Skip takeout and make this easy Pork Potstickers recipe in your own kitchen. My personal chef clients absolutely love these potstickers! Store bought wonton wrappers and a flavorful pork filling make these delicious pan fried and steamed dumplings easy and fun to make. Serve with a simple dipping sauce for a delicious appetizer or side dish.
I never thought I'd make 100s of homemade potstickers. One of my personal chef client families absolutely loves this type of Asian dumpling.
I'm filling, folding, sealing and frying super flavorful pork potstickers for them every week to serve with Sesame Noodles and Asian Lettuce Wraps.
My potsticker recipe includes ingredients available at well stocked grocery stores. It's a streamline version as I use store bought wonton wrappers. For a more authentic recipe with homemade wrappers, check out these Pork and Cabbage Potstickers from Healthy Nibbles.
Cooking potstickers involves both pan frying and steaming. This technique gives potstickers their distinctive and unique tender, soft and crispy texture.
The pork filling is savory and sweet and adds a flavorful punch in every bite. A simple 3 ingredient dipping sauce rounds out the dish.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Fun to make ~ Once you get the hang of filling and folding potstickers, it's a fun activity. Next time you're looking for a enjoyable event, invite friends over for a potsticker making party.
- Quick cooking ~ With a fast cooking time, it takes less than 5 minutes to cook a pan of these pork filled dumplings.
- Flavorful ~ The pork filling is bursting with Asian flavor from smoky sweet hoisin sauce, salty soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil.
- Unique ~ Warm golden brown potstickers are both tender and crispy. They're an out of the ordinary appetizer or side dish to make at home.
Ingredients & substitutions
Pick up the short list of ingredients for pork pot stickers at the grocery store. If substitutions can be made, they're listed. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of the ingredients.
- Ground pork ~ Available in the meat department, it's either freshly ground or vacuum packed. Ground beef, chicken or turkey are alternatives.
- Green onions ~ Also know as scallions, they are a traditional Asian ingredient.
- Hoisin sauce ~ A less sweet, tangy and salty Asian version of barbecue sauce.
- Reduced sodium soy sauce ~ My go-to soy sauce is this less salty version.
- Toasted sesame oil ~ This oil has a nutty caramelized taste. A little goes a long way with this strong flavored oil.
- Garlic powder ~ As opposed to minced fresh garlic, this granular powder easily distributes throughout the pork filling mixture.
- Wonton wrappers ~ I use a store bought wrapper. It's a thin wrapper and each one is a 3 ½ inch square.
- Sesame seeds ~ Tuxedo or a mixture of black and white sesame seeds make a pretty garnish.
Hint
You want to use the freshest wonton wrappers available. Older or expired wrappers can be dry and crack easily. Check the date information on the package.
How to make potstickers
With just a few steps, these delicious potstickers are a fun addition to your next Asian inspired meal. This is a brief overview of the recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for full instructions.
1. To a large bowl, add the ground pork, sliced green onions, hoisin sauce, reduced sodium soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and garlic powder.
2. Gently yet thoroughly combine the pork filling ingredients.
3. Place a wonton wrapper on a work surface. Put 2 heaping teaspoons of the pork mixture in the center of the wrapper. Dip a finger in a cup of water. Wet the edges of the wrapper.
4. Fold over the opposite corners of the wrapper so they are touching and form a triangle. Press firmly to seal the edges of the wrapper.
5. Wet the 2 opposite corners on the folded side of the potsticker. Fold the corners to the center and press down lightly. Place on a baking sheet. Cover with a damp paper towel. Make the rest of the potstickers.
6. Heat a nonstick sauté pan over medium heat and add oil. Add some of the potstickers making sure not to crowd the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown on one side. Flip over the potstickers.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the pan and cover with a lid. Steam for 2-3 minutes or until the potstickers are browned and the filling to cooked. While the potstickers cook, make a dipping sauce by combining reduced sodium soy sauce, sliced green scallions and sesame seeds.
8. Remove the potstickers from the pan. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with the dipping sauce.
expert tips
- Make sure to use a nonstick pan when cooking the potstickers. Only a small amount of oil is used to fry them. You don't want the potstickers to get stuck and tear open when removing them from the pan.
- Use a digital thermometer to check when the pork filling is cooked to perfection. Ground pork should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees F when fully cooked.
How to store and reheat pot stickers
Refrigerator ~ Store cooked and cooled pork potstickers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a covered nonstick pan for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Alternately, place potstickers on a microwave safe plate and cover with damp paper towel. Heat at 60 percent power at 30 second intervals until heated through.
Freezer ~ Place uncooked or cooked potstickers in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze for at least 2 hours. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. To heat, first thaw in the refrigerator. For uncooked potstickers cook in a large nonstick skillet in oil for 1-2 minutes. Flip over, add 2 tablespoons of water and cover the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes. For cooked potstickers, follow the directions in the Refrigerator section above.
Frequently asked questions
Potstickers are a type of dumpling. Dumplings have a thicker wrapper and are either boiled or steamed. Potstickers have a thin wrapper. They're first pan fried to get crispy. Then they're steamed to finish cooking.
The Chinese word for potsticker means "stuck in wok." According to legend, a chef in China's Imperial Court was making dumplings and left them cooking in the pan too long. They became stuck and had crispy bottoms. The chef said they were a new dish, and potstickers were invented.
What to serve with potstickers
Pork filled potstickers are delicious with many Asian dishes. Serve them as an appetizer or a side dish. Try them with the following.
- Beef and Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry
- Hibachi Shrimp and Vegetables
- Jalapeno Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Korean Beef and Rice Lettuce Wraps
One more thing
Did you try this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a comment and a star rating below. Share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks ~ Amy
Recipe
Pork Potstickers with Dipping Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Potstickers
- 1 ⅓ pounds ground pork
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 3 thinly sliced green onions about ½ cup
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 package wonton wrappers 3 ½ inch square
- 2 tablespoon canola oil divided
Dipping sauce
- ½ cup reduced sodium sauce
- 1 thinly sliced green onion
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
For serving
- 1 thinly sliced green onion
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Make the filling: In a large bowl, add the ground pork, hoisin sauce, green onions, soy sauce, garlic powder and sesame oil. Gently yet thoroughly stir to combine the ingredients. Set aside.
- Fill the potstickers: Fill a small bowl with water and set aside. For each potsticker, place a wonton wrapper on a work surface. Add 2 heaping teaspoons of the pork filling to the center of the wrapper. Using your finger, wet the edges of the wrapper with water.
- Form the potsticker: Fold the wrapper so the opposite corners are touching and form a triangle. Press firmly along the edges to seal the wrapper. Wet the corners on the folded side of the potsticker. Fold the corners to the center of the bottom of the potsticker. Place on a baking sheet and cover with a damp paper towel. Form the remaining potstickers.
- Cooking the potstickers: Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons of oil to the pan. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the potstickers to the pan. Make sure not to crowd the pan. Cook for about 1-2 minutes or until the golden brown. Flip over the potstickers, add about 2 tablespoons of water to the pan and cover with a lid. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan to a platter. Cook the remaining potstickers.
- Make the dipping sauce: While the potstickers are cooking, make the dipping sauce. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, green onion and sesame seeds.
- Serve the potstickers: Sprinkle the warm potstickers with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with the dipping sauce.
Amy says
My dumpling recipe is fun to make and freezes beautifully.