Dumplings are one of the most versatile comfort foods out there. You can boil them, steam them, fry them, and pair them with just about any sauce or seasoning. And thanks to Trader Joe’s, you can even skip the prep and grab a bag of pre-made dumplings straight from the freezer aisle.
So it’s no surprise that Trader Joe’s dumplings have gone viral more than once. In 2023, TikTok couldn’t get enough of dumpling soup, a quick, cozy dish made with just a bag of frozen soup dumplings and some broth. Now, the internet has found a new obsession: the Trader Joe’s dumpling bake.
HealthyGirl Kitchen
Like the soup, it’s simple but packed with flavor. Most versions call for pouring a can of coconut cream into a baking dish, mixing in Thai red curry paste and Trader Joe’s Soyaki (a soy sauce-teriyaki blend), then adding a bag of dumplings. Pop it in the oven, garnish, and serve with rice, and you’ve got a viral-worthy meal.
How to make a vegan version of Trader Joe’s viral dumpling bake
You can make the Trader Joe’s viral dumpling bake with pretty much any dumplings you like. The grocery store chain offers several packaged options, including vegan vegetable dumplings.
According to Trader Joe’s, its vegetable dumplings, which are currently available for a limited time, are made in Vietnam with a “well-seasoned mix” of chives, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and cabbage. There are also vegan frozen vegetable soup dumplings and Thai vegetable gyozas made with white cabbage, carrot, chive, white radish, onion, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.
For a little more guidance, follow these recipes to make your own viral dumpling bake.
Bre Powell
1Vegan Trader Joe’s Dumpling Bake
This recipe from Bre Powell demonstrates how to make a vegan version of the viral dumpling bake with a can of organic coconut milk, Soyaki, peanut satay sauce, Sriracha, minced garlic, spinach, and frozen vegetable gyozas. “This was so good,” Powell captioned her TikTok. “And the easiest meal ever to cook.”
Get the recipe
Cooking With Ayeh
2Viral One-Pan Dumplings
Another vegan-friendly version of the dish from the recipe blog Cooking With Ayeh adds bok choy, sesame oil, sugar, and rice vinegar to the mix. “This one pan dumpling bake went viral for a reason,” recipe developer Ayeh Manfre wrote in her blog post. “I’ve been seeing videos flowing across TikTok and social media for months, and every time I see it, I’m automatically craving it.” She added: “So even though I’m right in the middle of a hot summer, I couldn’t help myself and finally tried it, and let me tell you it’s definitely worth the hype.”
Get the recipe
Dr. Vegan
3One-Pan Baked Dumplings in Thai Coconut Curry
Sure, you could use any frozen dumplings in this recipe by Dr. Vegan, but to best complement the fragrant, rich flavors of the Thai coconut curry, Trader Joe’s Thai Vegetable Gyoza are a solid choice. Combine with ingredients such as broccoli florets, bok choy, ginger, garlic, bell peppers, Thai red curry paste, and full-fat coconut milk before baking. Once you’re ready to serve, garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, and chili crisp for an extra kick of heat. This one-pan recipe—which is loaded with “bold flavors, and crispy juicy textures”—makes for the perfect “weeknight dinner with zero fuss and maximum flavor,” notes recipe creator Ahmad Noori.
Get the recipe
HealthyGirl Kitchen
415-Minute, One-Pan Dumplings
Perfect for busy nights, this dish from HealthyGirl Kitchen recipe creator Danielle Brown requires only five minutes of prep and 15 minutes of baking. Adapt the spice level to your liking with a few simple swaps. “If you like more of a spice you can add more chili oil and use a spicier red curry paste,” Brown notes. “If spicy isn’t for you, then get a mild red curry paste and leave off the chili oil on top.”
Get the recipe
Brown Girl Vegan
5One-Pan Miso Coconut Baked Dumplings
Brown Girl Vegan recipe creator Ramya Ramesh brings an added layer of umami to her one-pan baked dumplings. Alongside the standard ingredients that make up the base of this viral recipe, Ramesh adds miso paste, mushroom seasoning, and enoki mushrooms for a dumpling bake exploding in flavor. Take it even further by adding your favorite noodles. “I paired these brothy dumplings with knife cut noodles,” she shares, “but you can also have them with ramen, rice noodles, or rice.”
Get the recipe
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
