This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This is my Mama’s recipe. Whenever she gave us a choice of meat vs cheese filling, I picked this one. However, savory crepes take considerably longer than the cheese crepes I posted earlier but they are definitely worth a try.
That might be why I see more of the cheese filled ones at our church potlucks. Note: If you haven’t tried the cheese-filled crepes, you will come to find out why they are the best breakfast food known to me; truly a wonderful treat!
Ok, getting back on track… I won my husband over with this recipe. He thought they were delicious. My son also enjoyed these meat-filled nalesniki (drenched in sour cream of course). They are both chicken and potatoes kinda guys, or shall I say, savory crepes kinda guys.
F.Y.I. a Meat Grinder or a good food processor works best for this recipe.
Ingredients for crepes:
½ cup lukewarm water
1 cup milk
4 large eggs
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted. Plus more to sauté.
1 cup all-purpose flour (or use 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup all-purpose)
1/4 tsp salt
Ingredients for Meat and Mushroom Filling:
1 lb to 1.25 lbs ground Pork
3/4 to 1 lb mushrooms, sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 hard boiled eggs
Salt and Pepper (see instructions for specific amounts)
1 Tbsp real mayonnaise OR 1 Tbsp water
How to Make Meat & Mushroom Filling:
Make the filling first. You can even make the filling a day ahead and refrigerate.
1. Boil the eggs in a small pot until fully cooked through. Place in cold water to cool them down, then remove the shells.
2. Saute pork with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper over medium high heat until lightly browned and fully cooked. No need to add oil. Remove to a large mixing bowl
3. In the same skillet, over medium/high heat, saute mushrooms and onions with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Add to the mixing bowl with meat.
4. Add 3 boiled eggs to the bowl (cut them in half so they go through the meat grinder easier).
5. Push all of your filling ingredients through the meat grinder or good food processor. My KitchenAid Attachment has two sizes; medium or fine, I used the medium. You don’t want your meat to turn into a paste
6. Stir in 1 Tbsp mayo OR water to make it a little more spreadable.
How to Make Crepes:
1. Put all of the ingredients for the crepes (in the order that they are listed: 1/2 cup warm water, 1 cup milk, 4 large eggs, 4 tbsp melted butter, 1 cup flour) in a blender and blend until well combined.
Healthy Substitute: You’ll see in the photos I like to use 1/2 cup whole wheat and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. However, crepes have a more “authentic” texture if you only use all-purpose flour
2. Melt a dot of butter in 2 non-stick skillets over medium heat (2 skillets make the process go faster). Pour enough batter to cover almost half the bottom of the skillet and immediately swirl around to evenly coat the bottom of the pan. If you get any small gaps, you can fill them with more batter.
Once the bottom is barely golden, flip the crepe using a sharp edged spatula to easily get under the crepe. Let the other side get golden and plop the crepe out onto a cutting board. Repeat with all of the batter, using a dot of butter each time if needed (it all depends on your skillet).
Don’t stack hot crepes on top of each other. Once they are just warm or room temp, they can be stacked.
Don’t panic, the first crepe in the pan never turns out nice!
3. Add enough of the meat mix to be able to spread a thin layer on the crepe. Roll the crepes and cut in half if desired. Refrigerate crepes that aren’t being served. It keeps in the fridge for almost one week.
To Serve:
Melt about 1 Tbsp of butter in a skillet and sauté the filled crepes on medium heat until golden brown on both sides. They don’t take long to sauté. Be careful not to burn them.
Serve with sour cream on the side. YUUUMMMM!
What is your favorite filling for Crepes (Nalisniki)? Do you like them sweet or meaty?
Savory Crepes (Meat and Mushroom Nalesniki)

Ingredients
Ingredients for Crepes:
- ½ cup lukewarm water
- 1 cup milk
- 4 large eggs
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted. + more to saute.
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, or use 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup all-purpose
- 1/4 tsp salt
Ingredients for Meat and Mushroom Filling:
- 1 lb to 1.25 lbs ground Pork
- 3/4 to 1 lb mushrooms, sliced
- 3 hard boiled eggs
- Salt and Pepper
- 1 tbsp real mayonnaise OR 1 tbsp water
- 1 small/medium onion, finely chopped
Instructions
- Boil the eggs in a small pot until fully cooked through. Place in cold water to cool them down, then remove the shells.
- Saute pork with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper over medium high heat until lightly browned and fully cooked. No need to add oil. Remove to a large mixing bowl.
- In the same skillet, over medium/high heat, saute mushrooms and onions with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Add to the mixing bowl with meat.
- Add 3 boiled eggs to the bowl (cut them in half so they go through the meat grinder easier).
- Push all of your filling ingredients through the meat grinder using medium blade. You can also use a food processor.
- Stir in 1 tbsp mayo OR water to make it a little more spreadable.
How to Make Crepes:
- Put all of the ingredients for the crepes (in the order that they are listed: 1/2 cup warm water, 1 cup milk, 4 large eggs, 4 tbsp melted butter, 1 cup flour) in a blender and blend until well combined.
- Melt a dot of butter in 2 non-stick skillets over medium heat (2 skillets make the process go faster).
- Pour enough batter to cover almost half the bottom of the skillet and immediately swirl around to evenly coat the bottom of the pan. If you get any small gaps, you can fill them with more batter.
- Once the bottom is barely golden, flip the crepe using a sharp edged spatula to easily get under the crepe. Let the other side get golden and plop the crepe out onto a cutting board.
