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.
Janel
I was thinking as I started reading that Holy Heck that's alot of carbs! But then you say... "carb lover's dream". Amen sister. And, what a dream it is!
Kristen Chidsey
Totally a lot of carbs, but worth every one!!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake
Wow, this really is my dream!! I have to make this!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you it becomes your dream come true.
Catherine
Dear Kristin, I like how you resolved your dilemma! This lasagna sounds absolutely wonderful...a delicious way to use up potatoes. xo, Catherine
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Catherine!
Abigail
I am always on the look out for left-over ideas as I always make a huge batch of anything. This would be so handy! Thanks for sharing. Pinned, too. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Abigail--you are so smart to always make extras. I makes dinner on busy nights so much easier!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
What a great story. Well the sick child and the leftover mashed potatoes weren't great, but what you did after that was wonderful - and fun to read. I'm not so familiar with pierogies and at first this dish sounded bizarre, but then I remembered potato knishes (basically mashed potatoes wrapped in a dough and baked, and suddenly this sounded a whole lot better, appetizing even:)
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Laura, I am glad you enjoyed the story. And yes, pierogies are very similar to potato knishes.
Denise Wright
This sounds outrageously good. We love pierogies here in our household and it's like yummy comfort food. Can't wait to try it.
Kristen Chidsey
Total comfort food Denise. I hope you enjoy it.
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)
Mashed potatoes are one of my "desert island" foods. I could eat them every day--well, until I blew up like a balloon, that is. This is a fantastic way to use up those beautiful spuds. I mean, a whole dish of pierogi? Yes, please! I will have to give this a try SOON!
Stephanie of The TipToe Fairy
My husband loves pierogies. I need to surprise him with this!
Kristen Chidsey
He will love it Stephanie!
Paris (My Big Fat Happy Life)
This looks awesome! I never know what to do with leftover mashed potatoes and this sounds like the perfect solution.
Kristen Chidsey
It is the absolute PERFECT solution to leftover mashed potatoes
Marye
This is a masterpiece of ingenuity -- and it would totally be worth the four day carb coma that I would experience afterward. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
It is totally worth it!!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Leftovers are often the source of my greatest recipe creations, and I can see you are the same way. I love everything about this idea. I'm also a carbaholic so it works well for me. Fantastic post! Next time you have ten pounds of mashed potatoes, feel free to call me. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
I love creating meals from leftovers! I will be sure to call you over next time I make this 🙂
Shirley Wood
What a clever recipe for using those leftover mashed potatoes! I always make mine from scratch too. My mother used to take leftover mashed potatoes and make fried potato patties with them with a few extra ingredients.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Shirley. I have made potato patties for years, but from now on, this is will be my go to!
Kita
I don't like mashed potatoes but my hubs eats them by the boatload. I can now fix him a new dish he may come and thank you because I think he is tired of eating them plain.
Kristen Chidsey
Kita, I can not believe you don't like mashed potatoes, but I know your husband will love this dish!
Christie
What an ingenues way to use mashed potatoes. I love pierogis too but never want to make the dough. This is a great solution to that problem.
Kristen Chidsey
It is the best solution--I can't imagine having to roll out dough for pierogies!!
Judy@ImBoredLetsGo
Love this! Butter, cheese, mashed potatoes and noodles...doesn't get much better than this...oh wait, yes it does, it has caramelized onions! 🙂
Sarah
Looks easy and delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
That it is Sarah! Thanks