Soft, tender dumplings filled with flavor—whether steamed, pan-fried, or boiled—dumplings are the kind of comfort food you’ll want to make again and again. This easy dumplings recipe is perfect for beginners and comes together quickly with simple ingredients.
🧂 Ingredients
For the Dumpling Dough
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup warm water
Pinch of salt
For the Filling (Classic Pork & Veg)
You can swap for chicken, beef, or veggie!
1 lb ground pork
1 cup finely chopped cabbage
2 green onions, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
👩🍳 How to Make Dumplings
1. Make the Dough
Mix flour and salt in a bowl.
Slowly add warm water while stirring.
Knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
2. Prepare the Filling
Combine pork, cabbage, green onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper.
Mix well until sticky—this ensures juicy dumplings.
3. Shape the Dumplings
Divide dough into small balls (about 1 tablespoon each).
Roll each into a thin circle.
Place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center.
Fold and pinch the edges to seal.
Tip: Wet the edge of the dough to help it stick.
🥟 How to Cook the Dumplings
A. Pan-Fried Potstickers (Most Popular!)
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a nonstick pan.
Add dumplings and brown bottoms for 2 minutes.
Add ¼ cup water, cover, and steam for 5 minutes.
Remove lid and crisp the bottoms again.
B. Steamed Dumplings
Place dumplings in a steamer basket.
Steam for 10–12 minutes over boiling water.
C. Boiled Dumplings
Boil water in a pot.
Add dumplings and cook until they float (about 5–7 minutes).
🥢 Serve With Dipping Sauce
Simple Dumpling Sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
Optional: chili flakes, garlic, or honey
Mix and drizzle over fresh dumplings.
🌟 Tips for Perfect Dumplings
Keep dough soft—not sticky, not dry.
Don’t overfill dumplings; they might split.
Freeze extras uncooked—they cook perfectly from frozen.
Add more cabbage for lighter dumplings; more pork for richer ones.
Let dough rest—this makes rolling easier.
❤️ Enjoy Your Fresh Dumplings!
These dumplings are soft, juicy, flavorful, and sure to become a family favorite. Whether you steam, fry, or boil them, they’re always delicious and easy to customize.