Air Fryer Chicken Dumplings (Print)

Golden chicken dumplings air-fried to crisp perfection with a flavorful sesame soy dipping sauce.

# Components:

→ Dumpling Filling

01 - 10.5 oz ground chicken
02 - 2 spring onions, finely chopped
03 - 1 clove garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
06 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
07 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Dumplings

10 - 24 round dumpling wrappers
11 - Water for sealing

→ Sesame Soy Dipping Sauce

12 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
15 - 1 teaspoon honey
16 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - 1 teaspoon finely chopped spring onion
18 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Combine ground chicken, spring onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, white pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
02 - Place a dumpling wrapper in palm of hand. Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of filling into center. Moisten wrapper edge with water. Fold wrapper over filling to form half-moon shape, pressing edges firmly to seal. Pleat if desired. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
03 - Preheat air fryer to 350°F for 3 minutes.
04 - Lightly brush or spray both sides of dumplings with oil. Arrange dumplings in single layer in air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch.
05 - Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
06 - While dumplings cook, mix all dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.
07 - Transfer hot dumplings to serving platter. Serve immediately with sesame soy sauce on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're genuinely crispy without the mess or oil splatters that come with traditional frying.
  • You can make a big batch in under 15 minutes total, which means weeknight entertaining actually feels possible.
  • The filling is forgiving enough that you can prep it ahead, then fold and cook whenever hunger strikes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the water seal—I learned this the hard way when a dumpling opened mid-cook and leaked filling all over my basket, turning into a stuck-on mess that took forever to clean.
  • The air fryer temperature matters more than you'd think; too low and they stay pale and chewy, too high and the outside burns before the filling cooks through.
  • Frozen dumplings need only 2 to 3 extra minutes, so you don't need to thaw them—just add a couple minutes and go.
03 -
  • A light spray of oil beats brushing because it distributes more evenly and you use less, which keeps things from getting greasy.
  • Flip the dumplings exactly halfway through cooking; set a timer so you don't forget and end up with one side overcooked.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, check them at 8 minutes rather than waiting the full 10—air fryers vary wildly and burnt dumplings are harder to fix than undercooked ones.
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