Ukrainian food doesn’t just fill your belly—it warms your soul. It’s rich, hearty, and full of flavors that feel like a bear hug from Grandma.
With roots deep in farming traditions, this cuisine is big on fresh veggies, slow-cooked meats, and rustic techniques that turn humble ingredients into straight-up magic.
Whether you’re a kitchen pro or someone who burns toast, Ukrainian recipes have a comforting simplicity that anyone can fall in love with.
Now, if you’re looking for something new to cook that feels nostalgic yet exotic, Ukrainian recipes are the jackpot.
We’re talking golden-brown dumplings, thick stews that stick to your ribs, and salads that are crunchy, creamy, and just a little quirky.
So loosen that belt, because you’re about to take a flavor-packed trip through Eastern Europe without leaving your kitchen.
Here’s the ultimate roundup of the best Ukrainian recipes you absolutely have to try at least once.
1. Borscht (Beet Soup)
This one’s the headliner, folks. Borscht is Ukraine’s crown jewel—a vibrant beet soup that’s both stunning and satisfying.
It usually stars shredded beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, and a choice of beef or veggie broth.
The flavor hits you with a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory. A dollop of sour cream on top? Game-changer.
Ingredients:
- 2 medium beets, peeled and grated
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 potatoes, cubed
- 4 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh dill and sour cream to garnish
How to make it: Start by sautéing onions and carrots in sunflower oil. Add tomato paste, then toss in beets and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the broth and potatoes, simmer until everything is tender. Finish with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of dill. Serve it hot with a spoonful of sour cream.
Why did this make it to our list?
Borscht is a Ukrainian classic that represents the heart of the country’s culinary identity.
It’s comforting, colorful, and downright addictive. You can’t dive into Ukrainian cuisine without slurping up a bowl of this beauty.
2. Varenyky (Ukrainian Dumplings)
Think pierogis but with more personality. Varenyky are stuffed dumplings filled with everything from mashed potatoes to cherries.
They can be savory or sweet, boiled or pan-fried. These pockets of joy are often served with caramelized onions and a generous splash of sour cream.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mashed potatoes (or fruit like cherries for sweet version)
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- Sour cream to serve
How to make it: Mix flour, egg, salt, and water into a smooth dough. Roll it out, cut circles, and fill each one with your choice of stuffing.
Seal the edges, boil for 5 minutes, then toss in a skillet with caramelized onions. Serve with sour cream.
Why we selected it
Varenyky are comfort food to the core. They’re hands-on, customizable, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Plus, making them is an experience on its own—equal parts cooking and therapy.
3. Holubtsi (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
This is where cabbage steps into the spotlight. Holubtsi are cabbage leaves rolled around a mix of rice, onions, and ground meat, then baked in a tomato-based sauce. It’s rustic, rich, and totally homey.
Ingredients:
- 1 large head of cabbage
- 1 pound ground chicken or beef
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste
How to make it: Boil the cabbage until leaves are pliable. Mix ground meat with rice, onions, and seasoning.
Wrap scoops of the filling in cabbage leaves like tiny burritos. Layer in a baking dish, cover with tomato sauce, and bake at 350°F for an hour.
Why we choose it
Holubtsi are the kind of dish that tastes like home, even if you’re not from Ukraine.
They’re wholesome, easy to prep ahead, and they reheat like a dream. Total weeknight hero.
4. Deruny (Potato Pancakes)
Deruny are crispy, golden potato pancakes that are fried until perfectly crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.
They’re usually served with sour cream or applesauce and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium potatoes, grated
- 1 small onion, grated
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Sunflower oil for frying
- Sour cream for serving
How to make it: Grate potatoes and onion, then squeeze out excess water. Mix with egg, flour, salt, and pepper.
Heat oil in a skillet, drop spoonfuls of the mixture, and fry until golden. Serve warm with sour cream.
Why did this make it to our list?
Deruny are crispy bites of pure happiness. They’re super easy, endlessly snackable, and perfect for using up pantry staples.
Honestly, they could be your new weekend breakfast go-to.
5. Chicken Kyiv
Chicken Kyiv is Ukraine’s most famous meat dish. Imagine a chicken breast rolled around garlicky herb butter, breaded, and fried until golden.
When you cut into it, melted butter oozes out like liquid gold.
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper
- Sunflower oil for frying
How to make it: Mix butter, garlic, and parsley, then chill until firm. Pound chicken thin, place butter inside, and roll tightly.
