This is the best temperature and time for how long to cook frozen pierogies in the air fryer! Perfectly soft and tender potato dumplings with a bit of crisp on the outside. This is the best mashed potato side dish ever.
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If you love pierogies like we do you’ll love this new way to cook frozen pierogies in just minutes. We experimented for you and figured out the perfect cook time so you can make them perfectly next time too. Just one of many air fryer recipes here on The Typical Mom blog.
It doesn’t matter what brand you might have, a Ninja or Cosori, the biggest step to this is warming them first. I will explain it more in detail below but you will want to use your microwave for a few minutes before crisping this way. You’ll want the mashed potatoes to soften initially.
Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
What You Need to Get Started
You’ll need a can of olive oil spray or vegetable oil works to get golden brown. I just sprinkle with salt and pepper but seasonings are of course up to you and your taste buds. 😉
You want a box of frozen pierogies, any flavor you want. Ours has an onions and cheddar cheese variety you see here. We enjoy both but we will feature this one this time.
What are the best frozen pierogies?
Mrs. Ts brand is the most common of them all but there are others. Most are either cheese with the potato or onions and garlic. If you need a dairy free version use the latter. Use any brand machine you have, just make sure you don’t overlap then when they’re cooking. That way the outsides will get nice and crispy with just enough crunch to make you want another, and another.
Do you have to defrost them first?
No but for best results you will need 4 paper towels that you will wet, so a bit of cool water too + a plate that can be microwaved. This initial step we use for frozen potstickers in air fryer too. It will moisten the outside and soften the centers.
Can you air fry pierogies from frozen?
I wouldn’t. We did many tests and if you don’t thaw a bit or microwave until insides are tender then the outside will cook but in the middle it will stay hard (no good). Alternatively you can throw into a boiling large pot of water for 1 minute but that is a lot more work.
How Long to Cook Frozen Pierogies in Air Fryer
I always like to spray the air fryer basket with non stick spray, just in case. If you just want to cook it but not necessarily be crunchy then 4 minutes flipped halfway might serve you better. For more of a deep fry texture 6 is better. Just test it out and see for yourself.
Pierogies in Air Fryer Not Frozen Time
If you left these out for about 30 minutes or so, long enough where the center feels tender the cook time would stay the same. Either way you are taking steps to thaw the centers before crisping in the hot air basket so that wouldn’t change, you just would skip the microwave step in that case.
Air Fryer Pierogies Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 box pierogies, frozen, about 8 – 10 will fit into a 5 qt basket at a time
- olive oil spray
- salt and pepper, sprinkle
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 400 for 5 minutes.
- Fold 4 paper towels in half. Run under warm water until soaked. Squeeze most of liquid out but leave quite wet. Lay on a plate.
- Put up to 10 frozen pierogies in middle and fold over the top. Use your hand to put a little bit more water on top of paper towels that are overlapped over the top.
- Put into microwave for 2.5 minutes so the middles have softened.
- Open air fryer basket and spray inside with olive oil spray.
- Put pierogies into basket without overlapping them. Spray tops liberally with olive oil spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Close and cook for total of 4 minutes.
- Open and flip over after 2 minutes. Spray tops now with olive oil spray again and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until they're as golden brown as you'd like.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What are Pierogies Traditionally Served With?
Many serve mushrooms and a quick sauerkraut with them. Instant Pot brats are probably a favorite around here. Toppings are usually; butter, sour cream, crispy fried onions, or crushed pork rinds.
Other frozen food in air fryer you’ll love
Air fried frozen food is a game changer in this “magic machine” I tell you. Other favorites are air fryer frozen tater tots, frozen french fries in air fryer and frozen air fryer corn dogs are game changers!!
looks very good
Justine, thank you for this recipe. I love Pierogies and always keep a box of frozen ones in my freezer. But I have tried making them in the air fried but they were TOO crispy. So I just continued to sauté them in butter on the stove. I love the idea of microwaving in a wet paper towel before air crisping. I will definitely try this method as I think it will resolve my issue.
Works perfectly using this tip. 😉