6 Frozen Pierogies You Should Buy And 2 You Shouldn't, According To The Internet
If you're a carb fiend then you probably adore pierogi. Perhaps you've been lucky enough to enjoy pierogi at a Polish diner or even in a Polish household on the regular. However, if you're like most of us, you probably have to satisfy your cravings for these unleavened, stuffed pillowy dumplings from the frozen aisle of the supermarket (though you could always try your hand at following a pierogi recipe from start to finish).
Of course, as with all pre-made food, not all frozen pierogi are equal, and it can be difficult to decide where to spend your hard-earned dough. From traditional to trendy, we've scoured the web to guide you through the selection of frozen pierogi brands. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to make an informed choice when purchasing this Polish delight. All that's left is to cook them and enjoy. Unfortunately, sour cream and onions are not included in packaged versions, so don't forget to pick those up too.
Buy: Jaju Pierogi
Jaju Pierogi strikes a chord with its unique flavor offerings, such as sweet potato with caramelized onions and jalapeño cheddar. However, the brand is spendier than others on our list. Priced around $14 for 12 pieces, you're dishing out more than a buck per pierogi.
That said, it may be worth it to you, as Jaju is a well-reviewed brand and a best-seller on Instacart. On Sprouts' website, the brick-and-mortar where you can buy Jaju, the pierogi ratings range from four to five stars. Describing the sweet potato and caramelized onion flavor, one user gives the product five stars and writes, "Very good flavor. Ate straight (no sauce or extras) after pan frying. Serves 2."
If you're up for a bit of a splurge and enjoy hunting down exclusive foods, Jaju might be for you. Its pricier tag, though, means it's not the everyday pierogi choice for most.
Buy: Mrs. T's
Mrs. T's Pierogies stand out in the frozen pierogi market. This brand offers a comforting predictability with a taste that won't disappoint. It also offers a lot of variety, with a whopping 23 options ranging in flavor, size, and package quantity. Classic pierogi flavors include sauerkraut, while more modern takes like loaded baked potato and sour cream and chive offer novelty. What's more, you can purchase them at retailers such as Walmart for as low as 20 cents a pierogi.
Reviews are generally positive as well, with Walmart customers giving Mrs. T's Pierogies an average of more than four stars out of five. Positive reviews include comments like: "Great as a side or main entree." However, at least one customer notes that the product quality may be on the decline. In any case, reviews are generally positive. So, whether you're a pierogi newbie or a seasoned connoisseur, Mrs. T's Pierogies is a reliable brand.
Don't Buy: Grandma's Perogies
What started as a way to recreate family recipes eventually transformed into an international company. Grandma's Perogies was founded in Canada but has since expanded with a factory in New York and frozen products in grocery stores across the country. The brand offers a blend of variety and value, with an assortment of 12 different flavors, including potato, pork, sauerkraut, and mushroom, as well as sweet fillings like cherry. A 2-pound bag will run you about $10, making these a pretty good deal to feed a crowd.
We'd love to recommend these because the selection sounds good and they are a reasonable price. However, too many reviews call out the texture for being overly doughy and pasty. Additionally, comments refer to the flavorless fillings and low-quality meat which some consumers note contains bone and cartilage. The brand provides recommendations for boiling, pan-frying, and deep-frying the perogies, so perhaps it's just a matter of technique, but it's not worth testing them all as far as we're concerned.
Buy: Cheemo
Another great choice in the frozen pierogi game is Cheemo. This brand isn't just a winner in affordability ($3.49 for a 2-pound bag at Grocery Outlet); it's also celebrated for its variety and easy availability. With over a dozen different types of pierogi, including Ukrainian-style garlic or cream cheese and dill, Cheemo caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences. What's more, this is the only brand on the list to offer vegan pierogi. The potato and onion, country mushroom varieties, and Ukrainian-style roasted garlic do not contain any animal products.
