Global Dumpling Recipes From Pierogi to Gyoza to Empanadas

Soup Dumplings

Yes you can recreate this popular restaurant order at home! Admittedly more of a “project recipe” than other recipes for dumplings on this list, one bite of the soup-stuffed Chinese dumpling recipe was all we needed to confirm that every minute was worth it. Our Test Kitchen pros will walk you through every step to make the soup, dough, filling, and dipping sauce from scratch. All of the above team up for one slurpable Asian-inspired starter that will have everyone guessing that you ordered takeout!

Test Kitchen Tip: Make a double batch and freeze some for later. Assemble to dumplings, then arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and allow to freeze completely, then transfer the dumplings to a zip-top freezer-safe storage bag. When you’re ready to serve, steam as directed straight from the freezer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the filling is cooked through.

Potato Pierogi

With roots in both Poland and Ukraine, pierogi are stuffed dumplings that feature a sweet or savory filling (potatoes often play a starring role) inside an unleavened dough wrapper. Our rendition is a nod to the pierogi that are common in the Polish city of Przemśl; once a part of western Ukraine. Try the classic potato recipe first, then build, boil, and pan-fry our flavorful dumpling recipe variations including smoked cheddar and bacon, goat cheese and fresh dill, or roasted red peppers and garlic-and-herb cheese.

Roast Chicken Empanadas

Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelson’s grown-up, globally-inspired “chicken and dumplings” recipe is one of the most creative and flavorful ways to refresh leftover or rotisserie chicken. The empanada dough is a simple yeast pastry, while the filling can act as the perfect vehicle for the other odds and ends you have lying around after a holiday meal or Sunday supper. Apples, Parmesan cheese, potatoes, and garlic all play a supporting role. It’s the beautifully-balanced spice mixture, though, that really makes these empanadas rave-worthy, in our opinion. 

Pot Sticker Dumpling Soup

Not quite in the mood to make a recipe for dumplings from scratch? We give you full permission to hit the “easy” button and opt for store-bought pork pot stickers or dumplings to speed up soup so it can be on your table in just 25 minutes. “I'm always looking for recipes that are easy, have few ingredients and have tons of flavor. Big Bingo,” one BHG home cook says, alongside their five-star review. This quick soup is “a real keeper for cold months,” they add.

Spicy Chicken Pot Stickers with Ginger and Green Onion Dipping Sauce

Crunchy water chestnuts accent savory ground chicken in the nicely-spiced filling for this dumpling recipe. Since the pot stickers are simply folded in half (rather than crimped or tucked), this is one of the easiest DIY dumplings for beginners. The remarkably flavorful results won’t let on to how simple the method actually is, though. Aromatic elements like ginger, soy sauce, and green onions accent both the chicken mixture and the delightful dipping sauce.

Steamed Dumplings

Choose your own adventure with this customizable Chinese dumpling recipe. We couldn’t pick a favorite among the flavor options—lemongrass and ginger pork, cilantro-lime chicken lemon-basil veggie, or shrimp scampi—so we decided to share them all! We’re dishing up the basic process and ingredient ratios, then allow you to choose your preferred filling and dipping sauce combination for the steamed Asian dumplings.

Test Kitchen Tip: To trim down on prep time, purchase dumpling or gyoza wrappers at the supermarket and use that instead of making the dough from scratch.

Pierogies with Meat Sauce

Invest a mere 25 minutes and round up 5 ingredients, and you’ll have a chorizo or Italian sausage dumpling recipe that will make your dinner companions feel like they’re dining at a restaurant. The process allows you to take store-bought potato pierogi and transform them into something “so flavorful,” according to one reviewer. “The small amount of effort required to make such a delicious dish is unparalleled.”

Asian Dumplings with Pickled Ginger Drizzle

We love to turn to this ground turkey dumpling recipe when we’re tempted to order takeout. Practically bursting with flavor and texture from cabbage, cilantro, sesame oil, soy sauce, green onion, and chile pepper, it rivals our local restaurant’s Chinese dumpling recipe. Plus, when we opt for the homemade route, we can omit or add ingredients to tailor it to our palate—without feeling like a hassle.

Shortcut Vegetarian Dumpling Soup

A few simple spiff-ups can make boxed vegetable broth taste 100% homemade and surprisingly complex. Start this Asian-inspired vegetarian recipe for dumplings by sautéing green onions, then combine those with the broth, minced garlic, and a drizzle of sambal oelek (Asian chile paste). The resulting blend is loaded with umami and just enough kick, and acts as a beautiful base for frozen vegetable pot stickers, edamame, and shredded red cabbage.

Chocolate Banana Air-Fryer Empanadas with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

We let our imagination run wild, and it landed at this air-fryer dessert dumpling recipe! Inspired by and using our current favorite countertop appliance, and showcasing one of our all-time favorite flavor pairings—banana and chocolate—these sweet dumplings crisp up in just 6 minutes. They’re a treat as-is, but become downright irresistible once dunked in cinnamon-scented vanilla whipped cream.