- Repeat with all of the batter, using a dot of butter each time if needed (it all depends on your skillet). Don’t stack hot crepes on top of each other. Once they are just warm or room temp, they can be stacked.
- Add enough of the meat mix to be able to spread a thin layer on the crepe. Roll the crepes and cut in half if desired. Refrigerate crepes that aren’t being served. It keeps in the fridge for almost one week.
To Serve:
- Melt about 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet and sauté the filled crepes on medium heat until golden brown on both sides. They don't take long to sauté. Be careful not to burn them. Serve with sour cream on the side. YUUUMMMM!
Natasha! I love you, but I’m trying to get inventive, I want to make shrimp mushroom mixture , for the crepes, with a creamy mushroom gravy…help
Hi Janet, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Used Jimmy Dean sausage instead of plain ground pork.
Wow!!! great recipe
Isn’t it the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Dustin!
What do the eggs do for the filling? Can I leave it out?
Hi Rani, the eggs help bind the filling together. I haven’t tried these with an egg substitute.
Natasha, these were outstanding! Thank you for sharing
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed this Katya!
You have 1 medium onion finely chopped and 1 small/medium onion finely chopped. Are 2 onions required for this recipe?
Hi Lennard, it is just 1 medium onion in the recipe. I’m not seeing where the confusing step is. If you could point that out, I can clarify, but I am just seeing 1 medium onion here.
hmmm….an interesting recipe – i’ve got to try this one!
I hope you love this recipe Anna!
Do you know if I can substitute half of the flour with backwheat flour?
Thank you!
Hi Kristina, we have not tried buckwheat flour, but I think it’s worth experimenting! They won’t be quite as soft as when you mix it with all-purpose flour.
The crepes where breaking on edges so bad:/ I had to add more flour and some oil after where perfect.
Hi Inna, the first one can do that, especially if you swirl it pretty high up on the pan and it can also depend on your pan, but I’m glad it worked out with more oil. Good call! 🙂
Natasha, as always wonderful recipe! Just the recipe of plain crepes is great by itself and so easy. So, today I made these with cottage cheese+cream cheese sweet, cottage cheese +cream cheese+ smoked salmon and herbs, pork and mushroom, chicken and mushroom, mashed potatoes and liver and onions. Going to brown them now, but they are already delicious!
Yummy, that sounds delicious! I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipe Natalie! Thanks for sharing!
I omitted the egg but added roasted walnuts with parsley/cilantro and they added such a gorgeous flavor! Great recipe
I’m glad you enjoy the recipe Kristina! Thanks for sharing your review! 🙂
These are sooo good! I’m making them again in advance and was wondering how long they stay fresh in the fridge?
Thanks!
Hi Riat, they will stay fresh for several days in the fridge. I would say 3-5 days.
Can I use frozen mushrooms if I defrost them first? Or does it have to be fresh.
I haven’t tried frozen but I think that could work well.
Natasha, did I say that you are genius? If I didn’t, saying now. The small thing in technology can make absolute difference. I mean how you wrap nalesniki. I did it today first time in my life and it’s much better than with envelope wrapping. I used tortillas instead of making own crepes. Of course home made are much better. But wrapping like you did is genius. Thanks much. Everybody love this way.
Ha ha! That’s quite a compliment! 🙂 Thanks Yelena! I’m so glad you liked the method. You’re giving me some great ideas with using tortillas 🙂
Natasha, I always wrap crepes like envelope. You leave the ends open. Sure it tastes better because meat are in layers. How about meat go out from the ends? Thanks
I’ve done it that way also. The meat mixture we use is moist enough that it doesn’t come out of the sides at all once they are rolled and cut in half.
Hey Natasha! Love your website, you have saved my cooking dinner after dinner! 😄
I’m not a huge fan of pork, would you suggest using ground beef or chicken to savor that meaty flavor?
I would probably use ground chicken thighs for the best flavor. I’ve also made them with leftover turkey ground up and it was delicious 🙂 https://natashaskitchen.com/2013/11/30/turkey-crepes-savory-nalesniki-recipe/
Natasha, thanks!!!! Your site is amazing!!! Love it!!!!
Aww thanks Olesya, you’re so nice 🙂
hi, natasha! i have a question im thinking of making a bunch of these and thinking of freezing them, do u think they should be fine?
I haven’t tried freezing but I would think so. The only thing I would suggest is to put wax paper or parchment between layers so they don’t all get stuck together.
I wrap filled (but uncut and unfried) crepes individually in plastic wrap. Bring to room before browning.
I just ran out of white flour. Would using wheat alone work?
I haven’t tried it with all-wheat flour, but I think it’s worth experimenting! They won’t be quite as soft as when you mix it with all-purpose flour. You might sift the wheat flour and discard the larger bran flakes that are left in the sifter (even though this is the healthiest part of wheat flour).
I found my Google searches rather interesting because my grandmother, a Russian (Maria Titova) who came from a small town near Ukraine NEVER used beans and certainly not potatoes in her Borscht. It also has tomatoes in it. It’s absolutely marvelous because it lets the flavor of the beef and cabbage come through. Our recipe is simply fabulous.
Great recipe! I didn’t have a good processor though so I blended half of the ingredients that way it wasn’t like paste..
Great tip! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hello, can i use ground chicken or beef instead of pork?
You sure can, Alina. I would probably use ground chicken thighs for the best flavor. I’ve also made them with leftover turkey ground up and it was delicious