Pierogi Casserole

 You can leave the kielbasa/sausage out if you don't want meat in it.  I use cheese pierogis, but you can put whatever type of pierogi you want.

PIEROGI CASSEROLE

(serves 6)

Ingredients:

*2 tablespoons butter

*1 medium yellow onions, chopped

*1 (16 ounce) package of kielbasa or sausage, sliced about 1/4-1/2 inch thick

*6 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled  

*1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of bacon soup (or cream of celery or mushroom)

*1 1/2 cups whole milk

*1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

*1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (can use regular paprika)

*1/4 teaspoon onion powder

*1 teaspoon ground pepper

*1/4 teaspoon salt

*1/4 cup butter, melted

*1 (32 ounce) bag  frozen cheese pierogis (or make your own Pierogis)

*2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 

Directions:

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Melt 2 tablespoons butter into a large skillet.

~Add chopped onions, and sauté for 4-5 minutes over medium heat, or until onions start to soften.

~Add kielbasa/sausage, and cook until browned.

~Remove skillet from burner.

~In a large bowl, whisk  cream of bacon soup, milk, garlic powder, smoke paprika, onion powder, pepper and salt until while combined.

~In a 9X13 inch casserole dish, spread 1/4 cup melted butter evenly over bottom of dish.

~Layer cheese pierogis in a single layer over the butter.

~Add cooked kielbasa/sausage evenly over the pierogis.

~Pour soup mixture evenly over the kielbasa and pierogis.

~Spinkle on crumbled bacon.

~Cover dish with heavy duty aluminum foil (or two layers of the thinner foil) and seal around edges. 

~Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

~Remove from oven and remove aluminum foil.

~Spread cheddar cheese over mixture.

~Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.