This brand receives ratings higher than four stars across internet spaces. One reviewer comments: "Very garlicky, good amount of filling and tastes great. A quick and cheap meal that sets you back less than $3 for the whole box. I like having frozen perogies around for lazy days, and this is a flavor I'd be happy to repurchase." With praise like that, Cheemo is a brand worth checking out.
Buy: Alexandra's
If you're looking for a homemade taste and are willing to invest a little more, Alexandra's is a cut above the rest. While you might have to buy in bulk, these pierogi are worth the freezer space. They bring a gourmet, artisanal quality that's hard to find in the frozen food section. Coming in 18 flavors, including beef, pork, blueberry, and potato and cheese, the brand offers a variety to please a bunch of different taste buds.
You'll likely need to buy them online (though it seems that Kroger stores and smaller local retailers occasionally stock them) and spend a pretty penny. The pierogi come in packs of 54 to 72 pieces, ranging from $60 to $75. That means that some of Alexandra's pierogi are over $1 a piece, so this is not a bargain brand. Alexandra Foods is also a brick-and-mortar grocery store in Chicago, with 4.7 stars out of 5 on Facebook. One commenter says Alexandra's pierogi are as good as their mom's homemade. That's some high praise.
Don't Buy: Mateo Pierogi
While Mateo Pierogi has the appeal of offering gluten-free options, it's another brand lacking much review information online. However, we were able to find a few reviews on Pierogi Store, an online pierogi purveyor. The Mateo Pierogi product made with regular flour seems to be better reviewed, with one five-star review stating, "We were very pleased with [...] how delicious they were. Will definitely be buying more." However, the gluten-free options didn't fare as well, with one three-star rating saying. "They were ok but very dry and we boiled them as usual."
Further, based on our searches in the San Francisco Bay Area, these pierogi are only available online. So, while we appreciate the effort to cater to the gluten-free community, the inconvenience of online-only access and the lack of great public opinion make these a no-go for us. Still, if you follow a gluten-free diet and can't find an alternative, you may want to take the risk.
Buy: Kasia's Pierogi
Kasia's Pierogi stands out, boasting a rich heritage from Chicago's Polish community. This brand sells a selection of 14 flavors, including traditional favorites like Potato & Cheese, Sweet Cheese, and Kraut & Mushroom, alongside unique options like Potato & Cheddar with Jalapeño. At about $9 for just under 1 pound from the Pierogi Store website, these are certainly pricier pierogi, but positive customer reviews might sway you to purchase a pack.
While some customer reviews on Amazon criticize the packaging for shipping purposes, most praise the brand's authentic, homemade taste. Comments on Yelp about the pierogi from the brick-and-mortar store are more mixed. People of Polish origin are quite polarized about whether Kasia's is authentic, considering the innovative fillings such as tuna, blueberry, and avocado. If you're in Chicago, Kasia's Deli may be worth a trip, but the brand's frozen pierogi is a stalwart fan favorite for the rest of us. That said, the price tag keeps them from the top spot.
Buy: Tata's Pierogi
Tata's Pierogi sells a wide variety of frozen pierogi, including gluten-free and vegan options. Among its offerings, flavors like the classic Potato and Cheese stand out, while the Vegan Sauerkraut pierogi is less well-received. That said, some of the complaints refer to shipping issues rather than the product. However, this is still relevant if you plan to purchase Tata's Pierogis from an online retailer such as the Pierogi Store, where you can expect to pay between $9 and $14 for a 13-ounce package.
Tata's Pierogi has a brick-and-mortar store in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and most praise for the brand comes from its store (it has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor). Customers on TripAdvisor praise the restaurant for its authenticity while also commending its gluten-free and vegan options. If you're looking for pierogis that align with your dietary needs, Tata's is a good choice.
Our Methodology
To compile this ranking, we averaged out factors like price, availability, and customer reviews. We scoured the internet, looking for the best of the best in the world of frozen pierogi. We looked for customer reviews with keywords like "authentic" and "homemade" to describe the flavor. If that wasn't a key element, we assessed whether the consensus was that the product tasted good. We also considered what people had to say about a product's texture and how well it held up to being frozen and cooked or reheated.