sweet, the sugar might not enhance the flavor unless paired with something tangy like sour cream.

Powdered sugar works particularly well with sweet and tart fillings, as in many fruit pierogi (think apple pierogi or plum pierogi).

Honey

If you’re considering sweetening your pierogi, honey is another flavorful choice. It provides a different taste from sugar, making it a worthy alternative to powdered sugar.

Maple Syrup

Though sweet like honey, maple syrup offers a more robust and complex flavor. It’s a great topping if your filling is a little bland (say, your farmer’s cheese pierogi aren’t sweet enough, and you skimped on the vanilla extract) or if you want to add an exciting taste note to the pierogi.

Also, definitely worth trying with apple pierogi.

Ice Cream

Transform your pierogi into a full-blown dessert by crowning it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. As the ice cream melts, it combines with the pierogi to create an irresistibly sweet sauce. Or, for a bit of adventure, try caramel ice cream.

Choose an ice cream flavor that matches the filling (strawberry ice cream for strawberry pierogi, for example) so it won’t overshadow the pierogi. That’s what makes vanilla or salted caramel safe bets.

Simple Berry Sauce

Simple berry sauce is an excellent choice as it provides a balance of sweet and sour, plus it looks great, especially when garnished with a few berries.

To whip up a quick berry sauce:

1. Puree two handfuls of fresh or defrosted berries with an immersion blender.
2. Add a couple of teaspoons of thick yogurt (like skyr, Greek yogurt, or even sour cream) and half a teaspoon of sugar.
3. Stir thoroughly (avoid blending at this stage) and adjust the sweetness to your liking.

This zesty sauce drizzled over your pierogi is a real game-changer.

(This is a great topping for all sorts of sweet pierogi, including sweet cheese pierogi.)

Fresh Fruit

Pairing sweet pierogi with fresh fruit offers a refreshing contrast to the comforting warmth of the dumplings. Berries are usually a top choice, but feel free to experiment. Adding a dollop of sour cream to this combo is always a hit.

Jam or Jelly

Jam or jelly might not be the most common toppings, but they can certainly enhance your pierogi’s flavor profile. Both offer their unique sweet and sour notes that complement pierogi well.

All-Purpose Sweeteners

You can also use commercially available all-purpose sweeteners, like chocolate syrup or vanilla syrup. Basically, anything that you would pour over pancakes, waffles, or ice cream works for sweet pierogi too.

Keep in mind that these syrups are usually quite sweet, so a more tart filling might balance them better.

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