Creamy mashed potatoes and cheese are layered in between lasagna noodles to create a casserole that has all the flavors of classic pierogi. This Pierogi Lasagna is the best way to use leftover mashed potatoes!
At my house, we ALWAYS overestimate how many mashed potatoes we need to make for large gatherings. I mean GROSSLY overestimate. While we all love potatoes, I forget I do not need to prepare 3 pounds of potatoes per person, especially when they are often the side dish to Roasted Turkey or Instant Pot Ham.
However, leftover potatoes are NOT a bad thing if you plan to use them to make pierogi lasagna. Whether using Classic Mashed Potatoes, Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, or your family's leftover mashed potatoes, this is the BEST recipe to use them up! It tastes like a giant pierogi--with a whole lot less work.
Bottom line, if you love pierogis and you have found yourself with leftover mashed potatoes,r Pierogi Lasagna is a must-make! It is pure comfort food! It is the absolutely perfect way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. But truthfully, I would gladly whip up mashed potatoes any day of the week to have this for my dinner!
Notes On Ingredients
- Mashed Potatoes: This recipe works with any leftover mashed potatoes.
- Lasagna Noodles: This recipe does not work using no-boil noodles. It is important to use regular lasagna noodles that have been prepared according to package directions.
- Cheese: Use shredded cheddar or Colby cheese, as both pair well with classic mashed potatoes.
- Bacon: Bacon is optional, but it does add a nice flavor to this mashed potato lasagna. Use cooked, crumbled baked bacon or bacon bits.
How to Make Pierogi Lasagna
- Prepare lasagna noodles according to package directions.
- Reheat your mashed potatoes with a bit of milk, broth, or cream to soften them up and make them easy to spread over the noodles.
- Layer the cooked noodles with the mashed potatoes and cheese, repeating the layers once.
- Finish with a final layer of mashed potatoes and cheese.
- Bake the lasagna until the potatoes are warmed through and the cheese is melted. It is important to bake the potato lasagna covered with foil for the majority of the bake time. If not, your potatoes will get very dried out.
Serving Suggestions
Pierogi Lasagna can be served just as you would serve pierogi, with a side of sour cream, topped with caramelized onions, or with a side of sauerkraut. Paired with a BLT Salad or Greek Salad, this unique lasagna makes one outrageously delicious meal.
More Lasagna Recipes
If you made this Pierogi Lasagna, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Pierogi Lasagna
Ingredients
- butter for greasing pan
- 6 uncooked lasagna noodles
- 6 cups of leftover mashed potatoes this was from about 5 pounds of potatoes
- ½ cup broth or milk as needed
- 3-4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 strips of bacon cooked and crumbled optional
- sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and generously butter a 9x13 pan.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Once boiling, salt with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt and cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside to assemble the lasagna.
- Place the leftover mashed potatoes in a heat-safe bowl and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 3-4 minutes to loosen up the mashed potatoes. If needed, add ¼ to ½ cup of warm broth or milk to make the potatoes creamier.
- Spread 2 cups of the heated mashed potatoes on the bottom of the greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. Place 3 noodles over the layer of cheese. Repeat layers. For the final layer, spread the remaining potatoes over the last layer of noodles. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bacon, if using. Cover the casserole dish with foil.
- Bake for 40 minutes and then remove the foil. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the cheese is browned.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve as is, or with caramelized onions and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
patricia graffy
I am often frustrated by people who make significant changes to the recipe and THEN down-vote the recipe. My husband is a MEAT lover for sure. I made as per the recipe EXCEPT that I put a layer of browned loose Italian sausage sauteed oil-free with a sliced Vidalia onion on top of the mashed potatoes layers (on the final layer I put the meat and onion beneath the potatoes so they wouldn't dry out after the foil is taken off in the oven. (I was thinking lasagna/shepherd's pie without the frozen veggies more than pieroges, but the name caught my attention and gave me inspiration). This is a very good, very easy, weeknight recipe. Especially since I used a family-sized package of mashed potatoes from the refrigerator case! 🙂 DELISH!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so thrilled to hear you enjoyed this dish (and thanks for sharing your modifications!)
Wendy Calvert
Make this often love more than Perogies ,so simple to make and creative. This time I wanted to try and added Smoked Cheddar and wow AMAZING flavor.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing this, Wendy! And thank you for the tip on the smoked cheddar. Must try that!
Sara Riley
Hi can you use oven ready lasagna noodles for this ?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Sara. Unfortunately, this recipe does not work using no-boil noodles. It is important to use regular lasagna noodles that have been prepared according to package directions.
Kara
I have a child with celiac and there are no gf lasagna noodles that aren’t oven ready. I’m trying this recipe with a bit more cream in the potatoes and soaked the gf noodles in the boiled potato water for 5 min to parboil them. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Kara! Great way to improvise. Let me know how it turns out.
stella andrews
Oh my gosh! How has this recipe been here since 2021 and I'm just now seeing it?! No, I haven't made it yet but I already know it's going to be delicious!!! Such a great idea! I was brand new to pierogis before being diagnosed with celiac and haven't had them since so I can't wait to make this!! (Found my way here through your mashed potato casserole recipe for Thanksgiving LoL.) Love your food!
Kristen Chidsey
LOL! This recipe has actually been on my site since 2016 and updated in 2021. Glad you finally found it! Enjoy!
Vicki M Weaver
I have a recipe that I usually make but the noodles always seem to get hard and crispy and hard to eat on top even with a cup of butter on them. So, with putting the mash potatoes and cheese on top does that prevent this?
Kristen Chidsey
Yes, we have found that a thick layer of mashed potatoes and cheese prevents that 🙂
Christine Haller
I made this with oven ready lasagna noodles using a bit of liguid milk when covering noodles, and needless to say all loved it. another cheat use mashed potatoes mix found in deli section and cheese is always a Kraft Tex Mex
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for sharing your workaround using oven-ready noodles. I am thrilled to hear it worked well (and you enjoyed the Pierogi Lasagna!)
Rosemary
I made this recipe as one of my dishes for our St. Patrick's Day party and it was a huge hit. I didn't have leftover mashed potatoes but I used a double container of Yukon Gold mashed potatoes that I bought at Sam's Club. It turned out great, was easy to use and saved a bunch of time.
Kristen Chidsey
I am thrilled you all enjoyed it, Rosemary! And that's a great tip, using premade mashed potatoes.
Betsy
Can you use instant mashed potatoes? If so, how best?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Betsy! Yes, prepare the instant pot mashed potatoes as directed and use them in place of leftover homemade mashed potatoes. Enjoy!
Rose
I served this at a large gathering we had for St. Patrick's day and it was a huge hit with everyone, especially when I told them how to make it.
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!