Chicken Ginger Dumplings

With a Spicy Chili-Oil-Infused Dipping Sauce

Dumplings and Hotgirlsauce Crunch Chili Oil

There’s something seriously satisfying about folding up a tray of homemade dumplings while sipping on a glass of wine with friends. I like to turn this recipe into a Dumpling Party—a night of casual kitchen hangs, sake flowing, and a mountain of crispy-bottomed dumplings ready to dunk into spicy, savory chili oil.

This chicken dumpling recipe is one of my go-to crowd-pleasers. So good that I even made them as a side dish this past Thanksgiving. The filling is juicy from ground dark meat chicken, bright with fresh ginger, and just the right amount of punchy from garlic and green onions. And don’t even get me started on the dipping sauce—it’s loaded with Hotgirlsauce chili oil for that bold, craveable heat.

Even if your dumplings turn out a little lumpy (no judgment!), they’ll still be delicious. Plus, once you nail this basic recipe, you’ll want to fold dumplings every weekend. Ready to impress yourself and your dinner guests? Let’s get into it.

Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Dumplings

This recipe yields about 40 dumplings—perfect for feeding a group or freezing for future weeknight wins.

Dumpling Filling

Ground dark meat chicken - while this might not be the chicken you’re familiar with cooking, definitely don’t swap it out for white meat because the dumpling filling will likely end up dry. If you’re near an Asian market, they sell ground chicken thigh meat for very cheap. You can also just buy raw thighs and grind/process the chicken yourself.
Shredded cabbage
Chinese chives
Ginger
Garlic
Green onions
Soy sauce
Chinese five spice
White pepper
Szechuan pepper (optional depending on how spicy you want the filling)
Dumpling wrappers
Vegetable oil

Chili Oil Dipping Sauce

This spicy, tangy dipping sauce brings everything together. Feel free to riff depending on your heat tolerance or preferred chili crunch.

Soy sauce
Vinegar
Hotgirlsauce - whatever flavor you’d like, they’re all good for this recipe
Sesame seeds
White pepper
Green onions

Tools You’ll Need

Just a couple of bowls for mixing and dumpling wrapper dunking
A skillet or wok
Some spoons.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Homemade Dumplings

Step 1: Mix the Filling

In a big bowl, mix together the ground chicken, cabbage, chives, ginger, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, five spice, and peppers. Don’t skimp on the aromatics here—more garlic and ginger = more flavor. If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll toss in some lemongrass for extra brightness. Stir until everything is fully combined.

Step 2: Fold the Dumplings

If you’ve never made dumplings before, don’t stress—it’s easier than it looks. Grab a wrapper and dip it in warm water to soften. Spoon a bit of filling (about 1 tbsp) into the center. Wet the inner edge with your finger, fold the wrapper over, and press to seal. I like to crimp the edges for that signature look (and to help it stay shut). Repeat until you’ve got a tray of cute little dumplings. They don’t have to be perfect—honestly, the wonky ones are my favorite to snack on while cooking.

Step 3: Cook to Golden Perfection

In a large skillet or wok, heat your vegetable oil over medium heat. Place the dumplings in a single layer (don’t crowd the pan!) and cook for 3–5 minutes until the bottoms are golden and crispy. Add 1–2 tablespoons of water, then cover the pan to steam. Let them steam for another 3–5 minutes. Remove the lid and cook off any excess water until they’re beautifully browned on the bottom again.

Step 4: Make the Chili Oil Sauce

This is an easy last step - simply mix all of the ingredients for the sauce together until a smooth consistency. Taste and adjust any seasoning, adding more pepper or Hotgirlsauce if you’d like more heat.

Honestly, you can even skip this step and use Hotgirlsauce on its own for dipping. I personally like to pair these with the Hot Girl Crunch Chili Oil to contrast the texture of the dumpling with the chili crunch.

Time to Eat!

Once your dumplings are golden and juicy, plate them up with your chili oil dipping sauce and dig in. But seriously, take a beat before biting in—they’re going to be piping hot inside. If you make this recipe, I want to see it! Snap a pic and tag @thehotgirlsauce on Instagram or TikTok so we can drool over your creations. Oh—and leave a comment and rating if you loved it!

Want Dumplings Without the Work (or the Wok)?

If folding dumplings isn’t your thing today (we’ve all been there), Hotgirlsauce chili oil sauce pairs perfectly with some solid grocery store options. Here are a few I keep in my freezer:

Trader Joe’s Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings
Tai Pei Chicken Potstickers available at Walmart
Sprout’s Chicken Gyoza Potstickers

Just pan-fry or steam them, whip up the dipping sauce, and you’re golden.

More Recipes Featuring Hotgirlsauce

Looking for other ways to use your chili oil obsession? Check out these 🔥 recipes:

Final Thoughts

There’s no wrong way to make dumplings—just gather your ingredients, play with flavors, and don’t be afraid to get a little messy. Whether you’re hosting a dumpling party or solo-cooking your way through a craving, this chicken dumpling recipe with spicy chili oil will hit the spot every time.