Yellow Curry Dumpling Bake

This viral Dumpling Bake turns frozen dumplings into a creamy, curry-spiced one pan dinner. Freezer to table in less than an hour with minimal prep and maximum flavor!

The Cozy One Pan Dumpling Dinner That Has Gone Viral For Good Reason

We stay away from most viral food trends, but every once in awhile, social media delivers an idea that is actually really great.

A dumpling bake is not exactly a NEW technique in spirit (dumplings gently cooked in flavorful liquid has deep roots in Asian home cooking traditions), but it is a recent craze on TikTok for good reason.

Imagine tender dumplings baked in a luscious coconut-curry sauce, plus there are some fresh greens in there, so you can say you’re eating a vegetable. And it comes together in one pan, with no frying or boiling.

You’re listening, you say? Ok, let’s go!

Baked Dumplings Ingredients

A full recipe card, including exact ingredient amounts, appears at the bottom of this post.

• frozen dumplings – the star of the show! Some brands we have tested and liked are Ling Ling, Dumpling Daughters and Laoban.
• yellow curry paste – the backbone of the sauce for this one pot dumpling recipe. It’s bright, earthy and just gently spicy.
• brown sugar – adds a bit of sweetness that rounds out the curry flavor.
• fish sauce – don’t be scared of this. A few drops will give the curry dumplings deep umami flavor. Red Boat fish sauce is our favorite brand. In a pinch, substitute soy sauce, but it won’t be quite the same.
• coconut milk – you want the full-fat kind that is sold in cans, NOT the refrigerated coconut milk that’s sold with the other dairy alternatives in the dairy case. Light coconut milk will make the sauce thinner and less flavorful. When opening the can, stir or shake it well to recombine the fat and liquid before using.
• bok choy – this adds freshness and keeps the bake from feeling heavy. Buy baby or traditional bok choy and chop it up. You can use just the greens if you want, but the stems are great when they’re thinly sliced and added here, too.
• green onions, cilantro, chili crisp – optional garnishes that bring lots of color and extra flavor to this dumpling bake, so we recommend including them if you can!

How To Cook Frozen Dumplings For The Best Dinner

1. WHISK. In a baking dish, whisk together the curry paste, brown sugar and fish sauce. Gradually whisk in about 1/4 cup of the coconut milk.

2. ADD. Add the remaining coconut milk and whisk until fully combined.

3. LAYER & BAKE. Spread the bok choy evenly over the sauce mixture, then arrange the dumplings on top. Cover tightly with foil and bake until the dumplings are tender and the sauce is bubbling.

4. FINISH. Remove the foil and spoon some of the sauce over the dumplings. Return to the oven, uncovered, for 10 more minutes. Serve garnished with green onions, cilantro and chili crisp.

Viral Dumpling Bake Variations

• RED CURRY VERSION – swap yellow curry paste for red for a version of this one pot dumpling recipe with a bit more heat. Be aware that the color of the final casserole is a bit different when you do this – more of a creamy pink color than the vibrant yellow seen here.
• CHANGE THE GREENS – use any quick-cooking greens such as spinach, chard, or tender mustard greens. They’ll wilt quickly in the sauce and add freshness without weighing the dish down. Avoid dense greens like kale or cabbage, which take longer to soften and can throw off the texture.
• CREAMY PEANUT VERSION – whisk 2 tablespoons of peanut butter into the curry sauce base for a nutty richness.

Curry Dumplings Storage And Reheating

• Refrigerate: If you have leftover baked dumplings, transfer them to an airtight container and place them in the fridge uncovered for a few hours until they are fully chilled, then cover them with the lid and keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days.  
• Reheat: Gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through, adding a splash of coconut milk or water to loosen the sauce if needed.
• Freeze: Not recommended, as the sauce may separate when thawed.