These Thai-style Chicken Dumplings are simple to make and bursting with flavor, served with a savory homemade peanut butter dipping sauce.

Thai Dumplings with Peanut Butter Sauce are a weeknight favorite around here. We serve them with seasoned edamame or a crisp Asian-style salad for a full, satisfying meal. I first fell in love with dumplings while living in Manhattan, especially at places like Rickshaw and Mimi Cheng’s. When Rickshaw closed, I asked Keith to recreate their Thai-inspired chicken dumplings at home—and these quickly became a favorite.
This recipe is inspired by Thai chicken satay, with a bold, nutty peanut butter sauce for dumplings that brings just the right amount of heat and ginger. Like our Vegetable Potstickers, these dumplings look as good as they taste. They make the perfect party appetizer or fun weeknight main dish.
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Ingredients
for thai dumplings:
- WONTON WRAPPERS: or store bought wonton wraps or round dumpling wraps
- CHICKEN BREAST: skinless, boneless chicken breast
- RED PEPPER: red bell pepper, finely diced
- PEANUTS: salted peanuts or unsalted peanuts, finely chopped
- RED CABBAGE: fresh red cabbage (or green cabbage)
- CILANTRO: fresh cilantro
- GARLIC: fresh garlic cloves, chopped
- SESAME OIL: pure sesame oil
for peanut sauce:
- PEANUT BUTTER: creamy peanut butter works best
- GREEN ONIONS: fresh green onions (scallions), diced
- SESAME OIL: pure sesame oil
- RICE VINEGAR: rice vinegar is sweeter than distilled white vinegar
- SOY SAUCE: soy sauce or tamari
- GARLIC: fresh garlic, chopped
*see recipe card for quantities.
🔪Top tip
if you can't find round dumpling wraps, buy 5" X 5" wonton wrappers and use a 4" biscuit cutter to cut out before folding.
Instructions
- Make Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine red pepper, peanuts, cabbage, cilantro, garlic and sesame oil.
- Chop Chicken: Allow to sit while finely chopping chicken breast (the finer you can chop it the better).
- Combine Ingredients: Add chicken to mixing bowl and combine well.
- Assemble Dumplings: Place 1 tablespoon of mixture in center of wrap and wet the outer edge with a wet finger. Fold wrapper together as instructed on wrapper package.
- Pan Fry: To cook, heat 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet and place dumplings in pan and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned.
- Steam: Add ¼ C water, cover immediately with lid, and cook for 5-6 minutes to steam dumplings.
- Make Peanut Sauce: Combine peanut butter, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic together in a mixing bowl and whisk together.
- Serve: Serve dumplings garnished with green onions and dipping sauce.
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Variations
- Filling: substitute finely chopped ground pork or grilled shrimp for chicken
- Spicy: add chili flakes or more garlic for extra punch.
- Vegetarian: make vegetarian or vegan by using plant-based fillings such as tofu, mushrooms, various vegetables, and using vegan-friendly wrappers. See our Vegetable Potstickers recipe.
Storage
- Store leftover dumplings and leftover peanut sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Make Ahead: Dumplings can be made ahead and refrigerated (or frozen) until you are ready to pan fry them.
- Freeze Dumplings for up to one month after assembly in airtight container.
- To Cook from Frozen: use the same method, however cook in oil for 4-6 minutes then add water, cover and cook 6-8 minutes.
FAQ
Thai dumplings are typically filled with ground chicken, garlic, ginger, and flavorful seasonings. This version features a bold peanut butter dipping sauce for extra flavor.
Yes! You can assemble the Thai chicken dumplings in advance and freeze them uncooked. Just steam or pan-fry them straight from the freezer when ready to eat.
A creamy, Thai-style peanut butter sauce with garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, and a hint of spice is perfect for dumplings. It adds a rich, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully.
Yes! Ground pork or tofu are great alternatives to chicken in these dumplings. Just keep the seasonings bold so they complement the peanut sauce for dumplings.
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Thai Dumplings recipe
These Thai-style Chicken Dumplings are simple to make and bursting with flavor, served with a savory homemade peanut butter dipping sauce.
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 15-20 dumplings 1x
Ingredients
FOR THE DUMPLINGS:
- 15-20 round dumpling wrappers or wonton wrappers*
- 8 ounces fresh chicken breast
- ¼ C finely diced red pepper
- ¼ C finely chopped peanuts
- ½ C diced red cabbage
- ¼ chopped cilantro
- 1 Tbsp chopped garlic
- 2 tsp sesame oil
FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE:
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp green onions, diced
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ¼ C rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tsp chopped garlic
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine red pepper, peanuts, cabbage, cilantro, garlic and sesame oil.
- Allow to sit while finely chopping chicken breast (the finer you can chop it the better).
- Add chicken to mixing bowl and combine well.
- Place 1 tablespoon of mixture in center of wrap and wet the outer edge with a wet finger. Fold wrapper together as instructed on wrapper package.
- To cook, heat 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet and place dumplings in pan and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned.
- Add ¼ C water, cover immediately with lid, and cook for 5-6 minutes to steam dumplings.
TO MAKE DIPPING SAUCE:
- combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix.
- Serve dumplings garnished with green onions and dipping sauce.
Notes
- if you can't find round dumpling wraps, use 5" X 5" wonton wrappers and use a 4" biscuit cutter to cut into round shape.
- Dumplings can be made ahead and refrigerated (or frozen) until you are ready to pan fry them.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 dumplings
- Calories: 697
- Sugar: 2.9 g
- Sodium: 1187.5 mg
- Fat: 20.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 90.6 g
- Protein: 37.7 g
- Cholesterol: 67.9 mg
Kaia Lampkin says
tasty!
Jackie says
This recipe reminds me of my favorite dumpling house in Manhattan. I want to spread that Peanut Sauce all over everything!