Coat in flour, dip in egg, then breadcrumbs. Chill again for 15 mins. Fry in hot oil until golden and cooked through.
Why we selected it
This dish is all drama and flavor. That buttery center is a whole experience. Chicken Kyiv takes dinner up a notch, without being over-the-top difficult.
6. Olivier Salad (Ukrainian Potato Salad)
This creamy potato salad is next-level. Olivier salad mixes diced potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles, and cooked chicken or eggs with mayo.
It’s chunky, tangy, and wildly satisfying.
Ingredients:
- 3 potatoes, boiled and diced
- 2 carrots, boiled and diced
- 1/2 cup peas
- 3 pickles, chopped
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper
How to make it: Toss all ingredients in a big bowl. Add mayo, season with salt and pepper, and mix well. Chill before serving.
Why did this make it to our list?
This isn’t your average picnic potato salad. Olivier salad brings serious flavor and texture to the table. It’s cool, creamy, and just the right amount of quirky.
7. Pampushky (Ukrainian Garlic Bread Rolls)
These pillowy bread rolls are usually served with borscht.
They’re soft on the inside and brushed with a garlicky glaze that’ll make your kitchen smell like heaven.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons water
How to make it: Mix yeast with warm milk and sugar. Let it foam, then add flour, egg, salt, and oil.
Knead, let rise, shape into rolls, and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Mix garlic with water and brush over rolls.
Why we choose it
Pampushky are simple but unforgettable. They’re the perfect sidekick to any Ukrainian main and make any meal feel like a feast.
8. Kutia (Sweet Grain Pudding)
Kutia is a sweet, chewy pudding made from wheat berries, honey, and poppy seeds.
It’s nutty, sticky, and totally unique—a dessert that doubles as a conversation starter.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup wheat berries
- 1/4 cup poppy seeds
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup honey
- Water for boiling
How to make it: Soak wheat berries overnight, then boil until tender. Soak poppy seeds in hot water and grind. Mix everything together with honey.
Why we selected it
Kutia has deep roots in Ukrainian culture and is unlike any dessert out there. It’s earthy, sweet, and makes a bold impression.
9. Nalysnyky (Ukrainian Crepes)
Thin, lacy pancakes rolled with sweet or savory fillings? Yes, please.
Nalysnyky are delicate and versatile—you can go with cottage cheese and berries or ground meat and onions.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Filling of choice (cottage cheese + sugar, or cooked ground chicken + onions)
How to make it: Whisk flour, eggs, milk, oil, and salt. Cook thin crepes in a nonstick skillet. Fill, roll, and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F.
Why did this make it to our list?
Nalysnyky are delicate but filling, and they work for breakfast, lunch, or dessert. They’re like the Ukrainian cousin of your favorite diner crepes.
10. Kasha (Buckwheat Porridge)
Kasha is the ultimate comfort grain. It’s nutty, filling, and loaded with fiber. Ukrainians eat it as a side dish or even a main, often with mushrooms and onions.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup buckwheat groats
- 2 cups water
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- Salt and pepper
How to make it: Toast buckwheat in a dry pan. Add water, bring to a boil, and simmer until water is absorbed. Sauté onions and mushrooms, then stir into kasha.
Why we choose it
Kasha is earthy, filling, and super healthy. It’s a no-fuss way to bring a little Ukrainian flair to your dinner table.
11. Lviv Syrnyk (Ukrainian Cheesecake)
This isn’t your average New York slice. Lviv Syrnyk is lighter, with a cottage cheese base and a silky chocolate glaze. It’s tangy, sweet, and totally addictive.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups farmer’s cheese or ricotta
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons semolina
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Chocolate glaze: 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate + 2 tablespoons cream
How to make it: Beat cheese with sugar, eggs, semolina, and vanilla. Pour into a buttered pan and bake at 325°F for 45 minutes. Cool and top with chocolate glaze.
Why did this make it to our list?
Lviv Syrnyk is light, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweetness. It’s the perfect way to end a Ukrainian feast.
Conclusion
Ukrainian recipes have this way of making even a regular Tuesday feel special.
They’re full of love, history, and flavors that hit you right in the feels.
From hearty soups to fluffy dumplings and everything in between, this list has something for everyone.
So go ahead, roll up your sleeves and try one (or all) of these Ukrainian dishes.